Tag Archives: Hope

ODE TO SORROW

December 22, 2020 Pathematica

Will you pause in this moment and stand by my side,
In this slough of stern custom that's parting us wide?
Will the blessings of friendship and love we once shared
Find a way to rekindle the flame?

Shall the lies of cold tyrants deceive the frail heart,
That the wicked and greedy might wreak their foul art?
Shall our souls be embittered and war be declared,
Every conscript a pawn in the game?

Has the spark of divinity now faded from view?
Has the goddess recoiled from the world she once knew?
How we need you! We entreat you! Our bosoms laid bare,
As the lowly worm writhing in pain.

May your wings fan the embers of love in each heart,
Near-extinguished by hatred that's torn us apart.
As the parting cup proffers its slug of despair,
May you furnish your magic again,
That our journeys be joyful again.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

Love shall find a way

March 6, 2016 Pathematica

Lady with umbrella. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015
(with permission)

Every morning, I have seen her.
Every day, my thoughts stray with her.
Every night, my dreams revere her—
Love has touched my world.

   Every morning, he walks by me.
   Every day, I look inside me.
   Every night, I wonder why he
   Never speaks a word.

Why is it my sinews are so weak now?
Why is it my courage is so meek now?
Would creation tumble if I dared to speak now?
Love, come gird my heart!

   Can it be he stumbles to my side now?
   Soft! He moves to speak, mayhap tongue-tied now.
   World, be still! My heart is braced and open wide now—
   Love, come, speak thy part!

————————————————————————

"Miss, good morrow. May I walk beside you?"
"Sir, with pleasure, let us share the fine view."
"I have walked here often, would that I might guide you."
"I would follow thee."

   "I have watched you walk among the flowers,
   "Marked your joy, as you while away the hours.
   "I have prayed, as you shelter from the showers,
   "Thou wouldst walk with me."

"I have watched you walk along the parkways,
"Lift your eyes, as you listen where the lark plays.
"I have hoped, through the brightest and the dark days,
"Thou wouldst walk with me."

————————————————————————

Every morning, laughing through the heather,
Year on year, braving every turn of weather,
Sons and daughters playing there together—
Love shall find a way.
Love has found its way.

Celtic wheel, Lyric Poems, Poetry

Paean for Imbolc

January 31, 2015 Pathematica

Now the daylight starts to flourish;
Now the snowdrops start to rise;
Ewes are heavy with the promise,
Welcomed from the lambent skies.

Autumn saw the days grow shorter;
Winter saw the river freeze;
Birds flew south to unknown quarter
Far beyond the southern seas.

Grain grew scarcer through the dark nights;
Cattle in the byre grew thin;
Barn and woodpile held our fortune;
Hope concealed the fears within.

Storm and blizzard lashed the homestead;
Frost and snowfall wracked the field;
Cold and hunger tried our spirit;—
Braced by love, we would not yield.

Now the morning shares enchantment;
Now the sunrise brings relief;
Soon the birds return from refuge;
Soon the trees return to leaf.

Now young minds foresee new families;
Now young dreams prepare to grow;
Light the Imbolc fires together,
Thankful flames and hearts aglow.

Celtic wheel, Lyric Poems, Poetry

It's that time

December 14, 2014 Pathematica

Wintry scene. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015

Though the nights are long,
Though the frost is strong,
Hear the joyful throng, it's that time.
Greet the longest shadows at the noon stone.

Though the branch is lean,
Scarred where leaves have been,
Still the fir is green, it's that time.
Watch the new year's dawning at the heel stone.

Bless what nature sends;
Kinship never ends;
Celebrate with friends, it's that time.
Feel the fingers warming at the hearth stone.

Days no longer wane;
Last of summer's bane;
Feel the rhythm change, it's that time.
Hope for health and fortune in the rune stone.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

On Pembroke Lane

December 8, 2014 Pathematica

On Pembroke Lane, in autumn rain,
Stark branches crossed the skies.
The leaf lorn trees sighed with the breeze
As memories brimmed my eyes.
The aching heart would play its part
In courting winter's dawn
And I thought the day when my tears might stray
Would never be forsworn.

On Elgin Road, where first it snowed, the winter pressed its hold.
The hoarfrost stood on bark and bud while still my heart was cold.
Though rime would thaw, I never saw the harbingers of spring
And I thought the rain but the taste of pain that the coming year would bring.

On Pembroke Road the blossom owed that spring would stir relief;
The clouds dispersed as May buds burst and trees passed into leaf.
Then, day by day, my heart would weigh less heavy than before
And I prayed the sun would see heartache done as the summer bode once more.

On Raglan Road, where tears first flowed,
The summer laid its balm.
The shadows played where lovers strayed
While walking arm in arm.
The laughter rang as blackbirds sang
From branches high above
And, beneath the lime, I could sense a time
When my heart might bear new love.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

I had a dream

November 17, 2014 Pathematica

The song embrace

I had a dream that summer would not end.
I felt life's stream enfold me like a friend.
I saw the gleam, when love and hope transcend,
In eyes that shone so brightly.

I woke to find the same unyielding world—
Its daily grind, with slings and barbs unfurled
And thoughts entwined where woe and heartbreak swirled
In pain that clung so tightly.

The days passed by and the nights grew long;
The winter came and the freeze held strong;
The nightmares cried that the dream was wrong
But still my heart would keep its song.

The time will come when spring shall fall anew;
The fields will hum with summer passing through;
The pain will numb when hope shall bring me to
The eyes that shone so brightly.

Lyric Poems, Poetry, Sonnets

Spiritvs læte

June 20, 2011 Pathematica

Herald of Joy, Alauda arvensis,
Ascending to heaven on steadfast wing;
Vessel of freedom, amanuensis,
Broadcast the anthem the earthbound would sing!
Which broken soul could not find elation,
Caught in the rapture, which hails from your skies?
Sown on the winds, your wild exaltation
Lifts, in brief moments, these down-trodden eyes.
Fortune fly with you, my brave Alouette,
Running the gauntlet of carillon flight;
Cold-hearted men mark your frail silhouette,
Jealously bringing your frame into sight.
Soaring withal, while the spirit forgives,
Spite falls, defeated, and happiness lives.

~~~~~~~~~
Blithe spirit

Lux caelestis, que in omnibus incidit sed paucum illuminat