I like to take moments in the torrid whirl of my life to be still and quiet with God. It's not easy. This is one day in the year when I look for such a moment and also to take stock on a year gone by. I find that this poem helps, capturing the moment perfectly.
May I take this moment to wish you a blessed and happy new year. Call by and catch up once in a while.
Peace Dave.
The Darkling Thrush
I leant upon a coppice gate,
When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled vine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.
The land's sharp features seemed to me
The Century's corpse outleant,
Its crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind its death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervorless as I.
At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead,
In a full-throated evensong Of joy illimited.
An ancient thrush, frail, gaunt and small,
With blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.
So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew,
And I was unaware.
Thomas Hardy
Saturday
Last Day
Tomorrow is the last day of the year 2006, it is the last day of the Christian festival of Christmas (officially)but even more than that it is the last day of the incumbency of our parish Priest. Tomorrow sees the end of fourteen years of his work within our parish. It will be a strange thing to worship without him.
The gift I prepared for him is ready, as polished as ever it can be and also with a surprise addition that sort of grew out of the editing process and refused to go away. A bit like Franken Freezer my undead freezer that is now living in my garage and humming contentedly, it just would not be turned off. At one point it was going to be a stanza and later it could have been an addition providing a contrasting theme. Neither of these were to be, it was a poem of it's own right and made sure that I knew it. I have reproduced it below, enjoy.
Before that though I had some news today that friends in Sudan have had a baby boy, yesterday. This is really great news as they have had a very bad year as with many people in Sudan. As I pointed out to them in my congratulation message, God brings great joys in small bundles, that's Christmas.
Lead Me
Lead me in the simple way,
That trails behind your tread.
Hold my hand and guide me,
Through the darkness laid ahead.
On steep narrow rocky paths,
Teach me courage to carry on.
Show me how to balance Lord,
What is right and what is wrong.
Through the noise and smoke of life,
Guide me please along the way.
Through all the uncertainties of night,
To the bright dawning light of day.
When at last we reach the place,
Where spirits shine like chrome.
Hug me like your long lost child
And I'll know that I've come home.
Peace Dave
The gift I prepared for him is ready, as polished as ever it can be and also with a surprise addition that sort of grew out of the editing process and refused to go away. A bit like Franken Freezer my undead freezer that is now living in my garage and humming contentedly, it just would not be turned off. At one point it was going to be a stanza and later it could have been an addition providing a contrasting theme. Neither of these were to be, it was a poem of it's own right and made sure that I knew it. I have reproduced it below, enjoy.
Before that though I had some news today that friends in Sudan have had a baby boy, yesterday. This is really great news as they have had a very bad year as with many people in Sudan. As I pointed out to them in my congratulation message, God brings great joys in small bundles, that's Christmas.
Lead Me
Lead me in the simple way,
That trails behind your tread.
Hold my hand and guide me,
Through the darkness laid ahead.
On steep narrow rocky paths,
Teach me courage to carry on.
Show me how to balance Lord,
What is right and what is wrong.
Through the noise and smoke of life,
Guide me please along the way.
Through all the uncertainties of night,
To the bright dawning light of day.
When at last we reach the place,
Where spirits shine like chrome.
Hug me like your long lost child
And I'll know that I've come home.
Peace Dave
Friday
Freezer Promise
In a way this post relates to yesterdays post in that I have picked up something really quite general in something really specific. If you've been reading my posts you'll know that my freezer was due to be taken off life support today. To catch up please connect with this link to the relevant post.
The bottom line is that when we purchased the freezer the cheerful salesman told us that it would be delivered on Friday. It may be in the morning but it was likely to be in the afternoon. He then winced and told us that it would be in the morning if it could be but not to assume that it would be. Patter. Salesman talk. How many times have you bought something, cars are a good example, where the salesman has smothered you talk that in the end proved to be no more real than a moon made of cheese. Having been about a bit I accept this as standard and think nothing much of it. What I heard in this conversation was that the freezer would arrive in the afternoon.
Imagine my surprise when opening my door to a fresh faced deliveryman this morning still wearing my night clothes and wiping the sleep from my eyes. Then it hit me, while I was apologising and clearing the way, how often are we like the salesman hedging our bets and never really intending to keep any of the promises we make. How often are we like deliverymen filing a quota and getting things done on time by the sweat of our brow and making sacrifices. Again how often are we like unprepared customers, not ready, having to apologise to people who have worked hard for us, embarrassed by our own actions. What an impact my new freezer has made and with a new year approaching are these really cool thoughts ?
The old freezer is still going, my wife seems to have brought it to life and living things are precious. So FrankenFreezer will live on in the garage.
Peace Dave.
The bottom line is that when we purchased the freezer the cheerful salesman told us that it would be delivered on Friday. It may be in the morning but it was likely to be in the afternoon. He then winced and told us that it would be in the morning if it could be but not to assume that it would be. Patter. Salesman talk. How many times have you bought something, cars are a good example, where the salesman has smothered you talk that in the end proved to be no more real than a moon made of cheese. Having been about a bit I accept this as standard and think nothing much of it. What I heard in this conversation was that the freezer would arrive in the afternoon.
Imagine my surprise when opening my door to a fresh faced deliveryman this morning still wearing my night clothes and wiping the sleep from my eyes. Then it hit me, while I was apologising and clearing the way, how often are we like the salesman hedging our bets and never really intending to keep any of the promises we make. How often are we like deliverymen filing a quota and getting things done on time by the sweat of our brow and making sacrifices. Again how often are we like unprepared customers, not ready, having to apologise to people who have worked hard for us, embarrassed by our own actions. What an impact my new freezer has made and with a new year approaching are these really cool thoughts ?
The old freezer is still going, my wife seems to have brought it to life and living things are precious. So FrankenFreezer will live on in the garage.
Peace Dave.
simple install
A bit more life, it's what holidays are about. This is core business, it affects my computer. For ages we have had the computer and all it's associated stuff locked up in a large cabinet. It served a purpose keeping Little hands far away from damaging sensitive equipment. Recently I learned how out of date that thinking was when my daughter asked me how to download an animation about combustion engines for her interactive slide show on how vehicle engines have evolved. This was homework for a thirteen year old.
We have in the last few weeks and also through giving at Christmas received several goodies for our (my) computer. Included in this are a wireless mouse and keyboard, printer scanner and flat screen monitor. So may task today was remove the cupboard, disconnect the computer and exchange the old parts for new ones. This involved a shelf and and making a short trolley/shelf unit for the main computer parts. The shelf and trolley took about three hours to make and were a pleasure to create. I love to create it's just the engineer in me. Flat bits of wood or steel become things, anything whatever is needed, that's really the joy of it. Especially if I'm doing it for someone else - but that's another story.
It's the next bit that gets to me. I installed a printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, modem and router in less than two hours. I remember life before Windows, before plug and play. I remember a time when today's task would literally have taken all day. Software has really improved. The question for me here is have we improved, have I improved. Another whole year has passed and am I any better for it, did it improve my software. Can I integrate better, can I do more tasks, can I do what I do better. Am I any closer to the God I love, do I display that to the people I meet and to the people I love? Odd how doing things makes you think.
Peace Dave
We have in the last few weeks and also through giving at Christmas received several goodies for our (my) computer. Included in this are a wireless mouse and keyboard, printer scanner and flat screen monitor. So may task today was remove the cupboard, disconnect the computer and exchange the old parts for new ones. This involved a shelf and and making a short trolley/shelf unit for the main computer parts. The shelf and trolley took about three hours to make and were a pleasure to create. I love to create it's just the engineer in me. Flat bits of wood or steel become things, anything whatever is needed, that's really the joy of it. Especially if I'm doing it for someone else - but that's another story.
It's the next bit that gets to me. I installed a printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, modem and router in less than two hours. I remember life before Windows, before plug and play. I remember a time when today's task would literally have taken all day. Software has really improved. The question for me here is have we improved, have I improved. Another whole year has passed and am I any better for it, did it improve my software. Can I integrate better, can I do more tasks, can I do what I do better. Am I any closer to the God I love, do I display that to the people I meet and to the people I love? Odd how doing things makes you think.
Peace Dave
Wednesday
Material Issues
Today was to be the first real break day in our Christmas holidays. The first day when we could lay up ignore the world and just chill. Maybe watch TV a bit, maybe play with some of our presents or just simply hang around. Sorry not to be. Our freezer which has been a good friend for several years, probably over six, has died. It has exhibited signs of illness for a while, frosting up and triggering it's alarm light. Always recovering and life carrying on. Sadly though through the last couple of days it has become unwell and today a decision had to be taken, it has to be replaced.
My wife and I had a conference and she decided that it would not do to be caught out with a freezer load of food that was no longer as frozen as it should be. Of course as with all things there are ramifications, purchasing freezers is not like buying a small TV or radio. First there is the cost, anything from a week's wage to a month's and delivery is extra. Even the best Internet sales included a huge delivery charge. But even more than cost form and function have to be considered. My wife (as with most wives I imagine) has very fixed views on what she expects from a freezer manufacturer. So we have to go and actually look at freezers. Which means leaving the house, abandoning my day of ease (and my wife's) and going to the shops. Not the most comfortable situation.
However after a busy day rooting around bargains and claimed bargains we managed to locate a display freezer with a shop discount and an extra 10% off because of the sales. This means that we will have a freezer worth several weeks pay for about one and a half. Not really good but a good result all the same.
The new freezer comes on Friday and then our old freezer which is currently on life support will be switch off.
Peace Dave
Tuesday
My Parents
I always smirk when I read the great poem by Philip Larkin - This be the Verse, the opening line which I will not repeat here is a sweeping truth. However the individualism that parenting can impart is not always a bad thing. I am who I am because of who they are. My daughter often comments that I am becoming more like my Dad, great I say I like my Dad.
Christmas is a time for relatives and travel. For months we subsist on phone calls and flying visits but at this time of year we can ease back and spend real time with people who know us as well as we do. It's either Heaven or Purgatory. For me today is heaven, the pressure is off all the jobs are done and I am chilling with my parents - please see the pictures. There are no great expectations just relaxation and fun. We eat, drink and play games - all in the safety of knowing that everyone knows everyone else intimately. We laugh at the slightest excuse and all pretensions to formality dissolve as the house door opens. There is no rush and no real need for politeness, although courtesy flows as easily as the laughter.
Time passes as it should, without being seen heard or really noticed. I imagine that if ever I should get to heaven that it would feel like this, warm, easy and usual - like home.
Peace Dave.
Monday
Christmas Day
There are two days of the year that exist outside the normal rules of general life and Christmas day is one of them. Advent is a season of preparation and this is what we have prepared for. If you have children it starts early, always early, less than five hours sleep in this case. Wonderful! I love the stumbling struggling start with children's excitement screaming like hyperactive bees all about. It just reminds me that this day is special.
Breakfast, darkness outside a couple of presents, still no drop in excitement. Church is at ten and this is one of the two days in the years when I must be in a church if I can. But this is not boring stiff regular Sunday worship, this is a birthday celebration, all be it a Church of England party. All the rules bend and all the faces smile because this is a triumphant day. Handshakes are common currency coupled with "Merry Christmas". It lasts but a moment in reality and is more of a family gathering than an official service.
Relatives. Christmas is nothing if you don't share it with someone. My wife prepares a feast of sumptuous food which is a delight to devour. My wife is a clever cook and always excels at Christmas. Feeling full and grateful for it, with sweets and drinks it is great to relax and exchange chat. This is the moment, the moment when we climb into the elemental Christmas experience of coming together abandoning barriers. We are just people together enjoying one anther's' company in mutual love.
Love is what this day is all about. A love that transcends barriers and complex relations to display the love that a creative all embracing God has for all and any. Merry Christmas.
Peace Dave.
Breakfast, darkness outside a couple of presents, still no drop in excitement. Church is at ten and this is one of the two days in the years when I must be in a church if I can. But this is not boring stiff regular Sunday worship, this is a birthday celebration, all be it a Church of England party. All the rules bend and all the faces smile because this is a triumphant day. Handshakes are common currency coupled with "Merry Christmas". It lasts but a moment in reality and is more of a family gathering than an official service.
Relatives. Christmas is nothing if you don't share it with someone. My wife prepares a feast of sumptuous food which is a delight to devour. My wife is a clever cook and always excels at Christmas. Feeling full and grateful for it, with sweets and drinks it is great to relax and exchange chat. This is the moment, the moment when we climb into the elemental Christmas experience of coming together abandoning barriers. We are just people together enjoying one anther's' company in mutual love.
Love is what this day is all about. A love that transcends barriers and complex relations to display the love that a creative all embracing God has for all and any. Merry Christmas.
Peace Dave.
Sunday
Christingle Sucess
This afternoon at 4pm we put on our parish Christingle crib service. We have been practicing this and today the moment came. The Church was full to bursting with young families with kids of all ages and the young at heart. Every thing went very well and I think was well received. The service began with two Roman soldiers attempting to hold a census, Gluteous Maximus and Gratuitous Ugliness. Then a young newly wed couple arrived and asked for lodgings, which of course there were none. Our priest played the part of the Inn Keeper and did a very good job beating off the Inn Keeper's Wife insistence that he should give the couple a room. Eventually they were allowed to stay in the cattle shed (vestry) which was declared as not fit for animals! We also had children tending large cardboard sheep who were disturbed by the sudden appearance of an Angel who proclaimed the birth of a special baby.
We actually held a census and had two young volunteers helping to count heads. Literally people were counted by the Romans. As this took place Joseph suddenly raced into the church ashen faced asking for towels and disrupting the counting. Four times he dashed in each time more frantic and manic than the last causing hoots of laughter from the congregation. The census naturally failed in the face of this event - a baby had been born.
This was the moment when in a hushed church Mary brought in the baby Jesus and laid him in a crib. The crib was put before a Nativity scene made with twelve inch models, essentially framing the moment. Result.
Part of the service was dedicated to Christingles and a load were handed out in exchange for donations to the work of the Children's society. A fair bit was raised which will do a lot of good. So we all had fun, taught the Nativity story once again and raised funds for a charity. I would call that a success.
Peace Dave.
We actually held a census and had two young volunteers helping to count heads. Literally people were counted by the Romans. As this took place Joseph suddenly raced into the church ashen faced asking for towels and disrupting the counting. Four times he dashed in each time more frantic and manic than the last causing hoots of laughter from the congregation. The census naturally failed in the face of this event - a baby had been born.
This was the moment when in a hushed church Mary brought in the baby Jesus and laid him in a crib. The crib was put before a Nativity scene made with twelve inch models, essentially framing the moment. Result.
Part of the service was dedicated to Christingles and a load were handed out in exchange for donations to the work of the Children's society. A fair bit was raised which will do a lot of good. So we all had fun, taught the Nativity story once again and raised funds for a charity. I would call that a success.
Peace Dave.
Saturday
Poetry Group
Dark news. I spoke just yesterday to the librarian who was until recently leading our local poetry group. He has been moved/promoted to another town and can no longer meet his commitment to our little group. We meet once a month on the first Tuesday of the month in Trowbridge town library - all poetry lovers welcome. The remaining librarians will assist with tea, coffee and book lending but not actually running the group. This is bad news for me as I am the natural successor to Pete our librarian. Bad news because I really don't have the time to commit to this task. Bad news because I also cannot walk away from the group that has supported me so much and encouraged me so well then see it fail.
So on the afternoon of January second after a twelve hour night shift I shall chair the first meeting of the Trowbridge Library Poetry Group in 2007. My other concern, perhaps less obvious is the impact of leading on my poetry. I am very sensitive to this and worry about anything that may cause me to stop writing.
I will pray about this and ask for guidance. If guidance does not come I will then pray for strength and help. The bottom line is that I will do what I can while I can and look for a replacement to do what I do as well as Pete did. The show must go on.
Peace Dave.
So on the afternoon of January second after a twelve hour night shift I shall chair the first meeting of the Trowbridge Library Poetry Group in 2007. My other concern, perhaps less obvious is the impact of leading on my poetry. I am very sensitive to this and worry about anything that may cause me to stop writing.
I will pray about this and ask for guidance. If guidance does not come I will then pray for strength and help. The bottom line is that I will do what I can while I can and look for a replacement to do what I do as well as Pete did. The show must go on.
Peace Dave.
Friday
Christmas Poem
This is a poem from my book - which can be had on line from Lulu.com. There is a link for that on the right just above my archive listings. It's a bit of a Christmas freebie - enjoy and obviously if you like it.....
Meeting.
He looked up slowly, scared,
Fear drawing his sinews tight.
Staring into soft angelic eyes,
That seemed to fill with light.
The camp fire danced orange nearby,
Cracking quietly two feet to his right.
While the stars that shone so brightly,
Seemed to retreat, into the night.
A sudden shocked inward breath,
A stumbling step toward the fire.
Toward warmth and security,
His friends and the glowing pyre.
But a new warmth overtook him,
Penetrating deep into his bones.
Born of sweet singing voices
And gently lulled loving tones.
A broad brightness filled him,
Lowering his hands raised in fear.
Stretching them out wide in welcome
To the warmth brought so near.
His rude form standing engulfed
In golden light precious and dear.
Darkening the grass behind in shadow,
Making a ghostly cross appear.
He glanced down resting disbelieving eyes,
Silence fell and darkness came.
Blinking up again swiftly looking about,
But the night was no longer the same.
Urgency filled his startled soul, then
Without so much as a backward look,
He scrambled running like a mad man
Leaving the hillside clutching lamb and crook.
Peace Dave
Meeting.
He looked up slowly, scared,
Fear drawing his sinews tight.
Staring into soft angelic eyes,
That seemed to fill with light.
The camp fire danced orange nearby,
Cracking quietly two feet to his right.
While the stars that shone so brightly,
Seemed to retreat, into the night.
A sudden shocked inward breath,
A stumbling step toward the fire.
Toward warmth and security,
His friends and the glowing pyre.
But a new warmth overtook him,
Penetrating deep into his bones.
Born of sweet singing voices
And gently lulled loving tones.
A broad brightness filled him,
Lowering his hands raised in fear.
Stretching them out wide in welcome
To the warmth brought so near.
His rude form standing engulfed
In golden light precious and dear.
Darkening the grass behind in shadow,
Making a ghostly cross appear.
He glanced down resting disbelieving eyes,
Silence fell and darkness came.
Blinking up again swiftly looking about,
But the night was no longer the same.
Urgency filled his startled soul, then
Without so much as a backward look,
He scrambled running like a mad man
Leaving the hillside clutching lamb and crook.
Peace Dave
Thursday
Rushing Around
This blog is about two main subjects my poetry and my life. This is an aspect of my life that I don't much like, rushing. Western life is crammed full of pressure and things that must be done and paid for every minute of the day. I realised this most when visiting Tunisia a few years ago. In their life there is space for other things such as just sitting and contemplation. People meet and exchange pleasantries until there are no more pleasantries left, unlike us who gabble a few words and worry about the next thing to do.
A good example of this is a couple that my wife and I met on holiday in Tunisia a while ago. Excellent people that we got on with really well. We kept contact after the holiday but it fizzled out. Recently they went to Tunisia again and sent a post card to us. I have their e-mail address but failed to reply. I was going to write but couldn't find their address. All the time there were other things needing to be done that laid pressure against me. Having forgotten about them completely, again they sent us a Christmas card - they really are good people. Now I feel even more sad that I have not replied to them. But even as I write this I have a massive list of to dos that must be done by this time and that before I go to work tonight. I am making a mental note that I must e-mail them and try to make amends. But first I have some rushing around top do and that is what I do not like. I rush around for a living which is fine because I get paid for it but I have no desire to do it in my free time. Advent is a time of preparedness both physical and spiritual but I don't feel the spiritual side at all at the moment just the rushing around like a headless chicken. These words from William Henry Davies say it all for me:
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Try to remember, just as I must try to remember, there is more to life than just getting things done. Christmas is an excellent example of that if nothing else.
Peace Dave.
A good example of this is a couple that my wife and I met on holiday in Tunisia a while ago. Excellent people that we got on with really well. We kept contact after the holiday but it fizzled out. Recently they went to Tunisia again and sent a post card to us. I have their e-mail address but failed to reply. I was going to write but couldn't find their address. All the time there were other things needing to be done that laid pressure against me. Having forgotten about them completely, again they sent us a Christmas card - they really are good people. Now I feel even more sad that I have not replied to them. But even as I write this I have a massive list of to dos that must be done by this time and that before I go to work tonight. I am making a mental note that I must e-mail them and try to make amends. But first I have some rushing around top do and that is what I do not like. I rush around for a living which is fine because I get paid for it but I have no desire to do it in my free time. Advent is a time of preparedness both physical and spiritual but I don't feel the spiritual side at all at the moment just the rushing around like a headless chicken. These words from William Henry Davies say it all for me:
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Try to remember, just as I must try to remember, there is more to life than just getting things done. Christmas is an excellent example of that if nothing else.
Peace Dave.
Wednesday
Job Done !
I've done it, I really think I've done it. There only comes an end to the polishing process once I feel warm and happy inside about what I have created. If your are puzzled by this opening comment please click on the words polishing process and they Will take you to a previous post which will help explain.
I was really beginning to think I might not get there, especially after my sneaky mega session in the hospital the other day got me off to a good start. But that was then and this is now and I am like a puppy with two tails - that is very happy. Below is the finished article for you to preview.
A Testament to Spatial Awareness.
Lord lead us not with synoptic gaze,
to look upon your myriad ways.
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Along labyrinthine ways.
A presence that you kept,
In all ways and always in
Parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
A cheery handshake and smile,
Treating a wicked world with grace.
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
A kingdom held out in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face.
Firm footing and foundation,
Cornerstone and underpinning,
Mortar, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a pilgrims tread,
Placed gently on a sandy floor.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden within the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards fast and deep,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained within the glass,
The residue of your ministry find;
In fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
Peace Dave.
I was really beginning to think I might not get there, especially after my sneaky mega session in the hospital the other day got me off to a good start. But that was then and this is now and I am like a puppy with two tails - that is very happy. Below is the finished article for you to preview.
A Testament to Spatial Awareness.
Lord lead us not with synoptic gaze,
to look upon your myriad ways.
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Along labyrinthine ways.
A presence that you kept,
In all ways and always in
Parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
A cheery handshake and smile,
Treating a wicked world with grace.
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
A kingdom held out in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face.
Firm footing and foundation,
Cornerstone and underpinning,
Mortar, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a pilgrims tread,
Placed gently on a sandy floor.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden within the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards fast and deep,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained within the glass,
The residue of your ministry find;
In fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
Peace Dave.
Tuesday
Spin Off
I some times find that in writing one poem another pops up without warning. I usually scribble a few notes about it and file it in a folder of ideas. This time it happened and a nearly complete poem slipped out. It's very simple and almost ditty like in quality but that in it self can be endearing. I fiddled with it for twenty minutes today and here it is. I have no title for it yet but I may just call it Lead Me. If you can think of a better title comment on the blog below and let me know.
Lead me in the simple way,
That trails behind your tread.
Hold my hand and guide me,
Through the darkness laid ahead.
On steep narrow rocky paths,
Teach me courage to carry on.
Show me how to balance Lord,
What is right and what is wrong.
Through the noise and smoke of life,
Guide me please along the way.
Through all the uncertainties of night,
To the bright dawning light of day.
When at last we reach the place,
Where spirits shine like chrome.
Hug me like your long lost child
And I'll know that I've come home.
Peace Dave
Lead me in the simple way,
That trails behind your tread.
Hold my hand and guide me,
Through the darkness laid ahead.
On steep narrow rocky paths,
Teach me courage to carry on.
Show me how to balance Lord,
What is right and what is wrong.
Through the noise and smoke of life,
Guide me please along the way.
Through all the uncertainties of night,
To the bright dawning light of day.
When at last we reach the place,
Where spirits shine like chrome.
Hug me like your long lost child
And I'll know that I've come home.
Peace Dave
Second Rough
OK here later than expected is a second rough draft (click the title to see the first) hopefully more polished than the last. I am really undecided about my proposed sixth stanza so I have not yet added one. Please comment on this post if you have any ideas or thoughts - feedback is always good.
A Testament to Spatial Awareness.
Lord lead us not with synoptic gaze,
to look upon your myriad ways.
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Through labyrinthine ways.
A presence that you kept,
In all ways and always too,
By parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
A cheery handshake and smile,
Treating the world to some grace.
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
Kingdom drawn out in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face.
Firm footing and foundation,
Cornerstone and underpinning,
Mortar, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a pilgrims tread,
Placed lightly on a sandy floor.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden within the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards fast and deep,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained within the glass,
Easily possible to find;
Fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
Peace Dave
A Testament to Spatial Awareness.
Lord lead us not with synoptic gaze,
to look upon your myriad ways.
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Through labyrinthine ways.
A presence that you kept,
In all ways and always too,
By parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
A cheery handshake and smile,
Treating the world to some grace.
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
Kingdom drawn out in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face.
Firm footing and foundation,
Cornerstone and underpinning,
Mortar, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a pilgrims tread,
Placed lightly on a sandy floor.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden within the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards fast and deep,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained within the glass,
Easily possible to find;
Fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
Peace Dave
Sunday
Nine Lessons
Tonight was the night of our church Nine Lessons and Carols service. This is an annual event always done just before Christmas. If you don't go to church the service comprises nine bible readings that tell the story of the birth of Jesus from Genesis forward interspersed with appropriate carols.
What struck me tonight was the poetry in the lyrics of the carols that we sang and how well they chimed with the rhythm of the tunes. Some of them actually suggest the tune when you read them as poetry. It's also quite surprising how succinct they are in the story that they tell. When I compare that with the work I create and the struggle it sometimes is to achieve I look upon these hymns with new wonder.
Of course these hymns probably went through several revisions and took a good while to actually write. I take a lot of comfort from poets that tell me they revise their work several times and take ages to create a piece, that's me, I do that. I'm not particularly clever or superhuman, but I do have poems within to get out. Knowing that we are all roughly the same makes me feel normal, part of a group. Where I come from poetry is not normal, so I seek unity. A bit like Christians gathered in a Church worshipping together singing carols, unity is good. It produces positive results and cuts through any isolation from the secular world. Tonight I stood in a full church, felt good, enjoyed the lyrics and sang my heart out.
Peace Dave.
What struck me tonight was the poetry in the lyrics of the carols that we sang and how well they chimed with the rhythm of the tunes. Some of them actually suggest the tune when you read them as poetry. It's also quite surprising how succinct they are in the story that they tell. When I compare that with the work I create and the struggle it sometimes is to achieve I look upon these hymns with new wonder.
Of course these hymns probably went through several revisions and took a good while to actually write. I take a lot of comfort from poets that tell me they revise their work several times and take ages to create a piece, that's me, I do that. I'm not particularly clever or superhuman, but I do have poems within to get out. Knowing that we are all roughly the same makes me feel normal, part of a group. Where I come from poetry is not normal, so I seek unity. A bit like Christians gathered in a Church worshipping together singing carols, unity is good. It produces positive results and cuts through any isolation from the secular world. Tonight I stood in a full church, felt good, enjoyed the lyrics and sang my heart out.
Peace Dave.
Saturday
Christingle Creation.
This evening saw the first practice of our Church Christingle play. If you missed the beginning of this thread click the title to go to an earlier post. Chaos, absolute chaos. I think personally that's great and I'll tell you why.
All too often we roll up at Church say a liturgy that was written by people far smarter than us and switch off to the actual stories within the words. It's like eddy currents in a river they all have a part to play in the overall flow. There are loads of stories in the bible that teach us about God and what God wants from us and how much God loves us. We seldom get the chance to explore any of this, we simply recite words that we have learned.
However tonight a group of eight people or so were animatedly discussing the Nativity story and arguing over aspects of the story that they had never thought about before. Having to act the story and somehow make it fit within the confines of our church forced them to consider the story in a new light. It was interesting to see the revelations of insight wash over people and hear them say "I had never though about it that way before".
Chaos is just a starting point and from almost scratch we had constructed a Nativity play that was suitable for young kids and families inside two hours. It contains humour and hymns, tells the story of the birth of Jesus and why that birth is such an important thing. A strong link has been made to Christingles and all this was done between church members that rarely even speak - Praise be to God. Our next practice is on Chrstmas Eve at 2pm, can't wait.
Peace Dave.
All too often we roll up at Church say a liturgy that was written by people far smarter than us and switch off to the actual stories within the words. It's like eddy currents in a river they all have a part to play in the overall flow. There are loads of stories in the bible that teach us about God and what God wants from us and how much God loves us. We seldom get the chance to explore any of this, we simply recite words that we have learned.
However tonight a group of eight people or so were animatedly discussing the Nativity story and arguing over aspects of the story that they had never thought about before. Having to act the story and somehow make it fit within the confines of our church forced them to consider the story in a new light. It was interesting to see the revelations of insight wash over people and hear them say "I had never though about it that way before".
Chaos is just a starting point and from almost scratch we had constructed a Nativity play that was suitable for young kids and families inside two hours. It contains humour and hymns, tells the story of the birth of Jesus and why that birth is such an important thing. A strong link has been made to Christingles and all this was done between church members that rarely even speak - Praise be to God. Our next practice is on Chrstmas Eve at 2pm, can't wait.
Peace Dave.
Friday
Heading up
I'm working nights and haven't had a lot of time to work on my poem or do anything else for that matter, but I did wake with something on my mind. I was thinking about titles. What was in my mind was what part of a poem is the title. Sounds a bit daft but in my thinking every part of a poem has a part to play.
Hymns I notice usually have the first line as the title and use it for nothing more than that. It's handy if you haven't found the hymn when the singing starts but as far as I can see there is no more meaning to it than that. Some titles, a bit like hymns, seem like a reference point to identify a poem in a filing system rather than anything else. I prefer the kind of title that acts like a key for the poem. In this I mean that a certain tone is set by it or a piece of information is disclosed that is vital to the understanding of a poem. Some poems on first reading would make little sense without their titles. I particularly enjoy titles with a slight cryptic twist in this vein, that's the sadistic wordaholic in me.
Short titles for me are better than long ones and that's just a personal preference. I like to get into a poem quickly and so rambling titles annoy me. The title that I picked for my latest poem is about as long as I would ever want and I have weighed every word I assure you. It's meant to convey the key to the poem, which is being aware of your place in things(IE. the world, life, ministry, parish) to the point where you can appreciate and anticipate the effects of your actions. The poem is deliberately written so that the title adds this sense to it, I hope.
How do you use titles? what do you think of titles and how long are your titles.
I hope over the weekend to get another edition out with a new stanza, if I can find time.
Peace Dave.
Hymns I notice usually have the first line as the title and use it for nothing more than that. It's handy if you haven't found the hymn when the singing starts but as far as I can see there is no more meaning to it than that. Some titles, a bit like hymns, seem like a reference point to identify a poem in a filing system rather than anything else. I prefer the kind of title that acts like a key for the poem. In this I mean that a certain tone is set by it or a piece of information is disclosed that is vital to the understanding of a poem. Some poems on first reading would make little sense without their titles. I particularly enjoy titles with a slight cryptic twist in this vein, that's the sadistic wordaholic in me.
Short titles for me are better than long ones and that's just a personal preference. I like to get into a poem quickly and so rambling titles annoy me. The title that I picked for my latest poem is about as long as I would ever want and I have weighed every word I assure you. It's meant to convey the key to the poem, which is being aware of your place in things(IE. the world, life, ministry, parish) to the point where you can appreciate and anticipate the effects of your actions. The poem is deliberately written so that the title adds this sense to it, I hope.
How do you use titles? what do you think of titles and how long are your titles.
I hope over the weekend to get another edition out with a new stanza, if I can find time.
Peace Dave.
Thursday
Sixth Stanza
I have a nagging doubt about my poem for the leaving parish priest. Things are going well and the polishing process is starting to bring the shine I want. But I feel that an element is missing. I want the poem to reflect real life and in particular his life here.
Last night I was delivering some of my poetry books that had been ordered by people that can't go online. Please follow this link to see my book - great Christmas present! Inevitably I stop for a chat and on one occasion I heard the story of a lady who has a very sick mum that she cares for. Recently her father, who was also very sick died in hospital. Our priest rushed to the hospital to try and be there when he died. Sadly neither him or his family arrived in time. As I heard this story I realised that there was no element of my poem that reflected this portion of the ministry of our priest. This was a part of his life that he seldom shared but always provided. The more I thought about it the more I think I need to include something that picks up this facet of his services. I think that I will have to add another stanza as I do not want to remove any of the content.
I'm annoyed that I appear to have missed out an area of his work but also glad that I have had this pointed out, it will make the poem more real for him and give it more meaning, which was always the goal. So thinking caps on for another stanza.
Peace Dave
Last night I was delivering some of my poetry books that had been ordered by people that can't go online. Please follow this link to see my book - great Christmas present! Inevitably I stop for a chat and on one occasion I heard the story of a lady who has a very sick mum that she cares for. Recently her father, who was also very sick died in hospital. Our priest rushed to the hospital to try and be there when he died. Sadly neither him or his family arrived in time. As I heard this story I realised that there was no element of my poem that reflected this portion of the ministry of our priest. This was a part of his life that he seldom shared but always provided. The more I thought about it the more I think I need to include something that picks up this facet of his services. I think that I will have to add another stanza as I do not want to remove any of the content.
I'm annoyed that I appear to have missed out an area of his work but also glad that I have had this pointed out, it will make the poem more real for him and give it more meaning, which was always the goal. So thinking caps on for another stanza.
Peace Dave
Wednesday
Waiting Room
For reasons largely beyond my control I find myself sitting in the waiting room of a specialist at Bath Royal United Hospital. If you have never experienced the National Health Service and don't live in the U.K. you may find this strange. The NHS is a fantastic facility which does wonderful things for many people that they could never afford privately. But as with any nationalised institution there is usually a heavy demand for waiting. In fact you can expect to spend a lot of your time with the NHS simply waiting. If you haven't planned for this it can be very irritating, fortunately I have been there before and when I saw on the notice board that the average waiting time was 55 to 65 minutes I was actually quite relieved.
Because while everyone else was huffing, puffing and fidgeting through old magazines I was quietly polishing my poem. I don't embarrass easily so I had no problem sitting in this large waiting room with the poem balanced on an old copy of Country Life. The man sat to my right was nosing over my shoulder which did become annoying after a while. In the end I asked him for his thoughts on the second line of stanza three at which point he turned red and wouldn't look at me any more. As I said I don't embarrass easily.
My wait proved nearly as therapeutic as my consultation which believe it or not involves another three months wait. I got a lot done and I'm really pleased so far, I wasn't just in the zone today I had time to walk about a bit and even redecorate it. Perhaps waiting is good for you after all.
Peace Dave.
Tuesday
Rough Draft
Ok, listed below is a rough draft which is my first skim of polishing. I'm blogging it to see what you think. If you want to comment please do, I would relish the feed back.
A Testament to Spatial Awareness
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Through labyrinthine ways.
Always and in all ways,
A presence that you kept,
In parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
Schools, baptisms visits, services,
Evangelist blood red in your pace
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
Kingdom drawn in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face,
Firm Foundation and cornerstone,
Core, capstone and underpinning,
Concrete, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a wanderer’s footprint,
Placed on a sandy shore.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden in the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards stuck in time,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained into the glass,
It is still easily possible to find.
Fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
A Testament to Spatial Awareness
Above all it’s a journey,
Often made with strangers,
Through labyrinthine ways.
Always and in all ways,
A presence that you kept,
In parochial prayer and praise.
Spokes spinning up Frome road,
Schools, baptisms visits, services,
Evangelist blood red in your pace
Trinity fingers tracing out a cross,
Kingdom drawn in your hands,
Christ smiling through your face,
Firm Foundation and cornerstone,
Core, capstone and underpinning,
Concrete, cement and more.
Yet transient like a blown leaf,
Temporary as a wanderer’s footprint,
Placed on a sandy shore.
Bitter sweet the journey calls,
Both provoking and comforting,
Lurking hidden in the day.
Proximity itself becomes the key,
Shifting wards stuck in time,
As you unlock your way.
Drenched pew and stonework show,
Even stained into the glass,
It is still easily possible to find.
Fragrant scents of the spirit,
That cheerfully came with you
And you deliberately left behind.
Monday
Polishing Process
Today saw the real beginning of the process that I usually refer to as polishing. (Please click the title to see the last relevant post.) What I mean by this is the fine tinkering with words and grammar to shape the finished poem to the exact way I want it. I like to call it polishing as it really is a finishing procedure. My poem has been created in the way I want it but before it is truly complete it must shine.
I like to read and re read the poem, tedious as this can become. What I am looking for is the way the poem scans and the ease with which it is read. The rhythm is checked and the stresses in the end rhymes. What I want is to make the poem almost glide on the reader's tongue. I really like poems that I've read almost without noticing the words. A well polished poem is easy to read if not easy to understand. Understanding is something the reader can do later. First they have to read.
I find myself adding plurals or replacing single words, moving words around and tinkering with the grammar. It's strange how small changes have a slow mutating effect that can really bring a poem out of it's shell. I'm fascinated by this process, much the same as I am fascinated to see metal becoming brighter and brighter as it is buffed. As I said I really only began today and this is a process that can take weeks. I don't have all that much time though as my deadline is the end of the year - best get polishing !
Peace Dave.
Sunday
Thomas Tonight
It's Sunday and it's one of the ones that I have to work. I usually worship at the 10 am service but being at work means that I can't. I cannot go off site to go to Church. No matter, there is a very good evening service at a church called St Thomas and so after work I go there. The style of worship there is very cheerful and loaded with praise. For a person having just completed twelve hours work it's just the thing to fire me up again. The people there are most friendly as is the priest, who tonight was wearing a green shirt.
This is all supplementary as tonight I met another poet, a Christian poet. As I entered the Church the man in front of me was welcomed and introduced himself an artist. He then started to talk about his writing and how he'd had poems published in a magazine. Tonight was his first time at St Thomas. He was looking for a new Church and had come to try St Thomas out. A bit stunned I introduced myself and we quickly got chatting. The gent, no names sorry, also has a community radio program and is a part time volunteer worker for a charity.
This was a real shocker for me and quite the last thing I had expected. God however does continue to do the most unexpected things. We have swapped contact details and will definitely be in touch to exchange poems. My new friend had a very good time in the service and will definitely be back. Result all round. It amazes that these things happen; perhaps I shouldn't be such a doubting Thomas.
Peace Dave.
This is all supplementary as tonight I met another poet, a Christian poet. As I entered the Church the man in front of me was welcomed and introduced himself an artist. He then started to talk about his writing and how he'd had poems published in a magazine. Tonight was his first time at St Thomas. He was looking for a new Church and had come to try St Thomas out. A bit stunned I introduced myself and we quickly got chatting. The gent, no names sorry, also has a community radio program and is a part time volunteer worker for a charity.
This was a real shocker for me and quite the last thing I had expected. God however does continue to do the most unexpected things. We have swapped contact details and will definitely be in touch to exchange poems. My new friend had a very good time in the service and will definitely be back. Result all round. It amazes that these things happen; perhaps I shouldn't be such a doubting Thomas.
Peace Dave.
Saturday
Manchester Offer
I very rarely enter competitions, mainly because of the cost. But last year I made an exception to enter the Manchester Cathedral International Religious Poetry Competition. Not only was this a religious poetry competition but it was reasonably priced. Naturally I did not win, but it did feel good to take part.Manchester Cathedral are extending invites once again for their 2007 competition. Details about this competition can be down loaded from their website please follow the link in blue. This will take you to the home page where you will need to click on the word "community" and select "poetry competition" from the drop down menu. From here you can download details. The competition is not limited to UK entries which is one reason for me to be putting it on my blog but also and perhaps more surprisingly not restricted to Christian poetry. Any poem of a spiritual nature can be entered. Check it out and perhaps give it a go. If you decide to let me know, I will be entering, but first I need to write something worthy and that won't happen until after Christmas. The deadline is Monday July 2nd so there is plenty of time yet.
Sorry no news about the poem I really could not get on it today things were very busy at work.
Peace Dave.
Friday
Emontional Connection.
Having got as far as I have with the new poem I discussed it with my wife (yes all the good ones are married !) today. If you have missed out on this thread clicking the title will take you back a day and there are four days held on my page. Basically I want to write a poem for my priest who is leaving the parish at the end of the month. Unusually for me I have deviated from the usual way I write. Instead of building on a inspired idea and developing it I attempted to create on a theme building a frame work to guide me. Check my previous posts for more details. The bottom line is that the framework idea failed and inspiration walked in like a prodigal son looking for a fatted calf sandwich. This set up a few questions for me which bubbled up with my wife today.
One thing that became apparent was that I had no emotional link to my framework style poem. It's not something I have considered in depth before but as usual my wife has hit upon a core truth. As humans we build an emotional bond with all sorts of things, cars are a good example as are pets and music. The same emotional bonds that form families and links together friends allows such bonds to form. Unconsciously I bond with my poems and the ones that I don't bond with are never written. This may seem like an odd concept and it took me a bit of time to accept it.
We need to have emotional bonds it's a part of being human and as a poet communication of the emotions that we use to bond with is a part of what I do. People will not like a poem that they have no emotional bond with no matter how grammatically perfect it is or how thoughtfully constructed. For me that bond cannot be passed on in a poem if I have not first made it myself. This all make some sense to me but you may have other ideas. If you do I would like to hear them, let me know.
Peace Dave.
One thing that became apparent was that I had no emotional link to my framework style poem. It's not something I have considered in depth before but as usual my wife has hit upon a core truth. As humans we build an emotional bond with all sorts of things, cars are a good example as are pets and music. The same emotional bonds that form families and links together friends allows such bonds to form. Unconsciously I bond with my poems and the ones that I don't bond with are never written. This may seem like an odd concept and it took me a bit of time to accept it.
We need to have emotional bonds it's a part of being human and as a poet communication of the emotions that we use to bond with is a part of what I do. People will not like a poem that they have no emotional bond with no matter how grammatically perfect it is or how thoughtfully constructed. For me that bond cannot be passed on in a poem if I have not first made it myself. This all make some sense to me but you may have other ideas. If you do I would like to hear them, let me know.
Peace Dave.
Radical Rethink
Last night I tinkered again with my poem at work in my tea breaks and as time went by I became less and less happy with it. The more and more I tried to flesh out the skeleton that I laid down the more it seemed that I was playing some odd word puzzle and not creating a poem. The stanza lines seemed stifled and as I most feared cut to fit and not part of an overall whole. The work was getting very long and myself very frustrated. It was while I was aggressively scribbling and rubbing out that I decided to lengthen the first line and came to a new opening.
It's like magic, hey presto, I'm off like a racehorse mixing in previously written lines with all new creation and seeing much of it fall straight on to the page as if it was glad to be back. Within two minutes I had deposited five six line stanzas, rhyming on the end word of the third and sixth line.
I'm not pretending that the job's done, this creation still needs plenty of work and I may still include elements of the old skeleton. The bottom line is that I am much more happy with this creation than the skeleton idea. What can I read into this, what does this mean. Perhaps I'm just better off attempting to stimulate myself by writing anything and revising it. Perhaps if I persisted with the skeleton idea I could have done a good job after all. All in all I have learned that my opinions about my poetry count for really very little and that people have surprisingly varied expectations and opinions. Usually my bench mark is: am I happy with the poem, but as this one is expressly for some one else I am more concerned that I do a good job - the best I can. This work is still rough and needs polishing but at least I feel like polishing it, cant be all bad.
Peace Dave.
It's like magic, hey presto, I'm off like a racehorse mixing in previously written lines with all new creation and seeing much of it fall straight on to the page as if it was glad to be back. Within two minutes I had deposited five six line stanzas, rhyming on the end word of the third and sixth line.
I'm not pretending that the job's done, this creation still needs plenty of work and I may still include elements of the old skeleton. The bottom line is that I am much more happy with this creation than the skeleton idea. What can I read into this, what does this mean. Perhaps I'm just better off attempting to stimulate myself by writing anything and revising it. Perhaps if I persisted with the skeleton idea I could have done a good job after all. All in all I have learned that my opinions about my poetry count for really very little and that people have surprisingly varied expectations and opinions. Usually my bench mark is: am I happy with the poem, but as this one is expressly for some one else I am more concerned that I do a good job - the best I can. This work is still rough and needs polishing but at least I feel like polishing it, cant be all bad.
Peace Dave.
Wednesday
Archbishop Speaks
I received a message from the Diocese today which a Christmas message from Archbishop Rowan Williams. Too good a chance to miss I am blogging it as his words are far finer than mine. Enjoy.Peace Dave.
December Thoughts: This year for the first time ever I’ve had the opportunity of travelling to Bethlehem for a short visit, just before Christmas. It’s made think me think about the whole business of travelling, travelling towards something as we get ready for Christmas which isn’t something we think about all that often. ‘Christmas is coming’ we say, as if it were moving towards us, but are we moving at all?Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem, a tough journey in bad weather, in the middle of the sort of frustrated impatient crowds who always find when people are being herded together for administrative business. The shepherds travelled from their fields, not a long journey you might think, but these were people regarded as disreputable, one of the lowest sorts of worker in ancient Israel, so they wouldn’t have felt very comfortable asking around in town where the baby was to be found.And of course the wise men travelled from far off trying to work out their journey from the stars, learning to stammer a few phrases in another language, completely out of their depths with the situation they found themselves in the middle of, all the wisdom of their native country counting for nothing. It seems as though when we approach Christmas one of the things the Bible story reminds us of is that we’ve got to get out of our comfort zone if we’re God in all this, it’s as if you have leave behind the sort of people that you’re comfortable with, the picture of yourself that you’re comfortable with, and be ready to find yourself among this strange crowd of folk journeying towards the truth, journeying towards the miracle of God’s love.You’ll meet that love and let it into your life, only when you’ve left behind all that protects you from other people, from the risks and suffering of ordinary life, all that keeps you safe with your own preferences and your own ideas. Christmas is about God overturning all our ideas about ourselves and about him, his love is the most surprising thing there could be, this really is the beginning of a new world, and we need to change if we’re going to take it in, we need to travel.
Tuesday
Skeleton Form
I worked nights last night and in my tea breaks I was able to work a little on my poem. I have taken quite a radical change from the way I normally write and I was thinking about breaking down the theme of spatial awareness into stanzas so that every stanza had something to say about it. I have decided to also not actually define in words what the poem is about so that the reader will have to work it out from the content, so this means that I will need to use language and phrases that will do that. The actual it that am attempting to define in the poem is the task of being a priest in a parish, which is a very varied task that has few set boundaries. So I have laid out a selection of stanzas that each portray a fragment or facet of this. For instance the opening line to the first of these stanzas is : It is a journey.
The stanzas are eight lines long (at the moment) and I have actually roughed one out completely. The others have a facet assigned, such as song, prayer, life etc but need to be properly populated with words. This is a bit exiting for me now as I can actually see something coming . The danger I think is making the words fit the pattern and not using the best or most suitable words because they they don't fit exactly. After all said and done only the best I can do will be good enough. I have a skeleton for this poem now I need to get some flesh on the bones, reminds me of Ezekiel in the Vally of the dry bones.
Peace Dave
The stanzas are eight lines long (at the moment) and I have actually roughed one out completely. The others have a facet assigned, such as song, prayer, life etc but need to be properly populated with words. This is a bit exiting for me now as I can actually see something coming . The danger I think is making the words fit the pattern and not using the best or most suitable words because they they don't fit exactly. After all said and done only the best I can do will be good enough. I have a skeleton for this poem now I need to get some flesh on the bones, reminds me of Ezekiel in the Vally of the dry bones.
Peace Dave
Monday
Book Sales
I'd like to say that sales of my recently produced book of poetry are rocketing but it would be fairer to say that they had doubled - from one to two. This is not a comment born of bitterness or a rant it's just reality sinking in a bit. I never expected record sales and really the book was more about getting myself in print than making any money but a few sales would be nice, it would just make it feel that the stress involved was worthwhile.
You can access my book at http://www.lulu.com/content/470819 it's very reasonably priced and is a collection of Christian poems. I will when I can figure it out but a button on this blog to make it available.
Lulu the operators of the website that made this all possible offer marketing material but most of it only applies in the US so I am a bit alone in this. I have made a press release and issued it about so maybe something will come from that. I can only hope.
I am going onto night shifts tonight and hope to spend a little time working on the poem for my parish priest. It would be nice if I can scrape a little free time to get thinking and writing again. This is the time when most alive and most free, it is good to be creative.
Peace Dave.
You can access my book at http://www.lulu.com/content/470819 it's very reasonably priced and is a collection of Christian poems. I will when I can figure it out but a button on this blog to make it available.
Lulu the operators of the website that made this all possible offer marketing material but most of it only applies in the US so I am a bit alone in this. I have made a press release and issued it about so maybe something will come from that. I can only hope.
I am going onto night shifts tonight and hope to spend a little time working on the poem for my parish priest. It would be nice if I can scrape a little free time to get thinking and writing again. This is the time when most alive and most free, it is good to be creative.
Peace Dave.
Sunday
Prayer List
In my spare time I give time to the Diocese of Salisbury (UK) as an officer on a committee. The committee seeks to uphold a link of fellowship with the Sudanese Episcopal Church. Sudan is a big, big place stretching down from the bottom of Egypt to the top of Uganda, Darfur, so well known recently for violence is just a province of Western Sudan and on it's own is the size of France.
The Episcopal Church in Sudan has been suffering for years and life is not getting any easier. We regularly pray for Sudan and pass prayers via e-mail around the diocese so that the whole diocese can have an opportunity to pray for Sudan. The prayers are not our creation but represent real needs communicated from Sudan. The prayer request is sent out at the start of every month, beginning a wave of prayer for Sudan.
One of my tasks is to administer the prayer list which became more complex as two deanery co ordinators dropped out today. Please help me by praying for two replacements to come forward. I would really appreciate your support and if you would also like to recieve our prayer requests please let me know, I'll add you to the list.
Peace Dave.
The Episcopal Church in Sudan has been suffering for years and life is not getting any easier. We regularly pray for Sudan and pass prayers via e-mail around the diocese so that the whole diocese can have an opportunity to pray for Sudan. The prayers are not our creation but represent real needs communicated from Sudan. The prayer request is sent out at the start of every month, beginning a wave of prayer for Sudan.
One of my tasks is to administer the prayer list which became more complex as two deanery co ordinators dropped out today. Please help me by praying for two replacements to come forward. I would really appreciate your support and if you would also like to recieve our prayer requests please let me know, I'll add you to the list.
Peace Dave.
Saturday
Opening Line
Things are going well for the poem I am creating for my priest. You may recall that he is leaving the parish at the end of the year and this is my parting gift, hopefully. (Click the title to go to a previous post.)
I think that whatever the content I will use either separatly styled opening and closing stanzas or opening and closing quotes. My thinking here is to give a serious edge to a poem that really will be fairly light hearted. I always like the style of poem that attempts to define a surreal or sujective topic as if it were fact. Today I scribbled this line which in some form may be an opening line.
How close you are becomes what's key,
You cannot lead and still be free.
This sets a serious tone and steps for me neatly into the theme of spatial awareness in a purely abstract way which I can define later. I'm not happy with the scan at the moment and these lines will have to change before they are used. But this is a start, I have started to write and so things are underway. I have my deadline which is December 31st and all I have to do is create a suitable, iconic poem that he will enjoy reading - no problem. A few prayers needed I think.
Peace Dave.
I think that whatever the content I will use either separatly styled opening and closing stanzas or opening and closing quotes. My thinking here is to give a serious edge to a poem that really will be fairly light hearted. I always like the style of poem that attempts to define a surreal or sujective topic as if it were fact. Today I scribbled this line which in some form may be an opening line.
How close you are becomes what's key,
You cannot lead and still be free.
This sets a serious tone and steps for me neatly into the theme of spatial awareness in a purely abstract way which I can define later. I'm not happy with the scan at the moment and these lines will have to change before they are used. But this is a start, I have started to write and so things are underway. I have my deadline which is December 31st and all I have to do is create a suitable, iconic poem that he will enjoy reading - no problem. A few prayers needed I think.
Peace Dave.
Friday
World AIDS Day
I support Oxfam by giving them several pounds a month because I believe in their work.It's not much but it is something. By return they send me news and information about their work. If you don't know about Oxfam check out their website they do good things. Last week they sent me a red bow for World Aids Day, which is today.
The idea is that you wear it to show support for the event and help highlight the day so that more people become aware of AIDS generally. With the ribbon came a little book with case studies of real people and real situations. I decided to wear the ribbon at work today pinned to my overalls. Some people asked me about it and that did give me the opportunity to tell them that today was World AIDS Day but mainly I found that the ribbon had a greater effect on me. Every time I looked down it was in my vision and being red stood out prominently against my dark overalls. Having a constant reminder kept the stories in the booklet fresh in my mind and me thinking about the plight of so many unfortunate people. Much of the time like many I unconsciously accept things and carry on with my life. I'm busy and there are many demands placed on me daily, this is not an acceptable excuse. I cannot be a missionary or voluntary worker but that also does not free me from not doing what I can. As I was forced to remember today some people have things forced on them that I can barely imagine. If you don't do anything for a charity, think about it and just do what you can.
Peace Dave
The idea is that you wear it to show support for the event and help highlight the day so that more people become aware of AIDS generally. With the ribbon came a little book with case studies of real people and real situations. I decided to wear the ribbon at work today pinned to my overalls. Some people asked me about it and that did give me the opportunity to tell them that today was World AIDS Day but mainly I found that the ribbon had a greater effect on me. Every time I looked down it was in my vision and being red stood out prominently against my dark overalls. Having a constant reminder kept the stories in the booklet fresh in my mind and me thinking about the plight of so many unfortunate people. Much of the time like many I unconsciously accept things and carry on with my life. I'm busy and there are many demands placed on me daily, this is not an acceptable excuse. I cannot be a missionary or voluntary worker but that also does not free me from not doing what I can. As I was forced to remember today some people have things forced on them that I can barely imagine. If you don't do anything for a charity, think about it and just do what you can.
Peace Dave
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