Poetry: A Prayer for Spring

A Prayer in Spring

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day; 
And give us not to think so far away 
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here 
All simply in the springing of the year. 

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. 

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. 

For this is love and nothing else is love, 
The which it is reserved for God above 
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil. 

Robert Frost

Tomorrow Begins National Poetry Month

I started a tradition a few years ago of honoring National Poetry Month each April. In past years I have posted original poetry, favorite poems, new poems, and anthologies and poets I have grown to love. I can never say enough about how reading, appreciating, and writing poetry helps each of us understand our world in a different way. It creates an opportunity for more concise writing with a focus on the choice and sound of specific words. Poetry brings back memories of a teacher reading a certain verse, standing in front of the room reciting a poem, or wrtiing a love poem to a sweetheart. The words put is in another place, another season, another time. On the eve of this special month I am sharing this favorite of mine by Edna St. Vincent Millay. In a poetry workshop by my friend Marti, she encouraged us to listen for the sounds in poems. Take time to read this aloud. Enjoy!

 

Counting-Out Rhyme

 Silver bark of beech, and sallow

Bark of yellow birch and yellow

Twig of willow.

 

Stripe of green in moosewood maple,

Color seen in leaf of apple,

Bark of popple.

 

Wood of popple pale as moonbeam,

Wood of oak for yoke and barn-beam

Wood of  hornbeam.

 

Silver bark of beech, and hollow

Stem of elder, tall and yellow

Twig of willow.

 

-Edna St. Vincent Millay

Words: Handle With Care

Life has been busy. The rituals I enjoy have been put aside. I haven't been able to take many pictures or do writing. In a few days I will be on spring break and look forward to filling long days with creative ventures. To get me motivated tonight I read and reread some poetry on words. Anne Sexon's poem always returns as a favorite.

Words by Anne Sexton

Be careful of words, 
even the miraculous ones. 
For the miraculous we do our best, 
sometimes they swarm like insects 
and leave not a sting but a kiss. 
They can be as good as fingers. 
They can be as trusty as the rock 
you stick your bottom on. 
But they can be both daisies and bruises.

Yet I am in love with words. 
They are doves falling out of the ceiling. 
They are six holy oranges sitting in my lap. 
They are the trees, the legs of summer, 
and the sun, its passionate face.

Yet often they fail me. 
I have so much I want to say, 
so many stories, images, proverbs, etc. 
But the words aren't good enough, 
the wrong ones kiss me. 
Sometimes I fly like an eagle 
but with the wings of a wren.

But I try to take care 
and be gentle to them. 
Words and eggs must be handled with care. 
Once broken they are impossible 
things to repair. 

Flowers Whisper Beauty

"Flowers whisper "Beauty!" to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall."  ~Dr. SunWolf

Transforming Winter Dreams into Summer's Magic

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. "

~Adrienne Cook

Here is a collection of some of my favorite green images.

Food Photography, Presentation and Lemon Brownies

I have always loved to post recipes on my blog. I often felt the need to add a photo with any food post. Some of my first food photos were really bad. I didn't pay much attention to anything except snapping a photo either before it went in the oven or before somebody dished it up. Horrible backgrounds showed up in a few. Other photos reminded me I needed to clean off my stove. There were even some that showed dust around my house. Imagine!

Other bloggers inspired me to take better food photos. There is beauty in fresh vegetables on a plate, strawberries in a basket, warm bread on a cutting board. I paid attention to how these bloggers photographed their food while I was copying and pasting favorite recipes. I also began reading more about how to photograph food along the way.

I pay attention to presentation when I set a table, arrange flowers, and decorate a room. I didn't pay that much attention with food photos. I began to pay attention to the dishes I put food on, the angle of the food, and how the presentation was around the food. 

Any of my success came from good old fashioned practice. There is always food around in the garden, on the counter, or in the frig ready to be prepared. I have even had success with the produce department at my local store. Food is food. It is colorful, full of textures, and holds up well unless it is ice cream. In a future post I will share some of my favorite sources for food photography tips and advice.

I pinned this recipe yesterday on Pineterst and thought lemon would be a nice switch from chocolate for brownies. What a yummy Sunday evening treat. These would be delicious with fresh spring strawberries. I tracked the original source to the blog listed below. I only used half the glaze becasue I didn't want them too sweet. Give them a try!

Lemon Brownies

Source: Marilyn (DanaIN, Cooking Forum) adapted by http://theresalwaysthyme.blogspot.com 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour  1 1/2 cup sugar  1 teaspoon salt  1 cup (2 sticks) butter; room temperature  4 eggs  juice from 1/2 lemon  zest from 1 lemon  1 cup powdered sugar  2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice  additional lemon zest for garnish  Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom only of a 9X13X2-inch baking dish with Parchment paper and spray with Pam. In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt; add butter. Stir together eggs, juice from 1/2 lemon and zest from 1 lemon; stir into batter and pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and cool on a rack. When brownies are cool prepare glaze by stirring together powdered sugar and 2 tablespoon lemon juice; drizzle over brownies and sprinkle with additional lemon zest.