A Prayer in Spring

A Prayer in Spring 

by Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfil.

The Tulip Magnolia Tree, as seen in the picture above, is a marvelous tree planted for its ornamental value and is one of my favorite things to see in the spring. Its scientific name is Magnolia Soulangiana. There are several varieties, but they are all very spectacular and similar in growing characteristics. This tree is deciduous, meaning that it loses its leaves and hibernates during the winter, with new buds of leaves and flowers forming each spring.  I love driving by a house with one of these trees in full bloom.  For me, they are always breathtaking.