January 1

Photo credit: chilombiano from morguefile.com

Some people confuse inspiration with lightning

not me I know it comes from the lungs and air

you breathe it in you breathe it out it circulates

it's the breath of my being the wind across the face

of the waters yes but it's also something that comes

at my command like a turkey club sandwich

with a cup of split pea soup or like tones

from Benny Goodman's clarinet my clarinet

the language that never fails to respond

some people think you need to be pure of heart

not true it comes to the pure and impure alike

the patient and impatient the lovers the onanists

and the virgins you just need to be able to listen

and talk at the same time and you'll hear it like

the long-delayed revelation at the end of the novel

which turns out to be something simple a traumatic

moment that fascinated us more when it was only

a fragment an old song a strange noise a mistake

of hearing a phone that wouldn't stop ringing

~ David Lehman

____________________________________________

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. 

~ Henry Ward Beecher

January 1

Photo credit: chilombiano from morguefile.com

Some people confuse inspiration with lightning

not me I know it comes from the lungs and air

you breathe it in you breathe it out it circulates

it's the breath of my being the wind across the face

of the waters yes but it's also something that comes

at my command like a turkey club sandwich

with a cup of split pea soup or like tones

from Benny Goodman's clarinet my clarinet

the language that never fails to respond

some people think you need to be pure of heart

not true it comes to the pure and impure alike

the patient and impatient the lovers the onanists

and the virgins you just need to be able to listen

and talk at the same time and you'll hear it like

the long-delayed revelation at the end of the novel

which turns out to be something simple a traumatic

moment that fascinated us more when it was only

a fragment an old song a strange noise a mistake

of hearing a phone that wouldn't stop ringing

~ David Lehman

____________________________________________

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. 

~ Henry Ward Beecher

When it was autumn in Eden

When it was autumn in Eden

and chestnuts held golden leaves

against dimming light,

Eve touched her toes on the sodden

soil - ran fingers through harvest sheaves

- feeling all things were right:

and hip and haw turned red - the sloe to dusk

and swallows gathered in flocks with waitful wings.

Then an east wind blew - quite sudden

leaves of the beech - the ash

withered and fell,

and beyond the branches of Eden

the grey clouds split with a gash

like a hint of hell:

and the hedgehog delved in the mould,

whilst the swallows flew south.

It was then that Eve first sensed

warmth had gone out of the air

- abruptly she felt alone

unnerved by the strange immense

vastness - was it despair? -

bird song became subdued and changed its tone,

and somehow it troubled her mind

that the trees were leafless now.

At once she went and searched

for Adam, setting her sights

on a trembling star;

moving tight lips she beseeched

God that all heaven's lights

shine from afar;

but she had to grope on - confused

- bemused by forebodings of pain.

At last she found him there

close by their bower - in thoughtful mood

lit by dim light;

and at that sight all her despair

melted, her mind felt imbued

with warmth, joy, comfort, delight

that he was her master still

and she his only love.

He stroked that long cool hair

which broke in waves to her hips,

kissed tears from her eyes;

and she , without one care,

gave him her cheeks and her lips

freely - her breasts - her thighs

- the everything of herself gave as a gift

- the perfect present to seal their love.

And that strange venomous thing

perched on the Tree of Life

looked down on the pair,

and, though aware of the poison in his sting

shortly to usher forth all hate - all strife

emptiness and despair,

viewed with reluctance his predestined part:

the fruit - the guilt - and then the banishing sword.

~ Ian Emberson

_______________________________________________________

There was never such a gigantic lie told as the fable of the Garden of Eden. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

When it was autumn in Eden

When it was autumn in Eden

and chestnuts held golden leaves

against dimming light,

Eve touched her toes on the sodden

soil - ran fingers through harvest sheaves

- feeling all things were right:

and hip and haw turned red - the sloe to dusk

and swallows gathered in flocks with waitful wings.

Then an east wind blew - quite sudden

leaves of the beech - the ash

withered and fell,

and beyond the branches of Eden

the grey clouds split with a gash

like a hint of hell:

and the hedgehog delved in the mould,

whilst the swallows flew south.

It was then that Eve first sensed

warmth had gone out of the air

- abruptly she felt alone

unnerved by the strange immense

vastness - was it despair? -

bird song became subdued and changed its tone,

and somehow it troubled her mind

that the trees were leafless now.

At once she went and searched

for Adam, setting her sights

on a trembling star;

moving tight lips she beseeched

God that all heaven's lights

shine from afar;

but she had to grope on - confused

- bemused by forebodings of pain.

At last she found him there

close by their bower - in thoughtful mood

lit by dim light;

and at that sight all her despair

melted, her mind felt imbued

with warmth, joy, comfort, delight

that he was her master still

and she his only love.

He stroked that long cool hair

which broke in waves to her hips,

kissed tears from her eyes;

and she , without one care,

gave him her cheeks and her lips

freely - her breasts - her thighs

- the everything of herself gave as a gift

- the perfect present to seal their love.

And that strange venomous thing

perched on the Tree of Life

looked down on the pair,

and, though aware of the poison in his sting

shortly to usher forth all hate - all strife

emptiness and despair,

viewed with reluctance his predestined part:

the fruit - the guilt - and then the banishing sword.

~ Ian Emberson

_______________________________________________________

There was never such a gigantic lie told as the fable of the Garden of Eden. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

You cannot forget if you would those golden kisses all over the cheeks of the meadow, queerly called dandelions. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

You cannot forget if you would those golden kisses all over the cheeks of the meadow, queerly called dandelions. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~ Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into. ~ Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

It gives one a sudden start in going down a barren, stony street, to see upon a narrow strip of grass, just within the iron fence, the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass, like a spark dropped from the sun. - Henry Ward Beecher

It gives one a sudden start in going down a barren, stony street, to see upon a narrow strip of grass, just within the iron fence, the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass, like a spark dropped from the sun. - Henry Ward Beecher