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This Hospital Needs a Hospital

These past days we have witnessed terror at its worst within Israel and Gaza. These past days we have been silenced by the noise of war, we have become marooned on this island of fear and foreboding. Over the past few days in the gruesome images of the bombed Al-Alhi hospital in Gaza one thoughtContinue reading “This Hospital Needs a Hospital”

Upon Westminster Bridge

For almost everyone who visits London, the sight of Westminster Bridge, the river Thames, and the London skyline create a wonderful and impressionable memory. This was also true for William Wordsworth, some 220 years ago. His poem describes London and the river Thames, in the early morning. Inspiration for the poem was provided by a journeyContinue reading “Upon Westminster Bridge”

“in the deep heart’s core”

Homesickness or nostalgia? W.B. Yeats’ most celebrated poem might well be The Lake Isle of Innisfree written in 1888. The real place of Innisfree is in Co. Sligo, Ireland. Yeats spent many summers there as a child, and the poem was a result of a sudden memory of his childhood while walking in London. PleaseContinue reading ““in the deep heart’s core””

Sometimes!

Today I pulled from my bookshelf a book I bought back in 2000 but have opened it only a few times – The Nation’s Favourite Twentieth Century Poems edited by Griff Rhys Jones and published by the BBC. For sure it is an interesting collection. The poem “Sometimes” caught my eye as I turned theContinue reading “Sometimes!”

“They Are Building a Hospital.”

I have just returned from a road trip to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. This was a first visit to these parks and it can be summed up in one word – Majestic! While driving I caught up on some podcasts. Listening to Padraig O Tuama (Irish poet and theologian) is always charmingContinue reading ““They Are Building a Hospital.””

Susurration

This the last of a series of three poems from John Betjeman. These past few days I have enjoyed returning to his Collected Poems. For those who enjoy rhyming couplets it doesn’t get any better than Betjeman’s poem A Bay in Anglesey. The photo above is of Cable Bay, Porth Castell in Anglesey, but IContinue reading “Susurration”

Eternity contained in Time and coloured glass.

As promised I offer you another Betjeman poem. In his poem Sunday Morning, King’s Cambridge. Betjeman captures in words the powerful beauty of both Anglican worship and Anglican church architecture. This poem is in sharp contrast to Philip Larkin’s poem Church Going and if you take time the following link is to Larkin reading hisContinue reading “Eternity contained in Time and coloured glass.”

Seaside Golf!

Several years ago we had a walking holiday in Cornwall. On one particular day we set off along the coastal path in search of St. Enodoc Church, hoping to find the burial place of the poet John Betjeman. For many years I had used his poem entitled Christmas in my Christmas Eve services – “…AndContinue reading “Seaside Golf!”

Late August

I was looking for a different poem when I turned a few pages and out popped the following poem by Seamus Heaney. After reading it I no longer looked for that other poem, another day perhaps! Today’s poem was written way back in the 1960s when Heaney was in his early 20s. I am mindfulContinue reading “Late August”

Longhorn Diner

It is a long way from west Texas to New Haven, Connecticut. Not so much the miles, which are many, some 1900, nor the time to drive, some 28 hours, but for poet and professor Christian Wiman, the journey and time is altogether different! No matter the distance we might have travelled from our childhoodContinue reading “Longhorn Diner”