Good Night, An’ Joy Be Wi Ye A’

The year is wearin’ to the wane,
An’ day is fadin’ west awa;
Loud raves the torrent an’ the rain,
An’ dark the cloud comes doun the shaw.
But let the tempest tout an’ blaw,
Upon his loudest winter horn,
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’-
We’ll maybe meet again the morn.

O we hae wandered far an’ wide,
O’er Scotia’s land o firth an’ fell,
An’ mony a simple flo’er we’ve culled,
An’ twined them wi’ the heather-bell:
We’ve ranged the dingle and the dell,
The hamlet an’ the baron’s ha’;
Now let us tak a kind farewell-
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’!

Ye hae been kind as I was keen,
An’ followed where I led the way,
Till ilka poet’s lore we’ve seen
O this an’ many a former day.
If e’er I led your steps astray,
Forgi’e your minstrel ance for a’;
A tear fa’s wi’ his partin’ lay-
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’!

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”-
before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when men rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;
when men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags himself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then man goes to his eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him-before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
or the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Two Years

Mourn Not!

Flower of Scotland

O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against them,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

The Hills are bare now,
And Autumn leaves
lie thick and still,
O’er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

0 Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward’s Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.


The Rugby World Cup starts soon…

Buzzy bee - An Ode

I think that I shall never see
something as buzzy as a bee

He flits around from flower to flower
by tiny wing-�d motive power

He may not sting: he will not bite
And yet he gives me quite a fright

— Michele Hughes (circa 21st century)

Small Tweak

I’ve added Brad Choate’s MTAuthors Plugin
so we can all see who’s been slacking round here,
maybe we’ll compete ‘till the end of the year
(the winner buys the rest a beer)

:)

ps it’s down there under ‘contributors’ my dear…

Love

My Love is as red as poppies blowing in the wind
It tastes like lavender in the sweet, sweet summer
It smells so sweet, just like you
It sounds like ringing bells on a lazy Sunday morning
It feels like a smooth swan gliding.

- by Jacob Smith, 11 years old

Academy of American Poets

If you’re into various American poets, the Academy of American Poets is a really good resource for general information and a small selection of works.  Some poets even have recorded readings.  Stephen’s beloved Robert Frost is featured here, and a reading by the author of “The Road Not Taken” can be found here.

If anyone else can recommend a similar site for British, Irish or French poetry, I’d be grateful.

Love & Marriage

I’ve been asked to choose a poem to be read at a friends wedding. The theme is to be love, the happy optimistic we’ve-just-got-married type. I thought I’d ask you for suggestions - being the intelligent, discerning person you are I know you’ll pick a winner.