The Parenting Diaries

I don’t know if there’s anyone who haven’t heard or read about this wonderful poem written by Cecil F. Alexander. All Things Bright and Beautiful is an old, old poem written in 1848 and have been passed from generation to generation.

I loved this poem and will certainly pass it to Pristine.

1. All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

2. Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings.

3. The rich man in his castle,

The poor man at his gate,

God made them, high or lowly,

And order’d their estate.

4. The purple headed mountains,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky;?

5. The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,?

He made them every one:

6. The tall trees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

We gather every day;?

7. He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

When I was young (not meaning to say I am old now!!), I loved to memorize poems and songs but because I was out of tune, I’d stick with the poems. There was an area in my school called the “little forest” with around 120 trees in it lined in tens. In the trees planted first in each row, is a line from the poem “Tree” by Joyce Kilmer and I memorize it by heart.

Out of the blue last night I remembered it and recited to Pristine complete with the hand gestures I used to do when I was in grade school. I know I looked funny but she loved it! Now, we are memorizing it line by line and when she wants to advance to the next line almost immediately to see the ending, much like what happened to Humpty Dumpty - she didn’t see that coming!

It’s a good poem and I think it’s easily understood by children, even pre-schoolers. Here it is:

Trees by Joyce Kilmer

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest,
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast.

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain,
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.