The Giant

When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time at my best friend Kristen's house. I'm sure I was at her house more than my own!
On the wall of her room hung a picture. I remember it being very large, although you know how things seem to shrink as you age, so I really don't know how big it actually was. Maybe it was just the "idea" or subject matter that seemed so over sized to me.
Years later, probably five or six ago, L was doing some copywork from the book Primary Language Lessons. (Darling little language arts book written in the early 1900's.) She was working on the poem If I Knew.

If I Knew

If I knew a box where the smiles are kept,
No matter how large the key
Or strong the bolt, I would try so hard
'Twould open, I know for me;
Then over the land and the sea broadcast,
I'd scatter the smiles to play,
That the children's faces might hold them fast
For many and many a day.

If I knew a box that was large enough
To hold all the frowns I meet,
I would like to gather them every one,
From nursery, school, and street;
Then folding and holding, I'd pack them in,
And turning the monster key,
I'd hire a giant to drop the box
To the depths of the deep, deep sea.
-Maud Wyman

The poem's imagery immediately reminded me of the picture I hadn't thought of for more than 20 years. Off I went on an internet search with such words as: "giant" "clouds" "sea" "children playing"
I found what I was looking for!

I was so excited and honestly was all set on purchasing a poster for the girls room, but for some reason I never did.


I love clouds and have always encouraged my children to look for hidden pictures in the sky. Maybe that seed was first planted by that picture so long ago.
Today as I ran out in my fuzzy leopard print slippers and sweats, camera in hand pointed heavenward, I was again reminded of The Giant. As I was downloading my photos, I did a quick search again of the artist, N.C. Wyeth. I found that the oldest of Mr. Wyeth's 5 children, also a renowned artist, recently passed away, just this last January.
So, Mr. Wyeth, these clouds today are for you. Thank you for giving a young impressionable girl the gift of beauty and imagination and for lighting a fire that still burns brightly. And thanks to you too, dear Kristen! See? I'm still feeling the blessings of our friendship in many, many ways!

Update!
After studying more about the Wyeth family and their art, I fell in love with a piece named, Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth. I love the colors and perspective and after learning the meaning behind the painting, I was moved by the emotion, as well.

Just a couple of years after I wrote this post, we unexpectedly found a home for sale and asked our realtor friend to take us for a look. Even though we weren't actively looking to move, I knew this was the home for us and as I came to the back bedroom, there was the confirmation.