Jennie's address today is about "Summer"... or in the context of the George Gershwin music featured by Margaret, our pianist, today - "Summertime" might be a more appropriate title?
The words that follow the Gershwin songline "…and the Livin' is easy" are taking on a less carefree tone when seen in the context of severe summer droughts and flooding rains as global warming brings extreme Summer weather to the planet. Jenny maintains that "Summertime" has always been less well-regarded in English poetry than Autumn, Winter and Spring and she uses some well-chosen anecdotes to show that our summers never quite live up to our expectations. That is never more apparent than now. Listen on!