'The Progress of Spring' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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THE groundflame of the crocus breaks the mould,
Fair Spring slides hither o'er the Southern sea,
Wavers on her thin stem the snowdrop cold
That trembles not to kisses of the bee:
Come Spring, for now from all the dripping eaves
The spear of ice has wept itself away,
And hour by hour unfolding woodbine leaves
O'er his uncertain shadow droops the day.
She comes! The loosen'd rivulets run;
The frost-bead melts upon her golden hair;
Her mantle, slowly greening in the Sun,
Now wraps her close, now arching leaves her bar
To breaths of balmier air;

Up leaps the lark, gone wild to welcome her,
About her glance the tits, and shriek the jays,
Before her skims the jubilant woodpecker,
The linnet's bosom blushes at her gaze,
While round her brows a woodland culver flits,
Watching her large light eyes and gracious looks,
And in her open palm a halcyon sits
Patient--the secret splendour of the brooks.
Come Spring! She comes on waste and wood,
On farm and field: but enter also here,
Diffuse thyself at will thro' all my blood,
And, tho' thy violet sicken into sere,
Lodge with me all the year!

Once more a downy drift against the brakes,
Self-darken'd in the sky, descending slow!
But gladly see I thro' the wavering flakes
Yon blanching apricot like snow in snow.
These will thine eyes not brook in forest-paths,
On their perpetual pine, nor round the beech;
They fuse themselves to little spicy baths,
Solved in the tender blushes of the peach;
They lose themselves and die
On that new life that gems the hawthorn line;
Thy gay lent-lilies wave and put them by,
And out once more in varnish'd glory shine
Thy stars of celandine.

She floats across the hamlet. Heaven lours,
But in the tearful splendour of her smiles
I see the slowl-thickening chestnut towers
Fill out the spaces by the barren tiles.
Now past her feet the swallow circling flies,
A clamorous cuckoo stoops to meet her hand;
Her light makes rainbows in my closing eyes,
I hear a charm of song thro' all the land.
Come, Spring! She comes, and Earth is glad
To roll her North below thy deepening dome,
But ere thy maiden birk be wholly clad,
And these low bushes dip their twigs in foam,
Make all true hearths thy home.

Across my garden! and the thicket stirs,
The fountain pulses high in sunnier jets,
The blackcap warbles, and the turtle purrs,
The starling claps his tiny castanets.
Still round her forehead wheels the woodland dove,
And scatters on her throat the sparks of dew,
The kingcup fills her footprint, and above
Broaden the glowing isles of vernal blue.
Hail ample presence of a Queen,
Bountiful, beautiful, apparell'd gay,
Whose mantle, every shade of glancing green,
Flies back in fragrant breezes to display
A tunic white as May!

She whispers, 'From the South I bring you balm,
For on a tropic mountain was I born,
While some dark dweller by the coco-palm
Watch'd my far meadow zoned with airy morn;
From under rose a muffled moan of floods;
I sat beneath a solitude of snow;
There no one came, the turf was fresh, the woods
Plunged gulf on gulf thro' all their vales below
I saw beyond their silent tops
The steaming marshes of the scarlet cranes,
The slant seas leaning oll the mangrove copse,
And summer basking in the sultry plains
About a land of canes;

'Then from my vapour-girdle soaring forth
I scaled the buoyant highway of the birds,
And drank the dews and drizzle of the North,
That I might mix with men, and hear their words
On pathway'd plains; for--while my hand exults
Within the bloodless heart of lowly flowers
To work old laws of Love to fresh results,
Thro' manifold effect of simple powers--
I too would teach the man
Beyond the darker hour to see the bright,
That his fresh life may close as it began,
The still-fulfilling promise of a light
Narrowing the bounds of night.'

So wed thee with my soul, that I may mark
The coming year's great good and varied ills,
And new developments, whatever spark
Be struck from out the clash of warring wills;
Or whether, since our nature cannot rest,
The smoke of war's volcano burst again
From hoary deeps that belt the changeful West,
Old Empires, dwellings of the kings of men;
Or should those fail, that hold the helm,
While the long day of knowledge grows and warms,
And in the heart of this most ancient realm
A hateful voice be utter'd, and alarms
Sounding 'To arms! to arms!'

A simpler, saner lesson might he learn
Who reads thy gradual process, Holy Spring.
Thy leaves possess the season in their turn,
And in their time thy warblers rise on wing.
How surely glidest thou from March to May,
And changest, breathing it, the sullen wind,
Thy scope of operation, day by day,
Larger and fuller, like the human mind '
Thy warmths from bud to bud
Accomplish that blind model in the seed,
And men have hopes, which race the restless blood
That after many changes may succeed
Life, which is Life indeed.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Journey Through Tennyson's "The Progress of Spring"

As the winter snow thaws away, and the flowers start blooming, our hearts and minds fill with the joy of spring. It is the season of rejuvenation, renewal, and rebirth - a time when the world awakens from its slumber, and everything around us comes to life. It is this spirit of spring that Alfred, Lord Tennyson brings to life in his poem "The Progress of Spring." In this article, we will embark on a journey through this classic piece of poetry, exploring its themes, symbols, and interpretations.

The Poem

Before we delve into the depths of the poem, let's take a moment to read it in its entirety:

The groundflame of the crocus breaks the mould,
Fair Spring slides hither o'er the Southern sea,
Wavers on her thin stem the snowdrop cold
That trembles not to kisses of the bee:
Come, Spring, for now from all the dripping eaves
The spear of ice has wept itself away,
And hour by hour unfolding woodbine leaves
O'er his uncertain shadow droop and sway.
The gnats, with greenish glittering wings, are out,
The winter-beaten hedge has green shoots still,
And, ragged and unsmooth, the lean fields sprout
Their tares and coarsely-mingled daffodil;
'Tis Spring,--come hither, Spring, to hearts that pine,
The far-off hills are quickened, they expand
Their shining plumage; bursts of song divine
Roll from their tops and run through all the land;
Earth feels her bosom all a-sudden stirr'd
By deep long-hidden instincts; sky and earth
Seem newly married; and the early bird
Bursts into music, as the sap gives birth
To leaf and flower and bud, which burgeon fast
Each in his several beauty, to unite
And form a fair full garland in the last,
Wherewith the Bridegroom doth his Bride invite.

Analysis

The poem is a celebration of spring, a time when nature awakens from its slumber, and everything around us comes to life. Tennyson uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the changing landscape. The first stanza opens with the image of the crocus breaking through the soil, a symbol of new life emerging from the darkness of winter. The snowdrop, still cold and delicate, trembles in the breeze, unafraid of the bee's kiss, a symbol of the return of life and fertility.

In the second stanza, Tennyson uses the image of melting snow and dripping eaves to signify the end of winter. The woodbine leaves, unfolding hour by hour, sway in the breeze, a symbol of the gradual awakening of the natural world. The gnats, with their greenish glittering wings, are out, a symbol of the renewal of life and the return of warmth.

In the third stanza, Tennyson describes the sprouting of tares and daffodils in the lean fields, a symbol of the reawakening of the earth. The hills are quickened, and bursts of divine song roll from their tops, a symbol of the joy and exuberance of spring. The early bird bursts into music, and the sap gives birth to leaf and flower and bud, a symbol of the cycle of life and the renewal of nature.

The final stanza is a celebration of the beauty of spring. Each flower, with its unique beauty, comes together to form a fair full garland, symbolizing the beauty and unity of nature. The Bridegroom and Bride metaphor represent the marriage of heaven and earth, a symbol of the sacredness of nature and the joy of life.

Interpretation

Tennyson's "The Progress of Spring" is a celebration of the reawakening of the natural world after the long, dark winter. It is a poem that celebrates life, joy, and beauty. The poem uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the changing landscape, from the breaking of the crocus to the bursting of the flowers in the last stanza.

The poem can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the cycle of life. Just as the natural world awakens from its slumber in the spring, so too do we awaken from the darkness of our lives. The poem is a reminder that, no matter how dark our lives may seem, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth.

The poem is also a celebration of the interconnectedness of all things. Each flower, with its unique beauty, comes together to form a fair full garland, representing the beauty and unity of nature. The Bridegroom and Bride metaphor symbolize the marriage of heaven and earth, a symbol of the sacredness of nature and the joy of life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tennyson's "The Progress of Spring" is a beautiful poem that celebrates the reawakening of the natural world after the long, dark winter. It is a poem that celebrates life, joy, and beauty. The poem uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the changing landscape, from the breaking of the crocus to the bursting of the flowers in the last stanza.

Overall, Tennyson's "The Progress of Spring" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the beauty, joy, and interconnectedness of nature. It is a poem that inspires us to embrace life, to celebrate its beauty, and to find joy in the simple things.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Progress of Spring: A Celebration of Nature's Renewal

Spring is a time of renewal, of rebirth, and of hope. It is a season that brings with it a sense of joy and optimism, as the world awakens from its winter slumber and bursts forth with new life. In his classic poem, The Progress of Spring, Alfred, Lord Tennyson captures the essence of this magical season, celebrating the beauty and wonder of nature's renewal.

The poem is divided into four parts, each of which explores a different aspect of spring's progress. In the first part, Tennyson describes the arrival of spring, as the earth awakens from its winter sleep. He paints a vivid picture of the world coming to life, with the "budding twigs" and "green blades" of grass pushing their way through the soil. The air is filled with the sweet scent of flowers, and the birds sing their joyful songs, heralding the arrival of spring.

As the poem progresses, Tennyson turns his attention to the animals that inhabit this newly awakened world. In the second part, he describes the "wild creatures" that emerge from their winter hiding places, eager to take advantage of the abundance of food and the warmth of the sun. He speaks of the "timid hare" and the "squirrel frisking on the tree," both of which are emblematic of the energy and vitality of spring.

In the third part of the poem, Tennyson shifts his focus to the human world, describing the joy and excitement that spring brings to people. He speaks of the "maidens" who dance in the fields, their hair "floating in the breeze," and the "youths" who engage in games and sports, reveling in the newfound warmth and light. He also speaks of the "old men" who sit in the sun, reminiscing about their youth and the joys of springtime.

Finally, in the fourth part of the poem, Tennyson reflects on the deeper meaning of spring, and the way in which it symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. He speaks of the "eternal cycle" of birth, growth, and decay, and the way in which each season is a part of this larger pattern. He also speaks of the way in which spring represents a kind of rebirth, a chance to start anew and to embrace the possibilities of the future.

Throughout the poem, Tennyson's language is rich and evocative, capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world. He uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of spring's progress, from the "budding twigs" and "green blades" of grass to the "timid hare" and the "maidens" dancing in the fields. His use of personification, such as when he describes the "young leaves" as "clapping their hands," adds a sense of whimsy and playfulness to the poem.

At the same time, Tennyson's poem is also deeply philosophical, exploring the larger themes of life, death, and rebirth. He uses spring as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence, reminding us that everything in life is part of a larger pattern. He also speaks of the way in which spring represents a kind of renewal, a chance to start anew and to embrace the possibilities of the future.

In conclusion, The Progress of Spring is a beautiful and evocative poem that celebrates the beauty and wonder of nature's renewal. Through his use of vivid imagery and rich language, Tennyson captures the essence of spring's progress, from the arrival of new growth to the emergence of wild creatures and the joy and excitement that spring brings to people. At the same time, he also explores the deeper themes of life, death, and rebirth, using spring as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence. This poem is a true masterpiece of English literature, and a testament to Tennyson's skill as a poet.

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