Andrew Marvell’s The Garden 

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I love these videos they're so restful

The background chat is good.

That was excellent. A real exercise on the vocabulary muscles.

One of my favourite poems from A level English studies circa 1974. Lovely to hear it read again and I seem to understand its depths much more now.

A glass to you I raise, And offer thee good praise, For endeavoring to pull us forth to listen, Away from the modern life that hastens, And calmly take in kind words, Of peaceful gardens and lovely birds, Many thanks to you my friend, For bringing peace to my day’s end. Lovely poem, Malcom! I took your advice, as I do consider myself a literate gardener, and purchased this book straightaway. Peace to you! Enjoy your break. I look forward to your next installment. -Vincent

Thank you so much Malcolm - once again a poem to knock the spirit out of the park! Please keep going with these little films if you can as they are introducing some of us to wonderful gems.

Most enjoyable. Greetings from the SYP in South Australia. Australia 🇦🇺

Such a pleasure to read along and hear your thoughts. Thanks, Malcolm!

Love it! The icon of the garden. Norman Wirzba says “A garden, we might say, is a living laboratory in which we have the chance to grow into nurturers, protectors, and celebrators of life. This, I believe, is why the first command given to the first human being was to come alongside God the Gardener and ‘till and keep’ the Garden of Paradise.“ Lewis’s garden of Perelandra and remember Samwise Gamgee, patron “Saint” of gardeners! 😊

Thank you, I turn to your videos when I need to lift my spirits.

A delight as usual Malcolm. Thanks

glad to be early love from ireland

Your videos are always so enjoyable. Thank you Malcom :)

Enjoy your break Malcolm, enjoy your Garden! Unfortunately here in the south we have had the bite of winter arrive a few weeks earlier that usual.

Most enjoyable.

This was fabulous.

reading begins at 4:20

Malcolm, I must send you a letter! I had made an illuminated copy of my favourite stanza from 'the Garden' (my favourite poem) with you in mind, and now I feel as though I must make one for your possession. I am also planning a Galahad miniature, but could use some guidance.

Your wonderful videos….just like a session with a tutor…at Cambridge….I only regret…that I gave up English literature after O-levels and didn‘t study poetry much further….in higher education. In the 1970s the English curriculum comprehensive schools was always focussed, constrained and concentrated 3-4 A levels…maths&science….or…..“the rest“…..😔😪 Is it better…..today? If I did it again, I would study 5 A- levels with Engl. Lit. and Art on top of the Chem., Physics & Maths. They said back then…“Thats impossible…nobody can do that!“ Now I‘m retired…maybe I can catch up 😄😉

Relaxing with a pipe after weeding the garden and it was wonderful to listen about “a green thought in a green shade”!

Oh happy days indeed, spring is finally here and the soil awaits my spade. I really dig my garden.

That stanza about the soul in the tree made me think of Louise Gluck, an American poet who won the Nobel in 2020. This is the title poem from her 1992 volume. The Wild Iris At the end of my suffering there was a door. Hear me out: that which you call death I remember. Overhead, noises, branches of the pine shifting. Then nothing. The weak sun flickered over the dry surface. It is terrible to survive as consciousness buried in the dark earth. Then it was over: that which you fear, being a soul and unable to speak, ending abruptly, the stiff earth bending a little. And what I took to be birds darting in low shrubs. You who do not remember passage from the other world I tell you I could speak again: whatever returns from oblivion returns to find a voice: from the center of my life came a great fountain, deep blue shadows on azure seawater. Louise Gluck Carpe diem on that break!

hi ,Mailcomw! how are you?

Thanks have a great break 🙏👍

Any man without a garden is to be pitied 😢

I liked the part about the birds in the garden.

I'm a newcomer to your thoughts and poetry and I love it. Our beards are similar in color and winters. From one pipe smoker to another, I pray for our long and fruitful relationship. Thank you sir.

Thanks so much, Malcolm!

I was just reading Marvell's "The Coronet" on Easter Sunday. I think it's sad how little scholars emphasize the religious dimensions in his work.