Beauties of Nature

The renowned English poet, John Keats, begins his famous poem: Endymion with the line- "A thing of beauty is a joy forever". A thing of beauty touches the human heart as nothing else does. It elevates the human soul. Man feels some inexpressible inner joy. The experience is unforgettable. That is why, on seeing a host of daffodils on the bank of a lake Wordsworth says:

"For oft when on my couch I lie,
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye,
Which is the bliss of solitude".

Wordsworth is the high-priest of nature. According to him,

"nature never did betray the heart that loved her"

The beauties of nature are the greatest gifts of God to man. How unlucky are they who cannot enjoy and appreciate nature. Nature is all around us in varied aspects and shapes. We have the green charming hills, the snow-capped mountains, the rising and setting sun in its varied and unforgettable glory. The dew drops on the blades of grass look like iridescent pearls. The silvery moon and the twinkling stars bedeck the sky. The roaring waves in the vast ocean and the lakes which look like sheets of water add to the glorious treasure. Even the violent aspects of nature like the thundering clouds with dazzling flashes of lightning, the torrential rain, the all-powerful storm are some of the aspects ofnature which Tennyson termed as nature "red in tooth and claw". But they have their own charms which captivate man and even inspire in his heart.

One can enjoy the beauties of nature in an abundant measure at a hill station. The floating clouds, the dancing springs, the winding rivulets, the all-pervading multi-colour flowers, emitting sweet, soothing smell, the trees standing like sentinels with birds singing sweet harmonious songs in their branches, the cool breeze, the humming bees, the delicious fruits- all cater to human senses. Beauty lies in the eyes of the be-holder on the earth, in the air, in the sky and in the ocean. His heart leaps up when he beholds a rainbow in the sky.

Nature teaches man the lesson of peace. innocence, purity, love, harmony, simplicity, hope and faith in the glory of God. Wordsworth believes that nature is the greatest store-house of wisdom, apart from being a source of eternal happiness:

"One impulse from the vernal wood
May teach you more of mart,
of moral evil and of good
Than all the sages can".