Kimeuso Falls - Jon Merk photo
Mist-shrouded
mountain peaks reaching
the floor of Heaven,
our planet an orb,
the sun just peeking
above its edge,
waterfalls tumbling,
frothing, roaring down,
the dark
of an Arctic winter,
waiting for the sun.....
Image after image
moves across the screen:
caribou in the thousands,
white wolves
shadowing,
on the hunt,
skies full of birds
flying with precision,
a mother bear
climbing out of winter's cave,
two infants following
down the slippery slope
on uncertain paws.
Every part of our planet
harbors beauty
beyond measure.
When one watches it like this,
it stops the breath.
How can such
God-given glory
house so much
man-made
anger and division?
We all should be
walking around
with our jaws dropped,
freaking out
at the miracle
we live in,
much too blissful
and visually distracted
to spare a thought
for anything
but peace.
I watch, transfixed,
transported,
nearly transcendent,
eyes glued to the screen.
And there it is,
that feeling I've been
waiting for all week:
pure wonder.
Ella's prompt at Poets United's Thursday Think Tank was Wonder. Should be a natural for me, given my unending love affair with nature. But days have been busy and I didn't get around to it. Then tonight I watched part of Disney's Earth with my three year old weekend companion: glorious images on the screen of this spectacularly beautiful planet. And there it was: Wonder.
Yes, so much beauty everywhere! All we have to do is focus....nice write, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteSherry, every morning I have my own eruption of wonderment when I go out to put bird seed in all my bird feeders and fresh water in their bird baths. I get quite a variety of winged friends but also those pesky terrestrial that share in the wealth of morning meals I lay out. It makes me feel that I am part and in the palm of Nature's hand. I look up always to witness the powder whites on the cheeks of the sky and thank 'whomever' gave me this.
ReplyDeleteI know this is not as grandiose as your portrayal, although I have witnessed that grandiosity at the base of Rocky Mountains, but it's what I have access to and it does keep me cognizant of this gift and the pleasure derived.
I love that you have recently been writing about that which we so often take for granted when engrossed in our personal diurnal toils.
Gracias mi amiga
Sherry this is beautiful. I too wonder why we don't go around in awe. This earth is so precious. This poem is so well written and your heart shows through it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! The world is a gift and a wonder, and amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, there is truly wonder in everything, isn't there, we're just always too busy trying to survive the rat race to notice it.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere a few weeks ago that before white man took over America and it belonged to the Native Americans, they didn't ever have a concept of daily 'going to work.' The rose at sun up, did what they had to do, and then went to bed. Whatever they took from the land, killed for food and for clothing, the animal was treated respectfully for the gift to them that it was, not just killed for sport. So, working for a living (wage) was so difficult for them to understand when, they'd never had to before.
There is so much about this world that we've allowed to and, continue to allow to be destroyed. It's so special to read when people like you 'get it' the wonder and of how much it truly is a gift to us all.
Lovely piece of wonder from you Sherry.
This is so beautiful...your words gave me a feeling of wonder..the glory of earth and its majesty so eloquently written.
ReplyDeleteOur world is a wonder. You nailed it with this one. If only we could retain that state of the three year old. Wouldn't that be a wonder?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/the-dream/
You are absolutely right here. K.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Your words do describe the awe we should feel and enjoy every day! It is a gift to see the wonder in the every day! You have this marvelous, WONDERful gift~
ReplyDeleteReally outstanding :D
Sherry you remind me so very much of Pup ... I do think that it is a gift from you to me. A very great gift indeed. Well, I just realized the double entendre here, it is what I called my father. His relation to nature and all that it is was always deep and natural.
ReplyDeleteThis says it all for me. You are so right. Beautifully put.
ReplyDeleteHow can such
God-given glory
house so much
man-made
anger and division?
We all should be
walking around
with our jaws dropped,
freaking out
at the miracle
we live in,
much too blissful
and visually distracted
to spare a thought
for anything
but peace.
You write beautifully Sherry of Nature in all her glory. I have come to appreciate and love your manner and style of writing. You subject matter is what I only dream of writing about as eloquently and beautiful as you do. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis touches me deeply, Sherry!! If only everyone stopped in wonder the way you do...so much would be answered that are issues of this planet. We simply wouldn't allow war, division, pollution etc., etc. Such beautiful writing!!
ReplyDeleteYour words capture a part of nature that is simply awesome. I love falls and never do they cease to amaze me. Love this poem.
ReplyDeletei also rely on the nature channel to bring me the beauty of the outside world. i don't often enough get out into nature, though i am hoping to go camping soon for a couple days. urban l.a. is what it is. but we need reminders of nature's beauty. humans have a capacity to forget the divine present. i've come to believe that's what dogs do is link us to our animal past more firmly. you really ought to waltz around with our jaws scrapping the floor. what a fun image to dress this with.
ReplyDelete