"Spring Pools"

Random Poetry List XX

Spring Pools

These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
The total sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
And yet not out by any brook or river,
But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.

The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods—
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Originally e-mailed on Friday, March 29, 2002 @ 9:32 AM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/29/05 07:23:05 PM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.

"To a Violet"

Random Poetry List XIX

To a Violet

Spring's sweet attendant! modest simple flower,
Whose soft retiring charms the woods adorn,
How often have I wandered at that hour,
When first appear the rosy tints of morn,
To the wild brook—there, upon mossy ground,
Thy velvet form all beautiful to view;
To catch thy breath that steals delicious round,
And mark thy pensive smile through tears of dew:
But then I sigh that other violets bloom,
Unseen, in wilds where footstep never trod,
Find unadmired, unnoticed, there a tomb,
And mingle silent with the grassy sod;
Ah, so the scattered flowers of genius rise;
These bloom to charm—that, hid—neglected dies.

Susan Evance (British, nineteenth century)

Originally e-mailed on Wednesday, March 29, 2000 @ 10:14 PM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/29/05 07:18:52 PM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.

"Some Thoughts on Life and Death"

A poem by John Hearn.

Some Thoughts on Life and Death

Now the spring rains fall,
Calling green shoots from the bare earth,
To reach for the sun.
Should I love this rain,
Remembering that dark days
Of cold death will come?
I sowed no life here,
Nor willed autumn's killing frost,
Free to grow towards light.

See also these.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/29/05 07:15:46 PM
Categorized as Literary.

A Reader Writes

A missive from a new, and probably former, reader of The Blog from the Core.

This just in (ellipses in original):

Sorry to bother you as I am sure you will not be happy to read what I have written...

I read your website today and was nothing less than appalled. Who are you to push your beliefs on a family that you don't know? So you believe in God? Well, SOME PEOPLE DON'T! If you see that as a bad thing, fine, it's your choice, but I think it's so wrong and intolerant of you to be saying such strong things when you have no right to. Expressing your opinion is one thing, we live in a country of free speech but you've really gone too far. Not that it matters, but I don't believe in God and yes, I've been informed by some very religious relatives, including my mother, that I'm going to hell, but if I am, at least I'm going doing what I knew was right in my heart. Intolerance is everything that is wrong in this world, if we eliminated intolerance, what would ANYONE have to fight about? I'm sorry I just think that it's very very wrong of you to go around making judgements and despensing information with no basis other than your religion. (Science kinda has more proof than religion, in case you haven't noticed... just a thought.) Anyway, this web site of yours just struck me as so absurd that I felt it nessecary to speak my mind and exercise MY freedom of speech, thank you for your time.

My reply:

I'm not "pushing my beliefs" on anybody. I am writing. Besides, I am a free person living a free society. Like everybody else in such a situation, I am free to write, free to lobby legislators, free to lobby governors and presidents, and free to condemn as loudly as I can the injustices inflicted on the innocent by a runaway judiciary. Like you, I am free to base my perceptions and judgements on any grounds I wish to do so, whether you approve of them or not. And I truly hope you won't spend the rest of your life rebelling against your mother. Thanks for writing.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/29/05 06:48:35 PM
Categorized as Blog Stuff.

Today

I am applying for a part-time copy-editor position at a rather well-known website, which I'll leave nameless for the time being. I'll blog this evening, if I get the chance. In the meantime, say a prayer for me. Thanks.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/29/05 08:56:48 AM
Categorized as Other.