The Earth Laughs in Flowers

I got into the garden this weekend and did some work.  The profuse blooming of every plant all at once reminded me of the poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson in which he has the famous quote, the "Earth laughs in flowers."  I had no idea that this poem was a free rendition of the Vishnu Purana. 

Mr. Emerson was a American poet who led the Transcendentalist movement.  This was a religious and philosophical movement that believed that organized religion and political parties ultimately corrupt the purity of the individual.  They believed that people were truly at their best when "self-reliant."  

Hamatreya

BULKELEY, Hunt, Willard, Hosmer, Meriam, Flint,
Possessed the land which rendered to their toil
Hay, corn, roots, hemp, flax, apples, wool and wood.
Each of these landlords walked amidst his farm,
Saying, ‘’T is mine, my children’s and my name’s.	5
How sweet the west wind sounds in my own trees!
How graceful climb those shadows on my hill!
I fancy these pure waters and the flags
Know me, as does my dog: we sympathize;
And, I affirm, my actions smack of the soil.’	10
Where are these men? Asleep beneath their grounds:
And strangers, fond as they, their furrows plough.
Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys
Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;
Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet	15
Clear of the grave.
They added ridge to valley, brook to pond,
And sighed for all that bounded their domain;
‘This suits me for a pasture; that ’s my park;
We must have clay, lime, gravel, granite-ledge,	20
And misty lowland, where to go for peat.
The land is well,—lies fairly to the south.
’T is good, when you have crossed the sea and back,
To find the sitfast acres where you left them.’
Ah! the hot owner sees not Death, who adds	25
Him to his land, a lump of mould the more.
Hear what the Earth says:—
EARTH-SONG         ‘Mine and yours;
Mine, not yours.
Earth endures;	30
Stars abide—
Shine down in the old sea;
Old are the shores;
But where are old men?
I who have seen much,	35
Such have I never seen.
‘The lawyer’s deed
Ran sure,
In tail,
To them, and to their heirs	40
Who shall succeed,
Without fail,
Forevermore.
‘Here is the land,
Shaggy with wood,	45
With its old valley,
Mound and flood.
But the heritors?—
Fled like the flood’s foam.
The lawyer, and the laws,	50
And the kingdom,
Clean swept herefrom.
‘They called me theirs,
Who so controlled me;
Yet every one	55
Wished to stay, and is gone,
How am I theirs,
If they cannot hold me,
But I hold them?’
When I heard the Earth-song	60
I was no longer brave;
My avarice cooled
Like lust in the chill of the grave.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr. Emerson took the theme of the Hindu text and changed the story to fit the circumstance in which he was living daily. The men at the beginning of the poem are his neighbors.  I just found the whole story interesting behind this poem.  I had no idea the movement from the 1820's-30's in American was so similar to some of the themes we are experiencing today. 

The teacup is by Gracie china.  The lilacs smell soo good!

And also, here are some tulips I picked fresh from the rain for tomorrow's food post.

Sherry

I will link this to:

  

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups 

Friends Sharing Tea at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Your Going to Love it Tuesday At Kathe with an E

The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict

Totally Terrific Tuesday at Live Randomly Simple

Project Inspire at An Extraordinary Day

Do Tell Tuesday at Maybe She Made It

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

Share your Style Thursday at Common Ground

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of the Home

What to Do Weekends at Shoestring Elegance

Idea Box Thursday at Mila's Little Things