107 Comments

Such a blissful, peaceful photo of a setting sun puts me in mind of one of the most beautiful melodies I know and one of the first ones I remember. A beautiful rendition here, sung by an acquaintance of mine in his native Welsh, the music of my ancestors...a prayer for all to have a restful and safe night...lyrics & translation below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efl2FgpvUHI

"Ar hyd y nos"

Holl amrantau'r sêr ddywedant

Ar hyd y nos

"Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant,"

Ar hyd y nos.

Golau arall yw tywyllwch

I arddangos gwir brydferthwch

Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch

Ar hyd y nos.

Hyd y nos.

O mor siriol, gwena'r seren

Ar hyd y nos

I oleuo'i chwaer ddaearen

Ar hyd y nos.

Nos yw henaint pan ddaw cystudd

Ond i harddu dyn a'i hwyrddydd

Rhown ein golau gwan i'n gilydd

Ar hyd y nos.

Translation:

All the stars' twinkles say

All through the night

"This is the way to the realm of glory,"

All through the night.

Other light is darkness

To show true beauty

The Heavenly family in peace

All through the night.

Through the night.

O, how cheerful smiles the star,

All through the night

To light its earthly sister

All through the night.

Old age is night when affliction comes

But to beautify man in his late days

We'll put our weak light together

All through the night.

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I've always loved that gentle melody, not realizing its origin or having heard the wonderful Bryn Terfel sing it. The lyrics I learned were "Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee / All through the night."

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There was a singable English translation done in the 19th century and those were the traditional words. On Wikipedia they also show a newer singable, rhyming version that is even closer to the original. It isn't necessarily a lullaby according to the words as it's not seemingly addressed to a child, but it has been conscripted as one. The Welsh are known for their singing and their melodies (some GREAT hymns are Welsh...most often in minor keys...go figure). It IS a gorgeous tune. If you want another song that IS a lullaby, look up "Suo gân", which garnered some fame by showing up in the film "Empire of the Sun". It is another song I love...really beautiful!

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Perfect intro to a peaceful Sunday...thanks, Bruce!

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Wonderful voice ... thanks for sharing.

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Thank you for this. I have a bit of Welsh in me and I love to hear it sung.

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This song is so lovely. I just listened to it. Many thanks

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But, I think it's a rising sun?

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yes, on the east coast.

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Could also be an alpenglow

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Bryn Terfel is a Welsh national treasure. Thank you for sharing!

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Thank you for this! I love this community.

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Thank you for this Bruce!

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That's beautiful! Husband and I up early for a change, listening to this now as we sip our morning tea. Thank you for this sweet sentiment, a gift to us all.

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Thank you Bruce. My mother's side was Welsh and I've always thought my love of singing came from them.

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Thank you, Bruce.

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Wasn't totally sure if the photo was sunrise or sunset, but I took the license that it was setting sun because of when HCR posted it. (And the sun looks to be setting over land, though I realise that it IS possible in Maine to show the rising sun over land with water in the foreground, islands, right? Those mists, though...I was thinking they were primarily a morning phenomena.) Whatever...it works, I think. Glad y'all enjoyed it...whenever *I* see images, it usually brings music to my mind...the musician in me.

And for what it's worth, Bryn is a fabulous person, SO nice, and a real hoot!!

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Reporting in from MD between DC and Annapolis, full wisteria, dogwoods, redbuds, and early tulips (past forsythia, cherries, narcissi); beech buds starting to cast off their brown sheaths, oak leaflets a frilly orange, sweetgum and maple leaves in various stages of limp bright-light-green growth with no stiffness yet to their veins, maple helicopter-seeds growing towards release. Buttercups in profusion. Oh, and male critters chasing female critters. Full spring despite 34 Thursday night (the last of that nonsense).

That is the most beautiful of Buddy's pix yet. Thank you both.

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Living now in ALBUQUEQUE, it was wonderful to read your description! Pennsylvania used to be my home!

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My sorta neck of the woods, Joshua! Enjoy your day.

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And tomorrow go out and enjoy the full moon.

“April 2021's Pink Moon, named after phlox, the pink flowers that bloom in spring, is also a Super Moon. Other names for this Full Moon are Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Hare Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon.”

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Heather, breathe in that beautiful fresh air up there as you sleep tranquilly (I hope). As the air gives us breath, truly your words give me a chance to breathe as well, to think, to ponder, and to reflect on today's world and how it fits into the past, which has always been one of my favorite things to do. You have just provided me with greater fodder. I was a history, particularly southern history major at William and Mary . I only wish I'd gone on to study it more.

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It sounds like your wish is coming true!

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PS I was never a history major, and feel like I am opening my eyes for the first time to history in a living breathing way. Breathing in that air that you are breathing in as well and for me, grateful to be starting to "...reflect on today's world and how it fits into the past..." in a seemingly saner way- thanks to Heather's breadth of knowledge.

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i totally agree..

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Spring has sprung,

The mist is riz.

I wonder where the lobsters is.

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Tell Buddy Poland that is one fine photograph. I enjoy his photography immensely.

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i do too, but i would love to know where this was taken, does everyone know but me? :)

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Beautiful photo. Buddy is a wonderful photographer.

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Recent observations...

Spring has fully erupted in our gardens; delicate, greens shoots have broken ground and each day more push back the packed soil in search of light, and as they do, the creatures with whom we share this space are drawn to them, to feed, to gather the stuff with which to build their nests.

There is an energy here, a nearly frantic energy below and above the surface of the flower beds, an energy that might go unnoticed unless you pay close attention. Perhaps our fellow creatures feel an urgency to get on with the work – now that the earth has warmed, the days longer, the food more abundant. Now is the time, the beginning of the brief window when the cycle of bringing the next generation into the world begins.

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Mmmmmmmmm. Then I open my National Wildlife to a photo of beautiful trilliums (mine will blossom 2nd week in May!), and a story about --- invasive European earthworms (distinguished by a dark band near its middle) that "degrade the forest soil and devour the seeds of trees and native plants such as trillium?" Worm Wars? I need a HCR for ecology!!

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That sounds quite ominous. 😳

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Are you stateside, R Dooley, or in the UK? I seem to recall Wales??

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Germany, but spend as much time as possible in the Catskills.

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Rest well, warrior.

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Rest well. You have earned it.

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Wonderful photo Buddy! Good to hear spring is coming on in Maine. Here in southern Colorado at 8,200 feet snow is still coming in the next couple of days but spring will definitely land after the first week of May. Have a great night's sleep and a restful Sunday. P.S. My family name and that of every other farm kid where I grew up is "Buddy."

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I’m at about the same elevation in the foothills outside Denver. Still snow piled up around us but by gosh there’s green grass underneath!

PS. My Grampa had 3 dogs when we were young - all at the same time- all named Buddy (Buds, Buddy, Buddo)

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We also have snow on our north-facing slopes and other shady places.

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It is my favorite time of year, when green shoots start to miraculously pierce the warming earth and poke their way through leaf litter or mulch. My camera gets a good workout. I hope you'll forgive me for sharing the latest iteration of a close-up of one of my favorite flowers, a heritage Iris Germanica "Alcazar." The original two corms were sent to me in 2005 (the year my life on social media began) from a Flickr friend in California and first bloomed at my front door the following year, scenting the air and thrilling me with their complexity.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mimbrava/51133180357/

As always, thanks for Buddy's beautiful photo, a silhouette this time. His peaceful images have become part of why we love your posts.

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Beautiful - thanks for sharing. Planted Iris for the first time this fall ... It's just broken the surface.

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Thank you.

Good luck with your iris. I hope it thrives and gives you much joy over the years.

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Buddy Poland. When my tired computer eyes met your photo, my lungs emitted a glorious sigh. Thank you for this captivating scene. Heather, I hope you are 100% recovered or close to that. I'm going force myself to follow your lead, needing more rest than work tonight. Wishing a good sleep and fresh spring day.

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Such beautiful images to keep us all positive and remembering the best of life. So grateful for you!

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I look forward to seeing the beautiful peaceful photos and hope you rest well.

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Very good morning to you, Heather, Buddy and all!

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