If I were the curious sort, I would research how well Lowell fares in English Literature Class today. Thank God I have no curiosity this fine day.

Daily Readings May 2nd

• Lowell’s “To the Dandelion“
• Lamb’s “A Farewell to Tobacco“
• “She is Going“

“To the Dandelion” (James Russell Lowell) comes to us from Volume XIV of the Pocket University, Poetry: Descriptive and Reflective. It’s a sweet little poem. It begins…

Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way,
Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold,
    First pledge of blithesome May,
Which children pluck, and, full of pride uphold,
  High-hearted buccaneers, o'erjoyed that they
An Eldorado in the grass have found,
    Which not the rich earth's ample round
  May match in wealth, thou art more dear to me
  Than all the prouder summer-blooms may be.

Here is a nice and not overly wrought bio-blurb of Charles Lamb. Remember that book about Mary Lamb I came across?

If you’ve ever been there, “A Farewell to Tobacco” will resonate. Lots of references to Bacchus. I still have some heirloom tobacco seeds. Beautiful flowers. I should see if they will germinate.

Oh. “She is Going” is sweet, too.

For their elder Sister's hair
Martha does a wreath prepare
Of bridal rose, ornate and gay:
To-morrow is the wedding day.
She is going
Mary, youngest of the three,
Laughing idler, full of glee,
Arm in arm does fondly chain her,
Thinking, poor trifler, to detain her--
She is going
Vex not, maidens, nor regret
Thus to part with Margaret.
Charms like yours can never stay
Long within doors: and one day
She is going

Margaret, Martha, and Mary. Sisters. Sisters. There were never such devoted sisters. …

Stay well. Keep Reading. I hope your Saturday is shaping up as you hoped it would.