SEEKING BEAUTY
Cold winds can never freeze, nor thunder sour
The cup of cheer that Beauty draws for me
Out of those Azure heavens and this green earth —
I drink and drink, and thirst the more I see.
To see the dewdrops thrill the blades of grass,
Makes my whole body shake; for here’s my choice
Of either sun or shade, and both are green —
A Chaffinch laughs in his melodious voice.
The banks are stormed by Speedwell, that blue flower
So like a little heaven with one star out;
I see an amber lake of buttercups,
And Hawthorn foams the hedges round about.
The old Oak tree looks now so green and young,
That even swallows perch awhile and sing:
This is that time of year, so sweet and warm,
When bats wait not for stars ere they take wing.
As long as I love Beauty I am young,
Am young or old as I love more or less;
When Beauty is not heeded or seems stale,
My life’s a cheat, let Death end my distress.
-William Henry Davies
Gladsome Lights 
The title of your post brings up another phrase from this wandering Welshman, “Teetotallers lack the sympathy and generosity of men that drink.” May beauty’s cup be full for you.
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Thanks for sharing this stirring poem. And from your sidebar ‘Latest Reads’, I see you’ve read Anthony Doerr’s About Grace. Have you reviewed it? I’m currently reading All the Light We Cannot See, my first Doerr. Impressive writing.
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I really want to review About Grace, which I do not recommend. It was a trial to get through, and I always think writing reviews of books I am less than pleased with is questionable use of my time, as well as very difficult! So we’ll see if I ever get to that.
I did love All the Light and maybe you already read what I wrote before I even finished it (no spoilers): https://gretchenjoanna.com/2016/02/20/a-feast-of-a-book/
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Thanks! Will check it out. And thanks for the tips on About Grace. 🙂
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Oh that is a wonderful poem!
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Beautiful!
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I enjoy his down-to-earth poems.
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Oh my goodness! Your blog is absolutely lovely.
Thank you for stopping by my blog, which is wonderful, because now I have had a chance to visit your blog.
Melissa
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That’s a good one.
“As long as I love Beauty, I am young.” I’ll go with that!
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