I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:–
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?
My friends, spring is sprung and it is my pleasure to wish you a happy, generative and prosperous Spring 2010! I would encourage you to take a few moments outside this weekend to enjoy the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of spring. A friend of mine and I were noting the day before yesterday that there are few things more lovely than a pasture, or any natural setting for that matter, in spring. Whether the weather is warm or cold, sunny or rainy, you can always enjoy it and make the best of the day. If weather can stop you, it will!
Wordsworth asks “Have I not reason to lament what man has made of man?” Of course! But lamentation needn’t become your core motivation, ever. In fact, to the degree that you dwell exclusively in lament, you are removing yourself from contributing to the generative expression of the beauty of life.
Your contribution to this world and in this life matters, but it is only made meaningful as it is given or expressed. Have a great day!
Gregory Hake 
It amazes me how a beautiful day can lift our spirits so dramatically. How can we inspire those feelings, as if everyday was the perfect spring day? Perhaps allowing the light within us to shine in all conditions. Our internal weather map shows clear sky’s, sunny with temperatures in the mid 70’s. The clues you outline for us through your Blog are wonderful ways to adjust our environment and influence those around us in wonderous ways. It is great to re read the comments from everyone, the gift that keeps on giving! Thank you.
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Even though it is cloudy and rain is soon expected in Indiana, I do not lament the weather this first day of Spring but celebrate the ‘fair works’ of Nature to which my soul is linked. Thank you for the beautiful poem about the magnificence that is always available, and about the choice of expression which DOES make a difference – what a perfect beginning to a new season!
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Yes! spring is here. It is so nice to see people out of their homes, walking around as if awakening from a long slumber. This is a time to renew and to do some “spring cleaning” inside of us as well as outside. Life can be such a pleasure if we “choose” to contribute to it’s beauty rather than remain in the “old dusty corner” of the room. Enjoy everyone, see you outside!Thanks for the wonderful poem.
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Love your invitation, thank you. To what degree do we let ourselves enjoy this festival of life?
I’m rereading the book “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi thanks to a past post on his work. One of his central discoveries is that each person allocates their attention (energy), it’s a choice and a habit. Some chose to use it as a beam of energy while others by diffusing it in desultory random movements. He says, “Entirely different realities will emerge depending on how it is invested…Attention can be invested in innumerable ways, ways that can make life either rich or miserable.”
I ask myself today; what will I make of me?”
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wonderful poem 🙂
Isn’t Spring GREAT?! – I can feel it pulse thru my veins….the sunrise is invigorating….time to ‘spring’ into action, get back out there and breathe it in –
thanks for bringing together like minded individuals!
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