By Flapper Press Poetry Café:
The Flapper Press Poetry Café continues a series of articles about favorite lines of poetry and the poets who wrote them. We’re reaching out to poets, writers, and lovers of poetry to submit their favorite lines of poetry and tell us why you love them.
Check out our submission guidelines and send us your favorites!
We'll feature your submission sometime this year on our site!
All Things Bright and Beautiful
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;−
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;−
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who hath made all things well.
— Cecil Frances Alexander
From Kim Carr:
I am not religious in any way, but I guess I am spiritual. I say this poem each time I have a birth or a new animal added to the family, and I ask for a long, happy, healthy life.
I also say this poem as a prayer when one of my animals passes away and ask that they live happy and free for all eternity in heaven. I do this anytime I see an animal that has passed along the roadway. These few words bring me comfort.
Having grown up near St. Louis, I was deeply influenced by spending summers on my grandparents' farm as a kid. I knew by the age of ten I would someday have a farm of my own. Around this time, I was given a Kodak 110 camera, and life has never been the same.
Along life’s journey to become a farmer, my passion for photography and writing evolved too. At the age of twenty-five, I settled on a piece of land in the middle of Missouri. Here I share my life with an assortment of critters that are a never-ending source of entertainment. My camera has allowed me to capture the little things, my words help bring them to life. I combine my everyday stories and photos to share my experiences of life around the farm.
I hope anyone, no matter where they may live, will be able to feel a connectedness to the land and a simpler way of life.
As a natural light photographer, I am committed to raising awareness for farm animals in danger of extinction and the small farmers dedicated to their preservation. Through the sale of my artwork, I am able to donate to organizations such as the Livestock Conservancy, whose sole purpose is to save these rare breeds and maintain biodiversity for future generations to come. Never before has my purpose been so clear or rewarding. Together, we can all make a difference, one photo at a time. www.kimcarrphotography.com
An Anglo-Irish hymnwriter and poet, Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) is best known for her poem "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and her collection of children's poetry, Hymns for Little Children. Her popular work reflected the ideas and mores of Victorian society and was celebrated as instructional and inspiring to young people, with the goal of instilling a moral compass and sense of piety in their lives.
To read more about Cecil Frances Alexander:
Kim Carr, natural light photographer, photographer of endangered farm animals, Flapper Press contributor, and author of Dandelion, My House Chicken, Kim resides in central Missouri on her own piece of Farm Heaven.
Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting!
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