Monday, February 28, 2011

Oh Wind, That Sings So Loud a Song

My wind chimes serenaded me with sweet and constant melody most of the afternoon. The strong east wind spoke, only a day prematurely, of “March coming in like a lion.” Dry leaves, carefully raked into neat rows only a few days ago, danced with the wind until exhausted, then fell to the ground, scattered in disarray. Early in the day, a sky-watcher would have seen only a few shards of blue peeking through scudding clouds.

As I write this at twilight, the air is still. The clouds have gone, the sky overhead colored with only the ghost of their silver linings. The afternoon's brilliant sun has disappeared from view, leaving behind, on both western and eastern horizons, a fleeting tint of orange surrounded by pale lavender.  I think it's going to be a lovely night.

Not today's sunset, but much like it.

Listening to the wind this afternoon reminded me of one of my favorite childhood poems.

The Wind
Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass

Oh wind, a blowing all day long,
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all

Oh wind, a blowing all day long!
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!


Tomorrow is also a day.

12 comments:

StitchinByTheLake said...

Love the poem...and the picture. The wind has been so strong for a couple of days now that I've avoided going out when possible because it aggravates my allergies so badly. Are you feeling the earthquakes? I've not felt them here. Blessings, marlene

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, Love the picture and the words... Wonderful!!!!

We were under a severe thunderstorm and tornado watch plus a flood warning today... Luckily, the winds weren't too high --but did we ever get the RAIN... Wooooooo... You can see in my blog tomorrow...

BUT--we are fine and that storm has moved on!!!!!

Have a great Tuesday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Pat - Arkansas said...

Stitchin' -- Yes, I felt last night's earthquake; but only a slight movement of my chair as I sat at my computer. My friend's son called from Alma late last night to report that he had felt the late night tremor all way over there.

Hilary said...

Oh Pat that photo is lovely. Soft like a sigh. We've been getting wind too.

George said...

Thanks for sharing the poem with us. Our wind chimes have been merrily chiming away for a couple of days now. All the leaves are back in our yard.

rhymeswithplague said...

Reading your first two paragraphs affected me like the beginning of a novel. The way my mind works, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be a horror story.

You are a very good writer.

rhymeswithplague said...

I think it was the juxtaposition of the sentences containing the words "ghost" and "lovely night" that did it....

Arkansas Patti said...

Beautiful picture and poem Pat. your own words were even more elequoent than Robert"s.
I felt the quake even up here. It woke me up with a loud bang and brief shake. My neighbor said I slept thru most of the shaking, as the bang was the end. Darn.

Mimi Foxmorton said...

My favorite wind is the Spring wind........
:)

Mimi Foxmorton said...

re: your blog comment

THAT, my dear is the best thing ANYONE has ever said about goats!

I so adore it....it needs to be turned into an art project.......!

xo

Moannie said...

BEAUTIFUL! Our skies are still so low, and grey

Marvin said...

Wind, rain (just a little), thunderstorms (the worst passed to our north), and even an earthquake (we felt this one), the past few days have been filled with natural events. Now we have sunshine, the natural event I enjoy most.