And my poetry kick continues ... 
I found this book at Barnes and Noble over the weekend, and it is just so gorgeous, I had to write a post about it!
The very book itself is quite "bright and beautiful." Vibrant watercolors by Anna Vojtech positively illuminate every page, and the timeless poem they illustrate, written by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848, is a perennial favorite.
The first few lines of this poem are familar, thanks in part to the beloved books by James Herriot, but for me, the poem in its entirety seemed new somehow. Perhaps I've never actually read the whole thing! But what a perfect celebration of this glorious time of year, when all of creation is fairly exploding with new life ...
Alexander's words are like a balm to my winter-weary heart, gently reminding me how His hand is in all things ~ and the very smallest miracle of life is a treasure to behold. The pictures in this book will surely help the children embrace the imagery at a higher level, as we turn every breathtaking page.
Each spring we begin a new nature journal, and this poem will serve as a lovely title page. With simple copywork and our own colorful illustrations, our little notebooks will be our own "lips that tell ..."
Here then is the poem ...
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 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.
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Cecil Frances Alexander
