revdrejt1832

“If -“

Rudyard Kipling has long been out of favor. It is easy to forget that he was the first English writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907. Jungle Book was published in 1894 and some would dare to suggest that it is in its own way autobiographical. He grew up in India and detestedContinue reading ““If -“”

If thought is life…

I am enjoying the benefits of a screened porch as I write this blog post. Just beyond the screen, flies are in their abundance and from time to time when sitting outside I use my hand to move then off my face and off my book. Flies sure do spoil a picnic lunch or dinner.Continue reading “If thought is life…”

“Dance, that ye need no other day”

There is such pleasure in the simple things of summer. I still marvel as the sun sets and the darkening night is lit up with fireflies! Appearing and disappearing, shifting places with one another! A timely reminder of the beauty all around us, even when at first all we notice is the dark! Butterflies doContinue reading ““Dance, that ye need no other day””

4th July

I return to an earlier post, which I wrote in August 2021 – I turn today to the words of Langston Hughes. His words are always fresh, provocative, and inspiring. We cannot be the same person we were before, once we allow his words to enter into our heart and soul. I offer just aContinue reading “4th July”

“when you listen deep enough”

A recent birthday gift included the book Sea Glass: New and Selected Poems by Luci Shaw. I have mentioned Luci in some recent posts. In these warm summer nights I am enjoying turning the pages, and almost every poem is one that I would love to share. My choice today is greatly influenced by theContinue reading ““when you listen deep enough””

Illuminated possibility!

Today I am turning to the poem The Straight and Narrow by British poet Simon Armitage. It is such a fun poem, yet if we are not too fast, and read it carefully, and over and over again, possibility emerges beyond the first thought of nostalgia. The poem begins by recalling those “school career nights”Continue reading “Illuminated possibility!”

The Key!

As promised in my most recent post, I am today turning to a poem by Walt Whitman titled Clef Poem. The poem was printed in his 1856 edition of Leaves of Grass. At some point in time the poem was abridged and known as “On the Beach at Night Alone.” Whitman, using the French wordContinue reading “The Key!”

Cornerless Universe

Over these past few months, many of us have found ourselves expressing our sadness and despair at world events with the words “the world has gone mad” “the world is broken” “we are all insane.” I have found myself at times saying that the world is broken due to the many sharp edges of perceivedContinue reading “Cornerless Universe”

Sunday Bells!

I have fond memories of my home town and in particular of the Sunday morning bells as they tolled from the Anglican church and its very separate bell tower (photo on right above). The bells were also chimed at 9pm each evening – once upon a time this chime would signal the closing of theContinue reading “Sunday Bells!”

“All things bright and beautiful”

I am going to jump to the end of Coleridge’s masterful poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. If one of the major themes has been the disruption of the balance between humankind and nature then Part VII brings about the possibility of reconciliation! Once again I am using some verses which may be familiarContinue reading ““All things bright and beautiful””