Spirit of Nature
I have come from the heart of all natural things,
Whose life from the soul of the beautiful springs
You shall hear the sweet waving of corn in my voice,
And the musical whisper of leaves that rejoice,
for my lips have been touched by the spirit of prayer,
Which lingers unseen in the soft summer air
And the smile of the sunshine that brightens the skies,
Has left a glad ray of its light in my eyes.
~
On the sea-beaten shore, 'mid the dwellings of men
In the field, or the forest, or wild mountain glen
Wherever the grass or a daisy could spring,
Or the musical laughter of childhood could ring
Wherever a swallow could build 'neath the eaves,
Or a squirrel could hide in his covert of leaves,
I have felt the sweet presence, and heard the low call,
Of the Spirit of Nature, which quickens us all.
~
Grown weary and worn with the conflict of creeds,
I had sought a new faith for the soul with its needs,
When the love of the beautiful guided my feet
Through a leafy arcade to a sylvan retreat,
Where the oriole sung in the branches above,
And the wild roses burned with their blushes of love,
And the purple-fringed aster, and the bright goldenrod,
Like beautiful jewels adorned the green sod.
~
How blessed to feel from the care-laden heart
All the sorrows and woes that depressed it depart,
And lay tired head, with its achings, to rest
On the heart the one who loves it the best
Thus it is ever, when, wearied, we yearn
To the bosom of Nature and Truth to return,
And life blossoms forth into beauty anew,
As we learn to repose in the Simple and True.
~
No longer with self or with Nature at strife,
The soul feels the presence of infinite life
And the voice of a child, or the hum of a bee;
The somnolent roll of the deep-heaving sea;
The mountains uprising in grandeur and might;
The stars that blaze forth from the depths of the night;
All speak in one language, persuasive and clear,
To those who in spirit are waiting to hear.
~
There is something in Nature beyond our control,
That is tenderly winning the love of each soul
We shall linger no longer in darkness and doubt,
When the beauty within meets the beauty without.
Sweet Spirit of Nature! Wherever thou art,
Fold us like children, close, close to your heart
Til we learn that your bosom is Truth's hallowed shrine,
And the soul of the beautiful is the Divine.
Copyright 2000 Sonagolese.
