Who by his rays lights us and lights the day--
Radiant is she, with his great splendour stored,
Thy glory, Lord, confessing.
By Sister Moon and Stars my Lord is praised,
Where clear and fair they in the heavens are raised
By Brother Wind, etc....
His follower, Bonaventura, too, in his verses counted--
The smallest creatures his brothers and sisters, and called upon crops, vineyards, trees, flowers, and stars to praise God.
Bernard von Clairvaux made it a principle 'to learn from the earth, trees, corn, flowers, and grass'; and he wrote in his letter to Heinrich Murdach (Letter 106):
Believe me, I have proved it; you will find more in the woods than in books; trees and stones will teach you what no other teacher can.