RAIN in SUMMER

RAIN in SUMMER by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ( 1807-1882) (excerpts)

How beautiful is the rain! After the dust and heat,

How it clatters along the roofs, like the tramp of hoofs

How it gushes and struggles out from the throat of the overflowing spout!

Across the window pane it pours and pours;

And swift and wide, like a river down the gutter roars.

The rain, the welcome rain! Feel the cool breath of each little pool;

Breathes a blessing on the rain.

In the country , on every side, where far and wide, like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide,

Stretches the plain, to the dry grass and the drier grain

How welcome is the rain!

the vapours  arise from the well-watered and smoking soil.

Of lakes and rivers under ground, and sees them, when the rain is done, on the bridge of colours seven climbing up once more to heaven

Mysterious change from birth to death, from death to birth,

From earth to heaven, from heaven to earth; till glimpses more sublime

Of things, unseen before, unto wondering eyes reveal 

The Universe, as an immeasurable wheel

Turning forevermore in the rapid and rushing river of Time...

                        "The numberless beating drops of the incessant rain..." -Longfellow

Photographs 2025 ("Rain in Summer" is a very long poem, worth reading in its entirety. The joy, and refreshing excitement of rain after a hot day)

 

SMOKING HOT....

AUGUST( 1915) by Lizette Woodworth Reese ( 1856-1935) Poet  Laureate 1931. Wrote "A Handful of Lavender 1891" and   "A Wayside Lute 1909"                   

                                                
No wind. No bird.

The river flames like brass.

On either side, smitten as with a spell

Of silence, brood the fields.

In the deep grass, edging the dusty roads, lie as they fell

Handfuls of shriveled leaves from tree and bush.

But along the orchard fence and at the gate,

Thrusting their saffron torches through the hush,

Wild lilies blaze, and bees hum soon and late.

Rust coloured the tall straggling briar,

Not one Rose left.

The spider sets its loom up there

Close to the roots, and spins out in the sun

A silken web from twig to twig.

The air is full of hot rank scents.

Upon the hill drifts the moon's single cloud, white, glaring, still...

"There may be great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm itself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke...." -Vincent van Gogh

Photographs 2025 Smoky weather and skies over Mt. Washington range, Campbell River, B.C.

AIR BEE and BEE...

Every summer, I run an "Air Bee and Bee". Free to male bees and solitary females, who  have stayed out too late or  strayed  too far from home the night before. They "bee" too tired to return to their nests. Inula is the best place to sleep, as it is a safe, warm place in which to snooze and snore, when the night gets cooler.

Even Yum Yum ( yes, that's what we named him, cause he  goes "yum yum yum" when he comes to visit), one of our resident deer, sleeps away the hours, where he feels safe. ZZZZZZZZZ....

If you're very, very quiet, and very, very careful,  you can pet the bees, as they sleep. Unfortunately ,this tends to wake them, and  they aren't too happy to have their siesta disturbed.  Best to let sleeping bees "beeee" ....till morning......

Morning Song of the Bees by Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

Awake! Awake! for the earliest gleam of golden sunlight shines on the rippling waves that brightly flow beneath the flowering vines.

Awake, Awake, for the low sweet chant of the wild birds' morning hymn comes floating by on the fragrant air.

Through the forest cool and dim; then spread each wing, and work, and sing, through the long, bright sunny hours

Over the pleasant earth we journey forth, for a day among the flowers.

Awake! Awake! for the summer wind has bidden the blossoms unclose

Has opened the violet's soft blue eye and wakened the sleeping rose.

And lightly they wave on their slender stems fragrant and fresh and fair,

Waiting for us, as we singing come , to gather our honey-dew there.

Then spread each wing, and work and sing, through the long, bright sunny hours;

Over the pleasant earth we journey forth! 

For a day among the flowers!

"The bee's life is like a magic well: the more you draw from it, the more there is to learn..." - Karl Von Firsch

 Photographs 2025