Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Harbinger of Spring, The Plum Blossom


"Ice-flakes are failing fast
Through the chilly air, and now
Yonder trees with snow bloom laden
Do assume the wild plum's guise.
With their mass of snowy flowers
Gladdening winter's dreary time."

''Amid the branches of sil'vry bowers
The nightingale doth sing; perchance he knows
That spring has come, and takes the later snows
For the white petals of the plum's sweet flowers."

(From Chamberlain's Classical Poetry of the Japanese.)

"The flowers of the plum-trees
All through the day make snow-light.
Moonlight through the night.
Like the icy spray which the breeze
Scatters from the stream,
Like the snow-flake's flight,
Falling petals seem."

From The Japanese Floral Calendar

Main page
The Japanese Floral Calendar
By Ernest Wilson Clement
Published by The Open court publishing company, 1904
57 pages

4 comments:

Debbie J said...

We are beginning to see a few signs of spring here too. Won't be long til its here in full bloom.

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful! So, are those beautiful plum blossoms from your tree? We have no signs of Spring yet, but I am looking!! Actually, it's still snowing!

Won't it be wonderful when the earth begins to warm again.

When does Lent start?
Blessings,
Elizabeth

Alexandra said...

Fruitful Harvest,

I got the same one - it's a spambot. I wouldn't worry about it. They hit random blogs every so often. I wouldn't click on any of that SPAM because sometimes you can catch an infection from just clicking on it. Just delete those, and make sure you run your anti-virus.

Debbie and Elizabeth,

Thanks for your comments. I have cherry blossoms, but not plum. I'm really thinking of getting a Japanese or Chinese plum blossom tree. I just need to find a sunny place in my yard. It's pretty packed!

Alexandra said...

FH,

I've removed your comment so that you cannot be tracked through your profile, and I've removed the Catholic blog roll. This should stop SPAM from emanating through my blog.