Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring and Beauty

Today, there was a lovely little bit of poetry which I wanted to share with you all. It must be all the greenery surrounding me that brought it to mind. Whatever the case, this poem was written by Gerard Manley Hopkins and is titled Spring. Through his words, Hopkins highlights for us the beauty of Creation while reminding us of the shadow which the Fall casts over that beauty.

"Nothing is so beautiful as Spring--
  When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
  Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
  The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
  The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?
  A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden.--Have, get, before it cloy,

  Before it cloud, Christ, lord and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
  Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning."

What are some of the things you find most beautiful about Spring? What makes them beautiful? How do you like to enjoy the beauty?