Divine Cosmos

On a walk I spy a wild rose by chance, And it's beauty makes my heart dance, With petals soft and colors bold, It's like a story that wants to be told. ~ A scent so sweet, a sight so fair, The wild rose blooms without a care, A symbol of nature's perfect grace, And a reminder of life's gentle pace. ~ Oh, wild rose, your beauty true, Brings joy and wonder to my view, And in your presence, I can see, The magic of life's mystery.

On a leaf, so green and bright, A butterfly sits in pure delight, Its wings of orange and black and white, A sight that fills the heart with light. ~ As it rests upon the verdant bough, The gentle breeze rustles past it now, But the butterfly sits still somehow, Content to rest beneath the bough. ~ So let us pause, and take a glance, At this butterfly's gentle dance, For in its beauty, we can enhance, The love we hold for nature's chance.

Glorious sunsets make my heart sing, With fiery hues and golden ring, The sky ablaze with radiant light, A stunning sight that's pure delight. ~ The grandeur of the sun's descent, A moment of pure wonderment, As the day bids its last adieu, The sky is painted a brilliant hue. ~ The beauty of this daily show, Fills my heart with joy and glow, A gift from nature to us all, A breathtaking sight that stands tall.

The serenity of a quiet snowy forest is divine, A place where nature's magic truly shines, Where the snowflakes dance with graceful ease, And the trees stand tall like statuesque keys. ~ The forest's blanket of snow is pure and bright, Softly hushing the sounds of the world in flight, The crunch of footsteps and the creak of limbs, Echoing like whispers in a silent hymn. ~ The stillness of the snowy forest is like a dream, A place where the soul can find peace and gleam, A place where worries fade and hearts can mend, And nature's tranquility can wholly transcend.

On a lavender clover flower fair, A butterfly with wings so rare, Dances in the sun's warm glare, A sight so lovely, without compare. ~ Her wings, a tapestry of hues, A painter's dream, a poet's muse, A fluttering joy, a sweet abuse, A symphony of nature's blues. ~ Oh, butterfly, you grace the day, A gentle reminder on our way, Of beauty that can come our way, And of the hope that we can stay.

Upon a twig, she perches light, A dragonfly, a wondrous sight, With wings a-glimmer in the sun, A creature of enchantment spun. ~ Her body slender, delicate, A jewel-like form, so intricate, And as she sits, so still and calm, She brings a sense of peace and balm. ~ Yet, in a flash, she takes to flight, A blur of colors, bold and bright, Her wings a blur, a whirlwind force, A dance of grace, a wild resource. ~ Oh, magical magnificence, This dragonfly, a rare pretense, A symbol of the fleeting time, A reminder of life's sweet rhyme. ~ So, let us pause and take a breath, And revel in this winged finesse, For in this moment, we can see, The magic of life's mystery.

The divine beauty of nature nourishes my soul, especially the beauty of flowers. This particular flower caught my eye on a high mountain ridge on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee on my tour of natural America in 2014. The quote "In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends" is a sentiment expressed by the late 19th Century Japanese Scholar Okakura Kakuzo, which resonates with my heart. Like myself, Okakura believed in the importance of appreciating beauty in everyday life. He strongly believed that, in a world full of turmoil and suffering, we can find solace in the beauty of nature, particularly in flowers. And I agree wholeheartedly. This quote is a wonderful reminder to all of us that no matter what is happening in our lives, we can always turn to the beauty of the natural world for solace and inspiration.