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Text Box: Springtime The year’s at the spring The day’s at the morn, Morning’s at seven, the hillside dew pearled The lark’s on the wing The snail’s on the thorn God’s in his heavens, all’s well with the world. Thus sang Pippa, and I respond with my own song of a golden experience. I hear outpourings of golden notes from my golden forsythia bush.  I wander through the drifts of golden daffodils, celandines, buttercups and cushions of golden primroses. Yes, Browning was right when he preferred our golden buttercups to the vulgar gaudiness of the melon flower. As a breeze ruffles the trees at the edge of the wood, golden dust is showered from willow and hazel trees, and the golden bees hum and hover over the golden lambs-tails and pussy willow. The golden gorse edges the roadways under-spread with golden dandelions and golden zanthora lichens coat the trunks and branches of old trees proclaiming unpolluted air. How wistfully Browning writes of England in April and his longing to be here at the birth of Spring. April brings the gentle showers and balmy breezes which shake off the petals of the flowering cherry mocking the snows of the past winter. The first butterflies of the season flutter and dance amongst the fresh buds on the hawthorns and even a busy bee hums as it visits the spring flowers, filling the carrier bags on its legs with golden pollen.  Tiny golden chicks, newly hatched in time for Easter, cluster around the clucking hen, and golden ducklings paddle excitedly after mother in the joy of their first swim. So many delicious moments add up to Spring.  Yes, one may celebrate Summer, for golden beaches, deep blue seas and long lazy holidays.  Autumn brings its plethora of fruits and vegetables, and Winter the blessing of       Christmas. Oh, but the joy of Springtime, the renewal of the earth, tiny openings of green buds on hedges and trees filling out the skeletons of bare branches left by winter winds which swept away the yellowing leaves of Autumn.  We speak of the joys of Spring, the awakening of all nature as the sap rises in both vegetation and humanity. “Oh to be in England, now that April’s here”, sang the poet, and all the fields and gardens and the spirits of humans echo the call. So let’s all raise our voices and joyfully sing of the beauty, the promise of our GOLDEN SPRING. _______________________ The Creative Writing Group Our group meets once a month to discuss the writing we have done on a subject which was proposed at the previous meeting.  If willing, each person can read out their story.  We have had many ideas put forward and many  interpretations of the subjects agreed, which we discuss, and then decide on next month’s subject.  We have a website where our stories can be printed and shared with other writers.  We are a small group and would welcome new members who may wish to have help with their writing.  It would be good to form a group who would like to write their own life story.  After all, everyone has a story to tell, which is important, as we are all different, and have various experiences. These may be of interest to others, especially ones own family.  So come along and let us read or listen to your poems or stories.  Check with Paul Brickell as to the date, place and time of our next meeting.  Don’t be shy, you will be patiently listened to, and I am sure you will learn and enjoy a new experience. Phyllis Clarke, creative writing coordinator

Text Box: End Note from ’Exploring Literature—Past & Present’ on the topic of Creative Writing. At their September meeting members will be creating their own ‘Street  Literature’.  They will be following the style of 17th/18th century pamphlet writers who circulated their work amongst the  public informing them of unjust laws or notifying them of diseases or disasters.  Watch out for the January Newsletter!    Pauline Carter, Group Coordinator