The year 1861 was a sad year for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In the month of July his wife, Fanny, who he dearly loved, had been sealing a keepsake lock of their daughter’s hair in wax, when a gust of wind blew through the window causing her dress to catch fire.
Longfellow severely burned his face and hands, attempted to save her, but her burns were so severe she died the next day. In the year 1864 his son was injured in the Civil war. Christmas of that year, in despair he wrote this famous carol – ‘I heard the bells on Christmas day’ “And in despair I bowed my head
there is no peace on earth I said for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men” He had good reason to question if there would ever be peace for him But then this great poet wrote these words of cheer –
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep God is not dead nor does He sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men”
In this year of 2024 as Christmas is nearing, we may question the sorrow and pain over the loss of loved ones we are grieving and I venture to say in my humble words –
The bells are heard on Christmas Eve and how we yearn for peace to be wherever we look it seems so far struggles and doubts never seem to cease
GOD is still here HE does not sleep Our grief will end – our pain removed
The tradition of the ‘Hanging of the Greens’ is held in many churches as we begin the journey this Christmas season. Certain colors are symbolic. The color green represents the living evergreen of God’s earth!
The Advent wreath and its 🕯 candle represents the One who is about to be born – dispelling the darkness of this world – Brining – LIFE – LOVE – JOY and PEACE! 🕯
Good evening, where the sun is sinking in the west and good morning where the sun is rising on the opposite shore though oceans of waters and miles divide us our hearts all beat in unison with sorrow
May our world soon be delivered from the cruelty of war
October 31, 2023 Greetings on the anniversary of the Protesant Reformation!
For centuries this world lay in darkness and fear of perdition. Religious hierarchy ruled the people, demanding indulgences to save themselves and loved ones from purgatory and hell. When a humble monk, Martin Luther, in 1517 was given the message “The Just Shall Live by Faith” * Bringing hope and joy to our world!
* Romans 1:17 Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the door of the Castle church in Wittenburg Germany
For those of us who are [addicted] to religion, ever seeking salvation by our own works – this message is Good News! I have written an allegory of my experience struggling with this ongoing battle. As if I had been immersed in a sea of misbeliefs and lies. Ever seeking a peaceful life!
I come from the sea of an interior womb of this earth’s unstable waters of fertility. There is a feud in the great surge of the waves, the fragility of my body is in compromise. Searching for placid waters the force of the currents carry me to shore. . . Tears fall upon ashes turning to stones. I am a shell waiting to be filled. My tongue muted, my eyes scaled, my ears stung with deafening tones. I am in pain. I am chastened, what is my destination?
What is to live first must die!
I have taken a rest in a seplucher of death! A Mass is said! Choirs sing in lamentations, words are sung in another tongue expressing grief for this child who is dead . . .
A black hearse rolls before the cathedral doors, carrying my body in repose. There is silence but for the horse’s gait on the cobble stone street. Priests in black robes pressing together, chanting their venemous songs, ready for the battle claiming my soul. But for a rusty nail posted on the cathedral door . . .
“Who will win this battle of death? Who will prevail?” Jesus! He is Victor over death
Victory is won. “Oh death where is your sting?
Salvation He brings. A Holy Grail has released me from a death ridden jail. I am alive! “By Grace alone I am Saved”
“There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God… for he who has entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his works as God did from His”
This last week of October brings many to observe a day of pretend. Dressing in fun costumes and painted faces.
But when the day is over and we
loook in the mirrow – ‘Sometimes we cannot see beyond the
shroud we perceived in ourselves and others!’
I fashioned as a child an image of a body covered with a shroud No ears to hear – no eyes to see – no mouth to speak The robe he wore was old and torn with rips and tears And if you could see his hair it was long and untidy He shuffled with his feet whispering defeat He appeared at night in dreams causing duress That only a child can dream receiving little rest As I grew up this visitor of the past came less often As time filtered through my mind this was just an – Apparition of something less divine!
Some of us begin life with a desert experience, yearning for a garden of fruitfulness and joy – but must wait for the promise of sweetness to come . . .
For we have hope with the promise –
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness Every desert will become a garden Yes – there will be an abundance of flowers and singing with joy !
Donna's Poetry Blog 