Spring

(Kindergarten, 1948, by Willy Ronis, 1910-2009,
French photographer)

One of the many sweet melodies of spring is the sound of young children at play outside at recess.

from SPRING

Sound the Flute!
Now it’s mute.
Birds delight
Day and Night;
Nightingale
In the dale,
Lark in Sky,
Merrily,
Merrily, Merrily to welcome in the Year*.

Little Boy
Full of joy;
Little Girl,
Sweet small,
Cock does crow,
So do you;
Merry voice,
Infant noise,
Merrily, Merrily to welcome in the Year.

~ William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet, painter, engraver, and mystic visionary

* to welcome in the Year — in England, under the Julian calendar, March 25 was, for all practical purposes, the date marking the beginning of the year; that date moved to January 1 with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752.

In the Christian liturgical calendar, March 25 is also known as Lady (or Lady’s) Day, celebrating the feast of the angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary that she was to be the mother of Christ, nine months before the feast of the nativity of Christ.