I find myself drawn again and again to Dorothy's writings on nature. Love for nature it lies within us all beginning with Forster, who opened the door for Dorothy and taught her to love it through the eyes of a gardener and biologist, and then encouraged it in his daughter by giving her seeds and chemistry sets. His grandchildren too- we were such children of the land with the instinct to escape outside and seek refuge in the garden or in the woods or out in the middle of the water in a rowboat. - Kate Hennessy, Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty
Yes, I, too, seek refuge in the garden and the woods and the water. We were sitting by a lake yesterday and noticing how much more content we are when sitting in nature versus inside or even at a pool.
Thank you, Leah. It really is a dreamy deck. His mercies are new every morning, even when he asks us to do hard things. Especially then! Bless you, friend.
A truly lovely poem, Abigail. Thank you for including the composition notes. They add so much to reveal your frame of mind and set the reader in an attitude of listening.
Amen, Abigail. "Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is lift our head to the light. Abide in the vine. Take time to meditate on Scripture, whether we feel it or not." These were words I needed to hear today, words that needed to come through a poem and through a testimony. Thank you for sharing both.
Thank you, Hannah. I always debate about sharing the notes. I go back and forth on if I should I explain the structure of a villanelle or do a deep dive in rhyme scheme or meter. It feels like cheating to say the muskrat submerged in water is a redemptive image of how being overwhelmed can turn into doing the next thing, one pond grass at a time. The wood duck becomes an image of a soft landing after a difficult transition. The teacher in me wants to give it all away! The poet in me wants to let the words do their work on their own. Your comment was so encouraging to me that I shared enough without detracting from the experience of reading. Thank you for being such a convivial Substack friend.
This is beautiful, Abigail. Thank you. I love birds, water, the Psalms. This washed over me. It was especially sweet to hear you read it yourself. My eyes were tired, so it was nice to close them and listen.
I find myself drawn again and again to Dorothy's writings on nature. Love for nature it lies within us all beginning with Forster, who opened the door for Dorothy and taught her to love it through the eyes of a gardener and biologist, and then encouraged it in his daughter by giving her seeds and chemistry sets. His grandchildren too- we were such children of the land with the instinct to escape outside and seek refuge in the garden or in the woods or out in the middle of the water in a rowboat. - Kate Hennessy, Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty
Yes, I, too, seek refuge in the garden and the woods and the water. We were sitting by a lake yesterday and noticing how much more content we are when sitting in nature versus inside or even at a pool.
This is beautiful Abigail 🧡
Thank you AJ💚
"Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is lift our head to the light." Yes, yes, so much yes.
Thank you, Brooke! May the light of his love hold you.
Your new place sounds lovely 😍
It is! We are missing aspects of Kansas hardcore, but there is so much goodness and beauty here to take in. Blessings to you, friend.
I really loved this one. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us your first poem in a new place! (That deck sounds dreamy.)
Thank you, Leah. It really is a dreamy deck. His mercies are new every morning, even when he asks us to do hard things. Especially then! Bless you, friend.
A truly lovely poem, Abigail. Thank you for including the composition notes. They add so much to reveal your frame of mind and set the reader in an attitude of listening.
Thank you for reading, Mark. You are such an encouraging voice on Substack.
As are you!
You captured that beautiful embrace of life’s intricacies so well, that balance of being a human within God’s unknowable plan.
Thank you for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment, Ryan!
Amen, Abigail. "Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is lift our head to the light. Abide in the vine. Take time to meditate on Scripture, whether we feel it or not." These were words I needed to hear today, words that needed to come through a poem and through a testimony. Thank you for sharing both.
Thank you, Hannah. I always debate about sharing the notes. I go back and forth on if I should I explain the structure of a villanelle or do a deep dive in rhyme scheme or meter. It feels like cheating to say the muskrat submerged in water is a redemptive image of how being overwhelmed can turn into doing the next thing, one pond grass at a time. The wood duck becomes an image of a soft landing after a difficult transition. The teacher in me wants to give it all away! The poet in me wants to let the words do their work on their own. Your comment was so encouraging to me that I shared enough without detracting from the experience of reading. Thank you for being such a convivial Substack friend.
This is beautiful, Abigail. Thank you. I love birds, water, the Psalms. This washed over me. It was especially sweet to hear you read it yourself. My eyes were tired, so it was nice to close them and listen.
Thank you for reading and sharing a such a kind comment, Marie. Blessings to you!
So lovely! And have you been doing voice overs and I am just now noticing, or is that new? Love it!
Was gonna say I loved listening to it!!
Thank you, Haley💚
I almost always forget to record or get interrupted and give up! But this morning I managed to persevere😆