I heard in Addison's Walk a bird sing clear:
This summer will come true. This year. This year.
Winds will not strip the blossom from the apple trees
This year, nor want of rain destroy the peas.
This year time's nature will no more defeat you,
Nor all the promised moments in their passing cheat you.
This time they will not lead you round and back
To Autumn, one year older, by the well-worn track.
This year, this year, as all the flowers foretell,
We shall escape the circle and undo the spell
Often deceived, yet open once again your heart,
Look, look, look, look! the gates are drawn apart.
C.S. Lewis
This plaque in honour of C.S. Lewis is in Addison's Walk, Magdalen College, Oxford, and although now in September we are not 'early in the year', I took the photograph a few days ago on my birthday, and - 'one year older' - thought that a particularly appropriate time to read the poem; (you can find the 14-line version, Chanson d'Aventure, here).
Speaking of birthdays, I share mine with some illustrious souls, as you'll see from this splendid 50-word story which my 'twin' Sarah wrote for us!
