Saturday 26 September 2009

To Autumn


To Autumn
by William Blake
(1757-1827)

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stainèd
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

`The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.'
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

Photographs by Merisi
along the Venetian Lagoon
22 September 2009
©

When I was not concentrating
on capturing the autumnal light
of wild mirabelles
in the thicket of woods along the shores,
I enjoyed the view over the Venetian Lagoon,
towards Torcello and Burano,
with Venice itself hiding beyond
in the mid-morning mist.

I feasted
on a handful of these wild plums
and lived to tell the tale!

*

This post is dedicated
to Ronald Jonkers,
the great translator and painter
and wonderful friend!

15 comments:

  1. And as you slide into autumn, here things are turning green and budding and blossoming!

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  2. Oh Merisi, what great company we have this morning. We view with your eyes, dream with William Blake and take in Veneto's Fall days of ripe fruit and golden lights.

    Thanks.

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  3. mmmm....how delightful!

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  4. To me, that photo of a single plum with a crescent of light along its curve captures all the poignancy of the season.

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  5. Fabulous! Just fabulous!!!! These photos are gallery perfect!!!! And I LOVE William Blake...one of my favorite 17C poets!!! Thank you...you bring me tremendous joy today!!! ~Janine XO

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  6. Difficult not to fall in love with the magic of the lagoon, especially when the light is a warm fall one.

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  7. A delight for all the senses. Thank you!

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  8. Well, I am so glad you photographed the plums before you ate them! You have captured their ripeness beautifully.

    I love that Blake poetry too, I had to study his works at school. I believe he is one of the very very few poets who was also an artist.

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  9. thanks for the william blake this morning. and the delightful pictures...

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  10. Please forward my greetings to my Venezian friends if you see them ;-) I know that Mauro is out on the lagoon with his small boat today.....

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  11. How lovely! The photos and the poem! I love Autumn. It's my favorite season.

    Paz

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  12. i have missed your photos and commentary, sugar! you continue to be a delight for the senses. thank you! xoxoxo

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  13. And here's to that great poet, I am raising my gourd with 'mate'. Fantastic post and brilliant images.

    Greetings from London.

    PS: Word verification is 'dingedin'. Even your checker is rhythmical.

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  14. I had to borrow your post today. What a beautiful, meaningful, gentle company for my weekend! Thank you! Blessings to you and yours.

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