International Poetry Month

[fuchsoid]

Since it is International Poetry Month, here's a poem. It's a small chunk from the very much longer and loopier "Song to David" by Christopher Smart; I was reminded of it by the polyanthuses in the cemetery. I'm not entirely sure what it is about, but it has a lovely spring-like, rather woozy, feeling that I like. I'm especially fond of the last verse, which seems to be about cocoa. I may well have some now, before I go to bed.

For ADORATION seasons change,
And order, truth, and beauty range,
Adjust, attract, and fill:
The grass the polyanthus checks;
And polish'd porphyry reflects,
By the descending rill.

LIII
rich almonds color to the prime
For ADORATION; tendrils climb,
And fruit-trees pledge their gems;
And Ivis with her gorgeous vest,
Builds for her eggs her cunning nest,
And bell-flowers bow their stems.

LIV
With vinous syrup cedars spout;
From rocks pure honey gushing out,
For ADORATION springs;
All scenes of painting crowd the map
Of nature; to the mermaid's pap
The scaled infant clings.

LV
The spotted ounce and playsome cubs
Run rustling 'mongst the flow'ring shrubs,
And lizards feed the moss;
For ADORATION beasts embark,
While waves upholding halcyon's ark
No longer roar and toss.

LVI
While Israel sits beneath his fig,
With coral root and amber sprig
The wean'd advent'rer sports;
Where to the palm the jasmine cleaves,
For ADORATION 'mongst the leaves
The gale his peace reports.

LVII
Increasing days their reign exalt,
Nor in the pink and mottled vault
The opposing spirits tilt;
And, by the coasting reader spi'd,
The silverlings and crusions glide
For ADORATION gilt.

LVIII
For ADORATION rip'ning canes
And cocoa's purest milk detains
The western pilgrim's staff;
Where rain in clasping boughs enclos'd,
And vines with oranges dispos'd,
Embow'r the social laugh.



Here are some more polyanthuses (primroses, actually) to go with it.