I thank you God for most this amazing day
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and
for a blue true dream of sky
for all things counter, original, spare, strange
whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
with swift, slow; sweet, sour
a dazzle, dim
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change
Praise Him.
- this is a poem that is parts of two poems
by e.e.cummings and Gerard Manley Hopkins.
It was written in the fall of 2006 to describe the wonder of eight weeks on Edisto Island. I spent the sabbatical creating principles for artistic retreat. This poem sprang from that life-altering time.
love this. especially the freckled part.
Charlotte—-
Hey from your cousin Mark in Atlanta. It’s been ages since I emailed you and I just stumbled on your blog today. I love it! Edisto is my soul’s home. We went there every summer when I was a child and it still has the fondest of memories for me. We rented a small cottage next to the Ocean Villa—-it’s long gone and a huge house has taken it’s modest place. Such good memories. I love the low country. I’m splitting my time between Atlanta and Savannah these days. Weeks in Savannah and weekends in atlanta. Great to have found you again. I hope one day we get to meet!
Mark
Dear Mark,
What a delight to find your visit here! Oh, my goodness, we must meet soon. I will be in Decatur before too long. I did not remember that you also had an Edisto connection – too wonderful, but not a surprise. I will never forget your sending me the picture of the tombstone of Charlotte Hay, which is a photo I treasure. Oh yippee. Thank you for finding me and writing. (keep reading!)
Cheers,
Cousin Charlotte