Inscription for the Entrance to a Wood
Stranger, if thou hast learned a truth which needs
No school of long experience, that the world
Is full of guilt and misery, and hast seen
Enough of all its sorrows, crimes, and cares,
To tire thee of it, enter this wild wood
And view the haunts of Nature. The calm shade
Shall bring a kindred calm, and the sweet breeze
That makes the green leaves dance, shall waft a balm
To thy sick heart. Thou wilt find nothing here
Of all that pained thee in the haunts of men
And made thee loathe thy life. The primal curse
Fell, it is true, upon the unsinning earth,
But not in vengeance. God hath yoked to guilt
Her pale tormentor, misery. Hence, these shades
Are still the abodes of gladness; the thick roof
Of green and stirring branches is alive
And musical with birds, that sing and sport
In wantonness of spirit; while below
The squirrel, with raised paws and form erect,
Chirps merrily. Throngs of insects in the shade
Try their thin wings and dance in the warm beam
That waked them into life. Even the green trees
Partake the deep contentment; as they bend
To the soft winds, the sun from the blue sky
Looks in and sheds a blessing on the scene.
Scarce less the cleft-born wild-flower seems to enjoy
Existence, than the winged plunderer
That sucks its sweets. The massy rocks themselves,
And the old and ponderous trunks of prostrate trees
That lead from knoll to knoll a causey rude
Or bridge the sunken brook, and their dark roots,
With all their earth upon them, twisting high,
Breathe fixed tranquillity. The rivulet
Sends forth glad sounds, and tripping o’er its bed
Of pebbly sands, or leaping down the rocks,
Seems, with continuous laughter, to rejoice
In its own being. Softly tread the marge,
Lest from her midway perch thou scare the wren
That dips her bill in water. The cool wind,
That stirs the stream in play, shall come to thee,
Like one that loves thee nor will let thee pass
Ungreeted, and shall give its light embrace.
No school of long experience, that the world
Is full of guilt and misery, and hast seen
Enough of all its sorrows, crimes, and cares,
To tire thee of it, enter this wild wood
And view the haunts of Nature. The calm shade
Shall bring a kindred calm, and the sweet breeze
That makes the green leaves dance, shall waft a balm
To thy sick heart. Thou wilt find nothing here
Of all that pained thee in the haunts of men
And made thee loathe thy life. The primal curse
Fell, it is true, upon the unsinning earth,
But not in vengeance. God hath yoked to guilt
Her pale tormentor, misery. Hence, these shades
Are still the abodes of gladness; the thick roof
Of green and stirring branches is alive
And musical with birds, that sing and sport
In wantonness of spirit; while below
The squirrel, with raised paws and form erect,
Chirps merrily. Throngs of insects in the shade
Try their thin wings and dance in the warm beam
That waked them into life. Even the green trees
Partake the deep contentment; as they bend
To the soft winds, the sun from the blue sky
Looks in and sheds a blessing on the scene.
Scarce less the cleft-born wild-flower seems to enjoy
Existence, than the winged plunderer
That sucks its sweets. The massy rocks themselves,
And the old and ponderous trunks of prostrate trees
That lead from knoll to knoll a causey rude
Or bridge the sunken brook, and their dark roots,
With all their earth upon them, twisting high,
Breathe fixed tranquillity. The rivulet
Sends forth glad sounds, and tripping o’er its bed
Of pebbly sands, or leaping down the rocks,
Seems, with continuous laughter, to rejoice
In its own being. Softly tread the marge,
Lest from her midway perch thou scare the wren
That dips her bill in water. The cool wind,
That stirs the stream in play, shall come to thee,
Like one that loves thee nor will let thee pass
Ungreeted, and shall give its light embrace.
If the usual holiday stresses are getting to you. If you are not feeling the peace on earth, goodwill to men...then go to nature. Nature is the great healer. Nature gets into your lungs and lets you breathe easier. Nature gets into your eyes and gives you inspiration for drawings, photos, paintings. Nature gets into your heart and eases whatever burden is there. If it is impossible for you to go to nature, then go virtually by visiting these wonderful artists who walk the paths for us and see the beauty that abounds - and shares that beauty with us:
http://randalldavidtipton.blogspot.com/
http://janyates.blogspot.com/
http://emcorsabackyardwild.blogspot.com/
http://botanicalsketches.blogspot.com/
http://drawingsfromnature-milly.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingnaturejournals.com/
http://simmill-arts.blogspot.com/
And these are just a listing of 7 of my favorite nature artists blogs. Visit, and breathe easier. They are my holiday gifts to you all.
May the promise of the New Year be fulfilled in your lives...see you in 2015!
http://randalldavidtipton.blogspot.com/
http://janyates.blogspot.com/
http://emcorsabackyardwild.blogspot.com/
http://botanicalsketches.blogspot.com/
http://drawingsfromnature-milly.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingnaturejournals.com/
http://simmill-arts.blogspot.com/
And these are just a listing of 7 of my favorite nature artists blogs. Visit, and breathe easier. They are my holiday gifts to you all.
May the promise of the New Year be fulfilled in your lives...see you in 2015!
1 comment:
Dear Rhonda - you are so right friend...nature helps us find peace in the stresses of life. Take care and have some peace as well. Hugs
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