Wednesday 3 July 2013

I Meant to Do My Work Today by Richard LeGallienne

Richard LeGallienne was a contemporary of Oscar Wilde and this simple but truly enchanting poem is one of my favourites. In a few sentences LeGallienne justifies his own longing to escape - a longing he indulges with utter and complete joy.  I have been, so many times, inside that experience, but usually I repress my longing to go and dance among the buttercups, and, instead, I press on with my work. I won't ever do that again.


Copyright: Janet Cameron



I meant to do my work today -
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree
And a butterfly flitted across the field
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went singing over the land
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand -
So what could I do but laugh and go?