I woke to hear the soft sound of the rain, Oddly insistent in my drowsy ear. It quickened, and I saw a storm of hail Plummeting down, to whiten path and lawn. Above me swept the trailing skirts of cloud, Flying before the swift hounds of the wind. Below my window, clumps of snowdrops bloomed, […]
Awake, awake to love and work!
On a recent Sunday morning our Minister said “Our closing hymn is number 608, “Awake, awake to love and work! The lark is in the sky…” At this point I glanced idly down to the author and read G A Studdert-Kennedy (1883-1929). At once I was transported back to the story of a young priest […]
Seeds of Time
This morning in the fitful early light Beyond the near, familiar scene I saw, Beyond the cherries, pines and copper beech, Beyond the pitch of roofs, a further tree, Distant, unmarked before, which now emerged, Shining against grey cloud, ethereal, Its thinning leaves light green and touched with gold. Its fragile beauty, knocking at my […]
Star In the East
Magi in their mystery, Studying the skies, First received the message That a king should rise. Many duties claimed them, Cares of peace and war; Far and faint the promise Offered by a star. Yet the wise men followed, Taking various ways, Trusting in the portent Many nights and days. So the star led onward […]
Catching the Light
Sheila Durbin, one of our Church members and a regular contributor to this website, has just had her first book of poetry published. The volume is entitled ‘Catching the Light’, and Sheila says that her chief sources of inspiration are the natural world and her Christian faith. “Recently, one of my main themes has been […]
Tree in Autumn
This morning, in the fitful, early light, Beyond the near, familiar scene, I saw, Beyond the cherries, pines and copper beech, Beyond the pitch of roofs, a further tree, Distant, unmarked before, which now emerged, Shining against grey cloud, ethereal, Its thinning leaves light green and touched with gold. Its fragile beauty, knocking at my […]
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
East of the Sun and West of the Moon* Long ago in a Northern land A tale was invented and told: A tale with a luminous title, Key to dream-cities of gold. The story was soon forgotten But the title’s remembered still: It shines like a jewel in my mind, Able to conjure at will […]
March
March March that can offer either storm or shine And lately gave a week of halcyon days, Blue skies still scarcely veiled by bud or leaf And brilliant light, unfiltered and undimmed, Today has brought proverbial wind and clouds, Scudding across the sky, chased by the sun. How beautiful grey clouds when lit by gleams […]
The Storm
One night of heavy heat the rain began And peal on peal of angry thunder rolled. When all was quiet again, surprised I saw A butterfly – quite still and dazed it seemed – Which in our house sought refuge from the storm. Finding a cloth, I silently drew near; Gently I picked it up […]
A Poem for Easter
Easter Friday was dark with thunderstorms and showers, Saturday grey, with steady, ceaseless rain. But Sunday dawned to show a cloudless sky And the great sun, in beauty now unveiled, Dazzling the gaze of those who scarce had hoped To see such loveliness restored so soon: Recalling that first Easter long ago When Jesus crucified, […]