“i heard a bird sing in the dark of december.
a magical thing.
and sweet to remember.
we are nearer to spring than we were in september.
i heard a bird sing in the dark of december.”
-oliver herford
—
art credit: “Winter Moon”, photograph by Ginette Brosseau
This dark winter landscape photo was taken not far from her home
along the shores of the St. Lawrence river in Quebec.
beautiful and succinct: tight as a haiku
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yes to all –
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You know I am sucker for great poetry. Loved this! Hope you have the happiest of New Year’s and a blessed 2023, my friend!
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and to you, brad.
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I love the art, and the quote!! Happy New Year!
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thanks, and you too!
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You’re welcome!
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A beautiful photo and poem.
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thanks, sadje. I really think both express where we are right now –
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I agree with you Beth.
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Beautiful! Like me, always dreaming of spring…
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on it’s way –
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“Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I’ve heard it in the chilliest land And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson
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so beautiful, thanks –
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Emily was an amazing poet 😍
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Ivor; I think this is THE most quoted short poem ever…. I didn’t know it when I started using the internet and since then it appears everywhere. I did get cards from American friends several times and I still love it every time I read it again. ED was a wonderful writer!
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that he was!
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SHE was )
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Yeah… I have her book “The Complete Poems Of Emily Dickison”, and I never tire of reading her words …
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Gorgeous photo Beth and a lovely poem. Happy (almost!) new year. 😊
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you too, thanks!
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Delightful!
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this is the most beautiful and succinct combo ever. just beautiful and so true.
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both art forms fit together nicely to tell the story
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That’s a marvelous thought indeed, Beth, as we get oh-so-close to our new year! Happy arrival of 2023 to you, my friend.
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Looking forward)
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❤ !
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❤️
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Beautiful!
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❤
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Image and words are perfect. A sign of hope…
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yes, always hope
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Amazing photo and hope is a gift you give yourself. Thanks for this start to the day.
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you are very welcome –
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I like winter! It’s not dark – it’s the turning point when light increases. I feel winter is misunderstood. 🙂
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I like winter too, and always look forward to the return of more light
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Love the image!
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it feels ethereal
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I am lucky to live in a place where I always hear birds singing in the dark of December. And the Owls at night into the bargain.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That is lucky indeed
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What a lovely poem! Hearing birds sing in winter is a treat.
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It is a joy
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It really is!
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Nice
Sent from my iPhone
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❤️
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What a lovely little poem. And with a great photograph. The only birds heard around here in the winter are occasional geese honking overhead.
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❤️
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POWERFUL and beautiful as always Beth. The shadows contain unclaimed light. 💕 Andrea
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thanks, Andrea
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What a gorgeous picture! So magical and mysterious!
Happy New Year! Many blessings and miracles to you in 2023!
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thanks, and to you, too
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Just seeing the word Spring, made me feel better. 🙂 Lovely poem and photo.
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our perception changes everything
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Absolutely. And the wonderful weather we are having is making everyone happy.
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The Darkling Thrush
BY THOMAS HARDY
I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-grey,
And Winter’s dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.
The land’s sharp features seemed to be
The Century’s corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.
At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.
So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.
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thank you so much for sharing this, Martha –
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❤️
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I love the picture and the poem. I don’t mind winter as long as it stays outside. 🙂 Happy New Year, Beth.
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that’s a fair bargain and happy new year to you too, Marsha
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As soon as we hit the winter solstice, things started looking up.
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that’s right –
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Here’s information about Oliver Herford:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Herford
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Thanks for this Oliver info -)
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And every day nearer to spring is to be celebrated. 🙂
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Indeed
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Beautiful pairing!
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❤️
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💗
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Wow. That moon is huge!
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indeed –
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Lovely! I can’t wait for spring 🌸
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