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| Santos Nativity - Puerto Rico Late 19th century - Unidentified artist, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
Jesus DearQuite by accident, I found the poem above that I wrote three years ago, which was not in the short list of my poetry on the sidebar. I'd completely forgotten about it, and I'm a bit puzzled, because I rarely write in regular rhyme or meter. So here's the bit of verse, for better or for worse. When the muse visits, which is not often, I write. Whether the effort is worthwhile, is not for me to say.
One glorious night in stable cold
A Babe is born in days of old.
O Mother Mary, do you hear
The angels sing of Jesus Dear?
As Jesus Dear your arms embrace,
You see His face so full of grace.
Your overflowing love abounds,
Hearkening to the angels' sounds.
Your arms around Him keep Him warm.
You vow He'll never come to harm.
Yet in your heart there dwells a fear
Of hurt to come to Jesus Dear.
A shadow of a cross falls o'er
To pierce your loving heart well sore.
O Mother Mary, what distress
To mar the blessed happiness!
He'll grow in wisdom and in grace,
A Babe no more in form and face.
Sweet Mary, do I see a tear?
Weep not; He's yet your Jesus Dear.
(From Luke: 2)
June Butler - 12-24-09
Below is one of my favorite folk singers, Kate Rusby, the lovely woman with the lovely voice, singing an English Christmas carol.
English folk singer and songwriter Kate Rusby singing traditional English Christmas song Sweet Bells (arr. Kate Rusby and Damien O'Kane; words by Nahum Tate, 1652 - 1715)
Thanks and blessings of Christmas and a new year to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I wish you a lovely day and holiday season.
DeleteMimi, once again you hit a home run with your musical selection! We are definitely on the same wavelength.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Amazing, isn't it, that our music tastes match so well. I wanted something a little different, and it was Kate into the breach. I love the horns.
DeleteMerry Christmas, Mimi, what a beautiful poem to start the day! A.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Arthur. Thanks for your kind words about my poetry. Have a lovely day.
DeleteOops! Forgot to comment positively on the poem as well. Thank you for adding Christmas joy to our lives!
ReplyDeleteThank you, whiteycat, and you're welcome. :-)
DeleteWhat a lovely poem - it should be set to music. A very merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteRuss, thank you. I never thought of setting the poem to music, but I could probably come up with an old folk tune which would fit the words.
DeleteWell, that didn't take long. "On Jordan's Bank" seems to work.
DeleteGreat. When will you post your recording?
DeleteRuss, ain't gonna happen. :-)
DeleteLovely poem, Mimi. So appropriate for the day, too. And Kate is one of my favorite traditional singers who crosses many ethnic boundaries in her music. (She has done wonderful justice to many an Irish tune!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ciss. Kate is marvelous, with her exquisite voice and wonderful performing style, and, as you say, she breaks the boundaries.
DeleteExcellent poem, and excellent choice from the Great Kate as well!
ReplyDeleteThe Wexford Carol tune would work well too. It's eight lines to a verse, not four, but you could double up the first four verses and then asking the fifth to the second half of the tune. And the slightly more haunting melody would suit the note of foreboding in the second half of the poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tim. Your suggestion would work, too. I've been singing the verses to to the tune of On Jordan's Bank. I'll try them with the Wexford Carol.
Delete'Sing the fifth', not 'asking the fifth'. Auto-correct strikes again...!
ReplyDeleteIt never fails. Wherever you find four Episcopalians, there's sure to be a fifth.
ReplyDeleteHand me my flask.
Delete