Nature Inspirations for February 2020 include: Nature Poem: Ceremonies for Candlemasse Eve, Robert Herrick (1591-1674) and Nature Painting: St. Jerome in a Landscape, Battista Dossi (Battista di Luteri) (1548)
Nature Poem
Ceremonies for Candlemasse Eve
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Down with the Rosemary and Bayes,
Down with the Mistleto;
In stead of Holly, now up-raise
The greener Box (for show).
Holly hitherto did sway;
Let Box now domineere;
Untill the dancing Easter-day,
Or Easters Eve appeare.
Then youthfull Box which now hath grace,
Your houses to renew;
Grown old, surrender must his place,
Unto the crisped Yew.
When Yew is out, then Birch comes in,
And many Flowers beside;
Both of a fresh, and fragrant kinne
To honour Whitsontide.
Green Rushes then, and sweetest Bents,
With cooler Oken boughs;
Come in for comely ornaments,
To re-adorn the house.
Thus times do shift; each thing his turne do's hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.
Nature Painting
St. Jerome in a Landscape, Battista Dossi (Battista di Luteri), 1548
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