I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And [...]
Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category
I Heard the Bells…of Peace on Earth
Posted in Christmas, Poetry on December 21, 2009 | 3 Comments »
The Fisherman’s Prayer
Posted in Poetry, spirituality on November 23, 2009 | 8 Comments »
Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Chapel, Pier 45, San Francisco CA The Fisherman’s Prayerby Thomas Keats When far from land on the stormy seaThere are times when my boat seems frail to meWhere the rising wind and the monstrous wavesHave sent many souls to their watery graves When the fog shuts down and blacks out the shoreAnd [...]
Imagine…
Posted in history, Poetry, special days on November 11, 2009 | 10 Comments »
National War Memorial, Ottawa Canada I have met many Canadian war veterans in my work as they are an aging group of people, their numbers thinning as we move a half century and more past the big wars we memorialize today. Many of them suffered physical and emotional ailments related to the war and even [...]
Imagine…
Posted in history, Poetry, special days on November 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
National War Memorial, Ottawa Canada I have met many Canadian war veterans in my work as they are an aging group of people, their numbers thinning as we move a half century and more past the big wars we memorialize today. Many of them suffered physical and emotional ailments related to the war and even [...]
September
Posted in Poetry, seasons of life on September 1, 2009 | 8 Comments »
The golden-rod is yellow;The corn is turning brown;The trees in apple orchardsWith fruit are bending down. The gentian’s bluest fringesAre curling in the sun;In dusty pods the milkweedIts hidden silk has spun. The sedges flaunt their harvest,In every meadow nook;And asters by the brook-sideMake asters in the brook, From dewy lanes at morningThe grapes’ sweet [...]
A Little Brown-Winged Bird
Posted in birds, Poetry on June 1, 2009 | 16 Comments »
Chipping Sparrow My ability to identify little brown birds is gradually improving and I generally recognize our regular seasonal visitors. American Tree Sparrows have returned north to nest and the Chipping Sparrow has taken its place at the feeders. It has the same chestnut cap but lacks a spot on the white breast. It is [...]
Thoughts of Love
Posted in birds, Poetry, seasons of life on February 25, 2009 | 12 Comments »
Female Mallard with plenty of suitors (I counted 15)Click picture to enlarge In the Spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin’s breast; In the Spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest; In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove; In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts [...]
The Christmas Guest
Posted in Christmas, Music, Poetry, spirituality on December 14, 2008 | 13 Comments »
This week I had the privilege of playing the piano for a Christmas carol service at a local retirement home. I have visited this particular facility regularly for at least 15 years and have come to know several of the residents quite well. Many suffer from chronic illnesses and various degrees of disability that make [...]
Nature and Civilization
Posted in Poetry, skywatch on December 11, 2008 | 32 Comments »
William Wordsworth, a British poet of the Romantic Period, was travelling on the roof of a coach as he began a journey to France in September 1802. He was struck by the beauty of the city of London as it was clothed like a garment in the beauty of the dawning day. At the end [...]
"Morning"
Posted in Poetry, skywatch, special days on November 27, 2008 | 47 Comments »
From the East comes the sun, Bringing a new and unspoiled day. It has already circled the Earth andLooked upon distant lands and Far-away peoples. It has passed over mountain ranges andThe waters of the seven seas. It has shown upon laborers in the fields,Into the windows of homes,And shops, and factories. It has beheld [...]
