A Poem in Honor of National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, I've been seeing around.

I really do enjoy poetry, and wish I would take the time to memorize more or get the kids to memorize more.  It's always really satisfying to have a poem "down." For now, just reading lots of good poetry.

I bring this one out every March 25--the Annunciation.

Mary's Girlhood by Dante Gabriel Rossetti


This is that blessed Mary, pre-elect
God's Virgin. Gone is a great while, and she
Dwelt young in Nazareth of Galilee.
Unto God's will she brought devout respect,
Profound simplicity of intellect,
And supreme patience. From her mother's knee
Faithful and hopeful; wise in charity;
Strong in grave peace; in pity circumspect.

So held she through her girlhood; as it were
An angel-water'd lily, that near God
Grows and is quiet. Till, one dawn at home,
She woke in her white bed, and had no fear
At all,--yet wept till sunshine, and felt aw'd:
Because the fulness of the time was come.