Poetry

Would not go away

~ admin

As the heat of summer parched the land
The river flowed on towards the sea
Which drank with gladness from its hand
The cool water of austerity

The waters moved, the waves did break
The tide ebbed to and fro
But naught availed the rock stood firm
He would not go away.

As the leaves of autumn slowly fell
The river flowed full flush with glee.
The flowers on the ground knew very well
Winter’s cold would follow in the lee.

The waters moved, the waves did break
The tide ebbed to and fro
But naught availed ‘gainst winter’s might
He would not go away.

Then spring again o’er the earth shall fling.
As rivers flow the earth to heal,
A verdure green, so birds on the wing
Shall delight in all of spring time’s weal.

The waters moved, the waves did break
The tide ebbed to and fro
But naught availed, though earth did melt
He would not go away.

Then summer’s sun at the last shall come.
The fields in refulgent pulchritude
Shall flourish towards the harvest home
When dawns the day to which we allude.

The waters moved, the waves did crash
The tide ebbed in the bay
So all availed, we wear a sash
For you, it is your day

© Tahnee Denholm
Peppermint © Tahnee Denholm

Turkeys for Christmas?

~ admin

Whilst it is voting day in the UK, it is quite a different day in the former North American colonies. One of Coco’s friends pointed him to The False Prophet Rising: Part 2 – The Merging of Church and State https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BaoI5FPWO5o/hqdefault.jpg. It was not something that would normally grab his attention. Listening to the analysis of a Trump speech at the National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention – 2/22/24 reminded him very much of encouraging turkeys to vote for Christmas and not letting them know that they are on the menu. Having no influence as far as the choice of their new president is to be makes the detail of the various presentations in some ways superfluous which is a view contrary to that of the BBC (see US election 2024: Why the world is watching so closely https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/CB97/production/_132291125_whitehouse_976getty.jpg.webp).

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Evidence

~ admin

To try to find the evidence
That we’ve never been apart
Is to bind the wind in bundles
For to load upon a cart.

It has now been many years
Since we face to face have met.
Yesterday with its many tears
is but snow of winter’s art.

Have I forgotten what was said?
The words you spoke, to this day,
Ring aloud to inform the mind,
In their vast and bright array.

What thoughts there are, they must pass by
Another day is present.
The past remains now but a sigh,
Onward, forward, we are sent.

And so, again in April’s reign
Another year transgresses
Then if it be that so you deign,
Be pleased with him who blesses.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa
1831 Katsushika Hokusai

Tulip blossom

~ admin

The tulip blossoms in the spring
The beech leaves wait their turn to fling
Their verdure o’er their golden dress
Which spoke of winter’s weariness.

The beach then beckons those who run
To come to join in all the fun
Of summer days and sandy feet
Which quickly come, but soon do fleet,

A year has passed, another day
So what then shall we now convey?
We cannot let this day pass by
Without a tear found in the eye.

A tear of joy, of hope, of love
A tear which points us far above
This world and all that is therein
Unto the One who inhabits heaven.

So, for your good I now must pray.
In words the Spirit shall relay,
That in all your ways you may know
The power of him who lived below.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa
1831 Katsushika Hokusai

Translation

~ admin

We use the word translation in many different ways, accountants and theologians having quite specialised uses of the term which may befuddle, without a translation, the poor man on the Clapham omnibus.

When you try to translate Do you feel special? and Do you feel different? into certain Romance languages the distinction found in Germanic languages may be lost. Difficulties abound when seeking to give the correct and proper meaning of words in one language in a second. But have you noticed that there is as much difficulty when translating from even very closely related languages?

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The morning arrives

~ admin

From the pleasant haze of the morning mist
The col called out to the towering tor:
In your deep shade from the sun let me tryst
With the dews of the dawn who water my floor.

The tor replied with a deep sounding tone:
Nothing is hidden from the light of the sun.
He comes out of night’s tent to fly alone,
To enter the race daily which he must run.

How can I help you? He rides in the sky
Far over my head and the white clouds that fly.
His beams shall arrest and dry out the air,
The grass and the flowers that long for his care.

They are not without sun and dew replete
So let them their work now the light and rain do.
The years they pass, they are ready to fleet;
May this new one refresh: the Lord be with you.

墨田川–梅若之古事 (Sumida River: The Ancient Story of Umewaka)
月岡芳年 (Tsukioka Yoshitoshi)

It is a dangerous thing

~ admin ~ 1 Comment

There was a recent article in the Grauniad⁰⁰ in which it was suggested by one of the correspondents that it is a dangerous thing to expose a spy, even if you are able to do so. Whether it is or no, I leave to your judgement. For my part the question, if it becomes a question, is to remain unanswered.

There are other dangerous things to do. In some places the very mention of what actually happened if it does not accord with the official description in every detail may be considered to be fake news, the disclosure of state secrets or even as slight as a stirring up of arguments or discontent – beware then if in the civil service canteen when the cook has put too much salt in the soup that you do not complain. The penalty may be greater than you expect.  So, to make reference to words which had been posted in a public place, which often concerning similar posters Coco does complain when driving for they are also dangerous things, which can be clearly seen by drivers, who then become distracted and wish to read them. Of course it can be even worse than a simple static poster. The LED screen catches your eye and then changes before you have interpreted the one you saw at the first. How distracting this is. We are not permitted to have our own distracting LED screen, but anyone else can place an A00000 road sign which flickers and flashes its images and words demanding the attention of every passing driver, insisting that they take their snoopy eyes off the road ahead.

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The winter’s past

~ admin

A winter’s tail may yet in spring
Be seen upon the wall
But mare’s tail found agathering
Where roses should be, all

The cold icicles of winter
have done their work in stone
Whilst rootlets in the earth prepared
to make their presence known

And we have felt the icy blast
With rain upon the head
But hearts with pleasant thoughts were warmed
And nothings only said.

Now to this day, as long ago,
We quickly do repair
Another year, the old doth wane,
Refresh you with due care!

Butterfly Flower, Bowling
1915 Charles Rennie Mackintosh – Fleming Collection

Press on

~ admin

On the first January 19891 Philip asked us whether we were ready for a new year as men count years, but recognising that we are creatures of times, pressed this home upon us, as we consider the old year and the new year, how things are and how they ought to be, are we considering the most important thing? Moses considered the most important thing when he asked Jehovah to show him his glory. This is the most important thing: God himself. Do we consider that?

Two and thirty years later on the eighth August 20212 he asked another almost equally important question, having in mind that it is God himself who is at work in us:

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A safe stronghold

~ admin

A safe stronghold our God is still
A trusty shield and weapon;
He’ll help us clear from all the ill
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The ancient prince of hell
Hath risen with purpose fell;
Strong mail of craft and power
He weareth in this hour;
On earth is not his fellow.

With force of arms we nothing can,
Full soon were we downridden;
But for us fights the proper Man,
Whom God himself hath bidden.
Ask ye, who is this same?
Christ Jesus is his name.
The Lord Sabaoth’s Son;
He, and no other one,
Shall conquer in the battle

And were this world all devils o’er,
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Nor they can overpower us.
And let the prince of ill
Look grim as e’er he will,
He harms us not a whit:
For why? his doom is writ;
A word shall quickly slay him.

God’s Word, for all their craft and force,
One moment shall not linger,
But, spite of hell, shall have its course;
‘Tis written by His finger,
and though they take our life,
Goods, honour, children, wife,
Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all;
The city of God remaineth.

Words and music: Martin Luther 1483-†1546; Translation: Thomas Carlyle 1793-†1851; Harmony: JS Bach

Found on CPDL. Other versions of Ein feste Burg may also be found here and here.

Coco’s alternative set of words is here