Poetry Wednesday, Vol. 89 (Two for the price of one edition)

Spring

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring -

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;

Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush

Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring

The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush

The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush

With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?

A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning

In Eden garden. - Have, get, before it cloy,

Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,

Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,

Most, O maid's child, they choice and worthy the winning. 

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Today my Mom arrives in Tuscon for the funeral of her brother, my uncle, Lee.  He died of Melanoma, which had metastasized in his brain and spinal cord.  His wife Becky, and sister Elaine were able to be present with him in his final hours.  My Mom and her siblings had been able to gather previously to say their goodbyes and express their love for him.  You can see some pictures of Lee in his youth over at my Mom's.  He was able to see his children, who are spread all over the globe (Mexico, US, Morocco) for a final farewell before the cancer took him.  Now he rests, free of cares and worries in the arms of his Savior.  You can pray for his children, and for my Aunt Becky, as she continues with life without Lee.  He was one of my Mom's baby brothers (at 65 - although I picture him in my head as a dashing young airman in black and white pictures.  I have other memories of him, but my mind brings up the old ones) and he had many more years ahead.  He and Becky had dreams and plans.  Pray for her.  For peace and joy.

You can pray, also, for Alan, Beth (my sister) and their family.  They fly to Florida tomorrow for what will more than likely be their last visit with his father.  Pray for safe travels, for good visits with family, and for joyful goodbyes.  Because we can only say goodbye in peace and hope when we know we will be gathered again, in joyful reunion, as the proverbial sheaves of wheat.

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8

Gerard Manley Hopkins

He hath abolished the old drouth,
And rivers run where all was dry,
The field is sopp'd with merciful dew.
He hath put a new song in my mouth,
The words are old, the purport new,
And taught my lips to quote this word
That I shall live, I shall not die,
But I shall when the shocks are stored
See the salvation of the Lord.
We meet together, you and I,
Meet in one acre of one land,
And I will turn my looks to you,
And you shall meet me with reply,
We shall be sheaved with one band
In harvest and in garnering,
When heavenly vales so thick shall stand
With corn that they shall laugh and sing.