Gransnet forums

Religion/spirituality

Awe and wonder

(29 Posts)
Nanadogsbody Fri 21-Sept-12 11:49:27

Just been reading two very different threads, one about autumn and the other about bring a secular nation ( or not ). Both made me wonder about what 'touches' us, what causes that feeling of awe and wonder.

I was once driving back from work along a sea wall. It was autumn, the sun was setting in a most spectacular way radiating amazingly unbelievable colours. Wave after wave of reds, pinks, oranges, purples, yellows, greens and gold, across the whole sky as far as i could see. And in the middle, like a hole in a doughnut, a circle which reflected the blue water of the marsh and the silhouettes of the roosting ducks. It was breathtaking. I had to pull off onto a layby and just look and look and look.

GrandmaMiney Sun 21-Oct-12 12:28:11

Thanks Bags, it is a beautiful poem, thanks for the link. It sent me back to my (many) bookshelves to seek a copy of Hopkins from years ago.

Finding a marker in The Leaden Echo and The Golden Echo I reread this beautiful poem and, unsurprisingly, found it even more pertinent and beautiful now than I did 30 years ago!

I think Hopkins' words, sounds and rhythms are awe-inspiring and wonder-ful. In inversnaid I can 'see' the tumbling brook and brae, and smell the bracken--pure joy when all I can actually see from my window is a busy London street.smile

soop Sun 21-Oct-12 12:46:47

Oh Bags thanks so much for the beautiful poem. I shall print it. smile

Maniac Sun 21-Oct-12 16:57:06

had several rainbows this week and some amazing sunsets
red and gold ,blue and purple .I just sit and watch the changing sky over the rooftops for the last minutes of the day.
Thankyou Bags for the GMH poem.