Even in the Depths of Longing

March 21, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Easter, which falls on March 27.

Today’s poem is about how the beauty of being turns every moment into joy.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Even in the depths of longing,
All one is and sees is light.
So the moment, barren, burning,
Touches bliss beyond one's sight,
Embers of a flame so bright,
Reason turns to joy, to dancing.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/eveni3.html. For more poems for Easter, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/easterpoems.html.

This week’s theme: Faith.
March 21: Even in the Depths of Longing

St. Patrick's Day Commemorates the Turning

March 20, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is about why St. Patrick’s Day is meaningful to everyone.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the turning
To Christianity of Irish clans.
Perhaps, if you’re not Irish, there’s no burning
Ache to march, so you’ve got other plans.
The day, however, marks a special moment
Regarding the persuasion of us all.
Islands are not islands of the spirit;
Callings come to more than hear the call.
Know that we are one, and Irish monks
’Ere we were born redeemed us with their prayers,
Sang our chants and gave our gracious thanks,
Died our deaths and climbed our golden stairs.
All changed for all after Patrick’s day;
Years turn, and yet their winds within us play.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpat2.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy
March 16: Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness
March 17: Saints Are Rarely Saints, if You Know What I Mean
March 18: So Let Them Be, Who Have Had Sex with Children
March 19: St. Patrick Rid the Emerald Isle of Snakes
March 20: St. Patrick’s Day Commemorates the Turning

St. Patrick Rid the Emerald Isle of Snakes

March 19, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is about casting out inner snakes.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

St. Patrick rid the emerald isle of snakes,
Though only those that crawl upon the ground.
Perhaps not even he had what it takes,
Although a puissant saint, and well renowned,
To cast out those whose children still abound.
Remaining in our hearts, as when of old
In Eden green they tempted us to sin,
Cold and lean they grow more passing bold,
Knowing we’ve cast out the saint within.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatr.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy
March 16: Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness
March 17: Saints Are Rarely Saints, if You Know What I Mean
March 18: So Let Them Be, Who Have Had Sex with Children
> March 19: St. Patrick Rid the Emerald Isle of Snakes

So Let Them Be, Who Have Had Sex with Children

March 18, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is from the point of view of St. Patrick, asking God to save His rage for those who enabled the rape of children.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

So let them be, who have had sex with children!
And turn Your rage on those who turned their eyes,
Intending to defend Your church with lies!
Nor were they ever fit for Your dominion!
These hypocrites are far worse than the poor
Polluted souls they moved from place to place,
Avid to avoid undue disgrace,
Trafficking in silence to be sure.
Remember them when You return! For they,
Instead of proper penance, yet remain
Cardinals, bishops, princes in Your name,
Knowing well what price they ought to pay!

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/solett.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy
March 16: Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness
March 17: Saints Are Rarely Saints, if You Know What I Mean
March 18: So Let Them Be, Who Have Had Sex with Children

Saints Are Rarely Saints, if You Know What I Mean

March 17, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is one for St. Patrick’s Day about saints and sin.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Saints are rarely saints, if you know what I mean.
They're human, with desires, hungers, sins.
Perhaps you thought sin stops where grace begins,
Arrested in such souls as faith redeems.
Then think again. Though angels might be seen
Resting on the wind with rainbowed wings,
In blissful choirs as the sunlight sings,
Can one, ought one be of all sins clean?
Knowing Christ Himself was human, and
'Mid flesh and sin lived out His few short years,
Still human as He suffered and cried out,
Demands that we obey the same command
And follow Him through suffering and tears,
Yet struggling in the heart with faith and doubt.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/saints.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy
March 16: Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness
March 17: Saints Are Rarely Saints, if You Know What I Mean

Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness

March 16, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is one in which St. Patrick asks God for forgiveness and grace.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Sinners all, we ask for Your forgiveness
As we await the hour of Your return.
If only grace were something one could earn!
Nor can we hope to imitate Your goodness.
The saints know well the hopelessness of being
Put upon the pedestal of faith
As though we had already gained Your grace.
The heart is naked to Your restless seeking.
Regard us all, then, equally with love:
In saints and vicious pederasts find lovers,
Cherishing not one above the others,
Knowing none has anything to prove.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/sinner.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy
March 16: Sinners All, We Ask for Your Forgiveness

Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy

March 15, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17.

Today’s poem is a love poem for St. Patrick’s Day.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Sing me a love song for my Irish boy;
Take from me my heart, my head, my home;
Pass to him my body, life, and joy;
Add to his my fields of fertile loam.
To him I am and will be earth and heaven,
Resting in the sanctum of his fire;
In me he’ll find all his gods have given,
Creating dynasties of his desire.
Know, my love, that I will come to you
’Ere this sun has set on Patrick’s Day;
So you must find the courage to be true,
Daring to give other dreams away.
After this leap, all loneliness is past:
Years may come and go, but love will last.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite the poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/singme.html. For more poems about St. Patrick’s Day, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/stpatricksdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: St. Patrick’s Day.
March 14: Sing in Celebration of Your Race
March 15: Sing Me a Love Song for My Irish Boy