Songs of the Sea Children
Pat is pained to experience gladness again after Bets’ death.
“Yet in the purple shadow
And in the warm grey rain
What hints of ancient sorrow
And unremembered pain!”No, not “unremembered.” She would always remember it. She had had Bets for nine wonderful years and nothing could take them from her. Judy had been right as she always was. One would not drink of the cup of forgetfulness if one could.
-Pat of Silver Bush ch.31,1
Songs of the Sea Children CXVIII
By Bliss Carman
Along the faint horizon
I watch the first soft green,
And for the first wild warble
Near to the ground I lean.
The flowers come up with colour,
The birds come back with song,
And from the earth are taken
Despondency and wrong.
Yet in the purple shadows,
And in the warm grey rain,
What hints of ancient sorrow
And unremembered pain!
O sob and flush of April,
That still must joy and sing!
What is the sad, wild meaning
Under the heart of Spring?
Source
“Bliss Carman - Songs of the Sea Children - Confederation Poets - Canadian Poetry” Online, Internet: http://www.uwo.ca/english/canadianpoetry/confederation/Bliss%20Carman/sea_children/cxviii.htm
