(blĕs'ĭng) n. Something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon
Showing posts with label music and poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music and poetry. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Music to my ears

Jesus, name above all names,
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.

Emmanuel, God is with us.
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.
© 1974 & 1978 Scriptures in Song Admin. by Maranatha! Music
Words and Music by
Naida Hearn
There is nothing like hearing these word sung out of the mouths of children.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I love the night

I had a meeting this evening and walked home in the night. Night is so beautiful. A different kind of silence.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a night owl. I love to stay up late (and wake up late!). Tonight I was reminded of one of the reasons why.

There is a light breeze -- not too warm and not too cold. The cicadas buzzing surrounds.

::sigh::

I found this poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that mirrored my thoughts:

The Day is Done

THE DAY is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.

I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me
That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain.

Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day.

Not from the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music,
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life's endless toil and endeavor;
And to-night I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like the benediction
That follows after prayer.

Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Golden moments

Nothing Gold Can Stay
by: Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

This is one of my favorite poems (also one of Ponyboy Curtis's favorites -- for those of you who enjoy The Outsiders).

Whenever I get up early (which isn't often, as I am more a night owl than an early bird) and I go for a walk, there is that magical time before the dew has burned off and after the sun has come up. Everything seems to have a golden hue. I am reminded of this poem. That time of day passes quickly.

I also am reminded of this poem when big changes come in my life. At every stage of my life there were golden moments and there will be golden moments to come. But the golden moments will be different for "nothing gold can stay."

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Born country . . . well, maybe adopted?

During the past two days of driving I have been listening to a lot of country music. Heh.

I know. You're thinking . . . country? how can she like country music? I know you are thinking this because I was once one of you. Hated country. Thought it was a stupid waste of time. Actually, I probably said it was a stupid waste of time. Then I started listening to it . . . and the rest was history.

Anyway, I was listening to country this week and thought I would share some thoughts on my favorites. [If you think country music is a stupid waste of time you may want to stop reading now!]

I have to say that country music is one of the only genres that can actually make me cry. However, this is not going to be a weepy post today. Maybe another day but we will start with one that makes me smile. . .

I like Brad Paisley. His songs usually make me smile, laugh, cry. His new song Online pokes a little fun at the online dating game. (The video is hilarious too!)

Another "makes me smile" song that is playing on radio now is Watching You by Rodney Atkins. A picture of how children learn from their parents: both good things and bad.

This song I enjoy because it describes my childhood perfectly . . . A Different World by Bucky Covington (isn't that a predictable county singer name!). Here's the first verse:

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead based paint
No child proof lids no seat belts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are, still here we are
We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside, playin’ outside


Then there are the songs that make you think . . . Lucky Man by Montgomery Gentry. I like this song because it reminds me that (although not a lucky man) I am a lucky woman. I have enough. Things could always be worse.

I am blessed.