Poetry

The winter’s past

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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

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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:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless you are indeed disqualified (lit: fail the test). 2 Corinthians 13:5.

I did not hear him preach the first sermon until 34 years later some nine days after his death when his mother invited me to listen to his voice. Thirty months earlier I had been asked to provide a profile for a book of memories; of what use is a profile, I asked, once upon a time it mattered but what matters today is what only ever mattered fifty years ago: Do I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:12)?

This is the matter on which Philip preached less than two years before his departure from this world. Just as it had in 1969,so it continued to do in 1989 and 2021, eternity weighed heavily upon his heart. Are we ready, he asked? We may have had many wonderful experiences of the Lord in the past, but do you rest on them? Do you rely on them? Then you rely on ephemera. There is only one solid foundation. Are you in the faith. If you are in the faith then assay yourselves: prove that you are the real thing. Do not be satisfied with a substitute. You must be the real thing. And how do you know: Jesus Christ is in you consequently you will press on to lay hold of that for which he laid hold of you.

Do you press on? Past experiences as wonderful as they may have been do not prove it. You may have pressed on yesterday, but you cannot rest upon that. It is today that you must press on. If Jesus Christ has laid hold of you, you shall press on for he intends to present you faultless to his Father. But if you do not press on, remember Ignorance who upon arriving at the gate found that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction.

The journey may be long and weary, we may face many difficulties in the way, but the one who died for sinners will not allow any of his flock to be lost. They will press on looking for the prize that he has promised, and upon arriving at the gates of heaven will look with love and wonder on the face of the Saviour for whom they have in the wilderness longed.

Sin, my worst enemy before,
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more;
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor Satan break my peace again.

Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wished below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.

And then what triumphs shall I raise
To Thy dear name through endless days,
For in the realms of joy I’ll see
Thy face in full felicity.
Isaac Watts 1674-1748

  1. Show me thy glory | Sunday morning, January 1, 1989 | Passage: Exodus 34:6-7
  2. Test Yourselves | Sunday morning ,August 8, 2021 | Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Some doubted Paul was an apostle but he turns it around and demands proof that they are true Christians.

As summer departs

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As summer yields her hidden fruit
And autumn cedes her golden charm
To winter days and frosty nights;
As long hours of aestivation
Through equal days of light and dark
To long shades of hibernation
Do resign; to escrivation
My pen does now with will embarque
To inscribe for you a meet word
To which with good will all shall hark:
For in august tones on a summer day
The new year’s ingression shall not inveigh,
But rather for your health and good essay.

Almond Blossom, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

An auspicious date

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Nothing happened

The day has arrived*; the dragons are unleashed. How excited are you? Two bank holidays and a weekend, and still it is May the twenty second for some. It is time to reveal the finale, having come across Lambton Worm, a tale about a young squire who went fishing on a Sunday morn when he should not have done with terrible consequences for the people who lived on both sides of the Wear, Coco thought Coco would paraphrase some of it with another dragon tale about a different young squire (young ‘un) in a not so proper dialect sung in an awful Geordie accent.

I would find it hard to think that anyone would take offence at the content of the video (you have been warned), but should you find that the link has been broken, there is a back up copy here: http://purechocolate.org.uk/music_other/auspiciousday.htm.

Apologies to those who understand neither spoken nor written Geordie. There is a partial transcription here, but if this works properly you shall see that embedded below in an iframe. Some words do still defeat Coco. Apologies to those who do speak and read Geordie also for orthographic, linguistic, dialectical, grammatical, innocent and deliberate errors. You’ll also find a link to the original Lambton Worm in the same place. Please pay careful attention to the refrain, as it asks you to do.

In nineteen hundred an eighty nine
On May the twenty second
A young ‘un walked into a skwah
For a most auspicious date.
It wuz the day when nuthin’ ‘appened
But George the third wuz born.
It wuz the day they aall escaped
From Dunkirk where they’d aall gan.

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story.
Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An’ aa’ll tell ye’s ‘boot the skwah.

It wuz the day they aall be’aivd
An brought to end the war,
An the Treaty of Trianon was signed
Which left sum very sore.
It wuz the day when Tonga’s king
Gave up his protection.
They joined the Commonwealth, ye ken,
In nineteen seventy nun.

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An Aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story.
Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An’ Aa’ll tell ye’s ‘boot the skwah.		It wuz the day when nuthin’ ‘appened
An ‘ad they aall be’aivd,
They’d aall escaped, an ower young man
Wud ’av lost out on his date.
If nuthin’ ‘appened on that day,
If they ‘ad aall be’aivd,
Then why not yak aboot the skwah
An tyen men who were there?

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An Aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story.
Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An’ Aa’ll tell ye’s ‘boot the skwah.

Noo if ye canna unnerstand
The werds that Aa’ve just said
Then speak to Jules aboot his werk
An to Greg’ry in ‘is stead.
For it is safe so much to say
But nuthin’ more, ye ken,
For if they mind of ower tale
They’ll hoy us in yon den

Noo lads, Aa’ll haad me gob,
That’s aall Aa knaa aboot the story
Ov ower skwah’s clivvor job
On’ that aaful Sun’y morn.

☺* At least it has if you are on CET, observing daylight saving, or on a more easterly time zone. For GMT users there are about 90 minutes to go 🙂

With apologies in advance for errors of syntax, orthography and grammar which may be found embedded in this document whether arising from oversight, incorrect application of language packs or generally any other misadventure; and in general for any offence given inadvertently or inappropriately or both taken or not taken by those whose sensibilities, whether grammatical, orthographical, moral or simply personable, have been offended whether, not or if you have not incorrectly misunderstood the content, intent, meaning and purpose of this article, and to those whose copyrights may have been inadvertently or wantonly infringed, but never as to cause damage the copy holder’s rights, and, if you have managed to read this far, for any errors or omissions whether wilful, unintended, innocent or deliberate in the content of this polemic, and with thanks to you who have made it thus far for your patience.

Lambton Worm

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Coco came across the Lambton Worm recently, in proper dialect sung in a wonnerful Geordie accent. It is a tale about a young squire who went fishing on a Sunday morning when he should not have done with terrible consequences for the people who lived on both sides of the Wear.

Apologies to those who understand neither spoken nor written Geordie. There is a partial transcription here, but if this works properly you shall see that embedded below in an iframe. Some words do still defeat Coco. Apologies to those who do speak and read Geordie also for orthographic, linguistic, dialectical, grammatical, innocent and deliberate errors. Please pay careful attention to the refrain, as it asks you to do.

Original Lambton wormTranscription
One Sunday morn young Lambton went
Afishing’ in the Wear;
An’ catched a fish upon he’s heuk,
He thowt leuk’t varry queer.
But whatt’n a kind of fish it was
Young Lambton cuddent tell.
He waddn’t fash te carry’d hyem,
So he hoyed it doon a well.

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An Aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story
Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,
An’ Aa’ll tell ye ‘boot the wohrm.

Noo Lambton felt inclined te gan
An’ fight i’ foreign wars.
he joined a troop o’ Knights that cared
For nowther woonds nor scars,
An’ off he went te Palestine
Where queer things him befel,
An’ varry seun forgat aboot
The queer wohrm i’ the well. Ref…

But the wohrm got fat an’ growed and’ growed
An’ growed an aaful size;
He’d greet big teeth, a greet big gob,
An’ greet big google eyes.
An’ when at neets he craaled aboot
Te pick up bits o’ news,
If he felt dry upon the road,
He milked a dozen coos. Ref…

This feorful wohrm wad often feed
On caalves an’ lambs an’ sheep,
An’ swally little bairns alive
When they laid doon te sleep.
An’ when he’d eaten aall he cud
An’ he had had he’s fill,
He craaled away an’ lapped he’s tail
Seven times roond Pensher Hill. Ref…

The news of this myest aaful wohrm
An’ his queer gannins on
Seun crossed the seas, gat te the ears
Ov brave and’ bowld Sor John.
So hyem he cam an’ catched the beast
An’ cut ‘im in twe haalves,
An’ that seun stopped he’s eatin’ bairns,
An’ sheep an’ lambs and caalves. Ref…

So noo ye knaa hoo aall the foaks
On byeth sides ov the Wear
Lost lots o’ sheep an’ lots o’ sleep
An’ leeved i’ mortal feor.
So let’s hev one te brave Sor John
That kept the bairns frae harm,
Saved coos an’ caalves by myekin’ haalves
O’ the famis Lambton Wohrm.

Noo lads, Aa’ll haad me gob,
That’s aall Aa knaa aboot the story
Ov Sor John’s clivvor job
Wi’ the aaful Lambton Wohrm.		One Sunday morn young Lambton went
Fishing in the Wear;
And caught a fish upon his hook,
He thought looked very queer.
But what kind of fish it was
Young Lambton could not tell.
He was not keen to carry it home,
So he hoyed it down a well.

Shush! Lads, hold your tongues,
And I’ll tell you all an awful story
Shush! Lads, hold your tongues,
And I’ll tell you about the worm.

Now Lambton felt inclined to go
And fight in foreign wars.
He joined a troop of Knights that cared
For neither wounds nor scars,
And off he went to Palestine
Where queer things him befell,
And very soon forgot about
The queer worm in the well. Ref.

But the worm grew fat and grew and grew
And grew to an awful size;
He’d great big teeth, a greet big mouth,
And great big googly eyes.
And when at night he crawled about
To pick up bits of news,
If he felt dry upon the road,
He milked a dozen cows. Ref.

This fearful worm would often feed
On calves and lambs and sheep,
And swallow little bairns alive
When they laid down to sleep.
And when he’d eaten all he could
And he had had his fill,
He crawled away and wrapped his tail
Seven times round Penshaw Hill. Ref.

The news of this most awful worm
And his queer goings on
Soon crossed the seas and to the ears
Of brave and bold Sir John.
So home he came and caught the beast
And cut him in two halves,
And that soon stopped him eating bairns,
And sheep and lambs and calves. Ref.

So now you know how all the folks
On both sides of the Wear
Lost lots of sheep and lots of sleep
And lived in mortal fear.
So let’s have a drink to brave Sir John
That kept the bairns from harm,
Saved cows and calves by making halves
Of the famous Lambton Worm.

Now lads, I’ll hold my tongue,
That’s all I know about the story
Of Sir John’s clever/cleaver* job
On the awful Lambton Worm.

Words: C M Leumane – Lambton Worm Music: C M Leumane
The copyright of this arrangement of the music for the Lambton Worm is held by The Mitford Family (© c.1984).
The Lambton Worm is a traditional song. This version was produced in the 19th century by Leumane. The transcription into standard English is mine. The singer in the Lambton Worm is, I think, Julie Mitford. You will find a reference to the song here, where she says Eventually you’ll be able to access all of the recordings for each album. The Worm is not yet on her blog, but I take it that she means it will become available as an mp3, in a similar manner to the other songs which she recorded with her father, and are already available.

Another year

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Shimada Mitsufusa

Come all you virulent strains
Of singers to unite.
Vibrant songs bring hymns of praise
In joyful aires tonight.
Delightful is the day
Perhaps we may reflect
And ponder in a way
Regarding time elapsed,
‘Til at the end we do repair
Soon to rejoice – another year.

Ruth, the Moabitess

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Ruth, the Moabitess is an opera.

The text of the book of Ruth may be found on BibleGateway.

More information may be found on ruth.purechocolate.org.uk which is embedded here:

In Ruth, the Moabitess I have in the main adhered to the record of Naomi’s and Ruth’s lives as set out in the Bible. There are however a number of departures which I mention in the sections below, and which fall into two categories:

  • Additional fictional conversations have been introduced, and
  • Sections from later parts of the Bible have been used to
    • provide the background to the actions
    • illustrate what would otherwise be left in the narrative

The use of the psalms of David is such an instance. It must be readily agreed that the people of Naomi’s day could not have known the songs that Ruth’s great-grandson would pen, however it must also be reckoned that they did have some songs. Now though we do not know what they are, it is certain that David would have known them, having been brought up in that very town. It is therefore not beyond the bounds of possibility that some at least of David’s own songs were modelled upon those earlier ones. Indeed, we know that he did include in his collection some earlier songs and songs of others also.

It should present the reader with little difficulty, after making a comparison of the text of the Bible with my work, to understand my reasons for the additions and departures. And, I hope, to conclude that they are not invalid. Further information is provided in the dedicated site for Ruth, the Moabitess

A shameful date

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There was no interference

It was a news report this morning that suggested a song with refrain to Auld Lang Syne:

So then the police spoke this way:
We do not investigate
Historic breaches of the law
Regulations that you know.

There has been no interference
No political pressure
The choice is theirs, and theirs alone
As you heard from you know who.

An independent investigation
Then had to take place
We wait for its report to come
Before we judge the case.

There has been no interference
No political pressure
The choice is theirs, and theirs alone
As you heard from you know who.

Just as the report is about to come,
To be published as you know
The police begin to investigate
To start their enquiry.		There has been no interference
No political pressure
The choice is theirs, and theirs alone
As you heard from you know who.

Now the report cannot be seen
In full as it might have been
For that you know might prejudice
The police enquiry.

There has been no interference
No political pressure
The choice is theirs, and theirs alone
As you heard from you know who.

We must await the police report
On these most serious things
Our own report will silent be
On all but trivia.

There has been no interference
No political pressure
The choice is theirs, and theirs alone
As you heard from you know who.
©Credits:
Noteworthy Composer for scoring and producing the midi file
Melody Assistant by Myriad Software for producing the mp3
Virtual Singer for singing
Powerpoint for producing the mp4
BBC for reporting the new content that inspired the song with refrain
Tradition for remembering the music
Wikipedia for providing a low resolution image of Test Card C

Copyright notices:
The background image is believed to be a screenshot of what may be a copyrighted television programme which would then be © Copyright BBC & BREMA (British Radio and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association). It is further believed that the use of this low-resolution screenshot for illustration of its purpose, to demonstrate good quality, reliable reception without interference qualifies as fair use. This resolution of the image of Test Card C does not substantially affect the benefits, which belong to the copyright holder, and can be considered a fair use.
The words are © Copyright Stuart Moffatt 2022. Commercial use is expressly prohibited but otherwise they are hereby made freely available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence modified to exclude permission for commercial use. This exclusion may not be overridden.
☺With apologies in advance for errors of syntax, orthography and grammar which may be found embedded in this document whether arising from oversight, incorrect application of language packs or generally any other misadventure; and in general for any offence given inadvertently or inappropriately or both taken or not taken by those whose sensibilities, whether grammatical, orthographical, moral or simply personable, have been offended whether, not or if you have not incorrectly misunderstood the content, intent, meaning and purpose of this article, and to those whose copyrights may have been inadvertently or wantonly infringed, but never as to cause damage the copy holder’s rights, and, if you have managed to read this far, for any errors or omissions whether wilful, unintended, innocent or deliberate in the content of this polemic, and with thanks to you who have made it thus far for your patience.