April

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Tue, 12 Apr 2022
  • 681 reads
6 comments
 

"April is the cruelest month.." - The Waste Land by T.S.Eliot

How unkind of TSE
to describe April
as the cruellest month
That is not what 
it looks to me.

I grant you that it can be
temperamental 
but we must consider
that with something
so essentially elemental

one has to expect
a certain amount
of unpredictability,
not pin one's hopes
on certainty.

Traditionally this month
is volatile and comes
with frequent showers, 
intermittent sunshine
and milder weather.

A philosophic approach
is required to ensure
that our aspirations
aren't followed
by bitter disappointment.

 

© Luigi Pagano 2022

 

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Nature
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I hadn't heard of that poem, and immediately thought of 'Home thoughts from abroad' by Browning re the hopefulness and pleaures many feel when they see the sunshine mixed with showers of April and the bursting beauty gradually emerging. 

I did look up about Eliot's poem and it seemed it was written in the wake of the severe pandemic of the spanish flu. And seemed to be referring to unrealistic 'hope' that isn't prepared for the continuing of difficulties. Which is what you note in your last verse, I presume. 'Hope' that is secure on promises doesn't fail, but sees us through the coninuing troubles of this life and takes delight in the cheering progress of April. Encouragement now, support now, and the best to come! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

It's always a good thing to discover an unfamiliar poem and read it. I am pleased that my piece prompted you to do so. "The Waste Land" is said to be Eliot's masterpiece which he dedicated to the poet Ezra Pound who provided suggestions and edited the work. The line 'Aril is the cruelest month' became a classic and it was my inspiration point. You have highlighted the salient points of the original poem and of my argument perfectly. 

Thank you for your incisive comment, Luigi x

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

ABC editors, thank you.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

smiley Luigi

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I agree that it isn't the cruellest month. Everything is on the move, the sun is heating up and all plants need rain as they cope with the longer daylength and warmer temperatures. Temperamental and volatile, yes, you've summed the month of April up really nicely here.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Good morning, Jane.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am pleased to hear that I am not the only one who values this capricious and sometimes maligned month.

Luigi x