Thursday, October 31, 2019

When the Frost is On the Punkin


When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock, 
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock,
And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,
And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,
With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.

They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. 

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me—
I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!

--James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916), the "Hoosier Poet" who was a genius at poems employing dialect

All Hallow's Eve; a Sonnet of Reclamation


Though Satan breaks our dark glass into shards 
Each shard still shines with Christ’s reflected light, 
It glances from the eyes, kindles the words 
Of all his unknown saints. The dark is bright 
With quiet lives and steady lights undimmed, 
The witness of the ones we shunned and shamed. 
Plain in our sight and far beyond our seeing
He weaves them with us in the web of being 
They stand beside us even as we grieve, 
The lone and left behind whom no one claimed,
Unnumbered multitudes, he lifts above
The shadow of the gibbet and the grave,
To triumph where all saints are known and named;
The gathered glories of His wounded love.

--Malcolm Guite (1957- ), Anglican priest, poet, singer-songwriter, and philosopher, from Sounding the Seasons, 2012

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Song to a Seagull



Fly silly seabird 
No dreams can possess you 
No voices can blame you 
For sun on your wings 

My gentle relations 
Have names they must call me 
For loving the freedom 
Of all flying things 

 My dreams with the seagulls fly 
 Out of reach out of cry 

I came to the city 
And lived like old Crusoe 
On an island of noise 
In a cobblestone sea 

And the beaches were concrete 
And the stars paid a light bill 
And the blossoms hung false 
On their store window trees 

My dreams with the seagulls fly 
 Out of reach out of cry 

Out of the city 
And down to the seaside 
To sun on my shoulders 
And wind in my hair 

But sandcastles crumble 
And hunger is human 
And humans are hungry 
For worlds they can't share 

My dreams with the seagulls fly 
Out of reach out of cry 

I call to a seagull 
Who dives to the waters 
And catches his silver-fine 
Dinner alone 

Crying where are the footprints 
That danced on these beaches 
And the hands that cast wishes 
That sunk like a stone 

My dreams with the seagulls fly 
Out of reach out of cry

--Joni Mitchell (1943- ), Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and artist, from Song to a Seagull, 1966


Autumn Song


Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf 
How the heart feels a languid grief 
Laid on it for a covering, 
And how sleep seems a goodly thing 
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

And how the swift beat of the brain
Falters because it is in vain,
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf
Knowest thou not? and how the chief
Of joys seems—not to suffer pain?

Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf
How the soul feels like a dried sheaf
Bound up at length for harvesting,
And how death seems a comely thing
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

--Dante Gabriel Rosetti, (1828-1882) English poet and artist, founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Skylight


You were the one for skylights. I opposed 
Cutting into the seasoned tongue-and-groove 
Of pitch pine. I liked it low and closed, 
Its claustrophobic, nest-up-in-the-roof 
Effect. I liked the snuff-dry feeling, 
The perfect, trunk-lid fit of the old ceiling. 
Under there, it was all hutch and hatch. 
The blue slates kept the heat like midnight thatch. 
But when the slates came off, extravagant 
Sky entered and held surprise wide open. 
For days I felt like an inhabitant 
Of that house where the man sick of the palsy 
Was lowered through the roof, had his sins forgiven, 
Was healed, took up his bed and walked away.

—Seamus Heaney (1939 - 2013), Nobel prize-winning Irish poet and translator, from Seeing Things: Poems, 1991

Scripture reference: Luke 5:17-39

Monday, October 28, 2019

Colorado

Hey, Colorado 
It was not so long ago 
I left your mountains 
To try life on the road 
But I'm tired of that race 
It was much too fast a pace 
And I think I've found my place 
Colorado, I want to come home 

I had a man there 
But I left him far behind 
I could have loved him 
If I'd only had the time 
Ah, but I stopped along my way 
Just long enough to say 
That I'd really like to stay 
But my baby, you know I have to go 

I was too young 
To know what I'd done 
I made my plans 
But I was wrong 
Yes, I was wrong 

Colorado 
Is it too late to change my mind?
I've done some thinking 
And I'm trying hard to find 
A way to come back home 
'Cause I've been so very long alone 
Won't you take care of your own? 

Colorado 
I think I'm coming home 
I want to come home 
Let me come home

--John David Souther (1945- ), American singer-songwriter and actor, recorded by Linda Ronstadt on Don't Cry Now, 1973


Saturday, October 26, 2019

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 1: Holy be Your Name


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother, 
we pray that your name be made holy. 
Let what we do hallow your Name, 
for it is through our actions that You are made known. 

Let the words of our mouths enlighten darkness, 
dispel enmity, 
and heal ancient wounds. 
Let us act honorably and compassionately
toward the least in our society,
that all may live together in justice and peace. 
Let us remember that your Love is a sacred calling, 
and that as your people 
we minister in Your Name in everything we do. 
Grant us the strength to be gentle 
and the wisdom to be foolish 
in the name of Love. 

Watch over those 
whose needs we now remember, 
especially those we now name.

Amen.


--Leslie Scoopmire, from my prayer blog

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 2: Your Kingdom Come


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother, 
we pray that your kingdom come on earth
as it is in heaven.

Reign over us, Almighty God,
that we may live our lives in service to You
and to each other.
Let us always remember
that You are God, and we are not.

Make us humble, compassionate, and unified,
re-enacting the broadness of God's table of kinship in heaven. 
Let us be dedicated to doing your will
by being a holy people
founded upon mercy and fellowship.

Let us denounce and end the systems of oppression
of which we are a part,
that steal from the poor to enrich the powerful,
that justify the terrorization of the marginalized;
that imprison children and rips apart families
who seek refuge from famine and wars
from which we profit.

Let us instead work to bring your dream for humanity to life,
and demand justice and equity of ourselves
and of our leaders.

Watch over those whose needs we now remember,
especially those we now name.

Amen. 

 --The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, from my prayer blog

The Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 3- Give Us Tomorrow's Bread Today


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother, 
we ask that you give us tomorrow's bread today, 
that we may lay down to rest in peace 
and rise in strength and hope to do your holy work. 

Help us to remember and help those who are hungry 
each time we ourselves give thanks at table. 
Bless the farmers with a bountiful harvest 
and bless them and for their love and care of the earth. 
Grant that all who produce our food 
do so safely, sustainably and humanely. 
You sustain us with abundant grace: 
make us hunger for that bread that gives eternal life. 
Bring us together at your table 
for that heavenly banquet which unites all in your kingdom. 
May we be strengthened and renewed 
in communion with You and each other, 
and inspired to spread your Love into the world. 

Watch over those whose needs we now remember, 
especially those we now name.

Amen.

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 4: Forgive Us Our Sins



Our Father in heaven,
loving Parent and Creator,
tender Mother, 

we thank You for your forgiveness 
of our manifold sins. 

Again and again You call to us 
when we have wandered from your ways, 
and stubbornly separate ourselves from your Love. 
We repent of the evil we have done, 
the evil that is done on our behalf, 
and the very real hurt we have caused.

Forgive us when we place our selves 

as an idol in the sanctuary of our hearts, 
which should be dedicated to worship of You alone, 
O Redeemer.

Help us to acknowledge the sins done 

because we do not try to prevent them, 
and arouse in us the will to take action.

Teach us that the root of righteousness and salvation 

is found in fully opening our hearts 
to each other and to You.

Help us clothe ourselves 

and our motives 
in charity and obedience, O Christ. 
Help us direct our wills 
to the establishment of justice and peace.

Come into our hearts, O Spirit, 

and guide us in matters great and small, 
for your Love heals all our woundedness.

O Loving One, hear our prayers 

and grant your benediction and grace 
to those whose needs we now raise before You.

Amen.

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 5: As We Forgive Those Who Have Sinned Against Us


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother, 

strengthen us and soften our hearts,
for You call us to forgive others as much as You forgive us. 

Help us let go of anger and resentment 

when we have been wronged, 
and nurture understanding 
in place of feeding the weeds of rage. 
Help us to understand 
that all are wounded and in need of healing, 
including ourselves. 
Help us to lower our defenses 
and not impugn the motives of those we love, 
and remember they love us. 
Help us to judge only as harshly 
as we ourselves wish to be judged, 
and no more. 

For You are our loving God, 
and You forgive us repeatedly when we fail You. 
Teach us that in bearing grudges 
we grip a weight that will sink us, 
and when harboring anger 
we risk loss in a sea of recrimination. 

Let us embrace those who seek our pardon, 

and repair mutual injury 
with the balm of Love that never fails. 
O Loving One, hear our prayers 
and grant your benediction and grace 
to those whose needs we now raise before You.

Amen.




Image from Medium.com

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 6: Save Us From the Time of Trial


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother, 

save us from the time of trial, 
for we are prone to wander 
and lose our way. 

Make us stronger in our faith 

and more willing to wrestle with the angel of doubt. 
Guide us into living and loving more fully 
according to your precepts. 
Help us turn aside all vain ambitions 
and concentrate fully upon your Word. 
Give us courage to make our hearts bigger, 
even if that makes them bigger targets, 
for love is always the answer. 
Help us to persevere 
through the difficulties of life, 
knowing that You are always with us. 
Give us the sight to see hope amid darkness. 

O Loving One, hear our prayers 

and grant your benediction and grace 
to those whose needs we now raise before You.

Amen.


--The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, from my prayer blog

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 7: Deliver Us From Evil


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 
tender Mother,

deliver us from evil,
for we depend upon You wholly
when our courage falters
and our integrity is challenged.

Strengthen us in faith, 
O Shield and Refuge of Refugees,
that we may renounce the sin
of claiming helplessness
rather than acknowledge our participation
in systems of oppression and inhumanity.

O Lord Our Banner,
Opener of Blind Hearts,
enlighten our hearts and minds
that You may set us free
from the miserliness of spirit
that besets us in the face of fear and division.

Teach us to walk humbly
in the Way of Jesus,
that we may seek to perfect our devotion
even when it is inconvenient.
Instead, may we ever embrace those fleeing evil
just as You embrace and sustain us each day.

O Loving One, hear our prayers 
and grant your benediction and grace 
to those whose needs we now raise before You.

Amen.


--The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, from my prayer blog

Lord's Prayer Cycle Prayer 8: Yours Is The Kingdom and Power and Glory


Our Father in heaven, 
loving Parent and Creator, 

tender Mother,
yours is the kingdom 
and the power 
and the glory! 

We lift up our praises and thanksgivings 

for your dominion within our hearts,
for your pursuit and love of us always, 
as it is and as it shall be. 
At your command all things are, 
and the rising sun reveals 
the glory of your creation and majesty. 
May you reign in our hearts, 
and may we glorify your Name 
as your people. 
Let us set our hands 
to build your kingdom on earth 
by living according your to commands, 
establishing justice, 
and loving always. 

Hear our prayers and supplications 

that we raise before You, 
especially for those we now name.

Amen.


--The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, from my prayer blog

Friday, October 25, 2019

And even though you do not know your name


And even though 
you do not know your name 
you have given nameless places 
recognition. 
You have baptised spaces merely by 
inhabitation, 
there has been an inner invitation 
that you’ve accepted, 
with all that holy, wholly hesitation. 
Leaving others back 
behind the curtain, 
you’ve asserted something 
in the face of god-divine, 
something you were finding out, 
a kind of 
leave-it-all-behind-and-mind-you-don’t-feel-guilty 
sense of declaration. 
And even though 
you do not know your name, 
your inhabitation space was named 
by face-to-facing something that 
you met and listened to. 

This space is yours, 
whatever it is called, 
named by life and all this living, 
and all the best things that regret can bring 
and all the hope you muster. 

-- Pádraig Ó Tuama, Irish poets, theologian, and conflict mediator, from Readings from the Book of Exile, 2012

Amelia


I was driving across the burning desert 
When I spotted six jet planes 
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain 
It was the hexagram of the heavens 
it was the strings of my guitar 
Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

The drone of flying engines 
Is a song so wild and blue 
It scrambles time and seasons if it gets through to you 
Then your life becomes a travelogue 
Of picture-post-card-charms 
Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

People will tell you where they've gone 
They'll tell you where to go 
But till you get there yourself you never really know 
Where some have found their paradise 
Others just come to harm 
Oh Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

I wish that he was here tonight 
It's so hard to obey 
His sad request of me to kindly stay away 
So this is how I hide the hurt 
As the road leads cursed and charmed 
I tell Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

A ghost of aviation 
She was swallowed by the sky 
Or by the sea, like me she had a dream to fly 
Like Icarus ascending 
On beautiful foolish arms 
Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

Maybe I've never really loved 
I guess that is the truth 
I've spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude 
And looking down on everything 
I crashed into his arms 
Amelia, it was just a false alarm 

I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel 
To shower off the dust 
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust 
I dreamed of 747's 
Over geometric farms 
Dreams, Amelia, dreams and false alarms

--Joni Mitchell (1943- ), Canadian singer-songwriter, artist, and poet, from Hejira, 1976

A link to the NPR report on the tribute to Joni Mitchell's Blue performed by Brandi Carlile.

A Live performance from 1979 by Joni Mitchell:


A dazzling cover by Roxana Amed and Pedro Aznar in Spanish:

And in English:



Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Only Hope


There is peace for the restless one. 
There is peace for the restless one. 
She was on the verge of thinking, 
that her soul was lost and sinking. 
There is peace for the restless one. 

And you, you where my only hope, 
but could you really care for me. 
I even asked the Holy Ghost. 
Are you the one I love the most, 
are you the one to set me free? 

There is hope for the broken one. 
There is hope for the broken one. 
He was gone from the land, 
when cupid reached and took his hand. 
There is hope for the broken one.

And you, you where my only hope, 
but could you really care for me. 
I even asked the Holy Ghost. 
Are you the one I love the most, 
are you the one to set me free? 

There'll be shame for the one so proud. 
There'll be shame for the one so proud. 
Pride comes before a tumble, 
let her live go on and crumble. 
There'll be shame for the one so proud. 

And you, you where my only hope, 
but could you really care for me. 
I even asked the Holy Ghost. 
Are you the one I love the most, 
are you the one to set me free? 

Oh but selfish will be the one crowned, 
selfish will be the one crowned, 
He will be crowned in poison ivy. 
Let the cries go on by me. 
selfish will be the one crowned. 

And you, you where my only hope, 
but could you really care for me. 
I even asked the Holy Ghost. 
Are you the one I love the most, 
are you the one to set me free?

--Kate Anna Rusby (1973- ), English folk singer-songwriter, from Make the Light, 2010