Saints' Discussion Forums

How about having a little place for the odd line of poetry that can lift the mind to God.
I came across a few while I was browsing for something else and meant to bookmark them but didn't.

Anyway, Just to get into the spirit of things I'll offer my own rendition just to get started.  ;D

There was a young man called Shin
With some smiley’s he went to the bin
When he opened the lid
He cried like a kid
And the smiley’s he couldn’t put in.   :bighanky:

Martin, you've got me really thinking. I used to be able to do Haiku (sp?) but don't remember how anymore. Limericks tho'..........Hmm.......

Haiku ?  That brings me back to my school days. You should give it a go again.

There's a residential area near where I live and all the streets are named after famous Irish poets Like Yeats, O'Casey, Singe, and so on.
I remember I had to recite one in a local competion when I was about 11.
It was called, The Summer is Coming, by Walter de la Mare but he was an English poet.

But I can't remember the 'rules'. :shrug:

 :faint:

  :D

 :happyroll:

I'm in shock!  :D

That's genius , Martin. :speachless:

We have a little forum family
It is called saintsworksdotnet
Brigid and Martin,
Bailey and Shin,
Terese, Plain Catholic,
and others unseen
We love each other and we pray
All night and all day.
Except when the computer is down
That is when we pout and frown.  ;D

The forum is full of poets,
And I didn't know it!  :faint:

Awww, that's splendid Patricia.. Martin.

You two are our poet laureates

 :flower:

My first haiku in umpteen years:


Fall air

Cold and clear;

crackling leaves

That's lovely Brigid! My favorite season, I must admit.

Three poet laureates!

Some more haiku Brigid. How do you compose haiku? I like it

About nature, 17 or less syllables, three lines, and usually a punctuation mark to separate two images.  :shrug:

That is so good Patricia.  :cheers:  No!   It's Great!  :cheers:


You haven't lost your touch Brigid.  :D We could be on to something here.

Right Shin, Baily, PC, Theresa and the rest. Your turn.  ;D

Pool of water;

Boy

Wet clothes



I was thinking of my grandson and couldn't help it. ;D

Snow on mountains;

Pretty sight;

Winter is coming.


(it's true too  :D)

And another one joins the ranks of the poets! :D

Pretty poem! Yes it is!

That's really nice. :D

Truly it is. The little haiku rings, like a little flash of light on the snowy mountaintop. :D

Great prose as usual, Shin.

Uh.. You're so kind Brigid..  ;D Truly kind. if I start spouting poetry do me and everyone a favor and put a stop to it immediately. It's bad enough what I do with prose. :D

 

We need a shaking head smilie.

Shin that was good.

If we keep going we may be able to give up our day jobs.  ;D

I suppose it would be a good way to be shunned by all mankind and enter into a life of holy poverty Martin.

I am still gathering more smilies..

Though if we had a shaking head smilie Brigid.. would you be able to catch him? So many of them have gone under cover.  8)

:D

Spoken like a true Irishman. ;D :irishwisdom:

Hahaha..  :rotfl: :happyroll: :happyroll:

I wonder would it be an acceptable reason for joining the religios life that no where else would have me.  :D

Umph, if I wrote that in my submission letter I wonder how far I would get! :D

They might start practicing the old discipline of leaving a person begging outside the gates for ages!  :D

One can always run off to live in the desert as a hermit I suppose still. Until you're arrested for trespassing on public land.  ::)

;D ;D ::) ;D ;D

I think my phobia of vultures would be the ultimate deterant for the desert life.  :D

I'm not best friends with crows either but at least they're small enough to at least tolerate.   :-\

Did you know that a gathering of crows is called a Murder? That's enough for me.  :o

 :happyroll:

Yes, I know! A murder! Reminds me how my poor grandmother had a bit of a phobia about birds ever after watching that Hitchcock movie, 'the Birds'.

They used to get into my garbage upstate, tear apart the bags with their beaks, so I had to be more careful putting it out. If you offend them, they're pretty intelligent, so they can go after you for awhile after that I hear.

Isn't there a story about St. Benedict and a crow? Or was it a raven? ???

Was it a good story or a bad one?

I read too that St Thomas Aquinas had a phobia of thunder. He used to hide under his bed in thunder storm.

I've heard both - one that had a crow/raven save his life and also one in which St. Benedict crossed himself whenever he saw one saying that they were demons. :confuzed:

If you can find the good story, share it with us! :D

GREGORY [the Great]: When as the foresaid monasteries were zealous in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and their fame dispersed far and near, and many gave over the secular life, and subdued the passions of their soul, under the light yoke of our Saviour: then (as the manner of wicked people is, to envy at that virtue which themselves desire not to follow) one Florentius, Priest of a church nearby, and grandfather to Florentius our sub-deacon, possessed with diabolical malice, began to envy the holy man's virtues, to back-bite his manner of living, and to withdraw as many as he could from going to visit him.

When he saw that he could not hinder his virtuous proceedings, but that, on the contrary, the fame of his holy life increased, and many daily, on the very report of his sanctity, took themselves to a better state of life : burning more and more with the coals of envy, he became far worse; and though he desired not to imitate his commendable life, yet fain he would have had the reputation of his virtuous conversation.

In conclusion so much did malicious envy blind him, and so far did he wade in that sin, that he poisoned a loaf and sent it to the servant of almighty God, as it were for a holy present. The man of God received it with great thanks, yet not ignorant of that which was hidden within. At dinner time, a crow daily used to come to him from the next wood, which took bread at his hands; coming that day after his manner, the man of God threw him the loaf which the Priest had sent him, giving him this charge: "In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, take up that loaf, and leave it in some such place where no man may find it." Then the crow, opening his mouth, and lifting up his wings, began to hop up and down about the loaf, and after his manner to cry out, as though he would have said that he was willing to obey, and yet could not do what he was commanded.

The man of God again and again bide him, saying: "Take it up without fear, and throw it where no man may find it." At length, with much ado, the crow took it up, and flew away, and after three hours, having dispatched the loaf, he returned again, and received his usual allowance from the man of God

That's great! I'm so glad you found it! :D

Poor St. Benedict.

That was a good story Brigid.
A nice friendly crow was needed to show their good side.

Bet the vultures have no redeeming qualities.
Well, I supose they do have a role to fulfill and get bad press for it.  :-\

Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.

Matt 24:28

And as you know, eagles has been translated in new versions as vultures. :shrug:

Here is a little song some of you may know. It's in Spanish and the only spanish that I know.   ;D
I have the English translation below.  :D

         De Colores
 De colores, de colores

Se visten los campos en la primavera.
     De colores, de colores
Son los pajarillos que vienen de afuera.
     De colores, de colores
Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     Canta el gallo, canta el gallo
Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.
     La gallina, la gallina
Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.
     Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos
Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     De colores, de colores
Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.
     De colores, de colores
Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.
     De colores, de colores
Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     Jubilosos, jubilosos
Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.
     Saciaremos, saciaremos
La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.
     Jubilosos, jubilosos
Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.

     Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
     Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.

           The Colors


     In colors, in colors
The fields are dressed in the spring.
     In colors, in colors
Are the little birds that come from outside.
     In colors, in colors
Is the rainbow that we see shining.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     The rooster sings, the rooster sings
With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.
     The hen, the hen
With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.
     The chicks, the chicks
With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     In colors, in colors
Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.
     In colors, in colors
Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.
     In colors, in colors
Is dressed the diamond we see shining.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     Joyous, joyous
Let us live in grace since we can.
     Let us quench, let us quench
The burning thirst of the King who does not die.
     Joyous, joyous
Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.

     Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
     Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.

Isn't that a hymn at cursillo?

I not quite sure it's referred to as a hymn but it is a kind of theme song in Cursillo.

I remember when I had completed my first Cursillo and was getting into the car to drive home, all of a sudden it was as if time stood still and everywhere I looked, the sky, the trees, the grass and a huge bright rainbow which appeared, all spoke of God so clearly that it was as if I had just woken up out of some kind of blind sleep and for the first time I saw His glory in creation.
I tell you, this was the day of all days in my life where God became the reality of all realities for me. It weren't even a day. It may only have been a second but one of those timeless seconds.

That's why I still love that little song so much.  :D

I would love that song very much too! At my cursillo in the Episcopal church (during which I prayed my Dominican Rosary alot) was when I first got the inkling to join the Catholic Church. I felt ready to truly surrender myself to Him. It also made me appreciate the contemplative life, as if being around a lot of people interrupted, to a certain extent, my communion with Him.

I love this hymn to Our Lady too.  :harp:

  I'll Sing A Hymn To Mary

    I'll sing a hymn to Mary,
    The Mother of my God,
    The Virgin of all virgins,
    Of David's Royal blood.
    O teach me, holy Mary,
    A loving song to frame,
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    To love and bless thy name.

    O Lily of the Valley,
    O mystic Rose what tree
    Or flower, e'en the fairest,
    Is half so fair as thee?
    O let me, though so lowly,
    Recite my Mother's fame:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

    O noble Tower of David,
    Of gold and ivory,
    The Ark of God's Own promise,
    The Gate of Heaven to me;
    To live, and not to love thee,
    Would fill my soul with shame:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

    But in the crown of Mary,
    There lies a wondrous gem,
    As Queen of all the Angels,
    Which Mary shares with them;
    "No sin hath e'er defiled thee,"
    So doth our faith proclaim:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

        Fr. J. Wyze 1825-1898

Beautiful!  :principalities:

My son, Z.  wrote this Haiku for a class project

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rain patters softly


And this is a tanka

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rains patters slowly
I'm asleep in my burrow
Beside the breathtaking stream

Ah this is really soothing Patricia! :D I love the little poems! :D

I really love these. What's a Tanka?

Tanka is a Japanese poem used to describe nature

to write it. write 5 syllables, 7 syll., 5 syll , 7 syll. ,7 syll., each on a different line.

Tanka sounds fun! I might get carried away with that, too.

wow!  very nice!

I found this lovely poem on St Josephs day.

Limbo (of the Fathers)
The ancient greyness shifted
Suddenly and thinned
Like mist upon the moors
Before a wind.
An old, old prophet lifted
A shining face and said:
"He will be coming soon.
The Son of God is dead;
He died this afternoon."

A murmurous excitement stirred all souls.
they wondered if they dreamed-
Save one old man who seemed
Not even to have heard.

And Moses standing,
Hushed them all to ask
If any had a welcome song prepared.
If not, would David take the task?
And if they cared
Could not the three young children sing
The Benedicite, the canticle of praise
They made when God kept them from perishing
In the fiery blaze?

A breath of spring surprised them,
Stilling Moses' words.
No one could speak, remembering
The first fresh flowers,
The little singing birds.
Still others thought of fields new ploughed

Or apple trees
All blossom-boughed.
Or some, the way a dried bed fills
With water
Laughing down green hills.
The fisherfolk dreamed of the foam
On bright blue seas.
The one old man who had not stirred
Remembered home.

And there He was!
Splendid as the morning sun and fair
As only God is fair.
And they, confused with joy,
Knelt to adore
Seeing that He wore
Five crimson stars
He never had before.

No canticle at all was sung.
None toned a psalm, or raising a greeting song,
A silent man alone
Of all that throng
Found tongue-
Not any other.
Close to His heart
When embrace was done,
Old Joseph said,
"How is your Mother,
How is your Mother, Son?"

Sister Mary Ada, C.S.J.

I say it's absolutely moving Martin. :D

When embrace was done,
Old Joseph said,
"How is your Mother,
How is your Mother, Son?"


Very touching!  :'(

Mary Was Watching

Mary was watching tenderly
Her little Son;
Softly the mother sang to sleep
Her darling One.
Sleep, lovely Child, be now at rest,
Thou son of Light,
Sleep, pretty fledgling in thy nest,
All through the night!

Mary has spread your manger bed;
Sleep little Dove,
God's creatures all draw near to praise;
Crown of my love.
Sleep, little Pearl, Creator Lord,
Our homage take,
Bees bring you honey from their hoard,
When you awake.

- from the Czechoslovakian, a traditional carol

~ Let Joys Be Joined to Solemn Feasts ~


Let joys be joined to solemn feasts.
Let praises from the depths resound.
Let old things pass, make all things new.
Let heart and voice and works abound.

Recall that final evening meal when Christ did offer lamb and bread according to the ancient law from patriarchs inherited:

The feast of the Pascal lamb now over, the Body of the Lord was shared.
Thus every thing to all and each, from His own hands was then declared.

To the weak He apportioned flesh.
To the mournful He gave His Blood so dear.
He said: Accept this cup I give; all drink what you find here.

Thus this sacrifice He founded, an act He willed then to allow to priests alone, for whom is fit all others to nurture and endow.

The Bread of angels now is Bread of man.
Heavenly Bread fulfills what prophecies foreshow.
O wondrous thing ! God is consumed by the poor, the humble, and the low.

You, threefold God and one, we pray:
Be present as we worship well.
Lead us on your pathways to live in glory where you dwell.

Amen.

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

( Hymns from the Office of the Feast of Corpus Christi )

Amen!

Great one to read! Thanks James! :D

Lovely, James!

Valley Heat;

to  much to bear;

summers here.


( like that ? - regarding haiku )

:D

I have no clue! I like it!

Haha! :D

God's weather,
No choice to bear,
But happily.

So reverent and moving..!

Yes very reverent and quite moving.
Did you write that yourself James?

This poem posted by Martin 5 years ago is worth reading again this Holy Saturday.

St. Joseph's words made me start to cry.  Have a very prayerful, solemn Holy Saturday, Speramus and everybody!