Harmony in Horticulture
So chants and hymn tunes seem to be his first
Attempts and one, an LM tune, was for
The Church of England hymnal. This young burst
Of writing, this foundation made the soar
To heights his possibility. From these,
These simple seeds, his English garden grew.
His early training acted like decrees
For older forms to be created, new.
An opera, the symphonies, the songs,
Sonatas and the choral pieces surged
Up from these early plantings like the prongs
Of lupins, hollyhocks, and foxgloves. Urged
By childhood skills, his mastery moved on
To formal plots arranged by his baton.