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 […]
Visitation
. Visitation The forecast threatened snow, so I looked out To search the darkened sky, and there it was, Its pure white flakes crowding the breathless air, Falling so gently but relentlessly, The silent power that broke Napoleon And stopped his army in its haughty pride. The trees that ringed us round were like a […]
Are we sitting comfortably?
“There it is again,” I thought, looking up from the pages of ‘Reform’ magazine. By ‘it’ I meant the admonition, often found in Christian writing and addresses these days, to leave our comfort zone. Often the expression ‘comfort zone’ refers to the everyday life of the church family and is used in a rather derogatory […]
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 […]
Blessings
After much rain and longing for the light Sadly I watched the sullen day begin. But God, who has unlooked-for gifts in store, Parted the heavy cloud banks with his breath Till, like great bergs, they moved majestically. Then the Eternal Artist dipped his brush, Laying a wash of orange light between. His delicate touch […]
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, […]
Snowfall
After long weeks of rain and cloud there came A brilliant dawn, revealing sudden snow Which silently had fallen in the night. At my age snow is beautiful, but dread With fear of falls: shovelling too hard a task. That morning I set out to test the paths, Walking through dazzling snow and blinding sun, […]
Winter Morning
Who can regard the sun? Its all-revealing rays Dazzle the eyes of those Who too directly gaze, Yet when the mist hung low, When moisture charged to air, The sun, a soft red ball, Muted, its glittering glare, Rose in the winter dawn. So, if we seek God’s face, We cannot see it plain; Its […]