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Anne Sexton, flowering plum tree, inspiration, Joy, Nature, photography, poetry, Welcome Morning

A lovely reminder from Anne Sexton to share our joys–the simple pleasures of life. So I’m sharing with you her poem and these photos I took yesterday of our flowering plum tree. Enjoy!
Welcome Morning
There is joy
in all:
in the hair I brush each morning,
in the Cannon towel, newly washed,
that I rub my body with each morning,
in the chapel of eggs I cook
each morning,
in the outcry from the kettle
that heats my coffee
each morning,
in the spoon and the chair
that cry “hello there, Anne”
each morning,
in the godhead of the table
that I set my silver, plate, cup upon
each morning.
All this is God,
right here in my pea-green house
each morning
and I mean,
though often forget,
to give thanks,
to faint down by the kitchen table
in a prayer of rejoicing
as the holy birds at the kitchen window
peck into their marriage of seeds.
So while I think of it,
let me paint a thank-you on my palm
for this God, this laughter of the morning,
lest it go unspoken.
The Joy that isn’t shared, I’ve heard,
dies young.
By Anne Sexton

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Thank you for sharing the beauty of your plum trees and Anne’s verse Deborah. I agree about shared joy. That is a big part of why I started photographing nature to share, and in turn, my blog.
To blessings shared.
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You are so welcome. Your photography and poetry brings me joy too!
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Thank you. It’s a grand cycle of sharing.
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That it is!
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Trade ya: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axH9A28CTjw]
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Thanks, Steve, for this recording of E. E. Cummings (1894-1962) reading his poem “i thank You God for most this amazing” from his book “XAIPE.”
His poems also bring so much joy.
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And another from a century earlier:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44399/pied-beauty
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Yes, Pied Beauty is a favorite of mine. I even wrote a post about it a few years ago, along with paintings that seemed to capture that “dappled” beauty: https://deborahjbrasket.com/2018/11/19/pied-beauty-poem-paintings/
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Wonderful!
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Thank you!
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I wonder if ‘talking to oneself’ evolved more from having no one to share thoughts/joy with than being proof of declining mental acuity? The urge to share joyful bits throughout one’s day is fundamental to being alive and growing IMHO. And if no one’s around – God always is. Anne brings that to light in the most natural of ways and is a great reminder that ‘no man is an island’ ya know?
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Ha! It couldn’t possibly be proof of declining mental acuity because I’ve been doing it my whole life! (smile). And yes I always feel that divine presence in quiet, still moments. I’ve heard that a simple “thank you” is the most profound prayer we can offer. I try to say that often.
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What a beautiful poem! Yes, so true we need to share our joy!! 😊. And the photo is beautiful! 😍
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Thank you so much for coming here, Lisa. and letting me know you enjoyed this!
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You’re welcome!
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Beautiful photo and poem. Thank you for sharing and reminding me to share the joy.
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You are so welcome. Thanks for coming here and reading!
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Lovely poem❤️✨✨ and I loved the photograph of cherry blossom tree✨
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Thank you so much. And thanks for coming here.
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It really is the little things that matter most. Without them the big ones are just huge, empty drums…
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You are so right.
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The plum tree looks so beautiful! ♥️
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Thank you! It’s still in radiant bloom, although some the the pink blossoms are falling, replaced by shiny red leaves, which also makes a striking contrast.
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Wonderful👍👍👍
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I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Thank you for providing such a good picture today so that I can also say in my own situation the same as you “WELCOME MORNING”
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You are so welcome!
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Pingback: Joy Not Shared, Dies Young – Jonathon M. Poe Editor ~ Journalist
Great read
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Thank you!
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A nice reminder to make a greater effort to share the things that have made me happy that day with others, rather than just my complaints.
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Thank you for sharing that. I think we all need these reminders.
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