Thursday, March 27, 2014

Welcome Springtime with Evaleen Stein!



Dear Members, Alumni, & Friends of the James Scholar Media Team:

Happy Spring Break to one and all! The March Equinox took place one week ago today, marking the (astronomical) beginning of springtime – HOORAY! :)

To celebrate the increasing light and warmth that spring is bringing to us, I’m featuring a selection of short poems by Evaleen Stein (1863-1923), the Poet Laureate of Purdue University. Her children’s novels and whimsical poems were immensely popular during the opening decades of the 20th century, and they are well worth reading for those of us who missed out on her amazing literary output during our own childhood days.

“Basking”
By Evaleen Stein
 
Frosty winter chased away
By the blessed sun,
Down upon the garden walks
Basking has begun.

Oh, the happy, happy heat!
How the pulses stir,
How it warms the hearts beneath
Little coats of fur!

Oh, the happy pussy-cats!
Days to doze and doze,
And what pleasant dreams they dream
Only pussy knows.

“Up, Little Ones!”
By Evaleen Stein

A robin redbreast, fluting there
Upon the apple-bough,
Is telling all the world how fair
Are apple-blossoms now;
The honey-dew its sweetness spills
From cuckoo-cups, and all
The crocuses and daffodils
Are dressed for festival!

Such pretty things are to be seen,
Such pleasant things to do,
The April earth it is so green,
The April sky so blue,
The path from dawn to even-song
So joyous is to-day,
Up, little ones! and dance along
The lilac-scented way!

“The Weather-Vane”
By Evaleen Stein
 
Turn, turn, when pelting rain
Rushes down the window-pane;
Turn, turn, and turn again
When the sun shines, weather-vane!

Fie! Fie! to always be
Emblem of uncertainty!
Followed by the restless sea,
Changeful moons may wax and wane,
Yet the moons and sea-tides, too,
Constant are compared to you!
Fickle still you must remain
Long as winds blow, weather-vane!

“Who Was It?”
By Evaleen Stein
 
Of course I've heard the moon's green cheese,
But will somebody tell me, please,
Who was it took so big a bite
There's scarcely any left to-night?

Until next time –
Rob :)

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