revdrejt1832

Poems don’t stop a war!

In the midst, and in the wake of war, a whole genre of poetry has emerged over many hundreds of years which we sweepingly call “war poems”. Let us be honest, poems don’t stop a war! Yet such poems often carry within them four characteristics that it is important to observe. Above all they formContinue reading “Poems don’t stop a war!”

Accept the miracle

Tabgha is the name of a site on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus appeared after his resurrection (John 21), and where he earlier multiplied loaves and fishes to feed the crowds gathered to hear him teach. The present church preserves within some of its walls remains of a church that stood hereContinue reading “Accept the miracle”

Give

We are each familiar with the morning scene on High Streets, Main Streets, City Streets. We don’t have to travel far to come across the plight of the homeless, whose only comfort might be a warm blanket on a door step, hoping some indoor heat might escape. Why are we tempted to walk a littleContinue reading “Give”

Mothers!

Today, I am staying with the work of the poet Carol Ann Duffy. In her collection of poems entitled Feminine Gospels pub.2005 we are treated to poems which describe the endless tasks of women. Historical and imagined, real-life and larger than life Duffy explores the experience of women. Today, I share her poem Work inContinue reading “Mothers!”

Mrs. Sisyphus!

The position of Poet Laureate in the United Kingdom in recent decades became a 10 year appointment, and is an honorary position of the royal household and the gift of the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. There is a small honorary stipend along with a “butt” (barrel) of sherry – which isContinue reading “Mrs. Sisyphus!”

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus is my hometown. It is hard to take a bad photograph of the castle, around which the town took its shape and by it, it is defined! Originally built in 1177 it has stood tall and proud for many centuries with some significant updates! In 1182, the Anglo Norman, John de Courcy who hadContinue reading “Carrickfergus”

Snow

These past few days more than enough snow has fallen on the north east, and as I write, here in the mid-west we are bracing for ice and snow in the next few days, with 6-10inches forecast! Snow shovels are at the ready. The winter Olympics start this weekend and we have been told aContinue reading “Snow”

“Plain living and high thinking are no more:”

It is certainly not the best photograph I have ever taken, but it is one that fills me with delight. While walking the coastal path in parts of Cornwall, there it was, and from a distance this slate stone wall resembled the colors one would hope to see on a library wall of books. PinksContinue reading ““Plain living and high thinking are no more:””

Something Completely Different

In my last post I was talking a little about Haggis. So “now for something completely different” as was often the refrain of Monty Python’s Flying Circus! Staying in much lighter mood I have turned to the poems of Billy Collins who so often takes the very ordinary moments and scenes of life and turnsContinue reading “Something Completely Different”

37, 25, 14!

January 25 is celebrated as Burns Night – on which people may be invited to A Burns Supper which will include toasts to the Lassies and Laddies, and to the Haggis, washed down with a small dram of whiskey as Burns’ life is celebrated. Burns as the national Bard of Scotland lived 25 January 1759Continue reading “37, 25, 14!”