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Loveliest Of Trees, The Cherry Now

My source: Poetry Foundation

A Shropshire Lad  2:
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

BY A. E. HOUSMAN

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands, I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

Copyright ยฉ A.E. Housman


Source: A Shropshire Lad


It has been a wet spring here in the Shonan area where I live. Yesterday, Friday, rain was compounded with strong winds. All morning long. But then come noon, we got a heavy showering of sunlight. Oh! How the cherry blossom reacted to the sun! They literally exploded. And like clockwork, my Line App was at par with the sun to alert meโ€ฆ

Sakura fubuki ๐ŸŒธ A Sakura blizzard on the phone Line App

***

The Sakura Tree is indeed a beautiful tree, like all creation.

I hope you enjoyed reading A.E. Housman’s Poem I chose for you today.

It will be a gorgeous Easter Sunday. Bless You.


The following haiku are written for

brief like a minute 
mesmeric cherry blossoms 
hold on to let go 

the grandest story
cherry blossoms warm the day 
melancholic awe 

a pause in bliss 
petalled in each cherry blossom 
as life goes on

ยฉ selma

Kigo: cherry blossoms
๐Ÿ˜˜ ๐Ÿ’• ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ ๐Ÿ’’

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 51 Comments

  1. Goff James

    Thank you Selma for sharing one of my favourite poems. Happy Easter My Friend.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for coming to read one of your faves here, Goff. It pleases me to know. Happy Easter. And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. Bless you.

  2. Sadje

    Beautiful poems Selma. Love the picture too. Iโ€™m glad your son is so supportive of you in this time of grief. Hugs.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, dearly Sadje. Yes, both my sons are sweet young men. I am blessed. BTW, if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. Blessings.

      1. Sadje

        Youโ€™re most welcome. Iโ€™ll check them out

  3. rajkkhoja

    Wonderful poem. Very nice words use of nature beauty. Beautiful photo. Iam happy to your son supporting you this time. Wonderful cherry blossom.
    Hugs ๐Ÿซ‚!

    1. Selma Martin

      Blessings, Raj. Thanks. In case you want to see more photos, and you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. No pressure. Blessings.

      1. rajkkhoja

        Yes,I want more photos. Add resized. I like. Thanks, Selma ๐Ÿ˜„!

  4. Robbie Cheadle

    Hi Selma, I enjoyed AE Housemanโ€™s poem and your verse. A lovely time of year.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, Robbie. I know you’re busy. FYI, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. come check them out when you can. Blessings.

  5. Dawn Pisturino

    Beautiful! Free range cattle destroyed my old cherry tree, so I had no cherry blossoms this year. Split it right down the middle.

    1. Selma Martin

      That’s so sad about your tree. But that’s something that cannot be controlled. In a street that used to be one of the less busier streets there grew a gorgeous Sakura tree–it was practically in the middle of the narrow street. But that street is nothing like it used to be. It’s a busy street. And that tree was causing accidents. Finally, last week the tree was cut down. I can just imagine how sad the men who cut that tree down felt… I didn’t see it, but I’m sure a monk must have come to give it its last rights–and I believe people are bowing to the memory of that tree now. I know I am.
      BTW, if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised on this post. Come when you can. Blessings.

  6. Cindy Georgakas

    So gorgeous, Selma… your poem and photos. Each word a gift and ode to the cherries. Mine too are in bloom but they sure don’t last long๐Ÿ’“

    1. Selma Martin

      That’s the ephemeral beauty, nostalgic nature of the blooms. Thanks for the comment, Cindy. BTW, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. Come check them out when you can. Blessings.

  7. Suzette Benjamin

    Thank you Selma for the lovely poetry. Love the lines from A.E. Housman:

    “And since to look at things in bloom
    Fifty springs are little room” …so awesome!
    Happy Easter/Resurrection weekend! Blessings!

    1. Selma Martin

      Gorgeous lines indeed. Happy Easter. Also, FYI, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised on the blog. Drop by again if you like. Blessings.

      1. Suzette Benjamin

        Thank you, Selma. I certainly will check out the resized on photos. Much appreciated. Blessings to you.

    1. Selma Martin

      So true, Diana. one more chance every day… BTW; FYI, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. Be well my friend. Blessings.

  8. pedometergeek

    Such wonderful, spiritual haiku, Selma. Nicely done. Happy Easter!
    ~Nan

    1. Selma Martin

      Happy Easter, Nan. Thanks for the encouragement. And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. No pressure. Come if you can. Perhaps you’ll enjoy them.

  9. Selma Martin

    Happy Easter everyone.

    waving and waving
    to all who stand below boughs
    pale cherry blossoms

    ยฉ selma ๐Ÿฐ ๐Ÿฃ

  10. Cheryl Batavia

    Lovely photo Selma, and your very touching poem. You have given me joyous memories of cherry blossoms in DC, an enduring gift from Japan. Happy Easter! ๐Ÿฃ

    1. Selma Martin

      Bless you my friend. So happy to be able to gift you that. BTW, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. Come when you can… Happy Spring

  11. maddyhaikus

    Hope it’s a lovely Easter Selma. I am sorry for your recent loss. I am glad your sons came to offer you support and that you visited temples with them.

    1. Selma Martin

      My sons are lovely humans. Thanks Maddie… And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. No rush. Come check them out if you can.

  12. Mark S

    Hi Selma,
    What a beautiful collection of poems for this time of year. Thanks for sharing them.

    1. Selma Martin

      Hey, Mark a heads up with no pressure– if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. I think you might enjoy them. Come if and whenever you can. Blessings

      1. Mark S

        Hi Selma, Thanks for letting me know about the pictures. Picture #5 that has the bride and groom in the background and the blossoms in the foreground has wonderful composition and color. Thanks for sharing!

  13. Colleen Chesebro

    Selma, your haiku were stunning! I wrote a haiku for you this week. Make sure to read my post. You’ll know which one. I love this time of year. Sakura is also trending on Threads. Add Sakura to your posts and when someone likes your post they get the cherry blossom emoji: ๐ŸŒธ

    1. Selma Martin

      Colleen, every haiku you write speaks to me. Thank you my friend. BTW, and FYI, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. I think you might enjoy the little glimpses of what I see here. Infact, I’m sure you will. No pressure (self-care, remember) but the photos are here now. I don’t know how you guys do it, but working with my media photos is a real pain in the behind.
      Thanks for everything. Happy Spring. (the end of snow)

        1. Selma Martin

          after the rainbow
          birds enter clouds
          a friend’s funeral

          ยฉ Colleen Chesebro

          Youโ€™re the sweetest ever. Thank you my friend, ๐Ÿฅน

          1. Colleen Chesebro

            I felt like you were both together again for a moment. ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

  14. maddyhaikus

    Selma, your poetry is wonderful and thank-you for sharing “…Loveliest of Trees..”so very inspiring and first time I have read it! What a beautiful image!

  15. Kerfe

    Brief like a minute–so true–but the ephemeral nature is part of their beauty I think.

    1. Selma Martin

      Well said, K. Thanks. BTW, And if you care to know, I just managed to add those resized photos I promised. I take them with my iphone and they’re always so huge that WP refuses them. So then I need to resize. It’s such a hassle. Wish I knew a work around. Anywhere, the photos are here if you’d like to see them. xo

  16. Suzette Benjamin

    Thank you, Selma, for adding the excellent photos. A peaceful setting with the blossoms adding to the stillness. The last photo of the couple walking near the beautiful tree is a .marvelous capture.

  17. Colleen Chesebro

    Selma, comment #2: I LOVE the photos. Thanks so much. Much love, my friend. ๐ŸŒธ ๐Ÿฉท ๐ŸŒธ

    1. Selma Martin

      ๐Ÿค— ๐Ÿ™‡๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐Ÿค— ๐Ÿ™‡๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ

  18. ben Alexander

    Oh! How the cherry blossom reacted to the sun! They literally exploded. And like clockwork, my Line App was at par with the sun to alert meโ€ฆ

    Wow! Amazing, Selma! Thanks for sharing!

    ~David

  19. Suzette Benjamin

    Thank you Selma for the beautiful vistas you shared of rain and bursting forth cherry blossoms. Beautiful line “a pause in bliss” …perfection!!

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