greentapestry : A Musical Muse For January

Thursday 1 January 2015

A Musical Muse For January


"Come all you lads and lasses, I'd have you give attention
To these few lines I'm about to write here,
'Tis of the four seasons of the year that I shall mention,
The beauty of all things doth appear.
And now you are young and all in your prosperity,
Come cheer up your hearts and revive like the spring
Join off in pairs like the birds in February
That St. Valentine's Day it forth do bring.

Then cometh Spring, which all the land doth nourish;
The fields are beginning to be decked with green,
The trees put forth their buds and the blossoms they do flourish,
And the tender blades of corn on the earth are to be seen.
Don't you see the little lambs by the dams a-playing?
The cuckoo is singing in the shady grove.
The flowers they are springing, the maids they go a-Maying,
In love all hearts seem now to move.

Next cometh Autumn with the sun so hot and piercing;
The sportsman goes forth with his dog and his gun
To fetch down the woodcock, the partridge and the pheasant,
For health and for profit as well as for fun.
Behold, with loaded apple-trees the farmer is befriended,
They will fill up his casks that have long laid dry.
All nature seems to weary now, her task is nearly ended,
And more of the seasons will come by and by.

When night comes on with song and tale we pass the wintry hours;
By keeping up a cheerful heart we hope for better days.
We tend the cattle, sow the seed, give work unto the ploughers,
With patience wait till winter yields before the sun's fair rays.
And so the world goes round and round, and every time and season
With pleasure and with profit crowns the passage of the year,
And so through every time of life, to him who acts with reason,
The beauty of all things doth appear."


~ " The Seasons' is one of the tracks on Loreena Mckennit's 'To Drive The Cold Winter Away'. 

Although the lyrics of the song give very short shrift to summer and one reference too many to the trigger happy 'sportsman' it reminds me what a glorious year we have to look forward to! May it treat anyone who passes this way gently and may your gardens flourish.

14 comments:

  1. Lovely words Anna and wishing you the same for the New Year :)

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  2. Wishing you all the very best for 2015. Let's hope it's a good year for us all.

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  3. Wishing you all the best in the New Year, Anna! May it be another great gardening year!

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  4. It is a lovely folk song of the seasons, Anna,

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  5. Looking forward to the new gardening season with anticipation - happy new year Anna - hope it's a good one.

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  6. I hope the year is good to you and your garden too Anna! :)

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  7. What a lovely blessing you offered us all Anna - for many of us a new year is such an exciting and unknown prospect, but others need a more gentle approach ... Many blessings to you two as well

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  8. Here' s hoping that all the seasons will bring you joy in your garden in 2015 Anna.

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  9. Yes, so much to look forward to in the coming year! I hope it is a good one for you and yours Anna, and that you get to spend lovely time away in your new retreat.

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  10. There's a lot of optimism for the coming year, isn't there! I feel quite excited although I know we have to get through January first. I do hope it will be a gentle year, spring last year was a bit too rough and ready for some! Wishing you lots of garden joy, Anna - happy new year! Caro xx

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  11. Wishing you and yours all the very best for 2015 Anna - may each season in your garden be better than the previous :)

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  12. Happy New Year Anna! May 2015 be filled with lots of happiness and gardening delight! It is so lovely to think ahead to all the seasons.

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  13. Thanks for all your lovely comments :)

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  14. Lovely sentiments. Wishing you a belated Happy New Year. xx

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.