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””
Tag Archives: Beauty
“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””
“Solstice of the Soul”
A few weeks ago I read an article by Dennis Overbye, entitled Solstice of the Soul, regarding his pending retirement. For the past after 25 years he has been the NY Times” cosmic affairs correspondent.” He writes that “science proceeds on skepticism not certainty is arguably the most successful human activity of all time.. WeContinue reading ““Solstice of the Soul””
Inscape and Landscape
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of introducing a good friend to this view point on his first trip to Scotland, commonly known as The Queen’s View. As I took the photo I was pleased to capture Schiehallion in the distance. The following has been written about this 3500ft hill. “Its shape, location,Continue reading “Inscape and Landscape”
“Askernishing”
Askernish, is on the west coast of the island of South Uist, too small to be named on the map above. Yet here on the very western edge of Europe you will find the most unexpected and delightful golf course. https://www.askernishgolfclub.com/ The history of this course is another story! The former American poet laureate, BillyContinue reading ““Askernishing””
Snowy, snowy, night!
As I write this blog snow is forecast to fall later this evening and in the overnight hours. Although snow brings with it some hard shoveling work, yet as it falls it creates much beauty as the landscape is painted white. Even every house in the street looks the same and every yard or gardenContinue reading “Snowy, snowy, night!”
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.”
“Fluttering and dancing in the breeze”
It is once again that wonderful time of year when daffodils abound. The photo above is Ullswater Lake in the Lake District in northern England. It was while walking home to Grasmere along with his sister Dorothy that William Wordsworth enjoyed a host of golden daffodils. In fact it is Dorothy who writes in herContinue reading ““Fluttering and dancing in the breeze””
God’s Grandeur
Having just spent the past few days re-reading some of Keats’s poetry I am reminded of his delight in the beauty in the landscape which he saw all around him as he undertook his long walk through Scotland in 1818. His fellow Romantic poets, Hopkins and Wordsworth were also eager to write about the beautyContinue reading “God’s Grandeur”
“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””
Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings 