Changing Stars

As Arcturus in Bootes is descending,
and Spica in Virgo ascends. 
My heart's like a cup runneth over, 
the surprises for me never end.

One constellation is going,
as the next one arrives on the scene.
I've met them before, they're never a bore,
they burn with a light as they gleam.

The seasons are ready for changing,
you can tell by the stars in the sky.
To the ancients 'twas simple star gazing,
which filled up their hearts and their eyes.

Like a clock the earth keeps on moving,
it still spins, it still tilts and revolves,
and I find this truly amazing,
like a riddle that's never been solved.

They say it's mathematic equation,
but it needs no persuasion to me.
I only gaze up at the magic,
in these mystical stars that I see.

Eternal Spring

As long as there's a spring
I'll gladly brave the cold
dark days of winter
as the year is getting old.

As long as there are flowers
that come back every year,
I'll gladly take the darkness;
With it's cold and icy spear.

As long as there are people
planting trees they'll never see,
I have faith earth will prevail,
and last eternity.

"Fall in My Backyard"

Fall in My Backyard

The elephant ears were 7 foot tall;

they stood to defy the arrival of fall.

But now they don’t seem so tall at all

as they await the coming of winter.

The magnolia tree with its blossoms white;

is fading away with summer’s light.

She’ll be back next year; to my delight;

after the cold days of winter.

The little flowers that fill the bed;

the chill in the air is something they dread.

There’ll be something else comes spring in their stead,

after the passing of winter.

We are young, the cycle’s old;

this wandering from heat to cold;

around a sun of shining gold,

into the grips of winter.

What is this loss I seem to feel;

when the sun begins to peel

the veneer of warmth which felt so real,

Laying us bare to winter?

"To Spring" - Happy Harmonies (1936)

This winter has seemed to drag on forever, so I thought I’d repost this cartoon from last year. It seems to fit the yo-yo like weather which we have been experiencing here for the past month or so. Hopefully we have seen the last of the bad weather until next year…

The MGM series of Happy Harmonies cartoons were really not preserved as well as many of the other cartoons of the era. However, there are still some real gems out there. Like this one, “To Spring”, in which the elves are awakened from their winter’s nap by the dripping of the melting ice which slowly sets off the alarm clock to awaken them to their annual task. It is a very important one, too.

You see, these elves are in charge of putting color back into the world after the bleak period of winter has passed. They seem to be enjoying themselves until Old Man Winter makes one final push to regain control over the elements, keeping things cold and bleak. But the elves are up to the challenge, restoring the world to its colorful array of beauty and its natural cycle of life.

The Last Flower

The last flower

Of the year

Stands alone

But sheds no tear

For the coming frost.

Every hour

Brings it near

It seems to know

And shows no fear

Of being lost.

Does it think?

And hold it dear?

It must know that next year

The winds will toss

What reappears?

"Helter Swelter" - Screen Song (1950)

I used to love these Screen Song cartoons as a kid. They were easily identified by the “bouncing ball” which skipped along with the lyrics on the screen, keeping time to the music. I didn’t know how to read yet, but the bouncing ball would signal me when to go to the next word, or note. 

The first cartoon I remember watching with a “bouncing ball” was the “Glow Worm” song- “Shine little glow worm, glimmer…” made famous by Bing Crosby. There was a cartoon version of it; I’ll have to try and find it to post here.

This cartoon heralds the coming of summer, which will arrive this coming Friday. I probably could have waited a week to post this one, but with school letting out I thought I’d let it rip. Lots of sight gags and one liners in this one before you get to the finale, which is the “bouncing ball” leading the audience in a sing a long of “In the Good Old Summertime”, the old classic from the 1890’s.  Enjoy the cartoon and the change in seasons!

Spring Has Sprung

Well, spring has officially sprung once again, and most of the nation will be glad to see it arrive! The past winter was unpredictable and fraught with strange and dangerous weather, which we will all be glad to see gone. Here in the Charlotte area we were lucky, with only one light dusting of snow last month. The rest of the state didn't do quite as well, with some flooding and wind damage, but nothing when compared to the storm related damages elsewhere.

As you can see, we have completely re-done our backyard, extending the patio and adding a couple of fountains and a reflecting pool. We even had a few sculptures placed in order to give it a more unique flavor. Once everything begins blooming, it should be even more beautiful.

Actually, that is Stowe Botanical Gardens on Gaston County, about 40 minutes from our house. I was thinking of posting this for April Fool’s Day, but changed my mind. The gardens were spectacular, though spring was still three days away from making its arrival when I took this photo last Sunday.

Spring is a time of renewal. Everything that left for the winter comes back again. And the cycle starts all over. For me, there is a strange comfort in that; knowing that the end of one season marks the beginning of the next; somehow that makes it easier to wade through the winter months, “waiting for the sun.” 

"To Spring" - Happy Harmonies (1936)

The MGM series of Happy Harmonies cartoons were really not preserved as well as many of the other cartoons of the era. However, there are still some real gems out there. Like this one, “To Spring”, in which the elves are awakened from their winter’s nap by the dripping of the melting ice which slowly sets off the alarm clock to awaken them to their annual task. It is a very important one, too.

You see, these elves are in charge of putting color back into the world after the bleak period of winter has passed. They seem to be enjoying themselves until Old Man Winter makes one final push to regain control over the elements, keeping things cold and bleak. But the elves are up to the challenge, restoring the world to its colorful array of beauty and its natural cycle of life.

"The Autumn" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833)

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,

And turn your eyes around,

Where waving woods and waters wild

Do hymn an autumn sound.

The summer sun is faint on them —

The summer flowers depart —

Sit still — as all transform’d to stone,

Except your musing heart.

How there you sat in summer-time,

May yet be in your mind;

And how you heard the green woods sing

Beneath the freshening wind.

Though the same wind now blows around,

You would its blast recall;

For every breath that stirs the trees,

Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth

That flesh and dust impart:

We cannot bear its visitings,

When change is on the heart.

Gay words and jests may make us smile,

When Sorrow is asleep;

But other things must make us smile,

When Sorrow bids us weep!

 

The dearest hands that clasp our hands, —

Their presence may be o’er;

The dearest voice that meets our ear,

That tone may come no more!

Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,

Which once refresh’d our mind,

Shall come — as, on those sighing woods,

The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind — view not the woods;

Look out o’er vale and hill —

In spring, the sky encircled them —

The sky is round them still.

Come autumn’s scathe — come winter’s cold —

Come change — and human fate!

Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,

Can ne’er be desolate.

"...A Frosty Morning..."

This is what a "frosty morning" looks like in "Dixie". I always wondered why they sang about it down South. That is, until I came to live here. This is the time of year when you wake up to 29 degrees, with the frost showing each time you exhale, and then watch the landscape change to a radiant, springlike 65 degrees, or so. Even when it snows here it only stays long enough to be appreciated, like a Christmas card, and then, poof, it's gone "quicker than an ol' friend from Dogpatch." There aren't too many days like this, so you have to take them as they come. And mornings like this one make that so very easy to do.

Fall in My Yard

The elephant ears were 7 foot tall,
They stood to defy the arrival of fall.
But now they don’t seem so tall at all,
As they await the coming of winter.

The magnolia tree with its blossoms white,
Fading away with summer’s light.
Will be back next year, to my delight,
After the cold days of winter.

The little flowers that fill the bed,
the chill in the air is something they dread.
There’ll be something else comes spring in their stead,
After the passing of winter.

We are young, the cycle’s old,
This wandering from heat to cold.
Around a sun of shining gold
Into the grips of winter.

What is this loss I seem to feel,
When the sun begins to peel
The veneer of warmth which felt so real,
Laying us bare to winter?