Thursday, June 28, 2012

Prayer for Rain

Sculptor, Edward Kemeys (1843-1907)
West Side Park, Champaign, Illinois

Prayer for Rain
by Edward Kemeys
The Indian paused by the hills' wild crest
Where the hemlocks throw their shade,
He looked o'er the land where the burning west
A river of flame had made.
The suffering Earth was parched and dry
Neath the fierce Sun's molten glare,
For drought had drained rivers afar and nigh
And a thirst was everywhere.
Then lo! as the Medicine-Man on high
His arms upraised in prayer
Forth came two beasts from the river bed dry
And pausing, they joined him there.
The first was a panther, cruel and grim
The other was a wild deer shy;
And they raised a prayer for rain with him
To the Manitou on high.

Contributor to Sky Watch Friday

8 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a superb post/capture for the day, Raf!! Gorgeous skies, such an incredible statue and wonderful words to match! Thank you!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

Great post!! Boom & Gary of The Vermilon River, Canada.

Judy said...

I love the angle you have chosen for your capture, and the poem which gives the background for the sculpture!!

Julie said...

I have read about the disaster in Colorado and figure there was not much rain in that area. Off the top of my head I am not sure whether you are miles and miles from there or not. Shall look it up ...

Would you be offended if I said it does not appear to be all that far from the CO fires, really. Is Omaha having a hot dry spell, too?

Laloofah said...

That's a beautiful photo - what a perfect perspective for photographing that sculpture! And the Prayer for Rain poem - how timely, given - as Julie mentioned - the terrible fires in Colorado and all over the West. I could have used that on my own SkyWatch post today!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Gorgeous! Visiting late from Sky Watch Friday.

Please come take a peek at my Sky Shots, have a great weekend!

nonizamboni said...

This is a lovely poem and even lovelier sculpture. . .the images of the panther and deer are touching [lion and the lamb?]and so true to the midwest balance of rain to sun. Great post--happy Independence Day coming up, Raf!

raf said...

Julie - Please forgive the delay to your question - have been unplugged for a spell.
Fortunately, some of the inferno in CO has abated, but this summer's record heat continues. Although we are some eight or nine hours from those fires, the biggest summer weather concerns here in eastern Nebraska are violent thunderstorms and tornados.