Greatness Is the Child of Choice and Chance

February 19, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is politics, in honor of Presidents Day, which this year was celebrated on February 17.

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

A poem for George Washington’s Birthday in which he reflects upon the role of fate in achieving greatness:

Greatness is the child of choice and chance,

Even when one's character is right.

One must fit the urgent circumstance,

Requiring wrongs that one's gifts can requite.

Greatness needs a time that calls for greatness,

Embracing an entire generation,

When some grave danger, failure, or injustice

Awaits a leader to unite the nation.

So might the mantle fall upon a soul

Having just the qualities to be

In mien and temper suited to the role.

Nor ought one, chosen, turn down history.

Greatness waits upon one like a bride

That knows well one's humility and pride,

On which she plays to keep one by her side.

Nor, after, will one care how much she lied.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/great2.html. For more poems for George Washington’s Birthday, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/presidentsdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Politics

2/17: Great Ends Demand Great Sacrifice

2/18: Greatness Is Effect Far More than Cause

2/19: Greatness Is the Child of Choice and Chance

Greatness Is Effect Far More than Cause

February 18, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is politics, in honor of Presidents Day, which this year was celebrated on February 17.

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

A poem for George Washington’s Birthday in which Washington reflects on the effects of leadership on his life:

Greatness is effect far more than cause.

Each hero is the servant of his fate,

On whom is laid the sacrificial weight

Reserved for those who would heed higher laws.

Given peace, I would have shunned applause,

Electing to remain a farmer, great

With long-gestating plans for my estate,

A much-loved labor lost to much-loathed wars.

So was I the father of a nation,

Having given over life and love,

Instrument of some far greater hand,

Not by choice but of necessity.

Glory was the means by which to fashion

The myth that would a king's replacement prove:

Only I would do, and that demand

Narrowed, deepened, scoured, chastened me.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/greatn.html. For more poems for George Washington’s Birthday, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/presidentsdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Politics

2/17: Great Ends Demand Great Sacrifice

2/18: Greatness Is Effect Far More than Cause

Great Ends Require Great Sacrifice

February 17, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is politics, in honor of Presidents Day, which is this year celebrated today, February 17.

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

A poem for George Washington’s Birthday about the need for sacrifice in both leaders and followers:

Great ends demand great sacrifice,

Else the dream becomes a debt.

Open hearts will pay the price,

Redeeming loss without regret.

Great leaders also make demands,

Else the mandate turns to dust.

Willing minds find willing hands,

As courage shared engenders trust.

So a nation moves ahead,

Having found its avatar,

In hard times hungry to be led,

Navigating by its star.

Great followers must take great care

To choose a leader who will be

Out of love and duty there,

Not shy, but still reluctantly.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/greate.html. For more poems for George Washington’s Birthday, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/presidentsdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Politics

2/17: Great Ends Demand Great Sacrifice

How Simple to Be Happy Here in Heaven

February 16, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on February 14.

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

A Valentine’s Day poem about love as heaven:

How simple to be happy here in heaven!

After all, one doesn't want for much.

Passion finds its willing partner, ever

Pleased to please with a deft and tender touch.

Yearning is like walking through a valley

Veiled in the loveliness of flowers.

All the beauty of the earth can only

Lead us to the edge of what is ours.

Etched into our love there is a message,

Not of now but of all time and place,

Telling of a truth beyond the passage

In which we move from mystery to grace.

Nor are there signs that such content can be

Except my love for you, and yours for me.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/howsim.html. For more Valentine’s Day poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/valentinesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Valentine’s Day

2/10: How Might One Know Love Except by Loving

2/11: How Much Can One Person Love Another

2/12: I Miss You Terribly This Day of Love

2/13: How Necessary Is It to Remind

2/14: Love Comes Through the Eyes That See

2/15: How Often Do We Linger

2/16: How Simple to Be Happy Here in Heaven

How Often Do We Linger

February 15, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Valentine’s Day, which was celebrated yesterday, February 14.

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

A Valentine’s Day poem addressed to someone who is unready to admit how much he needs his wife’s love:

How often do we linger in

The vestibule of life,

Not ready to embrace the soul

We've taken for a wife?

Nor bear the dread oblivion

Of being who we are?

Nor render well our willing part

When we are not the star?

Ah, Valentine! This day of love

Behold what you have wrought!

And seek within the love you have

The love you long have sought.

For love loves not illusion,

Demanding what is true:

That underneath your greed and lust

You need her love for you.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/howof2.html. For more Valentine’s Day poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/valentinesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Valentine’s Day

2/10: How Might One Know Love Except by Loving

2/11: How Much Can One Person Love Another

2/12: I Miss You Terribly This Day of Love

2/13: How Necessary Is It to Remind

2/14: Love Comes Through the Eyes That See

2/15: How Often Do We Linger

Love Comes Through the Eyes That See

February 14, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated today, February 14.

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

A Valentine's Day poem for children about love and the five senses:

Love comes through the eyes that see

And through the ears that hear,

For people are quite beautiful,

And words make feelings clear.

Love comes through the hands that touch

With unabashed affection,

For only skin-to-skin can love

Maintain its true direction.

Love comes through the tastes and smells

Of fresh and well-cooked food,

For in the gift of nourishment

Is much else that is good.

But though love comes through senses five,

Love comes from the heart,

For there resides the greater love

Of which ours is a part.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/loveco.html. For more Valentine’s Day poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/valentinesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Valentine’s Day

2/10: How Might One Know Love Except by Loving

2/11: How Much Can One Person Love Another

2/12: I Miss You Terribly This Day of Love

2/13: How Necessary Is It to Remind

2/14: Love Comes Through the Eyes That See

How Necessary Is It to Remind

February 13, 2020

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Valentine’s Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow, February 14.

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

A Valentine’s Day poem about the need for an annual occasion to speak of love:

How necessary is it to remind

A loving couple that they are in love?

Perhaps a well-placed word might pierce the rind,

Penetrating hearts that dormant prove.

Years accumulate like fallen snow,

Vast fields of understanding, thick and cold,

As time surrenders even those who know,

Leaving love a story long since told.

Each year, therefore, occasion must be made,

Name-day of love, that lovers all might speak,

Taking a risk that else they might evade,

In search of pleasure even angels seek.

Need comes slowly, like a warm spring rain.

Except one sing, the song must be in vain.

© by Nicholas Gordon

If you enjoyed this poem, please like, comment on, or share it so that it might be seen and enjoyed by others. To see this poem on my site, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/hownec.html. For more Valentine’s Day poems, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/valentinesdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Valentine’s Day

2/10: How Might One Know Love Except by Loving

2/11: How Much Can One Person Love Another

2/12: I Miss You Terribly This Day of Love

2/13: How Necessary Is It to Remind