Fire and Water

We went through fire and through water. -The Bible, Psalms 66:12

Water and Wind

And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd-- "I came like Water, and like Wind I go." -Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Cascades over Pines

Clear cascades! Into the waves scatter Blue pine needles. -Matsuo Basho, Conversations with Basho. From the Collection Kyoraisho Hyokai

Prayer

This used to be among my prayers. --a piece of land not so very large, which would contain a garden, and near the house a spring of ever-flowing water, and beyond these a bit of wood. -Horace, Satires, 30 BC

The Wise, Great, and Good

Thou hast a voice, great Mountain, to repeal Large codes of fraud and woe; not understood By all, but which the wise, and great, and good Interpret, or make felt, or deeply feel. -Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mont Blanc

A Newer World

The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks; The long day wanes, the low moon climbs; the deep Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. -Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses

A Celestial Thought

Happy those early days! when I Shined in my angel-infancy. Before I understood this place Appointed for my second race, or taught my soul to fancy ought But a white, celestial thought, When yet I had not walked above A mile or two, from my first love, And looking back (at that short space) Could see a glimpse of his bright face; -Henry Vaughan, The Retreat, 1650

The Windhover

I caught this morning morning's minion, king-     dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding     Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,     As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding     Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding Stirred for a bird,--the achieve of, the mastery of the thing! -Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Windhover

Deep Seclusion

Once again Once again Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs, That on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughts of more deep seclusion; -William Wordsworth, Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, 1798

Silver Lake

On thy fair bosom, silver lake, The wild swan spreads his snowy sail, And round his breast the ripples break As down he bears before the gale. -James G. Percival, To Seneca Lake