Untitled poem by Emily Dickinson: "We like March -- his shoes are Purple."

We like March -- his shoes are Purple.
He is new and high --
Makes he Mud for Dog and Peddler --
Makes he Forests Dry --
Knows the Adder's Tongue his coming
And begets her spot --
Stands the Sun so close and mighty --
That our Minds are hot.
News is he of all the others --
Bold it were to die
With the Blue Birds buccaneering
On his British sky --
   
     --Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Emily Dickinson

American poet

Untitled poem by Emily Dickinson: "Dear March -- Come in -- "

Dear March -- Come in --
How glad I am --
I hoped for you before --
Put down your Hat --
You must have walked --
How out of Breath you are --
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest --
Did you leave Nature well --
Oh March, Come right up stairs with me --
I have so much to tell --

I got your Letter, and the Birds --
The Maples never knew that you were coming -- till I called
I declare -- how Red their Faces grew --
But March, forgive me -- and
All those Hills you left for me to Hue --
There was no Purple suitable --
You took it all with you --

Who knocks? That April.
Lock the Door --
I will not be pursued --
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied --
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

That Blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame --

     --Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Emily Dickinson

American poet

"Outwitted" by Edwin Markham

"When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them." So said transgender civil rights activist Pauli Murray. That quotation from Murray reminded me of the inspirational poem below.


OUTWITTED
by Edwin Markham

He drew a circle that shut me out --
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

Edwin Markham

To read about him, click here.

"The Final Say: Saint Paul"

THE FINAL SAY: SAINT PAUL

by Monty Gilmer

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

     SAINT PAUL

     to the Galatians (in the Bible: Galatians 3:28-29, King James Version)

He knew that each fish

was given paradise

in its slimy skin,

in its little gasping kiss of the sea.

     ANNE SEXTON

     From "The Saints Come Marching In"

     in The Awful Rowing Toward God (1975)

"Love the Light-Giver" by Michelangelo

LOVE THE LIGHT-GIVER
by Michelangelo Buonarroti

To Tommaso De' Cavalieri

Veggio co' bei vostri occhi.

With your fair eyes a charming light I see,
    For which my own blind eyes would peer in vain;
    Stayed by your feet, the burden I sustain
    Which my lame feet find all too strong for me;
Wingless upon your pinions forth I fly;
    Heavenward your spirit stirreth me to strain;
    E'en as you will, I blush and blanch again,
    Freeze in the sun, burn 'neath a frosty sky.
Your will includes and is the lord of mine;
    Life to my thoughts within your heart is given;
    My words begin to breathe upon your breath:
Like to the moon am I, that cannot shine
    Alone; for lo! our eyes see nought in heaven
    Save what the living sun illumineth.


This poem is in the public domain. "Love the Light-Giver" was published in The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti (T. B. Mosher, 1897), translated by John Addington Symonds.

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy. One of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance, he wrote close to 75 finished sonnets and about 95 madrigals, which were later compiled into translated collections. He died on February 18, 1564, in Rome, Italy.

"The Final Say: Spread No Rumors"

THE FINAL SAY: SPREAD NO RUMORS

by Monty Gilmer

I hate to spread rumors, but what else can one do with them?

     AMANDA LEAR

     French singer, quoted in the Los Angeles Times

Lord, who may enter your Temple?

Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?

Those who obey God in everything

   and always do what is right,

whose words are true and sincere,

   and who do not slander others.

They do no wrong to their friends

   nor spread rumors about their neighbors.

     DAVID

     in the Bible: Psalm 15:1-3 (Good News Translation)