Poetry
On Death
by Kahlil Gibran
You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.
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In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?
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For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
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Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
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The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo
from Maidens’ song from St. Winefred’s Well
by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89)
THE LEADEN ECHO
HOW to kéep—is there ány any, is there none such, nowhere known some, bow or brooch
or braid or brace, láce, latch or catch or key to keep
Back beauty, keep it, beauty, beauty, beauty, … from vanishing away?
Ó is there no frowning of these wrinkles, rankéd wrinkles deep,
Dówn? no waving off of these most mournful messengers, still messengers, sad and stealing
messengers of grey?
No there ’s none, there ’s none, O no there ’s none,
Nor can you long be, what you now are, called fair,
Do what you may do, what, do what you may,
And wisdom is early to despair:
Be beginning; since, no, nothing can be done
To keep at bay
Age and age’s evils, hoar hair,
Ruck and wrinkle, drooping, dying, death’s worst, winding sheets, tombs and worms and
tumbling to decay;
So be beginning, be beginning to despair.
O there ’s none; no no no there ’s none:
Be beginning to despair, to despair,
Despair, despair, despair, despair.
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THE GOLDEN ECHO
Spare!
There ís one, yes I have one (Hush there!);
Only not within seeing of the sun,
Not within the singeing of the strong sun,
Tall sun’s tingeing, or treacherous the tainting of the earth’s air,
Somewhere elsewhere there is ah well where! one,
Oné. Yes I can tell such a key, I do know such a place,
Where whatever’s prized and passes of us, everything that’s fresh and fast flying of us,
seems to us sweet of us and swiftly away with, done away with, undone,
Undone, done with, soon done with, and yet dearly and dangerously sweet
Of us, the wimpled-water-dimpled, not-by-morning-matchèd face,
The flower of beauty, fleece of beauty, too too apt to, ah! to fleet,
Never fleets móre, fastened with the tenderest truth
To its own best being and its loveliness of youth: it is an everlastingness of, O it is an all youth!
Come then, your ways and airs and looks, locks, maiden gear, gallantry and gaiety and grace,
Winning ways, airs innocent, maiden manners, sweet looks, loose locks, long locks,
lovelocks, gaygear, going gallant, girlgrace—
Resign them, sign them, seal them, send them, motion them with breath,
And with sighs soaring, soaring síghs deliver
Them; beauty-in-the-ghost, deliver it, early now, long before death
Give beauty back, beauty, beauty, beauty, back to God, beauty’s self and beauty’s giver.
See; not a hair is, not an eyelash, not the least lash lost; every hair
Is, hair of the head, numbered.
Nay, what we had lighthanded left in surly the mere mould
Will have waked and have waxed and have walked with the wind what while we slept,
This side, that side hurling a heavyheaded hundredfold
What while we, while we slumbered.
O then, weary then why
When the thing we freely fórfeit is kept with fonder a care,
Fonder a care kept than we could have kept it, kept
Far with fonder a care (and we, we should have lost it) finer, fonder
A care kept.—Where kept? Do but tell us where kept, where.—
Yonder.—What high as that! We follow, now we follow.—Yonder, yes yonder, yonder,
Yonder.
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I Have a Rendezvous with Death
Alan Seeger 1888–1916
I have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
And apple-blossoms fill the air—
I have a rendezvous with Death
When Spring brings back blue days and fair.
It may be he shall take my hand
And lead me into his dark land
And close my eyes and quench my breath—
It may be I shall pass him still.
I have a rendezvous with Death
On some scarred slope of battered hill,
When Spring comes round again this year
And the first meadow-flowers appear.
God knows ’twere better to be deep
Pillowed in silk and scented down,
Where love throbs out in blissful sleep,
Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,
Where hushed awakenings are dear…
But I’ve a rendezvous with Death
At midnight in some flaming town,
When Spring trips north again this year,
And I to my pledged word am true,
I shall not fail that rendezvous.
An Irish Friendship Wish
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Slow Dance
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask ‘How are you?’
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
‘Cause you never had time
To call and say, ‘Hi’
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift… Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower,
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
God’s Rosebud
A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.
The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem…
“It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.”
“The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die.”
“If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?”
“So I’ll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way.”
“The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I’ll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.”
Heaven’s Little Angel
I have always had a hard time dealing with the death of a loved one, but how do you deal with a death of your own child? I had many sleepless nights and cried many oceans and always asked myself why? I still continue with the struggle even after 16 very hard years.
My son lived for 12 days and died of complications after his birth. My grief took over my life and most of all my strength to go on. I tried to take the easy way out but I guess God had other plans for me. My mother was my savior and my best friend. Without her compassion and understanding I just don’t know where I would be.
I still thank God for giving me Tyler and my two other boys. Nobody can ever tell you that they know what you are going through until they lose a child of there own. Understanding Why is still hard but I do believe that God takes all the angels first. He must of thought Tyler was to special to stay. I talk to him everyday and he will forever have a place in my heart.
This is a poem I wrote for my son Tyler:
My little angel baby,
with so much to give,
Holding you tight
and wishing you lived.
Even though I only
had 12 days with you,
I cherished every single moment
I got to hold you.
Then that morning
God took you to play,
The pain rushed through my body
and my tears turned into rain.
Oh how I miss you so dearly
and my heart still aches,
You were my sweet baby angel
that I could never replace.
I will hold all the memories
deep inside my heart,
Even though we are not together,
I know your not far.
No matter how hard it seems just remember to take life one day at a time. Your little angel is being watched over by God.
Who’d You Be Today
I lost my dad 2 years ago and this song helped me through a lot of pain. I still cry when I hear this song! But like the song says, I know I will see him again someday!
“Who You’d Be Today”
Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
I feel you everywhere I go.
I see your smile, I see your face,
I hear you laughin’ in the rain.
I still can’t believe you’re gone.
It ain’t fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the @#!*% that I’ve been through,
Just knowin’ no-one could take your place.
An’ sometimes I wonder,
Who’d you be today?
Would you see the world?
Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family,
I wonder what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky’s so blue,
I feel like I can talk to you,
An’ I know it might sound crazy.
It ain’t fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the @#!*% that I’ve been through,
Just knowin’ no-one could take your place.
An’ sometimes I wonder,
Who you’d be today?
Today, today, today.
Today, today, today.
Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
The only thing that gives me hope,
Is I know I’ll see you again some day.
Some day, some day, some day
Some day, some day, some day.
My First Christmas In Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below,
with tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars,
reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away that tear,
for I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear,
but those sounds of music
can’t compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
for it is beyond description
to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me.
I see the pain inside your heart,
but I am not so far away.
We really are not apart.
I can not tell you of the splendor
or the peace inside this place.
Can you just imagine
Christmas with our Savior,
face to face?
I will ask him to light your spirit
as I tell him of your love.
So then pray for one another
as you lift your eyes above.
So be happy for me, dear ones.
You know I hold you dear,
and be glad I’m spending
Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory
of my undying love.
After all, “Love” is a gift
more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important
in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other,
as my Father said to do,
for I can not count the blessings
or love He has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas
and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending
Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Mother’s Day 2008
I never thought possible that I could ever have a good Mother’s Day, since my 17 year old daughter passed away in a tragic car accident.
I now have 4 kids physically here with me and my oldest daughter would always be missing. As I went through Mother’s Day this year I just kept thinking and wondering, does Lacy know it’s Mother’s Day in Heaven?
I kept thinking about the last Mother’s Day spent with all 5 of my kids almost 3 yrs ago and cherish the last Mother’s Day card my daughter gave me.
When I went to my mom’s house, she was crying and said I have a Mother’s Day card for you from Lacy.
I said how can that be possible, she’s gone.
My mom said she’d had an overwhelming desire to clean out her closet and came across a poem that Lacy wrote to me back in 1999, when she would of been around 12 yrs old, the poem read:
To: Mom
From: Lacy
If love was a person
and I gave mine to you
and it gets bigger everyday
My love for you wouldn’t fit the universe
and if God gave me two choices to do
and the choices are I live and you die,
or I die and your mom lives,
I would choose you live and I die.
I Love You!
How unbelievable is that this is what happened, she’s gone and here I am, still in shock.
The Glory Of Love
The lyrics of this song tell the story of life and love much better than I could:
You’ve got to
give a little,
take a little,
And let your poor heart break a little.
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love.
You’ve got to
laugh a little,
cry a little,
Until the clouds roll by a little.
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love.
As long as there’s the two of us,
We’ve got the world and all it’s charms.
And when the world is through with us,
We’ve got each other’s arms.
You’ve got to win a little,
lose a little,
Yes, and always have the blues a little.
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love.
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love.
I Am Your Guardian Angel
By Tonya Michael
When sleep will not come
I will hold your hand
Through good times and bad
I will brush away your tears
When emotions begin to flood
For I am your Guardian Angel.
I will watch over your soul
Should it ever go astray
I will always hold your heart
Even after judgment day
I will comfort your sadness
And keep your pain at bay
For I am your Guardian Angel
I will always be there
No matter when you call
I will be the one
Who helps you
through it all.
I am the one sent by God
To always watch over you
For I am your Guardian Angel
I am your Guardian Angel.
You Have A Guardian Angel
You have a Guardian Angel
Who watches over you -
Everywhere you go
And everything you do.
This gentle, silent helper
Is there to be your guide
To shelter and protect you,
And for you to walk beside.
Your Angel will always help you
Whenever things go wrong,
They’ll be the wings beneath your feet
As Life’s path you walk along.
Feel this calming presence -
Be enfolded by its love
And let your life be guided
By a power from above.
Guardian Angel
By Lottie Ann Knox
At times when I am feeling sad
and think that no one cares,
I feel the vibrations of your wings
and know that you are here.
I then feel your tender touch
as you enfold me with His Love.
A yearning prayer has come to earth,
sent down from Father above.
I can never deny your presence.
You fill my heart with song.
All sad thoughts simply disappear,
knowing that I am not alone.
You loan me strength when I give out
And you raise my courage up.
I can face my troubles head-on
Mortal thanks is not enough.
I will live each day I have
in humbleness and in prayer.
With heartfelt words I’ll write
and with all others, share.
In Loving Memory Of Jerry Joe Webb
By Rebecca Webb
My angel’s right beside me,
wherever I may go,
keeping close watch over me,
he’s my husband don’t you know.
God took him away from me,
not so long ago,
but he promised he’d never leave me,
dear lord I miss him so.
But I know he’s right beside me,
wherever I may go,
for he’s my guardian angel,
my love, my life, my soul.
Saint Theresa’s Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Mary Had A Little Lamb
Mary had a little Lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school each day,
T’wasn’t even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.
And then the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name!
Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.
What must we do to stop the crime,
That’s in our schools today?
Let’s let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!
God’s Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, ‘Put all your sorrow in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold.’
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused,
‘I wonder where my sorrows could be!’
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
‘My child, they’re all here with me.’
I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the holes?
My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go.’
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WHATEVER YOUR CROSS
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Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain….
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Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God’s always ready, to answer your call….
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He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear….
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Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn’s early light….
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The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love….
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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
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