Monday, April 1, 2013

Litera(ril)ly April





"When fair April with his showers sweet,
Has pierced the drought of March to the root's feet
And bathed each vein in liquid of such power,
Its strength creates the newly springing flower;"

- The Canterbury Tales, Prologue, Opening lines
by Geofrey Chaucer
(transl. to Modern English)


* * * * *


"April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."

- The Wasteland,
T.S. Eliot


* * * * *


Cuckoo, Cuckoo
What do you do?
In April, I open my bill
In May, I sing night and day
In June, I change my tune
In July, how far I fly
In August, away

Cuckoo, Cuckoo

- Cuckoo,
Benjamin Britten


* * * * *


Drip, drip, drop
Little April shower
Beating a tune
As you fall all around

Drip, drip, drop
Little April shower
What can compare
To your beautiful sound...

- Little April Shower,
Bambi


* * * * *


O, TO be in England
Now that April 's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!

- Home thoughts, from Abroad
Robert Browning


* * * * *


"April is a promise that May is bound to keep."

- Hal Borland


* * * * *


Good day, April.

Birthday month.
Diamond month.
"Cruelest" (?) month.
Creative month.
Rainy month.
Hopeful month.

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