FERN HILL
by Dylan Thomas
Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.
And as I was green and carefree, famous among the barns
About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,
In the sun that is young once only,
Time let me play and be
Golden in the mercy of his means,
And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves
Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold,
And the sabbath rang slowly
In the pebbles of the holy streams.
(
read the rest)
THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREEby William Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

The best birthday surprise ever! I'm so happy for all of you, especially the birthday girl.
Posted by: Diane | August 18, 2006 at 06:20 PM
Happy Birthday, Rose! So glad you have your daddy home! We readers expect NO posts, while you guys catch up!
Posted by: Mary Beth Patnaude | August 18, 2006 at 06:26 PM
How wonderful and heartwarming! Enjoy your time together!
Posted by: Theresa | August 18, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Oh happy, happy day! Enjoy every minute!
Posted by: Ebeth | August 19, 2006 at 01:57 AM
Happy birthday! Enjoy every millisecond!
Posted by: Karen E. | August 19, 2006 at 05:49 AM
How wonderful! I can't imagine how hard this has been on all of you. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 19, 2006 at 06:10 AM
It doesn't get any better than that. :)
Have a wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Cay | August 19, 2006 at 07:06 AM
WooHoo!!! Happy, happy birthday!
Posted by: jennifer in austin | August 19, 2006 at 08:25 AM
Happy Birthday Rose!! What a great present, I am sure you all are thrilled!!!Happy weekend EVERYONE!
Anne
Posted by: Anne V. | August 19, 2006 at 09:10 AM
Happy Birthday, Rose!! Happy weekend everyone else!!
Posted by: KC | August 19, 2006 at 02:40 PM
Actually, I'll bet it feels a bit like YOUR birthday (or honeymoon, or you know ;-)).
Enjoy.
(Remind him to stash some more chocolate before he leaves.)
Julie
Posted by: Julie | August 19, 2006 at 03:23 PM
awww..
what a sweet picture.
happy birthday!
Posted by: mary mi | August 19, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful, wonderful surprise!
Posted by: Amy | August 21, 2006 at 06:34 AM
This photo is priceless --- It truly captures the essence of a very special moment! Best wishes to all.
Posted by: Kristin | August 22, 2006 at 10:16 PM