Greenly Spirits of Trees and Blue True Dream of Sky
Chuck’s last entry about a little-known hymn was terrific. I had never heard of that hymn, but what wonderful words!
Poetry has long been a part of song writing. The Psalms are both poetry and songs. Though I am not much of a poetry fan, I have always loved the Psalms, especially the King James Version of them. The words, the rhythm and pattern of the words, is quite wonderful. And so much of the Psalms is about connecting with life and God outside in the world.
Recently, I found a reference to a poem by e. e. cummings that I had never seen, a poem that really spoke to me about our connection with nature and the world. Now that doesn’t really say much because I never liked cummings. I think this is probably because of the way I encountered him in high school English (how many high school English classes have damaged our interest in literature and “English”!).
Dewitt Jones had shared this poem on his wonderful website, Celebrate What’s Right With The World. The first lines say,
“I thank You God for most this amazing
day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes”
I read that and had to look up the entire poem. It truly reflects the way I often feel when I am outside with the “greenly spirits of trees” and under “a blue true dream of sky.” Nature photography takes me there and helps remind me of these special qualities of our world. It also helps remind me that these special qualities can be easily taken away by thoughtless and uncaring people who only see dollars instead of a marvelous world given to us by our creator.
It also reminds me of some modern “poetry”, a song by Kid Rock (yes, indeed, Kid Rock, who can be a very thoughtful and authentic poet and songwriter), Care. In it he acknowledges how many challenges there are around us and how hard it is to do anything about all of them —
“Cuz I cant stop the war
Shelter homeless, feed the poor
I can’t walk on water
I can’t save your sons and daughters
I can’t change the world and make things fair
The least that I can do
The least that I can do
The least that I can do is care”
Maybe he is right. The least we can do is care, and in that caring, make a difference. I believe that is true about nature and one reason why I photograph nature. Because I care and I want to present it to others so that they might care, too.
The “greenly spirits of trees” are in a canyon near Sedona, Arizona, and the “blue true dream of sky” is above the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. The flowers are yucca (also known as Our Lord’s Candle).
— Rob