Today is the birthday of one of my favorite poets, Robert Frost. I was reading some of his poems here, and I came across this one:
A Prayer in Spring
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
I was holding a sleeping Baby Z tonight and thinking how important it is to enjoy the moment. I can be so absorbed in plans for the future, in wondering how the “harvest” will be, what will they all grow up to be, have we taught them all that they need to know. I often forget to absorb NOW, “For this is love, and nothing else is love . . .” God will do in the future according to His will and His good pleasure. I must not forget to love and live in this moment. This prayer is one I need to pray often.
I am covering this poem; “A Prayer in Spring.” I read this poem much the same as yourself. Still in the same context, using a cliche as an analogy if you would pardon, “stop and smell the roses.” is what i gathred… However, after some discussion I have been informed that sometimes Frost hid audult themes for pure self entertainment. Notice he uses Birds and Bees, a thrusting meteor into a blossom and so on for support in his second and third stanza. Long story short, do you know where I could go to research an interview with Frost commenting on this poem specifically? Note: even with this added insight the context stays the same. I dont know…*SIGH* And i too love frost…thanks