And Now the Hills Are Greenly Gowned ...

Eccles.3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

He has also set eternity in the human heart; 

yet no one can fathom what God has done 

from beginning to end.

and now the hills are greenly-gowned...

and now with universal tongue, dusk's slow-paced majesty 

spills heaven's masterpieces, hung where everyone can see...

The last two evenings drew many a marveling gaze and gasp!

and now the hills are greenly-gowned, now gnarly, naked limbs

with nature's softest wreaths are crowned in blushing blossom-hymns

and heady haze of half-blaze lamps; bud-wicks begin to gleam

with the enchanting ambience of once-upon-a-dream

as earth's vault, birth and beauty-lined, bursts with faithful 'ahoy'

from God, who richly grants mankind life's good things to enjoy

and now with universal tongue, dusk's slow-paced majesty 

spills heaven's masterpieces, hung where everyone can see

the evidence of He whose glory no one can deny 

(pity the one who cannot see, but with the naked eye) 

and cannot sense the holy ground that trembles with God's touch

where now the hills are greenly-gowned in hues we love so much 

and now once more the birds return, that fled winter's chill climes

and from last-autumn-felled filled urn flower-resurgence chimes    

the earth is charged with petaled bells, and bird-song friendliness

until the dullest of hearts swells with holy happiness

where worship knows no brooding bound, in worlds brimming with bloom  

where every hill is greenly gowned with May, from mercy's loom

the earth and its fullness thereof is like a fount restored

or, like a letter penned with love by our gracious Lord 

Once again, God has not withheld creation's let-there-be

now, gratitude and gladness meld in humble harmony

to He who clothes the tree, soft crowned in diadems bespoke 

and the hills that are greenly-gowned in the Creator's cloak  

Janet Martin 

now gnarly, naked limbs

with nature's softest wreaths are crowned in blushing blossom-hymns

and heady haze of half-blaze lamps;...