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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?

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Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,June 5, 2022 at 4:52 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 5, 2022 at 8:43 AM

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

      Delete
  2. The Butterfly ReaderJune 5, 2022 at 2:57 PM

    June has been a decent month so far for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 5, 2022 at 3:44 PM

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

      Delete
  3. Lark June 5, 2022 at 4:37 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 5, 2022 at 6:15 PM

      We'd probably get bored with all that perfection.

      Delete
  4. AlanaJune 5, 2022 at 4:54 PM

    The last few days of June have been perfection here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzJune 7, 2022 at 6:33 PM

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

    So true!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 7, 2022 at 7:18 PM

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

      Delete

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