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15 April 2024

Posted by Tabby Hayward

Spring

For the first session of the new term, we were looking at Spring! We started by discussing signs of spring, from those in nature (like bluebells, daffodils, the swallows returning, longer days) and more man-made ones, like lawnmowers, ice cream vans, no knowing what to wear in the morning! 

After free-writing on this theme, we then read three poems looking at Spring in more complex ways than just - 'it's Spring, yay!' First, we read Fly by Fiona Benson, which begins with the line 'Spring broke out but my soul did not' and explores feelings of depression in Spring time. Next we read from A. E. Housman's 'A Shropshire Lad', 'Loveliest of trees the cherry now...' which explores how Spring gives the speaker a sense of their own mortality. Finally, we read 'In Perpetual Spring' by Amy Gerstler, which begins with the sentence 'Gardens are also good places / to sulk.' and explores 'spiky voodoo lilies', the snake and the snail, and thistles - less obviously pretty and jolly signs of Spring. 

Inspired by this, the writers created their own unexpected Spring poems - here is David's:

The grass spreads into the earth and higher and higher towards the light.
The weeds disguise themselves amongst the Spring flowers.
Bushes, foliage, branches expand creating shadows on the lawn, sprinkling
their seeds on to the washing line of clothes below.
The uncontrolled growth as all season occur in just a single day. 
Worms get eaten as they surface to the air by a waiting flock of Birds.
Hands torn and stung by the nettles and the brambles not seen in the Spring that's dawning.

And here is Christopher's:

Awake 

by C. S. Thomson


Light peeks in

My darkened room.

The early morning sun

Briefly wakens 

My slumber.


Petrichor

Cuts fresh

Through the musty smells.

Bringing promise 

Of springtime.


Breeze flows over

My windowsill.

The curtains part,

A gentle ebb and flow,

As if to greet
A parting guest.


How quaint,

The call of birds;

A sliver of life
Greets my eyes.

Fluttering between 

Bright green shoots.

The once rich blossom 

Given away

To leaves anew.


Suddenly,

The light fades.

A silver storm cloud

Casts across
My window pane.

Fair, golden sunshine

Extinguished.


The bed is cold.

My single heart beats alone,

Whilst a new day dawns

Upon my soul.


New life blooms 

As I grieve what was

And pray for what 

May come

Tomorrow.


Still,

Warm sunlight shines again.

I rise and cast 

The sheets from my tired bones;

I grieve no more.


The curtains I hold,
Pull and fling wide! 

Meeting the morning sun

With sleep stung eyes,

I welcome Today

With open arms.




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