Moving right along — this month is poetry month and so I am featuring a poem that speaks to me, though, trust me, I have not reclined on the ground any time lately.
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 God, and am free.
~ Wendell Berry
The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry
Source
Now if you check the source, you'll see that I changed things a titch because I don't feel that nature heals me, though I do feel that God created nature for me and you to enjoy. (Truth to tell, I should change it a little more to match my beliefs, but Mr. Berry's poem has been fiddled with quite enough.)
~lacking a wood drake and hoping that a forced forsythia will do~
Even Jesus had to get away from time to time for prayer and direction. Whenever my mind slips into cold and dark, it's time for getting away or changing things up. Soon the weather will turn and the flowers will bloom and I will not concern myself with a polar vortex. I'll be busy in the garden getting that blanket of leaves off the flower beds and looking forward to all the warmth and beautiful colors.
P.S. It just donned on me that I should have asked John to write me a poem this year as he did *here* nearly four years ago. Oh I do love that poem! ☺
Johns poem made me smile, I too love it.
ReplyDeleteJohn always makes me smile, as you do as well. Oh how I understand about being "gray". Blessings friend.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the poems, John's was my favorite for sure! I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but John reminds me of my dh, always so helpful, and optimistic, and a great cheer leader for sure! I guess you might say I am still on my unannounced break, taking lots of photos, just not taking the time to post on my blog! Could it be I am in a grey mode?
ReplyDeleteOur weather has been up and down too, late frost did some damage to some of our tender plants! But recuperated by planting herbs this week I also , know that this too shall pass, and soon the flowers will once again bloom and I too will be busy in the garden!
Hope your day is filled to the brim with many blessings!
Love from me to you,
Sue
I hope it won't be much longer until you are able to be out in your garden once again. Winter does seem to be hanging on this year for so many.
ReplyDeleteJohn's poem made me smile this morning. I'm thinking it would be nice in a little frame next to a vase of forsythia.
poem is so touching ,hope the weather gets better and you be able to enjoy your life in more live and positive perspective
ReplyDeleteI do love Wendell Berry but sometimes he needs fixing. Sorry about the nasty weather. Hope you are feeling better. I think endless rain might drive me batty, but right now a rainy cold day sounds good to me. I think we got summer too early here. Happy Mid week….
ReplyDeleteWell Vee, I think John's poem is a bit more realistic than Mr. Berry's and funnier too. I love the Forsythia bloom! What a bright spot it is. I have faux ones right at eye level above my computer screen and they will do. I must plant a Forsythia bush this spring. I suppose the deer will enjoy it as much as the lilac! I hope you are out of the doldrums soon. The sunshine should help dry things up outside so we can get to work.
ReplyDeleteHugs. Pam
Well I have to say that John's poem brought a smile to my face this morning! What could be better than that?! I hope the doldrums vanish soon, Vee. Maybe John could write another poem for you??
ReplyDeleteVee, I liked this poem and the one from Monday too. Yes, I am so ready for a warm spring...enough of cold and being chilled to the bone. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteLove John's poem! And as someone mentioned above, wouldn't it be nice in a little frame next to a jug of forsythia?
ReplyDeleteThough Mr. Berry's poem is very good too and certainly speaks to the uncertainties of life these days. For me, I find spending time observing and just being out in God's creation very healing and very uplifting. When I observe the stars, for instance, I am inevitably reminded of Isaiah 40:26 -- "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth." And the changing seasons always bring to mind Genesis 8:22 -- "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." It is such a blessing to remember that it is our all-powerful, sovereign Creator who is holding all things together.
And indeed, hasn't April been so strange thus far? I feel as if March weather and April weather somehow reversed themselves. (Of course April in New England is always iffy -- I always think of Robert Frost's "Two Tramps in Mud Time".) Thankfully, today looks sunny and warm here in NH. Hope it is the same for you in Maine!
John is really on to something that is true in my little corner of the world, forsythia and tuning up the lawnmower! Well I do hope for some long and lasting sunshine in your neck of the woods. Your past post reminded me of G.K. Chesterton quote..."The poets have been mysteriously quiet on the subject of cheese." I don't know why it reminded me of his quote but it did...Maybe you could ask John to write a poem about cheese.
ReplyDeleteOh Vee...so sweet that John would write a poem! Love it! Praying for a bright sunshiny day! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteThe Lord certainly works His grace into the beauty of His creation to make me feel better...I can so relate to that...and your John is quite the poet too! Forsythia is a sure sign of spring even when everything else is stick brown...and what a soothing sound it is to hear the neighborhood lawnmowers humming away! You are right, the weather can clearly have an effect on how we feel about things, can't it? This has been a crazy spring, beginning earlier than it really should have (for us) and then the BIG CHILL happened...to everyone I think! My local weatherman gave an encouraging report yesterday, saying he was pretty sure our spring is finally here to stay. Yours is on the way...and SOON, I'm sure of it!
ReplyDeleteThat is just what I needed today, having had a difficult night! Thank you so much! I'm going to share the poem on my blog, if you don't mind! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHi Vicky, you are a no reply commenter so I hope that you will find this here. I don't own the poem and you should feel free to post if you like it. You might want to check on the real poem as I did change it just a little.
DeleteWell now, John is a poet. Has he written others? If so, I'm sure we would all like to read it here. Hopefully the sun will come out up your way very soon. ♥
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice poem. Happy you were able to stay warm. xoxo Su
ReplyDeleteJohn is a talented poet, among his many skills!
ReplyDeleteI like what you did with the poem Wendell Berry wrote. What you've said here reminds me of the book series I am reading. Over and over the main character is reminded to focus on the Truth, and when she does she regains right thinking, and strength, and courage.
All the poetry, just as you have posted it, is great. And John's Forsythia poem is fun! Thankfully, we have a sunny day here in Colorado with white puffy clouds here and there and an expected high of 69 degrees. But just like in your neck of the woods, we can easily get the most dreary of weather in April and, like you, it pulls me down. It often helps me to remember what it's like when I board a flight and climb up through those clouds to absolutely brilliant, blinding sunshine above. The clouds and rain are just a blanket -- the good stuff is above all that. Be blessed today, and thank you for this blog post.
ReplyDeleteGood poem, John's was too. The time between winter ending and spring really arriving is one of the hardest times on us Mainers. Even if our lives were carefree, it's still the hardest time on our emotions. The flowers will bloom, the warmth will come, and we will feel better. There is always HOPE! Love Abby
ReplyDeleteI hear you Vee, I can get in a cold, grey funk pretty easily in the winter and early Spring. I know I'll feel better when I can get outside and enjoy some sunshine, but right now all I want to do is sleep and sit around, (which is not good for my weight!). Praying the grey goes away for both of us :)
ReplyDeleteHope today brought you sunshine as it did here by me. : )
ReplyDeleteI loved the poem, and agree that nature soothes the mind, body and soul.
ReplyDeleteThe Wendell Berry poem is a favorite of mine. I consider that God is the great Healer, and He uses many methods to heal body and soul, including medicines and nature. John's poem is a treasure. I hope that sunshiney days will soon prevail in your life.
ReplyDeleteDear Vee:
ReplyDeleteThat was lovely. You are a true writer and write wonderful thoughts and inspirations!
Beautiful poem and I love the last line about resting in God's love. Knowing that I am free because of His love is the most reassuring thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteI love this poem you've slightly tweaked. I have many sleepless nights and think about the same things the poem spoke about. Getting out and enjoying nature helps me, too. Here's wishing sunshine and warmer weather to help chase those gray days and moments away. Take care...I'm off now to read John's poem. I think I've seen it before, but I'll go take another look.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely poem. I hope your weather turns sunny soon!
ReplyDeleteOh, the gray cloudy skies that go on and on and on . . . yes, we're hoping and praying for sunny days soon. I love that Wendell Berry poem, but I do exactly what you do when I read something that doesn't acknowledge the Lord as He ought to be -- I rewrite it in my head to make it more True.
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, Vee....It always reminds me of http://allpoetry.com/poem/8495193-Ducks-by-Frank-W-Harvey which I enjoy a lot too......And I think you might. I'm so glad you did a poem post this month!
ReplyDeleteI read John's poem again and it made me smile. I hope he'll write another for you to post. The poem you shared on this post probably has a way of capturing feelings in all of us up north, but we all need that rest in God to center us. I like your header. You always have such great ideas.
ReplyDeleteJohn is such a neat fella. You are so blessed to have one another.
ReplyDeleteI, too have been in a funk - glad the weather has taken a nicer turn towards warmth and sunshine. We need it desperately. Hugs. ♥
It's been a season of ups and downs, but thankfully the fog is lifting (as is the busyness that is keeping us bogged down), and the light of spring is filling my soul. I loved your poem you tweaked and shared, and I really loved John's. A creative man he is! I hope that you are well & sunshine and flowers will soon spring, bringing sunshine to your soul.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend! I've missed visiting you.
Jennifer
Hoping that the light is beginning to show itself at the end of the tunnel for you. Long winter months when one is not feeling well are that much longer. Blessings on ya. I definitely love that forsythia flower...I love looking straight on it like that. Usually you see them as a part of the whole...not a feature on their own. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your gray, wet weather...if I had it, I'd give a million dollars for a solid week of gentle rain...I love it so and feel better during rains than any other time. Maybe because we have so little of it...
ReplyDeleteGo kiss John, make a pie and embrace the rain for just a little while...xoxo
I am a huge Wendell Berry fan and once had the honor to meet this fine gentleman, and I do mean gentleman, in person. This is one of my favorites of his poems. Thank you for this. Have you read any John O'Donohue? Comfort.
ReplyDeleteSending love,
S
Oh I do indeed find that the weather does somehow match our moods and feelings, and yet I've learned to embrace whatever the Lord offers up to us and try to find something pleasant to enjoy even if it is not what I would choose. I love the poem you chose and I think your dear John should write you a poem. I hope that cheery spring days find their way to you very soon!
ReplyDeleteWeather does affect my mood so much too. We finally have sunshine today but we are getting rain all weekend and I can't wait because I need to plant my garden. Our soil was so dry we couldn't get a shovel through it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely poem and I find I have been resting in the grace of God a lot lately. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Vee~
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem - it spoke to me as well. I really don't do very good when the weather is cold and dreary . . . and I don't lay down in the woods either, just sayin'. But I do love nature, and I always feel better when I am outside enjoying it! God, can heal us, make us better, soften our souls for better days ahead . . . the sun will shine on us again sweet friend!
Your forsythia is gorgeous, and I remembered that poem!
Gentle Hugs,
Barb
I remember John's poem from yesteryear! And yes...I think your beloved should write another poem. He does that well! Wishing you sunshine and new blooms...instead of the browns and greys you have been experiencing.
ReplyDelete