Tag Archives: seasons

Evensong

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At night when lights within the house turned high
Shine out in answer to the starlit sky,
I go outside to close the shutters tight
Against the rigours of the winter’s night.
I lift each hook and push the shutter to,
Catching a gentle vision as I do,
Behind the panes, of faces that I love,
My whole world’s gift and sacred treasure trove,
Each unaware within his frame of light
Of causing me, the watcher, such delight.
Then am I moved profoundly as I see
How blessed fortune has so favoured me.

(finished in Erasmus Hospital, Brussels 8.2.89)

Early Start

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Still half asleep,
I turn the key
And venture out
Into the frost.

The moon rides low
Across the sky
And overhead
The plough still hangs.

Orion’s dog
His master leads,
The hunter’s pouch
Brimful of stars.

Still wrapped in night
And sleepy eyed,
Reluctantly
I start my day.

January 1992 (Poetic licence! Orion and Canis Major are not visible at the same time in January when we are getting up – they have both set by then.)

Parents, grandparents …

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They have now gone from us,
Those all-protecting ones,
The angels by the bed,
The guardians at the gate.
This is Life’s promotion!
Step by reluctant step
We move forward daily
To take their place.

At the close of a summer’s day,
Far, far down the beach
At the ebb-tide’s turning,
To sand, sea and wind
We committed them,
Ashes to ashes,
Human dust to dust,
Memories to sand.