The Beauty of Nature, Oh Joy!
Join our 30-Day Pilgrimage into Joy!
Day 6: We connect with the beauty of nature to call up Joy.
TREES
by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
What I noticed right away was the presence of the word "God"—twice! I also realized that back in the 1950s when I learned this poem, prayer had not yet been banned from the public classroom. This was a bittersweet moment for me, an apt reminder that all things change; everything is impermanent.
But there is just something about trees. Though I know they can sicken and die, be decimated by disaster or by man's hand, they just "feel" more permanent. There is something so solid, so steady about them. I seek comfort in them and I find it.
When driving in the car, my eyes unfailingly watch the trees. I notice everything about them—their color, shape, and size. The way their leaves move in the wind. How they flow and change with the seasons with dignity.
Tree gazing lifts me up, delivering me into Joy's embrace.
My favorite tree is a weeping willow. Have you ever sat beneath one? Its trunk is rock solid and strong. It's branches swoop down to cover you like a protective mother. Its tendrils swish so gently in the breeze they may lull you to sleep. Weeping willows seem to represent the yin and yang of life: strength and flexibility.
Does being in nature bring you Joy? I hope so, for the natural world has a very high resonance. If we surrender to its majesty and dwell only in the present moment, we find ourselves in the midst of the Holy; in the presence of Joy.
What natural presence—creature or form—invites you into Joy?
Do tell. I would love to hear.
~~~~~
Image courtesy of www. en.wikivisual.com
Share This Post
13 comments:
What natural presence—creature or form—invites you into Joy?
For me it's birds and butterflies. Since I was a little girl I have been madly in love with butterflies. Recently, these three beautiful birds come to the tree by my bedroom everyday and sing. I have never been more aware of birds than I am with them. I look and wait for them and when I see them a strong sense of peace enters me.
Have a wondrous weekend Jan!!
I'm hearing one right now, rain tapping at the windows. There is something so comforting about hearing the rain fall, knowing it is nourishing the earth, the beautiful summer flowers, our vegetable gardens. Water, rain, so nourishing and life-giving.
I love it all, the trees, the flowers, grasses, all animals, birds and insects, I have a thing for beetles :-), but I think the ocean and beach has to be my biggest mood lifter.
I love it all too (well, not all the bugs) but especially the ocean, flowers, birds, and trees. I'm watching a program on National Geographic that called trees "living sculptures." My hometown in Wisconsin was a logging town, and once there was a picture of some men who had just cut down a stand of trees that were over 100 years old. They were grinning like they had conquered Mount Everest! Now I live in the desert, so that's what has made me really appreciate them. My favorite part in "The Lord of the Rings" books was the Ents.
Tabitha,
Two lovely choices, birds and butterflies. Did you know butterflies are a symbol (pretty much worldwide) for "transformation."? I am a bird-lady, too. I wonder if you have mourning doves by your window. They love windowsills...
Right now we have the tiniest little bird's nest, built by house finches, in a hanging basket of fuschia on my porch. Today it has an egg in it! Needless to say, we are watering the plant very carefully. :-)
Joanne,
Your description of the rain sounds delightful and most soothing. I appreciate the connection you make between rain and nourishment. Don't plants/the garden just look and feel better vibrationally after a rain? So fresh and alive.
Annie,
I'm not surprised that you said "All of it." Me too. There is rarely something in nature that does not resonate. (Though I am not a bug person either. Especially spiders.) Ah, the ocean, truly the best joy booster in my book too...I wonder if you get to visit their often. :-)
Gayle,
Hi! From woodlands to desert, that is quite a switch. It sounds like you have made the adjustment of landscape well. I asked my teen daughter about the Ents, as she is a LOR fan. Her desc. of them as walking, talking, ancient ones was wonderful. I can see how you, too, resonate with trees.
It's not just that I find joy in nature, it's that I have to allow for frequent time in nature to connect with joy.
I also love trees and am particularly drawn to bodies of water.
Hi Jan,
What a beautiful journey you are taking us through.I was out of town for the past 4 days and I just read the earlier posts to connect with the joy that emanates from your posts.Thank you!
I also love trees -their stability, color,formations and love painting them too!
thanks for your words of encouragement at my blog.I value them a lot.
blessings for abundance
sema
Brandi,
You are so right, my friend. Nature is a given, but are we granting ourselves enough time there...time to partake of its joy? An issue for me when deadlines loom. The computer becomes my preoccupation. Even though I am situated smack dab in the middle of one of the most beautiful places on earth (okay, I'm biased!) I have to remind myself...reorient myself... toward what nurtures and enlivens. Nature always!
Sema,
Welcome back! I am happy to hear that you read the previous posts and are back on the Joy Trail. Your site is always a source of Joy for me. :-) So you are a tree woman, too. I wonder if you have a favorite type to paint...
I just started birding a few years ago and it has added so much contemplative joy to my life. I don't seek out birds, as much as find a spot and await their arrival and then watch their behavior. It has taught me so much about mindfulness, the now, and infinity/eternity.
I wanted to thank you for your recent, gracious comments on blisschick. :)
Oh you too? The title didn't ring a bell but just like you, the first line sent me off on the sing-song recital of this beautiful poem I memorized in school.
Only God can make a tree. Indeed.
I love trees, especially the gigantic ones - so strong and with an imposing presence. They really represent strength and flexibility and we can learn to be both ourselves. The pairing of these two powerful qualities makes for a balanced life.
My all-time favorite element of nature is water. It represents freedom, the washing away of negativity and the inward flow of positive things, thoughts and emotions. Oh joy!
A poem is created by a gifted writer,but only God can create water.
Take everything but leave me a pen, a notebook and water.
For me, any brush with nature, especially if its an unexpected encounter with a wild animal, absolutely sends my spirit into wild fits of ecstasy. (Not the "Yum, you look tasty" kind of wild animal, unless viewed or heard from afar). I also love, love, love, trees and flowers, even weeds. I marvel at all the information contained in one tiny seed and the magnificence that springs forth in a heady expression of life.
Today, I sat and watched a bumblebee greedily gather nectar from wild clover blossoms and it just made me so incredibly happy. You can pet the big, fat, furry bumblebees, you know. :o))
Carolynn,
What a lovely twist on the subject. Unexpected and wild brushes with nature bringing you joy. Love it! And I wonder, what was your most profound?
Did I mention yet (no, I think I haven't, but will in a post) the BEAR who has scoped us in with regular visits to our yard/garden? He is after the sunflower seed in the bird feeders. Done a bit of damage. He comes at night. Now we are removing the feeders and bringing them in at night to shoo him on, hopefully! There are not bears traditionally in this area. Apparently this is a first! Sort of exciting for us. :-)
Post a Comment