Magnolia: San Jose |
Sonnet I (from Renascence)
(By Edna St. Vincent Millay)
Thou art not lovelier than lilacs, -- no,
Nor honeysuckle; thou art not more fair
Than small white single poppies, -- I can bear
Thy beauty; though I bend before thee, though
From left to right, not knowing where to go,
I turn my troubled eyes, nor here nor there
Find any refuge from thee, yet I swear
So has it been with mist, -- with moonlight so.
Like him who day by day unto his draught
Of delicate poison adds him one drop more
Till he may drink unharmed the death of ten,
Even so, inured to beauty, who have quaffed
Each hour more deeply than the hour before,
I drink -- and live -- what has destroyed some men.
Magnolia: Brozzonii |
Today, we celebrate two "old fashioned" beauties, magnolias and the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Both have a variety of culture connotations that might bring to mind bygone eras. Yet, when assessed for that which they are, free from bias or expectations, both the flowers and poems have undeniable beauty, as vibrant and charming today as they were generations ago.
So, let's wind up the week with these gentle beauties.
Magnolia: Verbanica |
And, yes, these are photographs that I took during my trip to the Huntington. With so many gorgeous flowers in bloom, it'll be a few weeks before I can share them all.
Then, it'll be time for the Spring blossoms. ;-)
And here's another pretty, for good measure.
Star Magnolia |
And some vids:
"Afternoon on a Hill"
"God's World"
"The Dream"
Enjoy!!!
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