Poetry Sunday: June by James Russell Lowell

The June that James Russell Lowell describes in his poem does indeed sound like the perfect month, a time when "The flush of life may well be seen..." Wherever you are, I hope you are experiencing that "perfect" month.

June

by James Russell Lowell

What is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays:
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And, groping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys;
The cowslip startles in meadows green.
The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice,
And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean
To be some happy creature's palace;
The little bird sits at his door in the sun,
Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illumined being o'errun
With the deluge of summer it receives;
His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings,
And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings;
He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,—
In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best?

Comments

  1. As a matter of fact, Dorothy, June has been nigh on perfect ( other than for our provincial election), so I can vouch for the fact that June really does deliver some splendid days.

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    Replies
    1. There's been nothing to complain about here either - at least as far as the weather and Nature are concerned.

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  2. June has been a decent month so far for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And here as well. Let's hope the rest of the month goes as smoothly.

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  3. I wish everyday was a day like he describes in this poem!

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    Replies
    1. We'd probably get bored with all that perfection.

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  4. The last few days of June have been perfection here.

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  5. "What is so rare as a day in June?
    Then, if ever, come perfect days..."

    So true!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So far, it has certainly been true of this June.

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