Tag Archives: Isobel

Another cliché country song

February 5, 2017 Pathematica

A serenade for Valentine's Day

And here is a picture of a traditional
Valentine gift (plant genitals):

Daffodils. Copyright (c) Isobel Smerdon 2015 (with permission)

Another dawn, another high,
Another sun to reach the sky,
Ain't nothin' for spoilin' the view.
Another chance to sing along,
Another cheesy country song,
Ain't nothin' so lovely as you.

Another mess of love to spend,
Another Valentine to send,
Ain't no one so thoughtful and true.
Another chance to sing along,
Another corny country song,
Ain't nothin' so perfect as you.

Another day, another night,
Another chance to get it right,
Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do.
Another chance to sing along,
Another cliché country song,
Ain't nothin' so worth it as you.

Another note, another rest,
Another push to do my best,
Ain't no one that I'd rather woo.
Another chance to sing along,
Another good ol' country song,
Ain't nothin' so precious as you.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Double negatives noted (pedantry
temporarily suspended for artistic
effect; you old romantic, you).

Lyric Poems, Poetry

Dance of the Hour

January 4, 2017 Pathematica

Ballerina. Copyright © 2015 Isobel Smerdon (with permission)

Réveillez, relevez, dansez en pointe,
Le temps se passe vite, la vie qu'un instante.
Nous n'avons que moments pour gagner les étoiles,
Puis dansez, compagnons, il faut que nous essayons.

Life is passing before our eyes;
The evening unfolds its star-belit skies,
So join in the dance, embrace every chance
To seize your moment.

Hark! The music summons from
Humble abode and conservatoire.
Take your place with loved ones
And circle the floor in the dance of the hour.

Wake up and rise to the heights of the dance
For time passes quickly, and life's but a glance.
We have but scant moments to share in the story
So dance, my belovèds, in praise of life's glory.

And time is watching the seconds fly,
The music rings out as life passes by.
Then dance to the tune; it's finishing soon,
So seize your moment.

Hark! The knell is tolling from
Ramshackle church and ivory tower.
Take your turn with loved ones
For nobody knoweth when cometh the hour.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

I remember my youth

July 3, 2016 Pathematica

On the centenary of the Battle of the Somme

Poppies. Copyright © 2016 Isobel Smerdon with permission — Poppies. Copyright © 2015 Isobel Smerdon (with permission)

I remember my youth in a warm summer's haze;
We pushed our bright barrows—
Me, Toby and Lanoe—
And played in the gardens
Of childhood's lost days.

I remember my youth in a cornfield's gold blaze;
We played in the meadows—
Me, Toby and Lanoe—
And ran through the poppies
Of childhood's lost ways.

Summers come, summers go,
Summers never-ending,
Or so it would seem in that
First rush of life.

Something changed at the Somme;
Corpses on barrows
Will press home the truth
Like a blunt combat knife.

Now the barrage is done and we fumble our guns;
The sergeant croaks "ready"—
To hold my nerves steady,
I dream of those poppies
And lost summer suns.

~~~~~~~~
Requiescat in pace all of those that knew a world at war.

Frivolous verse, Lyric Poems, Poetry, Sonnets

Spots

May 1, 2016 Pathematica

Leopard. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015 — Leopard. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2016 (with permission)

Richard's aunty Vee, intoned sagaciously,
"The older that you get, the more like yourself
You become". The seeds of ageing graciously
Are scattered on the rocks of hapless youth.
If only I had nurtured, there, the germ
Of devoir faire invested in that truth,
Perhaps I would have made some wiser choices:
A more discerning pardine pelt; a sober
Take on existential siren voices
That versed the whelpling pup in venial tricks.
Now dotage has arrived as Vee averred,
With ground-in spots and bent for chasing sticks.
N'importe quoi. Though Que sera s'est arrivé,
The old dog knows the leopard had its day.

Celtic wheel, Lyric Poems, Poetry

Summer skies

April 4, 2016 Pathematica

Summer Sky. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015
(with permission)

Summer sun peeps through golden halo,
Glimmering as the dawn mists rise;
Forest and pasture greet the fey glow,
Shimmering under summer skies.

River banks heave with reed and mallow,
Bustling at the summer's height;
Dragonflies flit past weeping sallow,
Dazzling in their steel-blue light.

Grasshoppers in the meadow
Chirrupping through the breathless haze;
Butterflies near the hedgerow
Fluttering through these summer days.

Bearing the fruit of nature's treasure,
Summer days fall and spirits rise;
Flowers and children feel her pleasure,
Flourishing under summer skies.

Celtic wheel, Lyric Poems, Poetry

Jötunheimrs breath

March 29, 2016 Pathematica

A wintry Scene. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2014
(with permission)

Hwaet!

Feel the force
Beating on embattled Gar-Dane;—
Know the source
Jötunheimr wreaks its ice-bane.
Frost grips fast
Sons of Cyning Thrym come stealing;
At the blast
Atheling and Jarl are reeling.
Wind flails thresh
With the weight of Utgard's hammer,
Burning flesh
Blizzards rage and storm-wights clamour.

Mighty Thor, with peals of thunder,
Wield proud Mjölnir from the tundra;
Snowstorms bite as giants plunder;
Cleave the Jötun frost asunder.

Come the chill
Skrymir schemes to cut through marrow
From the hill
Piercing bone with ice-wrought arrow.
Rime-racked trees
Hrímnir works his artful goading;
Face the freeze
Rivers pause with dark foreboding.
Fenrir growls
Skulking on the frozen rimeland,
Skadi howls
Echoing from Jötnar heimland.

Mighty Thor, from shafts of lightning,
Wield proud Mjölnir, ice-foes sighting;
Nether frosts and winds are biting;
Quell the Jötnar in their fighting,

Hark!

Celtic wheel, Lyric Poems, Poetry

With these flowers

March 26, 2016 Pathematica

Flowers for Bridie and Tam. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015
(with permission)

With these flowers, braids of innocence
Woven in the nuptial crown,
Here I gladly stand before you,
Wrapped in love-wound bridal gown.

In this orchard, friends and family
Share our blissful wedding day;
Hear my pledge: my life is for you—
Here I give my love away.

Walk with me through trials of dark days,
When the winter brims with snow;
Love shall blossom as the flowers
When the summer's bounties flow.

Take my hand and hold my promises,
Bind them fast with solemn band;
Keep my heart—it's beating for you,
Fragile as these flowers in hand.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

Here comes Mr fox

March 7, 2016 Pathematica

The fox. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015 — The Fox. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015
(with permission)

Along the hills and valleys of the shire,
Through copse and field and unsuspecting farm,
Uncowed by Grim, or haughty country squire,
The master of the cunning plan is stalking.
With floating tail receding in his wake,
A totem of his præternatural charm,
He hoists his colours on life's fickle stake,
Defiant in the paths that he is walking.
With flourish to the right and circle to the left,
He moves around his world like warp about the weft,
In graceful stride, with movement, bold and deft,
Immersed in artful strategy and wisdom.
With vixen for a bride and pups to feed in den,
He ventures through a land usurped by selfish men;
With steadfast heart, he roams on fell and glen,
The undefeated monarch of his kingdom.

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.

Lyric Poems, Poetry

In shallows

November 24, 2015 Pathematica

Turner Tribute. Copyright © Isobel Smerdon 2015
(with permission)

إن شاء الله

I have lived on oceans;
Dwelt where stars and sunrise
Fill the vast unfathomed deep.
I have seen rare wonders:
Soaring birds; and giants,
Softly rolling in their sleep.

I stormed raging tempests,
Pitching as the waves fell
Crashing down on battered mast.
I crossed ice-packed waters,
Chasing frozen mountains,
Caught before the Arctic blast.

Now I face tomorrow,
Drawn to one last mooring
Lashed behind the iron maid.
Sent to rock in shallows,
Trimmed with halting memories,
Listing, while my
Dreams and sunsets
Slowly fade …
Into shade.

Lux caelestis, que in omnibus incidit sed paucum illuminat