With Gratitude


Ellen Wilson
Poets United




Today, Ellen at  Poets United Wonder Wednesday #14 charges us with posting on our blogs, a poem that we felt was a gift. I am most profoundly grateful today. My daughter was released from the hospital last night and  is doing better. This poem by e.e. cummings was read at my wedding and I thought of it again today.

With gratitude


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 who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
~ e.e. cummings ~
(Complete Poems 1904-1962)



I added one more piece by Laura Hegfield, called Is It Stealing. This piece came to me at a time when I needed to see light and she gave it to me. I have posted it here, but her blog is really beautiful, so please check it out.




Is it stealing God is it stealing?
Crouching down then half kneeling,
one worn denim knee nesting on wintering
weeds gone gold in the fleeting sun o’er a farmer’s
fallow field.
Is it stealing?

Hungrily taking photos
attempts my heart knows are folly,
capturing time through a lens,
digital morsels marking the majesty of a single moment,
then another,
and another.
Nourishing my soul as I feast upon Your bounty,

Is it stealing?

Is it blessing?

Pausing to see with ready attention beauty dying
before my eyes as light departs.  
Observing the luminous globe sinking into the horizon,
sky ribboned lavender, heather, cornflower, fading blue
tears wet joy glide down iced cheeks,
feeling full satisfaction simply, (simply?)
witnessing the wonder of it all.

This act of narrowing expansive awareness into
images that if printed will decay
or stored virtually as pixels will likely be
forgotten
long after the wild grasses have crumbled
the seeds swaddled in soft soil
birthed and re-birthed,
surely more seasons
than I shall live.

Is it blessing God is it blessing?
Crouching down then half kneeling,
one worn denim knee nesting on wintering
weeds gone gold in the fleeting sun o’er a farmer's
fallow field.
Is it blessing?



Comments

  1. Beautiful Audrey!

    Gratitude can take us miles even though physically we are stationed on a chair.

    Good to read about your daughter's recovery!

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. Let me return the gracious compliment you gave today on my poem --- I am glad I found your place here! A lovely choice for a gift poem. I celebrate your daughter's healing along with you.

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  3. Lovely share ~ I am happy to read your daughter is getting better ~

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  4. Good news, good poems, a great day.

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  5. I am so happy your daughter is getting better :D
    And she is home!

    Thank you for sharing these gems! I love e.e. cumming and Laura is a true treasure :D

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  6. Isn't Laura a miracle? Love her work, too.

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  7. One of my favorite poems, the one by e.e.cummings. And I always love Laura's work, too, so inspiring and uplifting, helping us really SEE. I am SO RELIEVED to hear your daughter has improved and is out of hospital. That is blessing indeed. You must be very relieved and grateful. I hope she comes home soon, so you can rest easy!

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  8. You must be so relieved about your daughter. Prayers answered. Whew! Love the poem you shared. Always enjoy Laura's work (and yours).

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  9. Beautiful poems. I especially love e.e.cummings. I'm so glad and so relieved that your daughter is doing better. I'm sure you're feeling relieved - it's like an early Christmas present! :)

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  10. Your choice of e.e. cummings "i thank you god" is so apt for this time of year. It is also one of my favourite spiritual poems.
    Laura's work always feeds the spirit too.

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  11. Of course it is blessing. God loves it when you see the creations, the little births and deaths, the healings along the way. The eecomings is one of my favorites. The second is a subtle prayer!

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  12. Fantastic about your daughter! Beautiful poetry and a lovely gift! Well done!

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  13. Oh, to write like this. What a gift.

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  14. Audrey,

    Poems which emit such gratitude and also welcome one, when in a time of need and reassurance.

    Eileen

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  15. Beautiful poetry shares, Audrey. And SO glad to hear your daughter is getting better. *hugs*

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  16. First, thanks for the shared poetry. And your daughter had Dengue, right? Wow - so glad that she is better. Good luck with her continued recovery. k.

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