A Quiet Rose
How silently my garden grows
While the vines and petals bend,
Although the flowers cannot speak,
I consider each my friend.
How quietly you lie in bed
While your fragile body mends,
A little rose who cannot speak,
Yet adored by many friends
Immortal Dream
Heaven’s gossamer robe slipped down
Dropping on this terrestrial ball,
And ever slowly wrapped and wound,
Until her veil had covered all.
In shielding us from heaven’s glow,
Where lighted orbs display their force,
We sightlessly must tread below,
While every star foreruns it’s course.
As earthly mortals we reside
Midst a realm of heavenly law,
Where all creation must abide
Within the lines our Lord shall draw.
Here, all the seasons die and fade.
From falling leaves to fallen snow,
And all God’s beauty ever made
Is called on, and then asked to go.
The finest soft clouds drift away,
The ocean waves end at each shore,
And every new recurring day
Gives end to what has been before.
But sometimes, when the heavens pause
We see a gleaming golden ray
Sneak forth and burst the filmy gauze,
To light our path, direct our way.
Then with fresh eyes, to see a new
Perspective on reality,
While heaven’s brilliant hem peeks through,
We focus on eternity…
Pondering the celestial way,
Where all God’s beauty can be found,
And all creation’s on display-
Is part of one eternal round!
The Stars Are Never Gone
As peace enfolds my searching soul,
Born upon this mottled sphere,
I look up to the ebon eve
And watch the stars appear.
The moon hangs low, ripe on her beam,
Which shines down as she mellows,
To light the groves and little hills,
Where nature lays pillows.
Then heaven sends white flannel clouds
Far across her spangled sky,
Just to tuck up tight in bedclothes,
Her firmament on high.
Far in the east, a lonely pine
With branches raised towardsdawn,
Orchestrates the bright daystar,
Conducting morning’s song.
And as I watch this day unfold,
While the night concludes from view,
I find that in this pleasant time
My thoughts return to you.
Each starlet’s space, cold void and dark,
Every sunset that has died,
Lost beauty I no longer see,
With my dim mortal eye.
The unwrapped buds that fade to dust,
On wilted, shaded bowers,
A loved one whom I miss so much,
While passing earthly hours.
But, as I ponder this I know,
When the night returns once more,
Heaven’s vast robe will twinkle still,
As lovely as before.
For all that’s lovely leaves us not,
The sweet spirit lingers near,
So linger in my thoughts awhile,
Until you shall appear.
Remembering England
Beyond each vacant glen and moor
Sweet carols fill the starry eve,
I hear them echo as they leave
My native land, to reach this shore.
In winter time fond memories stray
Past rolling seas to reach my soul,
And seek to make my sad heart whole,
Before each Christmas holiday.
The calm pastoral fields of green,
Which wander from the Severn’s shore
Will spread across my mind once more,
Oh picturesque and lovely scene.
The gray clouds passing somber hills
Which rise up from the mist below,
May fill with silent falling snow,
Just as my heart with longing fills…
To breathe the brisk and chilly air
Of Bredon, only half expressed
By longing beats within my breast,
As England faintly calls me there.
With chiming bells from ancient towers,
And holly trimming icy eaves,
Above the leafless darkened trees,
December cheer come fill my hours.
Come light the crackling cedar bough,
And brighten panes revealing frost,
And spark the flame lest I have lost
That Christmas joy. I seek it now.
Oh England, soothe my heart’s desire
With sweet traditions of my past,
For now I bring them here at last,
To share around this Christmas fire.
Mary’s Song
There is no moon to light our way
Through the land of our fathers.
There’s no shepherd for sheep that stray
Over the hillside.
But for our lantern’s swinging ray
All would be darkness,
Bethlehem
The distant stars are frozen still,
And the cold mist, it lingers…
While darkness hides each rock and rill,
As we are traveling.
Then city lights break o’er the hill
Just before midnight,
Bethlehem
I sigh with a thought of relief
As we finally arrive here…
Empty and quiet, locked doorways that keep
Us out in the night air…
Now, in a damp manger we sleep
Until the day break,
Bethlehem
Searching small lanes that bend and wind
Beyond white terraced houses,
Through the inns where travelers dine
‘Til late in the evening,
What type of men are led here to find
My baby tonight
Bethlehem?
I heard a soft voice in the night
It was that of an angel,
She spoke of shepherds, and a light
That moved ever closer
As God’s choir sang in delight
Over Judea!
Bethlehem
Is it true my baby so small
Is this great worlds Redeemer?
Wise men will come, worship, and fall
Prostrate before Him?
Now commissioned am I by all
Heaven to hold him!
Bethlehem
There is no moon to light our way
Through the land of our fathers,
There’s no shepherd for sheep that stray
Over the hillside,
But for my tiny baby’s ray
All would be darkness,
Bethlehem
Emerald Fields
From the woodland to the marshland,
‘long the mountains of the highland,
White moon rolls her marbled agate-
Breaks the dawning pink and scarlet.
Sunrise moves past sea and sand,
Over the green fields of Ireland.
Shine the sunrays gently sifting,
Through the branches darkly twisting.
‘Rise queen morning wear a gold gown-
Silver clouds adorning your crown.
Daybreak comes at sun’s command,
Over the green fields of Ireland
So wake the rain-filled meadow bed,
Where white-front geese and teal are fed.
Among each weaving tuft of green,
Wild Meadow Rue peeks in-between.
Hail aurora’s blessed band!
Over the green fields of Ireland.
Faraway the Shannon’s flowing.
In the air a light gale’s blowing,
Anointing every bog and glen,
With heather scent from Arderin-
Where those ancient mountains stand,
Over the green fields of Ireland.
So clear the hov’ring mists that cool,
Above Lough Sheelin’s fairy pool.
‘Tis morning time lift up the shade,
And shine the emerald that was made,
When the Lord stretched His great hand
Over the green fields of Ireland.
2005 © Copyright
