There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem
Apparelled in celestial light,
The glory and the freshness of a dream.
~ William Wordsworth
(Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood)
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new-created in all the freshness of childhood.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie)
I want to step right into that picture.
Mmm, yes, a place with all the freshness of a childhood dream…
The vision becomes real, Longfellow and Wordsworth were mystics in their own sense!
Beautiful painting you have chosen. As I read the quotes I was thinking of photos I could chose to go with them.
Jeff
I believe so, too, Jeff! So many poets are…
I’d love to see which of your photos you would choose! Perhaps I’ll see them on your blog one day?!?
So many people say they have experienced this kind of mystical light/lightness in childhood. I don’t remember that…but can sometimes see the light illuminating it all these days. Sometimes…
That’s interesting, Kathy. I think it was somewhat the opposite with me – I was so sensitive to and aware of dreamy celestial light when I was little. Then I refused to acknowledge it for a long time in my young adulthood, and though I’ve had glimpses of it in recent years, it seems elusive at times and I yearn to be swathed in it again.
My good friend, Catherine, says the same thing. You’re lucky that you remember how it felt.
It’s nice to know that Catherine knows what I mean… I’ve been reading “Falling into Grace” in my spare moments during this visit – I keep having “ah-ha” moments – I like the way Adyashanti explains things.
His book inspired me, too, Barbara! Love when that happens.
🙂
Beautiful poems and beautiful illustration. I don’t know how you found such a perfect illustration!
Barbara I’m glad you’re able to accept the celestial light now. I feel you should see it now because you’re ready for it.
Thanks, Rosie! I discovered Wikimedia Commons has zillions of paintings in the public domain available for anyone to use on their blogs or other ways. Since I remember the gist of most of the quotes in my collection, it is usually the illustration I find first while browsing and then a quote pops into my head that seems to go with it…
Yes, I think living without the light for a while must have been a painful learning experience it might have been necessary for me to go through. It feels wonderful to be open to it now, almost like coming home.
That’s a little how spring feels to me this year. 🙂
The painting is so beautiful.
After such a long hard winter spring light does seem to have a much dreamier quality to it. 🙂