I have found it hard to choose a favorite nature photo from this month's collection. I love so many of them!
The first pictures are of Pawpaw blooms. Pawpaw are a fruit tree native to North America. (I wrote a post about Pawpaws a couple few years ago HERE.) They grow in the understory near the edge of forested areas. We visited a historic site this month and while I was there I saw the largest Pawpaw grove that I have ever seen. They had not leafed out yet and they were all in bloom. The blooms are a unique chocolate color.
This next group of pictures is of the tiny unfurled oak leaf with the pollen catkins dangling. So cute!
Here is a pair of mating frogs I found in our pool one morning. I haven't tried to identify what type of frogs these are, but I thought the yellow back legs might help in that pursuit.
We have been hearing SO MANY singing frogs in the night! It is definitely the sound of spring here our part of the world. I shared a Henry Beer poem about Spring Peepers a few years ago that expresses the strangeness of their songs. You can read it HERE.
And the last picture this month is of the beautiful wild Columbine growing in our woods. This might be my favorite, but the Pawpaw buds and the oak leaves are so close to being my favorite that it is hard to choose!
I love the nature imagery used in this song. Here are examples; "all nature sings,"..."birds their carrols raise,"......"rustling grass I hear him pass,"....."rocks and trees,"......"skies and seas,"...," morning light, lily white,"....etc...
Spring is a beautiful time of year and there are so many reminders of God's goodness and power and love of beauty during these months.
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
The battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And earth and Heaven be one.
I like to think of the last word as a homophone- one as in unity, and won as in conquered.
This Bible verse keeps popping in my mind when I sing the last line- "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15b) Handel's Hallelujah Chorus has this verse set to music and it plays in my memory when I read the words. It is so magnificent!
The wrong does oft seem so strong. I like the admonition to remember that God is the ruler yet. This part of the song makes me think of Psalm 73- "And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
I have been busy with poetry lately; writing some myself, reading some, and learning more about the craft.
I recently finished reading aloud The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling to my children. I enjoyed it very much. I had never known that The Jungle Book is several stories in one cover. The first story is about Mowgli and Sheer Kan. The second story is about a white seal in the North Pacific (Stellar Sea Cows are mentioned! I was so excited because I had just learned about Stellar Sea Cows last year when I read Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy by Arnold). The third story is about Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the mongoose. The fourth story is about a boy who has a way with elephants. The final story is about many pack animals of the army having a discussion about their labor. That last story gave me a lot of food for thought. I had to reread it again for myself. I feel like there is a deep metaphor in the story and I can't quite grasp the whole meaning; something about consciousness and courage or the greatness of the collective at the expense of individuality. I can't put my finger on it exactly. I am open to ideas, if you have any interpretation on the story, please share them with me.
All this reading of Rudyard Kipling put me in the mood to read some verses written by him.
This is a favorite poem of mine and I learned that I am not alone, apparently, it was the most beloved poem among Brits' at one point. It brings to mind many Biblical proverbs and inspires me to strive toward goodness, strengthen my integrity, and become a more humble person.
What are your thoughts on the poem? How does it make you feel?
If
By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And the last picture this month is of the beautiful wild Columbine growing in our woods. This might be my favorite, but the Pawpaw buds and the oak leaves are so close to being my favorite that it is hard to choose!
