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[gardengirl1]

Have you ever been so overwhelmed at the wonder and beauty of something in nature that you were speechless? So overcome with emotion, a heart so full and eyes flowing with tears because of something  you saw, heard, tasted, or touched in creation? That has happened to me so often, and when I first happened upon the live camera on an eagle's nest in Decorah Ia it certainly was the case. Magnificent.Awe-inspiring.Noble.Breath-taking.Unbelievable.  At such times I have found that other talented folks HAVE found a way to convey those emotions that I cannot.  Poetry.This thread will be a place for anyone to share their favorite poetic expressions relating to nature. I hope you find some inspiration here, some peaceful and quiet moments.

I will start with my favorite hymn.


                                        This is My Father's World

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas-His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white,declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world: the battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heav'n be one.

[jfrancl]

GG, what a lovely idea for a thread.  They are beautiful, and touching!  I'm looking forward to reading other delightful poems. Thank you for starting this inspiring thread.

[nanimal]

Have you ever been so overwhelmed at the wonder and beauty of something in nature that you were speechless? So overcome with emotion, a heart so full and eyes flowing with tears because of something  you saw, heard, tasted, or touched in creation? That has happened to me so often, and when I first happened upon the live camera on an eagle's nest in Decorah Ia it certainly was the case. Magnificent.Awe-inspiring.Noble.Breath-taking.Unbelievable. 

I have felt that many times, gardengirl, and that is exactly what kept me watching the cam on April 3, 2011. Your hymn selection is also one of my very favorite! Don't know how often I'll get here, but I love your idea for this thread.  Thank you.

[glogdog]

Wow...wow...wow...wow, gardengirl is all I can say! or maybe OMG.  Yeah.  OMG.  Sigh.  What absolutely beautiful poems you are sharing with us and what a beautiful, peaceful thread this is.  You know, last year, on my 1st trip to Decorah, I had many of your moments of which you speak of, of being overwhelmed, speechless, overcome with emotion, tears swelling up in my eyes... humbleness as I was alone at one point with the horses and a juvenile who was perched in a tree by the horse field off of Sievers Springs Road bridge.  I will never forget that moment as I felt touched by God, as He gave me a private gift of being with those wonderful creatures in that special place.  It's like time had stopped for a few moments. 

I don't have any poems with me as I'm at work, but I do want to share with you all some lines from a poem from my childhood.  I only remember these few lines.  I know not to this day the rest of the poem or the title or the author, but these lines have stayed forever imbedded in my memory and always mean peace and tranquility to me:

"Apple blossoms when they go, white and slow,
Quiet all the orchard space, till the place,
Hushed with falling sweetness seems,
Filled with Dreams."

[walton]

Thank you so much for starting this thread.  I will have to look for some of my favorite poetry.  Here is one from a song that our high school choir used to sing, many years ago.  It has always been one of my favorites.  I can't help but think of the words whenever I am walking in the woods.

I know a green cathedral

By Gordon Johnstone

I know a green cathedral, a shadowed forest shrine
Where leaves in love join hands above to arch your prayer and mine.

Within its cool depths sacred, the priestly cedar sighs,
And the fir and pine lift arms divine unto the pure blue skies.

In my dear green cathedral there is a flowered seat,
And choir loft in branched croft where songs of bird hymns meet.

And I like to dream at evening, when the star its arches light,
That my Lord and God treads its hallowed sod in the cool, calm peace of night.

[TX_Ninja]

Great thread GG. Reading some of the poems, with Decorah images in the background in my mind, is moving.

[glogdog]

One of my favorites - High Flight by John Magee

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

As I read this, I "could" imagine that most of this is about an eagle telling their story as they fly and soar and glide.

[Faith]


THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Written by Wendell Berry

GG, this is an awesome thread!  Thanks so much for starting it.  And thank you for posting the above poem.  This one really touched my heart.  I will come here often looking for inspiration and comfort.

[walton]

One of my favorites - High Flight by John Magee

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

As I read this, I "could" imagine that most of this is about an eagle telling their story as they fly and soar and glide.

Oh, yes! Thank you for this one!  I've always loved it.

[walton]

I saw this Walt Whitman poem just recently, and it's really nice.

The Dalliance of Eagles

Walt Whitman

Skirting the river road, (my forenoon walk, my rest,)
Skyward in air a sudden muffled sound, the dalliance of the eagles,
The rushing amorous contact high in space together,
The clinching interlocking claws, a living, fierce, gyrating wheel,
Four beating wings, two beaks, a swirling mass tight grappling,
In tumbling turning clustering loops, straight downward falling,
Till o'er the river pois'd, the twain yet one, a moment's lull,
A motionless still balance in the air, then parting, talons loosing,
Upward again on slow-firm pinions slanting, their separate diverse flight,
She hers, he his, pursuing.

[walton]

And let's not forget the Peregrine Falcon:

A Peregrine Falcon

by Emile Pinet


A peregrine falcon dominates the sky,
wings majestically arched with flair,
soaring alongside the elements eye to eye.

In a flurry of speed it flashes by
serenely aloof, both untethered and rare,
a peregrine falcon dominates the sky.

Sunlight gilds feathers as soft as a sigh,
and flickering flecks ignite in the air,
soaring alongside the elements eye to eye.

Being both naturally nimble and spry,
while inspiring audacity and dare,
a peregrine falcon dominates the sky.

Riding an invisible thermal high,
its spirit swoops me up and I am there,
soaring alongside the elements eye to eye.

Like poetry in motion wingtips fly
and awed by its beauty I can but stare,
soaring alongside the elements eye to eye,
a peregrine falcon dominates the sky.

[jicaji]

Love, love this one:

The Eagle

BY ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Glo, my husband is a pilot and has High Flight plaque in his office.  Beautiful sentiment!!

[Faith]

You are all coming up with some great choices.  Thank you!

[glogdog]

walton, the eagle and peregrine poems made me feel like I was soaring on a thermal with them. I could almost hear  the clash of talons as they interlocked and feel the rush of their wings sweeping past me. What a vivid depiction!! Gives me shivers.

Walton, gg - I had the same feeling and visions in my mind as I read the poems too.  Thanks, Walton.

jicaji - neat on your husband!  Thanks for sharing that with us. 

You know...poetry doesn't necessarily have to be in the form of verse.  Songs are really poetry sometimes as they may have rhyming lyrics.  I tried finding just the right song and still may, but instead, because of the peacefulness of this thread, I found another instrumental song and hope you don't mind me posting a video.  It's a video with a nice, relaxing tune and some nature thrown in, so I hope you enjoy it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs8AXlTwhJ0

[glogdog]

Beautiful, Pagent...I've always loved this song.  I'm "high-fiving" you.    and Thanks.