SPRING HAS SPRUNG

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A Prayer in Spring

by Robert Frost

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Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

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Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

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And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

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“If people did not love one another,

 I really don't see what use there would be

in having any spring.”

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Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

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Here's a beautiful "video poem" by
Gary T. Czerwinski I found on YouTube.
Video poems are a unique, and fascinating, way
of presenting this ever-changing medium of art - 
poems no longer just written or verbal,
but more than that. A couple of
quotes seem appropriate:
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"Genuine poetry can communicate
before it is understood."
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T.S. Eliot
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"Poetry is an echo,
asking a shadow to dance."
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Robert Frost.
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BURIED TREASURE

by Clay Harrison

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 Beneath the snows of Winter,
Spring treasures can be found
In seeds that lie there sleeping
Below the frozen ground.
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While snow falls in the meadow,
The rose must get her rest.
Soon Spring will kiss his princess
And she must look her best.
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Sleeping beauty shall awaken
And yawn without a sound
As sprigs of buried treasure
Come bursting from the ground.
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All earth proclaims God's glory
When Spring is in the air.
Each bud fulfills a promise -
Each rose an unanswered prayer.
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Spring is a resurrection -
Winter's stone is rolled away
To reveal God's buried treasure
Each sun-kissed springtime day.

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Song of Solomon 2:11-12
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for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.

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A PRAYER AND A POEM FOR THE ROAD

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May I love this day and all that it brings
The dust, stones or mud beneath my feet
The air I breathe, food I eat, water I drink
May I open my heart to mysteries along the way
Greet fellow pilgrims with welcome and grace
Move lightly and simply through the day

May I give thanks for the Earth, our fragile home
For all my relations who have gone before me
And for all who will follow ... I am not alone

May the spirit and blessing of the One who is love -
Holy One among us, all around us, and within us -
Be with me today, and surround me with love

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Diane Ransom

A prayer she composed for a pilgrimage in Spain

to the shrine in Compostela on the ancient

Camino de Santiago.

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We are pilgrims on a journey,
We are travelers on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
'Til we've seen this journey through.

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Richard Gillard

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HOLY NOW

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This morning, outside I stood

And saw a little red-winged bird

Shining like a burning bush

Singing like a scripture verse

It made me want to bow my head

I remember when church let out

How things have changed since then

Everything is holy now

It used to be a world half there

Heaven's second-rate hand-me-down

But I walk it with a reverent air

'Cause everything is holy now.

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Peter Mayer

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A CHILD'S VOLCANO POEM & PAINTING

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Violent eruptions renewing the earth

Objects melting from the boiling liquid

Lava flowing, destroying everything in its path

Carnage rages in nearby cities

Actions are taken, some foolish, some wise

Nothing else on Earth can match its strength

Observers watch in wonder and awe

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Alonzo

From Mrs. Kimura's 4th Grade Class

Kamili'i Elementary School

Kihei, Hawaii

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