"His Ozarks Masterpiece": A Poem by Autumn
Hello!
For this blogpost I wanted to piggyback off of Carson’s last post where he talked about the importance of nature. Before we left Florida for Central America I learned about a scholarship contest back in Missouri. The man who was running the contest wanted applicants to write a poem inspired by nature.
I have been very blessed to have many inspiring encounters with nature in the Ozarks with both my family and friends, and decided to write my poem summarizing those a little bit while trying to give God the glory. It ended up winning a prize, so I thought I’d share it here along with some pictures of the memories that inspired the poem. I hope you enjoy!
His Ozark Masterpiece
Let’s go down to the river, I simply wish to float
The icy Elevenpoint, or the tepid Buffalo
In the afternoon, as the day continues growing hotter
We can leap out of the canoes and surrender to the water
Splashing through the side-creeks, searching for the springs
Climbing on the old mill wheel: a piece of Ozark history
We’ll make camp under a bluff, by the fire we can dry
In the morning we’ll hike up there and through the mist watch the sunrise
We’ll ponder there awhile, sitting in the peace
Waiting for the whispers that the wind will surely bring
And when those summer months expire
Backpacking, see the leaf shades turn to fire
Breathing deep the crisp air as we trod along,
Watering the land with our walking songs
The forest beckons us, calls us deeper in
Inviting us to restrengthen our souls yet again
At night stars join the dancing of our strings
Voices sing praise to the Creator, the one who spoke this all to be
When the sun bathes us anew with it’s morning light
We’ll venture once again, up unto the heights
So let’s hike down in the hallows or gallop to the glades
We can wander to the waterfalls or go explore the caves
The trees can sing their melodies and the creek will harmonize
The birds chirp response happily as they streak across the sky
We’ll build a book of memories that we’ll treasure deep inside
Some wonderfully serene, others about we’ll laugh until we cry
Come try to reach the sky, climb higher ever higher
Letting our surroundings once again our hearts inspire
Gratefully we’ll head home again, thankful that the Great Artisan we’ve seen
Exhibited in the glory of His Ozark Masterpiece.
On top of a bluff, watching the sunrise
