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.