"Auld Lang Syne" by Robert Burns

Read the classic poem "Auld Lang Syne" by Robert Burns (1759-1796). Happy New Year 2018!

Robert Burns

Scottish poet

The Tenors - "Auld Lang Syne" by Robert Burns

My Gift: A Pair of Quotations

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part, --

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give my heart.

-- Christina G. Rossetti, 1872

"Give me thy heart," says the Saviour of men,

Calling in mercy again and again;

"Turn now from sin, and from evil depart,

Have I not died for thee? give me thy heart."

"Give me thy heart, give me thy heart,"

Hear the soft whisper, wherever thou art:

From this dark world He would draw thee apart;

Speaking so tenderly, "Give me thy heart."

-- Eliza E. Hewitt, 1926

An untitled poem by Emily Dickinson on Sabbath keeping

On this day in 1830, American poet Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Here is an untitled poem that she wrote about how she kept the Sabbath.

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church --
I keep it, staying at Home --
With a Bobolink for a Chorister --
And an Orchard, for a Dome --

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice --
I just wear my Wings --
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton -- sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman --
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last --
I'm going, all along.

This poem is in the public domain.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

"The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

On this day in 1854, according to the Associated Press, "Alfred, Lord Tennyson's famous poem, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade,' was published in England."

Read "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson >>

Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

English poet;

poet laureate (1850-92)

To the Memory of John Lennon: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

On this day in 1980, according to the Associated Press, "rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by an apparently deranged fan."

Today I have posted two videos here on my blog, two videos that I dedicate to the memory of John Lennon (1940-1980). The first video is of Josh Groban singing "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," the lyrics of which John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote. The second video is of Josh Groban talking about the making of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." I hope you will watch both videos.

Watch Josh Groban - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" >>

Watch Josh Groban - The Making of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" >>

John Lennon in 1969

Josh Groban - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono [Official Music Video]

Josh Groban - The Making Of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

"Rosa Parks" by Nikki Giovanni

On this day in 1955, according to the Associated Press, "Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus; the incident sparked a year-long boycott of the buses by blacks."

African-American poet Nikki Giovanni is the author of a poem titled "Rosa Parks."

Read "Rosa Parks" by Nikki Giovanni >>

Nikki Giovanni