Musings

An Introduction to Musings In this age of the world, people do not often express thoughts, and experiences in verse. Many people may regard verse as a slow and ponderous means, to communicate, preferring terse snippets to sketch out ideas. Musings was not conceived, with such a goal in mind. It was written, over the course of some thirty years, as a private journal. It existed as a means to consider, and explore many areas of interest to me. Secondarily, I found writing poetry, an excellent means to rationalize and explore the thoughts that whirled around in my mind. Thus, the reader who explores Musings is introduced to the author’s private visions on many topics. In this sense, Musings is a work of opinions, clad in the cloth of analogy, and metaphor. In that regard, all poetry is by its nature, defined in this way. The topical material in the book grew in an organic fashion, as I allowed the writings to wander where they inclined to travel. Here are some samples from the anthology: The section dealing with historical notions is written, in a style as one who is passing through these eras. An excerpt from the poem “The Quest”, deals with the mythical quest for the Holy Grail: THE QUEST I Amid a cloud of swirling dust, a charger picks his way. While on his back, there sits a knight, bedecked in mail of gray. His lance askew, his shield held low, he makes a forlorn sight. While peering west, he travels on, amid the failing light. Neither maiden’s love, nor blazing hearth will comfort him this night. So pressing on he keeps to horse, till stars have filled his sight. The moon’s pale rays, a halo casts, along the lonely road. A silver thread amid the dark, a vigil light till dawn. Now softly said, the nightly prayer that binds him to this quest: “Before your feet, oh gentle Lord, I offer shield and lance. I humbly beg to have the strength, to seek your Saving Cup. Grant me the faith, to keep my quest, although the road be long. Guide my steps, within your sight, until my journey ends. Ignore my faults, for mercy’s sake, granting pardon for my sins. Call me home, to heaven’s gate, where I will meet my fate.” The section on matters of faith and spirit deals, with subjects that deeply touched my life. An excerpt from the poem, “The Reading”, deals with an incident in the life of Jesus, when he reads in a synagogue. In these lines, we see the origin of a mission to liberate humankind. THE READING Standing in the shadows, intent in silent prayer. He listened to the readers, and slowly he prepares. He comes forth to read the scriptures, and picking up the scrolls. He reads to them the passage, which speaks the prophet’s words. He forms the words with power, with the force of one who knows. He does not pause, or stumble, or speak to them by rote. Songs from Nature are reflections of images, and scenes I encountered, viewing the kaleidoscope of the natural world. These are expressions of the beauty and wonder of a world that often slips by without proper notice and reflection. Nature Sings In the whisper of the wind. The sighing of the snow. The silver light of the moon sailing smooth, among the lacy clouds The stretch of the shadows. The hiss of the rain. The laughter of a brook. Faint though sweet, nature sings. Solace to my restless mind. Listen to some of the songs, I heard upon wind, branch, and stream.” The poems on reflections are notions from the travels of my mind. REFLECTIONS Tiny bits of broken glass they lay strewn about, along the corridors of the mind. Untouched for years, they lie beneath the settled dust of disuse. Glanced at a moment, subjected to the glare of introspection’s light. Bits of shattered glass providing reflections of many things. Some are so misshapen, that they convey only confusion. Others, rearranged, yield sights bringing forth sounds and emotions of dazzling purity. Scenes from times passed by. Some are wisps of smoke. Dreams that once filled us with high hopes, now grown faint and uncertain. Other, are but conjectures, that excite the imagination in a flash. To quickly fade to confusing uncertainty. All are real and unreal. They are the reflections, of that which lies among the dust of faded days. Reflections of dreams and ideas slowly ebbing away.” In the collection called Remnants, you find miscellaneous items, which seemed to spring to mind. REMNANTS A piece of this and a swatch of that. The remnants of what has been, sewn into some raiment. Scraps and snippets to be considered and perused; before being consigned to the dustbin. Here are they, for your consideration.” Of course, any anthology of poems must consider the images and notions of dreams. DREAMS “Shapes and notions, Come stealing unbidden, into a sleeping mind. Images and notions, Surreal, fantastic, false or true, perhaps prosaic. Painted on a canvas, streched tightly over sightless eyes; straining to see and know. What Purpose or plan is played out by such phantoms? Only the silence knows, saying not.” The section on memories deals with my fascination with what the mind recalls of the past. Here is an excerpt “Time’s tugging Tides pulls us ever onward. peering backwar we dimly see yesterdays. Yesterdays Real and no more, yet still somehow alive. We feel things that touched us once, and move us. . The future urges us onward, Still Yesterday calls us ever Home.” The collection concludes with a treatment on emotions, in an attempt to gain some insight in these powerful forces: EMOTIONS “Streams of thoughts which shape and mold every human life. Feeling often without consideration’s due, taking us to places, and high and low; desired, or abhorred. No soul escapes them, precious few are their master.” Thus, I conclude excerpts from Musings. I hope they were interesting, enticing you to join me exploring the universe of Musings. F.M.B 7/14