Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem Recessional in 1897 in celebration of Quenn Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. His words reflect on the transient nature of power and concentrate on the importance of humilty. He reminds us of the impermanence of empire, contrasting the then British Empire with ancient civilisations of Nineveh and Tyre. He calls for divineContinue reading “Lest we forget!”
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Rusted bed-springs in the street
A few weeks ago I checked out of the local library A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker 1925-2025. The 980 pages of poems make it too heavy for bedtime reading! I promise I will not be using it as my only source for new poems. As I turned the pages a poem byContinue reading “Rusted bed-springs in the street”
Shedding Leaves
Today I return to a poem and prayer I used in October 2021. This is such a beautiful time of year and how I long for it, year after year. At last the hot days of summer are past and the biting cold dark days of midwinter have not yet arrived. Readiness though is inContinue reading “Shedding Leaves”
“rubbing smiles into the wounds”
A good many years ago, while visiting the National Cathedral in Washington DC I bought my first R.S. Thomas poetry book from the cathedral gift shop. Today I have many of his poetry collections on my book shelf. These books feel like good friends as I often have good conversation with the words on theirContinue reading ““rubbing smiles into the wounds””
“fail, and fail again”
This past week I watched my first baseball game of 2025! The major teams have a long season from March to September and play 162 games! Now we are in the playoff season and down to the last 4 teams. I am hooked on the TV coverage of the end of the season. Last year,Continue reading ““fail, and fail again””
Then what?
Roses, Late Summer- What happensto the leaves afterthey turn red and golden and fallaway? What happens to the singing birdswhen they can’t singany longer? What happensto their quick wings? Do you think there is anypersonal heavenfor any of us?Do you think anyone, the other side of that darkness,will call to us, meaning us?Beyond the treestheContinue reading “Then what?”
“I like your hat”
To introduce you to the poet, chidlren’s author and playwright Magi Gibson, I will use an excerpt from the back cover of her poetry book “I Like Your Hat” published in 2020 – Magi Gibson is a leading voice in Scottish poetry. She draws inferences from the little things in life (shopping for stationary, admiringContinue reading ““I like your hat””
“in the deep hearts core”
I have just returned from some time spent on the west coast of Ireland and the east coast of Scotland. It was wonderful to be amidst the sounds of wind and wave, and amidst the stretch and pull of hill and glen. The photo above shows the walk which we began at sea level andContinue reading ““in the deep hearts core””
Fairy Tale!
Fairy Tale!He built himself a house, his foundations his stones, his walls, his roof overhead his chminey and smoke, his view from the window. He made himself a garden his fence, his thyme his earthworm his evening dew, He cut out his bit of sky above. And he wrapped the garden in the skyand theContinue reading “Fairy Tale!”
Fire-followers
Today’s poem comes from The New Yorker Poetry podcast https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/poetry June 25 edition. The link will take you to a full appreciation and explanation of this amazing poem by Hala Alyon. Wikipedia writes the following – Hala Alyon born July 27, 1986 is a Palestinian-American writer, poet, and clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma, addiction, andContinue reading “Fire-followers”
Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings 