Author Topic: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning  (Read 2054 times)

firenze

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Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« on: Mar 10, 2014, 10:06:22 PM »

O, to be in England
Now that April 's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!
And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark, where my blossom'd pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops—at the bent spray's edge—
That 's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children's dower
—Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!


Robert Browning


I had been abroad in a Tesco and the first lines of this poem came to mind as I came out into sunshine I thought you might like a reminder.
Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain.

avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #1 on: Mar 10, 2014, 10:27:32 PM »
Oh! Perfidious Albion! How doth our language change where within words and their meanings as of today seem strange!
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
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firenze

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #2 on: Mar 11, 2014, 10:51:19 AM »
You sound like a Shakespeare but PF 's most content bumpkin must mean our fair land!  ;D
Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain.

avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #3 on: Mar 11, 2014, 11:29:21 AM »
Miss O'Hara,
Contentment is easily attained: Don't envy, Don't covet, Don't spend what you have not got! Practice what you preach. But most important is friendship! = Avalon, Heaven, Valhalla or what have you, but it is possible here and now and not in some mythical future, that is compost - back to earth again to continue the cycle.
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
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firenze

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #4 on: Mar 11, 2014, 12:46:17 PM »
Profound Victor :D
Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain.

stellamaris

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #5 on: Mar 11, 2014, 03:23:55 PM »
This is a lovely uplifting thread.  I am glad to change my  "thinking poetry" to the Browning one.  Most winters I go around muttering "St Agnes Eve, Ah bitter chill it was".  I only do the first four lines though.
Keep on chooglin' - John Fogerty
Pronouns: She/Her/Beautiful/Wondrous one/Dearest Heart

avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #6 on: Mar 11, 2014, 04:12:47 PM »
De profundis 'out of the depths' hear the voice of my supplication. Thence rest my weary head and again twist my brow  - for I an not yet dead.
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
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avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #7 on: Mar 11, 2014, 04:30:06 PM »
You sound like a Shakespeare but PF 's most content bumpkin must mean our fair land!  ;D

One can but dream!

But old Billy Wagglestaff has given me great pleasure with his utterances, every time I see hear or read them, the interpretations seem to shed a new insight to this great language the we are privileged to share
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
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cheddar-caveman

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #8 on: Mar 11, 2014, 07:29:19 PM »
Never, in the field of human conflict, have so few achieved so much in such a short time - my wife and I have just managed to get our old split oven out ready for a new one tomorrow!  ;D
This post is my opinion, which you may not like, but I'm entitled to it.
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avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #9 on: Mar 11, 2014, 10:22:31 PM »
Methinks the man doth struggle too much! :-* ;D ::)
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
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granny bee

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #10 on: Mar 12, 2014, 07:21:10 AM »
Thanks for this post Firenze, once upon a time knew this off by heart,  struggle nowadays!Let's hope April doesn't bring too many showers this year!

Granny49

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #11 on: Mar 12, 2014, 09:31:57 AM »
I learnt "Home thoughts from abroad" by heart too Granny Bee.  It is beautiful and very calming.
Don't get my personality and my attitude confused.  My personality is me, my attitude depends on you.

avalonmpk2

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #12 on: Mar 12, 2014, 10:09:28 AM »
I feel very sure that Miss J Hunter-Dunne* would very much approve of our lady contributors choice in literature!


* a la John Betjeman
Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage.
Richard Lovelace
DO NOT FORGET TO LOG OFF - REMOVE COOKIES

firenze

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #13 on: Mar 14, 2014, 07:14:06 AM »
I see why the you only recite the first 4 lines of St Agnes Eve (Keats) stellamaris you would freeze to death by the final verse. ;D 
Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain.

stellamaris

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Re: Thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning
« Reply #14 on: Mar 14, 2014, 10:51:38 AM »
I know Firenze.  It's more of a poem for studying isn't it and it has a rather sudden end.  But those first four lines are wonderful and paint a perfect picture for me of a still and frozen night.
Keep on chooglin' - John Fogerty
Pronouns: She/Her/Beautiful/Wondrous one/Dearest Heart