Crab Apple Study with George Herbert

The Weeping Fruitless Crab Apple tree bears the sweetest buds, perhaps even more beautiful than the flower.  Because of circumstances and storms, I didn't photograph the flowers; but I hope you enjoy seeing the dainty buds.

Here you can see the tightness of the bud and the serrated leaf.

                                                      In the evening light.

                                               Peek-a-boo bud!

Sepulchre  by George Herbert

O blessed body!  Whither art thou thrown?

No lodging for thee, but a cold hard stone?

So many hearts on earth, and yet not one

          Receive thee?

Sure there is room within our hearts' good store;

For they can lodge transgressions by the score:

Thousands of toys dwell there, yet out of door

          They leave thee.

But that which shows them large, shows them unfit.

What ever sin did this pure rock commit,

Which holds thee now?  Who hath indicted it

          Of murder?

Where our hard hearts have took up stones to brain thee,

And missing this, most falsely did arraign thee;

Only these stones in quiet entertain thee,

          And order.

And as of old, the law by heav'nly art

Was writ in stone; so thou, which also art

The letter of the word, find'st no fit heart

          To hold thee.

Yet do we still persist as we began,

And so should perish, but that nothing can,

Though it be cold, hard, foul, from loving man

          Withhold thee.