Wednesday, April 01, 2009

"the grace of the world"

(7x11)
I'm having a tough time with my magnolias this year, painting them, that is. Luckily for me there're still a lot of blooms on the tree!

From another great collection of poetry, News Of the Universe: Poems of Twofold Consciousness, edited by Robert Bly:

"The Peace of Wild Things"
Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear for what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
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10 comments:

Cliff said...

Laura, I've told you before how much I enjoy your blog. I wish I had the fortitude to produce as much and as frequently as you!

Thanks for the Wendell Berry poem. Just what the doctor ordered for me today!

A Brush with Color said...

Oh, how lovely, and what a beautiful poem to accompany these magnolias. Great colors here, Laura! It doesn't look to me as if you're having problems at all.

Art with Liz said...

If your struggling with magnolias, it surely doesn't show! They are gorgeous. And such beautiful poetry to go with them.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Love Love the painting. I posted some of my Magnolia tulip trees in bloom and your poem reminds me of our walks around our Duck pond. So perfect.

Noemí González said...

Hello!
These magnolias look great. Wonderful combination of colors!

Joyfulartist said...

I love your magnolias. I wish mine were blooming. The poem was so neat; what a wonderful reminder to be still and stop fretting.

cathyswatercolors said...

This is my favorite Magnolia painting.The compostion is so lovely as if the the magnolias are floating in space.

The poem is wonderful. I am going to send it to my friend,we grew up exploring the outdoors.

Teresa said...

The magnolias are beautiful!

Loved the poem...and can deeply identify with it.

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

This is a beautiful post, all around. I love poetry, and these magnolias are tenderly lovely.

Mineke Reinders said...

Laura, I'd like to have your tough times with magnolias if these are the results. They are wonderful! So free and alive and full of exuberant color. Keep painting them while you can...