You say grace before meals

img_1626-copyYou say grace before meals.

All right.

But I say grace before the play

and the opera,

And grace before the concert

and pantomime,

And grace before I open a book,

And grace before sketching

                and painting,

Swimming, fencing, boxing,

walking, playing, dancing;

And grace before I dip the pen in ink.

 

G.K. Chesterton
from an early notebook (mid-1890’s)

 

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10 Responses

  1. Julene
    |

    Beautiful!

    • Dale
      |

      Thank you, Julene. Glad you liked it.

  2. Jean
    |

    Oh, so MANY ways to say grace! Sometimes it’s just a sigh, and a breath that says, ‘This is going to be wonderful!’ and it is.
    Or perhaps, ‘Thank you so much for sharing this with me.’
    Or, ‘I understand just what you mean!’
    I could go on. . . you get the idea.

    • Dale
      |

      I do get the idea, Jean. And thank YOU.

  3. MK Shaw
    |

    What a simple and profound act. To express gratitude for all we experience. Thank you.

    • Dale
      |

      Thank you, too, Mary. You also remind me to express gratitude, which I appreciate.

  4. Marsha
    |

    Oh so many reasons!

    I say grace, and believe I am given in return, with a smile from someone unknown to me, until the moment our eyes meet.

    • Dale
      |

      Lovely. And so true. Thank you for your comment, Marsha.

  5. Debbie
    |

    Each and everyday since i have read this poem (?) I re-read it my head. It has profoundly impacted me. It has opened this thought in my mind, “What if your life was just good, and easy and all was well, just like it really is?” and then a peace fills me and I see the goodness of myself and all the people who surround me and love me. And I am grateful. Thank you much for sharing this Dale.

    Happy Thanksgiving!!

  6. Dale
    |

    What a wonderful question you ask yourself. Isn’t it interesting how all it takes to feel that kind of peace is to remember it?