I've been reading the collected works of Gerard Manley Hopkins as part of my morning quiet time. The other morning the following poem touched my heart and mind and tongue with a sweet grace. I had to read it out loud. Then I had to read it out loud to Breck.

So, I thought I'd share this with my friends and family who visit our blog from time to time.

It is almost autumn...

Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things-

For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;

For rose moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;

Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;

Landscape plotted and pieced-fold, fallow, and plough;

And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;

Whatever is fickle, freckle (who knows how?)

With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;

He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:

Praise him.

Gerard Manley Hopkins