"Morning Has Broken"
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Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
-Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)
"Morning Has Broken" was captured at the breathtaking Havasu Falls in Arizona, and it has my vote for the best waterfall in the continuous United States. The blue-green waterfalls of Havasu Canyon are among Mother Nature's greatest works. Havasu is one of four major waterfalls in the heart of the Havasupai Tribe's homeland. Navajo, Mooney, and Beaver Falls are also located in this beautiful canyon, each with their own unique qualities. Although located within the Grand Canyon, this picturesque desert oasis is not in Grand Canyon National Park, but rather on the Havasupai Reservation.
The key to capturing this artistic view was getting up way before dawn (and other campers) to make the mile hike to the falls. I took pictures first at the base of Havasu Falls but
the angle just wasn't right. So, I quickly scrambled around and up to the top of the falls to capture this view just as morning had broken.
Some people ask me if I felt a spiritual connection while taking the photo, and the answer is yes. I had an extreme sense of belonging to the moment, and that it was my destiny to be there at that moment in time to capture something so beautiful to share with the world. It makes me think of how musicians just flow with the energy and lyrics that come to them from somewhere. I wouldn't ever pretend to compare my abilities to those of Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) or other great songwriters, but in this moment in time I do believe something or someone was guiding me.