May in Lemnos
The island abloom with poppies and daisies.
To Demeter
(from The Homeric Hymns)
Hesiod (c.800 B.C.) Translated by Thelma Sargent
(Persephone)
She with her friends, the full-breasted daughters of Ocean,
Gathered the flowers that grew in the soft, grassy meadow –
Roses and crocuses, beautiful violets, iris,
Hyacinth, too, and a magical, glowing narcissus,
Which, by the will of Zeus and as a boon to lord Hades,
Gaia sent forth as bait for the flowerlike girl.
Flowers spilling over the paths in my Garden
Late Lemnian Spring
Gone are the early glories of spring,
when warmer days the blossoms bring,
now roses are glowing in red and gold,
and greens upon greens in the garden unfold.
The scent of Honeysuckle far and wide
drifts through the garden and inside.
Sturdy trees hint at what they will bear,
with tiny apple and miniature pear.
The air is gentle, not searing or cold,
the winds are balmy, not rough and bold.
Friends arrive, with eggs from their hens,
for we all divide what spring-bounty sends.
I share carrots, with dirt on my jeans,
and a gardener’s gift of lettuce and beans.
Tomatoes now flowering soon will yield,
grasses are drying on hillside and field.
For winter has gone, ‘tho storms clouds tease,
with grumbles of thunder, no rain to please.
Soon sun will scorch both hill and field,
gardens will dry and need water to yield.
Wasps will feed off apple and pear,
not many unmarked for us to share.
When again will we see this season?
At Persephone’s return is what we reason.
Julia Catton
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