Category Archives: Spiritual practices

Time to Start #Decima #Poem

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Come with me now! It’s time to start!
Don’t hesitate! Just take a chance
And join life’s never-ending dance–
One step onto your path of art!
You have a purpose and a part
To play upon the grandest stage.
You are a book, an author’s page!
And yet you write the story told;
You play the part as you unfold.
It’s now your time, your place, your age!

—
Written for
Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 47: (START) in the A rhyme line.

This is a companion poem to
How Perfect?

“St. Columba” #Music

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Download “St. Columba” Mp3

“St. Columba” is one of at least 4 musical settings for the hymn, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” It’s a traditional Irish melody that makes a lovely setting for this 1868 hymn by Henry Baker.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement, which includes the soprano Oriole recorder, viola, and zither!

How Perfect? 3TC #Triolet #Poem

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How perfect do we need to be
To share the yearning in our hearts?
If we don’t give, we can’t receive…
How perfect do we need to be?
A life expert? There’s no such thing!
So do not cower! Play your part!
How perfect do we need to be
To share the yearning in our hearts?

—
A Triolet written for
#Threethingschallenge #523.

“Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild” #Music

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Download Mp3

This beautiful hymn was written by Charles Wesley. The text was first published with the subtitle “A Child’s Prayer,” in “Hymns and Sacred Poems,” in 1742. The melody was composed by Martin Shaw in 1876.

My arrangement begins with the melody on alto recorder, then a viola and recorder duet, a solo on lyre, and ends with a recorder duet. This lovely melody would be appropriate for a lullaby, as well as this hymn. I hope you enjoy it!

The Shepherd’s Walk Home #Poem

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My goats search for a sprig of mint
to calm their bellies before sleep.

The moon walks softly up the horizon,
as the sun sinks below…

On our way down the mountain,
we pass our favorite waterfall.

Forget-me-nots line the path,
reminding us of the goodness of day and the restfulness of night.

The crows have carried the sun away
by the time we reach my garden scarecrow.

Today was like any other herding day,
uneventful, peaceful…..

The same,
yet different.

Tomorrow will be similar,
but different just the same!

—
Written for Linda Kruschke’s
Idyll Paint Chip Poetry Prompt.