Tomorrow the Monty Python 'Spamalot' cast are staging a world record breaking attempt to create the largest ever coconut-playing orchestra. The song will be 'Always look on the bright side of life'. Those worried that the musical performance may not be of the highest standard will be relieved to know that there is a rehearsal time planned beforehand.

Coconuts will be provided free of charge.

I agree with James Oakley: Garry Williams must be made to go.

It's hardly possible to believe that less than a week ago there was snow on the ground, and today there's blossom on the trees and it's warm enough for shorts and t-shirt. So it seems like a good time for a poem about spring.

Spring

Nothing is so beautiful as spring -
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. -Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

One day there will be time and space to watch the blue that is all in a rush with richness, and the weeds that shoot long and lovely and lush. I hope there will be seasons in the new heavens and the new earth, even though there will be no sun. For the joy of spring following winter, and summer spring, and autumn summer, and winter autumn is one I would surely miss.

I feel I should say that these 30 poems for National Poetry Month are not exactly my 'top 30 of all time'. I've tried to choose poems that I haven't had on the blog before, so that eliminates some favourites. And I've tried to choose seasonally appropriate poems, so that eliminates some others. But all of these are poems that I love to read and hear and mull over. I hope you do too.