Monday, February 22, 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

Edna St. Vincent Millay

  (February 22, 1892 -- Oct 19, 1950)

Edna's candle burned at both ends
of my journey into poetry. 

For many poets her words gave
a lovely light to the art of the written word.


In the late 1990's I journeyed to the woods 
around Steepletop. Though the House was closed
at the time, I was able to capture an image of
the autumn trees where I imagine the poet might have walked.

This picture appeared on the cover of my book,
Something Untamed. (The publisher changed the book
cover for the 2nd run.)

                                                                       


              



















          Happy Day of Memories.

             Happy Day for poets.


Sunday, February 14, 2016

February 14th 2016

LOVE ALWAYS


LOVE NEVER FAILS
















This is the day the commercial world tells
us to celebrate love. We are sold over-priced
flowers and candy of every shape and density.
Many (husbands in particular) get fed-up with 
the idea and simply say, NO!

But LOVE does not allow us to be a "clashing cymbal"
of protest as regards what we are really called to do.

                        Examples

                       be patient
                       be kind
                       don't be jealous 
                       don't be pompous
                      don't be selfish
                      endure all things

        Difficult ways for humans to show love, right?


        WHO CAN CLAIM THAT SORT OF LOVE?
                   

                GOD IS LOVE


Today maybe we should thank God for always
             responding to us with LOVE!





Friday, February 12, 2016

February 12th 2016

 Lincoln-Darwin

  Campion-Day


We (should) all know:
Abraham Lincoln was born on this day in 1809
& Charles Darwin was also born this day in 1809.


 NOW . . .


Because it is very cold on the East Coast;
because the day we celebrate love is near;
and because I enjoy a bit of wine--a poem by
Thomas Campion (physician, composer, and poet).


NOW WINTER NIGHTS ENLARGE
Now winter nights enlarge
This number of their hours;
And clouds their storms discharge
Upon the airy towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze
And cups o'erflow with wine,
Let well-tuned words amaze
With harmony divine.
Now yellow waxen lights
Shall wait on honey love
While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights
Sleep's leaden spells remove.

This time doth well dispense
With lovers' long discourse;
Much speech hath some defense,
Though beauty no remorse.
All do not all things well:
Some measures comely tread,
Some knotted riddles tell,
Some poems smoothly read.
The summer hath his joys,
And winter his delights;
Though love and all his pleasures are but toys
They shorten tedious nights. 

                                   -Thomas Campion
                                   B: Feb 12, 1567

                                  


HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS ALSO
                  ORMAN P. DAY !



















  A writer born this day in 1946.
  Look for his travel essays and
  give yourself a delightful read.


         Good wishes to all
who are in celebration mood.

Monday, February 1, 2016

February 1st 2016

Wistawa Szymborska

was one of Poland's gifts to the literary world.
Ms. Szymborska won the Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1996. She died on this day in 2012.


Read her work and you may recognize yourself--your
simple and complicated ponderings about life and  
humankind. Her poems are witty and wonderful and profound.














       Some poets honor other poets with a poem:

                     CONSIDERING THIS PICTURE
                                         (for W. SZYMBORSKA)


                      Lovely ageless woman
                      you are holding thin
                      fire in your hand,                                       
                      muted by the partial
                      light of seventy-eight years.
                      Smoke rises above
                      a violet turned gray.
                      In that small room,
                      which Leonardo said
                      disciplines the mind,
                      an open window.
                      You smile.                                     
                      And we on the journey know.
                                   
                                             -Kathleen Gunton
                                              © 2001 FREE LUNCH