“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
poem
Today’s Poem: My Love by Ozdemir Asaf
My Love
Ozdemir Asaf
I wrote your name neither on the ground nor on the skies
I wrote your name, my love
ON MY HEART…
Today’s Poem: A Hymn of Peace by Oliver Wendell Holmes
A Hymn of Peace
Oliver Wendell Holmes
ANGEL of Peace, thou hast wandered too long!
Spread thy white wings to the sunshine of love!
Come while our voices are blended in song,–
Fly to our ark like the storm-beaten dove!
Fly to our ark on the wings of the dove,–
Speed o’er the far-sounding billows of song,
Crowned with thine olive-leaf garland of love,–
Angel of Peace, thou hast waited too long!
Joyous we meet, on this altar of thine
Mingling the gifts we have gathered for thee,
Sweet with the odors of myrtle and pine,
Breeze of the prairie and breath of the sea,–
Meadow and mountain and forest and sea!
Sweet is the fragrance of myrtle and pine,
Sweeter the incense we offer to thee,
Brothers once more round this altar of thine!
Angels of Bethlehem, answer the strain!
Hark! a new birth-song is filling the sky!–
Loud as the storm-wind that tumbles the main
Bid the full breath of the organ reply,–
Let the loud tempest of voices reply,–
Roll its long surge like the-earth-shaking main!
Swell the vast song till it mounts to the sky!
Angels of Bethlehem, echo the strain!
Today’s Poem: The Dog by Ogden Nash
The Dog
Ogden Nash
The truth I do not stretch or shove
When I state that the dog is full of love.
I’ve also found, by actual test,
A wet dog is the lovingest.
Today’s Poem: As One Listens to the Rain by Octavio Paz
As One Listens To The Rain
Octavio Paz
Listen to me as one listens to the rain,
not attentive, not distracted,
light footsteps, thin drizzle,
water that is air, air that is time,
the day is still leaving,
the night has yet to arrive,
figurations of mist
at the turn of the corner,
figurations of time
at the bend in this pause,
listen to me as one listens to the rain,
without listening, hear what I say
with eyes open inward, asleep
with all five senses awake,
it’s raining, light footsteps, a murmur of syllables,
air and water, words with no weight:
what we are and are,
the days and years, this moment,
weightless time and heavy sorrow,
listen to me as one listens to the rain,
wet asphalt is shining,
steam rises and walks away,
night unfolds and looks at me,
you are you and your body of steam,
you and your face of night,
you and your hair, unhurried lightning,
you cross the street and enter my forehead,
footsteps of water across my eyes,
listen to me as one listens to the rain
Today’s Poem: Love Hour by Pieter Cornelis Boutens
Love Hour
Pieter Cornelis Boutens
What time is it time?
It is the white dawn:
The deep meadow where no mower goes,
State of dewy flowers white and yellow;
The silver stream leads like a pure street
Road in the mist light azure;
And the morning singing heart, the lark, beats
From his dazed throat
Wisdom that does not pursue and each understands,
Joy without measure,
Joy without expensive….
What time is it time?
It’s love hour.
What time is it time?
The sun approaches noontime:
In the depths of the sea of glowing sky
Smothers the field under the gold bare;
The sickle sparks slash through the dry grain;
The shadow shrinks back into the wood;
In heaven and in waterway
No clouds go;
Only the white-transparent moon
Remains mere in the blue sky fire…
What time is it time?
It’s love hour.
What time is it time?
It’s the evening: in its rosy gold
Gets clean and old
The world’s daily face;
Quickly in the sky falls the water of light;
And all the wind voices are released;
The last wagon staggers to the barn;
The dead beckon to the dark Eastern wall;
And above shine
Western ramp in green sky meadow
Shine open Venus’ golden aster
So sudden and pure…
What time is it time?
It’s love hour.
Today’s Poem: A Poem of Faith by Paul Laurence Dunbar
A Poem of Faith
Paul Laurence Dunbar
I think that though the clouds be dark,
That though the waves dash o’er the bark,
Yet after while the light will come,
And in calm waters safe at home
The bark will anchor.
Weep not, my sad-eyed, gray-robed maid,
Because your fairest blossoms fade,
That sorrow still o’erruns your cup,
And even though you root them up,
The weeds grow ranker.
For after while your tears shall cease,
And sorrow shall give way to peace;
The flowers shall bloom, the weeds shall die,
And in that faith seen, by and by
Thy woes shall perish.
Smile at old Fortune’s adverse tide,
Smile when the scoffers sneer and chide.
Oh, not for you the gems that pale,
And not for you the flowers that fail;
Let this thought cherish:
That after while the clouds will part,
And then with joy the waiting heart
Shall feel the light come stealing in,
That drives away the cloud of sin
And breaks its power.
And you shall burst your chrysalis,
And wing away to realms of bliss,
Untrammelled, pure, divinely free,
Above all earth’s anxiety
From that same hour.
Today’s Poem: The Beloved by Paul Eluard
The Beloved
Paul Eluard
She is standing on my eyelids
And her hair is wound in mine,
She has the form of my hands,
She has the colour of my eyes,
She is swallowed by my shadow
Like a stone against the sky.
Her eyes are always open
And will not let me sleep.
Her dreams in broad daylight
Make the suns evaporate
Make me laugh, cry and laugh,
Speak with nothing to say
Today’s Poem: A Star by Patrick Kavanagh
A Star
Patrick Kavanagh
Beauty was that
Far vanished flame,
Call it a star
Wanting better name.
And gaze and gaze
Vaguely until
Nothing is left
Save a grey ghost-hill.
Here wait I
On the world’s rim
Stretching out hands
To Seraphim.
Today’s Poem: A Prayer by Patience Worth
A Prayer
Patience Worth
That peace which passeth understanding;
That peace which clings an unopened lily;
That peace which hangeth like a garment
About a mountain peak;
That peace which slippeth between the morning
And the night like a phantom thing;
That peace which is the quietude, the communion,
The infinite power of rest;
That peace which hovers about an infant’s eyes,
Encompass me!
For I am weary, and my soul crieth out.
Let Thine encircling arms enfold me.
Let me rest my head upon Thy bosom,
And learn from Thy mute lips, contriteness,
And silence before oppression.
