Life in Bits of Poetry and in Other Things | "One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." So wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). This blog is primarily for adults.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Saturday, July 8, 2017
"In the desert" by Stephen Crane
Here is a short, untitled poem by Stephen Crane, a poem the theme of which is alienation. This short, untitled poem of his was first published in his first collection of poems titled The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895).
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter -- bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
"Because it is bitter,
"And because it is my heart."
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter -- bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
"Because it is bitter,
"And because it is my heart."
Stephen Crane (1871-1900)
American writer
Thursday, July 6, 2017
"The Judgment of the Nations": A Poem of Jesus Christ
Here is a poem of Jesus Christ about the Lord's return. This poem is Jesus's parable of the sheep and the goats.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
A Poem of Jesus Christ
from the Bible: Matthew 25:31-46 (Revised Standard Version)
When the Son of man comes in his glory,
And all the angels with him,
Then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Before him will be gathered all the nations,
And he will separate them one from another
As a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
And he will place the sheep at his right hand,
But the goats at the left.
Then the King will say to those at his right hand,
"Come, O blessed of my Father,
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
From the foundation of the world;
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me,
I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me."
Then the righteous will answer him,
"Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee,
Or thirsty and gave thee drink?
And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee,
Or naked and clothed thee?
And when did we see thee sick
Or in prison and visit thee?"
And the King will answer them,
"Truly, I say to you,
As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
You did it to me."
Then he will say to those at his left hand,
"Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
Prepared for the devil and his angels;
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
Naked and you did not clothe me,
Sick and in prison and you did not visit me."
Then they also will answer,
"Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty
Or a stranger or naked
Or sick or in prison,
And did not minister to thee?"
Then he will answer them,
"Truly, I say to you,
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
A Poem of Jesus Christ
from the Bible: Matthew 25:31-46 (Revised Standard Version)
When the Son of man comes in his glory,
And all the angels with him,
Then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Before him will be gathered all the nations,
And he will separate them one from another
As a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
And he will place the sheep at his right hand,
But the goats at the left.
Then the King will say to those at his right hand,
"Come, O blessed of my Father,
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
From the foundation of the world;
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me,
I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me."
Then the righteous will answer him,
"Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee,
Or thirsty and gave thee drink?
And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee,
Or naked and clothed thee?
And when did we see thee sick
Or in prison and visit thee?"
And the King will answer them,
"Truly, I say to you,
As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
You did it to me."
Then he will say to those at his left hand,
"Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
Prepared for the devil and his angels;
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
Naked and you did not clothe me,
Sick and in prison and you did not visit me."
Then they also will answer,
"Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty
Or a stranger or naked
Or sick or in prison,
And did not minister to thee?"
Then he will answer them,
"Truly, I say to you,
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
An untitled poem by Emily Dickinson about the United States
Here is an untitled poem that American poet Emily Dickinson wrote about the United States. This poem is in the public domain. It was first published in 1891.
My country need not change her gown,
Her triple suit as sweet
As when 'twas cut at Lexington,
And first pronounced "a fit."
Great Britain disapproves, "the stars";
Disparagement discreet, --
There's something in their attitude
That taunts her bayonet.
My country need not change her gown,
Her triple suit as sweet
As when 'twas cut at Lexington,
And first pronounced "a fit."
Great Britain disapproves, "the stars";
Disparagement discreet, --
There's something in their attitude
That taunts her bayonet.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
"I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman, 1819-1892
"I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear," wrote American poet Walt Whitman in his poem "I Hear America Singing." To read that poem of his in its entirety, click here.
Walt Whitman
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