Oh, 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!
And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark, where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops – at the bent
spray’s edge –
That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song
twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children’s dower
– Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!
This poem is called Home thoughts from abroad and was written by Robert Browning a Victorian poet who spent much of his life in Italy. At present we are unable to leave the house except for short walks near home and I feel a bit as he must have felt when I think of the beautiful spring countryside all around. Unfortunately the thrush who sings each song twice over is quite rare but we do have blackbirds, robins,finches and rooks come to share our garden and I took this photo of red tulips on my walk this morning. The other photo was taken in April last year on Clevedon seafront.
If you need cheering up can I recommend this family’s version of “One day more” from Les Mis It is true that getting an online Tesco delivery slot has suddenly become the most important activity of the day.
This post will be added to flower of the dayFOTP a photo challenge run by Cee Neuner.
and Sunday Stills a challenge run by Terri Webster Shrandt.
The South West Rambler 
Aah Browning, I thought this sounded familiar! Such a beautiful post to remember the small, simple joys and the spring that is still there, even if it all looks and feels rather different this year. Stay safe, Anne xx
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I adore your tulips 😀
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A wonderful poem and fitting for these times, Anne! Gorgeous pictures, and oh to see so many tulips!! We have Mockingbirds singing all over the place as of today. A little more rain today and dry and warm over the next few days! Yay!
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Your photos are like a breath of fresh air, Anne. Beautiful! Tulips and Spring go hand in hand. I used to know a woman who would go to England each year with her friend specifically to see the flowers. This beautiful poem is a perfect reminder of Spring. Thank you for sharing.
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