Monhegan Boat I and II

Monhegan Boat I

How is it you can tell

a sea captain's mark so well?

That wide-set, gentle jaw;

teeth without a flaw.

Not handsome, yet his smile

can easily beguile.

That twinkle in his eye

arrests the passerby.

His well-worn cap aslant;

Suspenders slung low

the mid-calf rubber boots,

his steady step, and slow.

Monhegan; yes you call

with your surfbound cliffs and rocks,

and the Captain's twinkling eye

lures me from the docks.

It's hard to tell which draws me

on a summer's day -

they are all mixed up together,

the Captain and his quay.

Monhegan Boat II

In springtime or in fall

I see the seagull's sway

The fleecy clouds above

have caught my dreams away.

I stand on Monhegan Boat

and cling to the rusty rail,

conscious only of hope,

and a God who can never fail.

For the stars of the Heavens may fall

and my body turn to dust,

Yet, my God  is over all;

in Him I put my trust.

This world will pass away'

He will make it all anew

with a beauty that surpasses

any earthly view.

Oh, I love Monhegan Boat

and the earthly joys of life.

But greater joys await me 

beyond this world of strife.

Joys that know no ending;

where life will ever be 

with Jesus, Lord and Savior

throughout eternity.

THE SHINING WORLD

Thank you for the sun and rain.

Thank you for the joy and pain.

Thank you for the evening dew.

Thank you, God, for all you do!

Thank you for the lily rare.

Thank you for the pure sweet air.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank you, God, for everything.

Thank you for the grass and flowr's.

Thank you for the precious hours

that are spent in time with Thee, 

and shall be for eternity.

Thank you for the babbling brook.

Thank you, God, for just a look

at all Thou art, and ever wilt be

to the one that seeketh after Thee.

No tongue of man could ever tell;

no pen could ever write so well

the depths of love and beauty rare

as does the shining world so fair.

Women's History Month

As March is Women's History Month ,  I want to feature the first woman writer and poet to have her writing and poetry published in America: Anne Bradstreet.

I have enjoyed studying Anne's life,and reading her poetry. She was a true pioneer in so many ways. Braving the tortuous trip to America at the age of 18, she joined her husband, Simon, and the pilgrim band of pioneers in search of freedom to practice her faith and foster her venturesome spirit. 

Anne suffered physical weakness and frequent illness as a child,which followed her into womanhood, but these never dampened her ardor for life. She loved horses and was a good rider. Although throughout her young adult years she had "conflicts of the flesh", She had trusted Christ as a child, was diligent and conscientious,was a true believer and was honored as a gracious and discreet helpmeet to her husband, Simon, who at one point was Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

Anne was also well educated. But, just as many a female writer today, I can see her now, at that moment of inspiration, dropping her mending,checking on the napping babies, grabbing a wooden spoon and quickly stirring the simmering stew,then stealing to her favorite spot by the riverside there to  pen a few hasty lines; or waking in the night and lighting her lamp to get her thoughts down while they lingered in her conscious mind. Her heart was full and she was often impelled to arrest her thoughts in writing. Too often, I'm sure, she knew the frustration of fleeting phrases or waning words.  

The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up",was her first published volume. Her faith and grace show particularly in a poem she wrote after her house burned in which she lost much of her 800-volume library:

     "And when I could no longer look,
     I blessed His grace that gave and took,
     That laid my goods now in the dust.
     Yea, so it was his own, it was not mine
     Far be it that I should repine."


              

          

Newspaper Patterns

I ponder today
that gently pressed touch
little did I think
it would ever go away
that children
do grow up
that days and years do pass
I would no longer be
a lithesome lass

The pattern pile grew higher
as days and years flew by
her arms grew weary
from holding up that pattern
freshly cut
patiently she fit
from waist to chest
while rigid there I stood
I didn't know I'd miss so much

from toddler into girlhood
then beyond
my wedding dress
according to my plan
cut with great precision
I see her now
in dusky vision
those work-worn hands
yet with that gentle touch

and that was not all she shaped
as hard she labored

my life and all with me
she humbly fashioned
as she held
and shaped right patterns
of daily living
cut out and pinned together
against our lives
never to be forgotten
in our time

fjs

The Robins are Here!

Two Robins were spotted by my granddaughter, Rebekah, three weeks ago. Can you believe it!

I think they are just as mixed up and confused as this winter's weather.   I trust they can find a happy habitat in this lately arrived snowstorm!  

Surely, spring will soon follow as we start trudging up March Hill next week.  I so look forward to it, even though I do love the pure whiteness and pristine beauty of the snow.  Aren't you glad we have four seasons?  God is so good to show Himself in the diversity of the seasons.  

I like the way He has made each of us different, also. No two people are the same.  He created and formed us in our mother's womb, according to Psalm 139.  Have you read that Psalm lately? It will wonderfully encourage your heart in this day when society places so little significance on human life.  

Can you imagine - in your inmost soul - what that means?  Since He created you, He must have a purpose for your life.  Verse 17 says His thoughts are "precious" toward us. 

 Some of us can't really fathom the depths of what that means.  Our lives have not been that meaningful, or even worthy of God's thoughts toward us. Our difficult childhood, or bad choices we've made, have estranged us from the sense that anyone could really love us. 

We just have to accept His Word about this, because He said it. His Word is not like the word of the human beings who have failed us.  It is constant and true!   

Have  you found out God's purpose for your life?  Go to His Word - there you will find it!

                  

Wow! February is here!! Rain,Shine,Ice or Snow, this is February,and I'm raring to go! Let's talk about History - US History - Civil War History - how about the Hunley! Do you know about the Hunley, the first US submarine to launch a successful submarine attack on a warship? This submarine was named after it's captain who died, along with his crew, when it sank to the bottom of the sea. A tragedy, yes. But, that day a victory was won!! Hence, my poetic saga: FIRST TO THE VICTORY:LAST TO THE DEATH By Flora Jackson Sawyer The Housatonic sank, yet none knew just how; Suddenly, she sank, nothing could help her now. Into the gaping hole the surging water came; But, who, the wounding enemy! The Hunley was her name. Sounding the briny deep, her eight-man crew inside, She charged the mighty battleship, not to be denied. This, her third attempt at serving the Northern Cause; True, she was, a pioneer, defying nature's laws. Then, as twice before, she sank, as a gently falling leave. Even now -- in Victory -- death's long sigh she heaved. Thus did the Hunley make her grave in the deep with all on board Destined was she to meet her fate - and they to meet their God. (The Hunley was found and raised in 1999. Her crew was given a Military burial that same year)

MEMORIES

It was incredible! A package in the mail from Daddy, from California! I'm not sure if I was the only one of my six siblings to accept with joyous rapture what that weighty bundle with its plain brown paper wrapper contained. I have a suspicion most of my siblings were hoping for toys, or school supplies or even candy – of course I was, too - especially if it was Dark Chocolate Hershey bars, not in the least suspecting what it actually held. I'm sure my mother must have realized what it was because of its weight. I'm not sure that even she particularly wanted what it contained, but I was in seventh heaven! I stared in wonderment as the huge box was opened. Books!! Books that I had heard of and dreamed about. Little Women! Little Men! Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates! Three of the most popular children's books of that day. I handled them with eager, yet careful hands. I rubbed my grimy fingers across the hard blue and green covers delightedly. I immediately knew which I would read first. I wanted to grab them all at once and escape to my bedroom for closer perusal, so eager and selfish was I! I wanted to hug them and feel them again. I wanted to keep them with me forever! I wanted to put them under my pillow. I didn't want to let them go. I wanted to keep them protected and safe. That was one of the most exciting days of my life!