Some Poems and Rhymes for All Ages
HOUSE MARTINS
As migrant birds return to our shores here are some thoughts from Cari Riden on the wonders of the House Martin.
FAIR PLAY
Of course they make a mess! How can they not?
So many nestlings – tail-ends drawn to light ^a-
don’t foul their home but from our eaves they drop
splashes: some insect-dark others chalk-white.
They’ve flown from Africa to our small farm,
instinctive grams of feathered courage come
to build and breed; we cannot wish them harm
for a few droppings … O! They’re summer’s sum!
Scent of turned hay, dog-roses in the hedge
where honeysuckles surge in fragrant gold,
white cumulus, blue skies, lengthening light’s pledge
of sun warmed growth – of harvests manifold …
innocent, active in summertime’s air
house martins dare to play – is this not fair?
a Rosemary Eastman, in the Kingfisher (Collins 1969) wrote of camera lights, “Since our camera lights now constituted the strongest light source in their burrow the young kingfishers excreted in that direction … so we had to keep the camera lights dim for the birds to return to their normal habits.”
HEAVEN AND EARTH
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s;
earth He has given to the children of men, 1
so while we’re here, before “life’s silver cords
are loosed”, 2 come, rejoice again and again!
O, let this bird of heavenly blue and white ..
that trusting nests and chatters in our eaves
building its home from mud – live to delight
our vision of what heaven-bound earth achieves.
Small bridge between the heaven and earth this bird
has travelled continents with pur intent
of rearing young in our green lands. Absurd
not to rejoice in such fervent content.
O do not smash their nests! 3 Not yet extinct
let house martins brood earth’s heavenly instinct. 4
1. Psalm 115:16
2. Ecclesiastes 12:6
3. It is illegal to destry house martins’ nests
4. Too many reference to include for “earth’s heavenly instinct”!
Copyright: C Riden, 20 June 2008
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PEACE
Put Peace into each others hands
And like a treasure hold it
Protect it like a candle flame
With tenderness enfold it.
Put Peace into each others’ hands
With loving expectation
Be gentle in your words and ways
In touch with God’s creation.
(Submitted by Margaret Marsh)
A Clockmaker’s Epitaph submitted in a letter to the Guardian, 26th July 2008, by Rev Tony Bell from Chesterfield.
“From the churchyard of my neighbouring parish of Bolsover a stone reads:
“Here lies in a horizontal position the outside case of Thomas Hinde, Clock and Watchmaker, who departed this life wound up in the hope of being taken in hand by his Maker and being thoroughly cleaned, repaired and set a-going in the world to come. On the 15th of August 1836 in the 19th year of his life.”
The Man in the Tree
With Jesus passing through the town
A crowd of people gathered round
But as Zacchaeus couldn’t see
He ran ahead and climbed a tree.
Jesus stopped as he passed by
And saw Zacchaeus there up high
Said “Dear Zacchaeus, come with me
I’m going to your house for tea!
Zacchaeus climbed down to the floor
And walked with Jesus to his door
Amazed the Lord would want to be
With such a liar and cheat as he.
Zacchaeus, sorry for all he’d done
Said “Lord I’ll pay back everyone,
Half I own I give to the poor,
Those I’ve cheated get four times more”
Jesus said “Today you are saved!”
Zacchaeus replied “May God be praised!”.
(Read the full story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10)
From “AD” by R S Thomas
When we are weak, we are
strong. When our eyes close
on the world, then somewhere
within us the bush
burns. When we are poor
and aware of the inadequacy
of our table, it is to that
uninvited the guest comes