The Lady of Shallot by Lord Tennyson
On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro’ the field the road runs by
To many-tower’d Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.
Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.
…….
In the summer a stand of aspen trees quiver, their leaves dusk and shiver in the slightest breeze and I always think of these lovely lines from Tennyson’s famous poem. I saw the first wild cherry blossom today in a sheltered bend in the river, but we are still a long way from leaves, so I thought I would share a photo of the unexpectedly bright green catkins of the aspen sharing a branch with mistletoe, as winter and spring swap places.
Lovely post, picture and poem. xx
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It is such alovely poem to read aloud in its entirety. Tennyson’s poetry has such rhythmic beauty .
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They are very green catkins. Not sure I’ve ever seen them before. The big white poplar I pass on my daily dog walk is just coming out into flower. P.S you choose such good poems. I wish I had a memory for them. More please!
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Glad you enjoy the poems! Every time I see the leaves shiver I think of them!
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No cherry blossoms or aspen leaves have sprung in Colorado yet, Cathy, but I could relate to this beautiful poem because quaking aspen are among the most common (and most uncommonly beautiful) trees here. I have to be patient a little longer.
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No leaves here yet, just catkins, but it is all on its way to us all!
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