springtide

This autumn season is something more akin to late springtide in the brilliant career of Edna O’Brien, described by her American peer Philip Roth as the greatest living woman writing in English.

Who could describe an egg for instance whose springtide of youth was far behind and yet was not quite ready for the discard!

The man's whole nature was suddenly broken up, and flowing forth as a stream in a springtide thaw.

There was then Summer nor winter, springtide nor the time Of harvest, but the soft unfailing sun Shone always, and the sowing time was one With reaping.”

The capping-day was the end of our springtide, and for some of us the summer was to be brief.