Thursday 5 April 2018

Bertie berates Aberdeen's reluctant daffodils


Really daffodils, you are putting on a poor show this year!


Don't you know that it's April already, and barely any of you have yet bothered to show your face?

The fact that it has recently been snowing here is absolutely no excuse! Surely you are aware that your counterparts in Germany are known as 'Osterglocken'? That means 'Easter Bells'. And Easter has come and gone. Our Deutsche Freunde would most certainly not appreciate your lack of punctuality!

At Human Granny's funeral service today in Nottingham, her grandaughter Annabel is going to be reading one of HGY's favourite poems, 'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth.

Down south in Nottingham, and also on the shores of Ullswater (where WW wandered lonely as a cloud), the daffodils will without doubt now be in full bloom.

What's that Gail?  Enough of my lecturing?

Well perhaps my readers would instead value a reminder of the full text of the aptly named Mr Wordsworth's beautiful poem:

"Daffodils"

I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: -
A poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company!
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought.
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth, 1807.


15 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Bertie lad, it is one of the finest poems ever penned... and perfect for HGY's farewell.

    As for the reluctant little blooms - the same is true here by the Hutch, let me tell ya. I keep peering out the window at my neighbours garden in the vain hope... It's bucketing sleet at the moment. sigh.

    Sending Love and hugs on this day of memory for you and Gail. Waggles, YAM-aunty xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. that is a sweet poem... and maybe now the daffodils know that we need them and they will come in droves to attract our eyes like little suns... hugs to you and your furmily...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Perfect poem for HGY. Hopefully, the daffys will be out soon in abundance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bertie what a lovely poem to be read by Annabel today. We have never read this until today. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Daffodils appear delicate and beautiful but we all know they are sturdy, hearty dependable.
    Hugs to Gail and her entire family.
    Madi and mom

    ReplyDelete
  5. One of my favorite poems also. Celebrate HGY with a joyous walk, perhaps you will find a valiant flower blooming in her honor.

    ReplyDelete
  6. In Texas, it's bluebonnets we look for. They were a bit late this year, but they finally showed up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely poem to honor your HGY. Today our daffies are buried under snow so we won't be seeing any blooms for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mom remembers that poem well. She said she had to memorize it when she was in grade school and still remembers a lot of it.]

    The daffodils around here seem to be a little sparse on the blooms this season too. It probably doesn't help that the temperature can vary by 20-30 degrees from one day to the next.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bertie - April and the daffodils aren't out ! Must be the work of the Beast from the East.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a lovely poem, Bertie. Daffodils have always been among my favorites. Here is SE USA, they have come (early this year, in February) and gone...til next year...

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a very lovely poem, we can see why it was a favorite of HGY. We are not seeing much here yet either, spring has been slow.
    pug hugs for you and Gail as you celebrate the wonderful life of Human Granny

    Hazel, Mabel & Mom

    ReplyDelete
  12. We hope the service helped bring peace, and we hope you find some daffodils soon. We still have snow and it was -22 this morning . . .

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a beautiful poem, we are sending big hugs your way!

    ReplyDelete
  14. So sorry that the daffodils did not cooperate. Mother nature can be a bitch, but we always forgive her, because she has something wonderful coming soon. ♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's a bit early here for daffodils except for perhaps in some very sheltered spots, but they are tied for my favorite flowers with Texas bluebonnets (if you haven't been in a field of those you haven't lived!).

    But then I live in the Rockies at just under 6000 feet (1829 meters) so spring and summer are short, but lovely, all the more so for that. It's a good thing that my favorite season is winter!

    ReplyDelete