The Rhodora
On being asked, Whence is the flower?
In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes,
I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook,
To please the desert and the sluggish brook.
The purple petals, fallen in the pool,
Made the black water with their beauty gay;
Here might the red-bird come his plumes to cool,
And court the flower that cheapens his array.
Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being:
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose!
I never thought to ask, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance, suppose
The self-same Power that brought me there brought you.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Beautiful…”Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being” indeed
Oh, so beautiful to behold. “in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook”
“Beauty is its own excuse for being.”
actually brought tears to my eyes… I’ll carry that with me all day. Thank you so much for sharing, Ellen.
Oh – simply too beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson has a way with words!
It looks like we are all featuring rhodo’s these days…and for good reason.
wow! love the flowers!
happy tuesday!
Oh I had to read that one aloud Ellen – thanks!! Our rhodie is not far from blooming.
My grandmother gave me her Lenox Rhodora patterned china. The poem was mentioned as the inspiration for its name.
What wonderful words these are and the photos are just stunning my friend 🙂
What color and what words!! This is why I love to visit blogs…there is such a wealth of wonder and beauty in the time spent!
Ellen, beautiful pictures – beautiful poetry. laurie
What a very, very beautiful poem and fantastic flowers to go with it.
The first time I saw rhododendrons in bloom I was blown away….it was on Whidbey Island at that rhododendron garden/park, and also at the Ballard Locks….I though I was in paradise. They are certainly beautiful.
Beautiful!
nice story!!
Pingback: May Queen | Friendly Fairy Tales