About

The picture in the heading of my blog is a view from my deck. My house sits on a hill, overlooking a valley beneath and hills beyond. I’m the bard on the hill. I write poems because poetry makes a melody of words, songs that soar with the heart. I don’t like all that is called poetry. Generally, I like my poems when I’ve finished them (don’t we all?) 🙂 , some better than others. I’ll also include in this blog poems that I’ve read and loved over the years that are by other poets.

My taste in poetry doesn’t always mesh with the critics. It doesn’t even always match those who award prizes for poetry. In the same way, there are movies I’ve enjoyed that critics didn’t like and movies that I loathed that critics lauded. My criteria is not the same as the critics. Mine is simple – do I like it? I hope that’s your criteria and that you find some poems of mine and poems of others here that you like, too. May the sun shine even through your clouds and may you occasionally find a rainbow here to brighten your day.

Dennis Lange, the bard on the hill

68 Responses

on June 4, 2011 at 12:44 PM | Reply atomsofstars

Thank you for stopping by at my website and taking the time to read and acknowledge a poem you enjoyed.

I love the ‘captured ‘ rainbow’s end in your photo here 🙂
on June 12, 2011 at 4:14 PM | Reply John Worne

Thanks for hearing the clip-clapper of my tongue of wood too.
on June 23, 2011 at 9:08 PM | Reply TheMsLvh

I am so fortuate to have discovered your blog. I have checked out some of your links which has opened up a world for me. I just want to thank you for your comments to my poems and support. I enjoy getting your poems in my mailbox when they arrive. I look forward to many more. Thank you!
- on June 23, 2011 at 9:49 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks. I’m glad you enjoy my blog. I was hoping that I’d find compadres (those of a like nature) who would enjoy the same type of poetry I love. And, I hope you find that some of my own poems are likeable also. Hopefully, this blog will turn into a small library of poems where one can come and brouse, reading and re-reading old favorites.
on July 4, 2011 at 12:17 PM | Reply rachel

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for visiting me at Be Whole Now. We share a philosophy re: criteria for judging a poem– simply, Do I like it? Keeps it simple and pure, doesn’t it? Your deckview is de-lush-ious. Up here in the CO, NM, OK panhandle, we are parched, dry, and dusty. Still have fantstic clouds, sky, rainbows, and stars, though…
- on July 4, 2011 at 12:33 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  That shot was taken a couple of years ago and even though we also are in the middle of a horrible drought, it looks about the same below. It’s the grass that’s dry and dying. Here in the hill country of Texas, we’ve had about 6 inches of rain in the last 9 months when the average is 23.
on July 6, 2011 at 11:19 PM | Reply poetlou

you honored me by coming to my page and commenting on the casey rage.
on July 19, 2011 at 10:37 AM | Reply Neha Garg

Lovely blog and collection of poems 🙂 .. Keep it up.
on July 20, 2011 at 8:14 AM | Reply juanrbalboa

Thanks for sharing your poems! I like the rhythm, meter, rhymes and nuanced meanings. Some are playful and some are soulful. Thanks!
And thanks for reading mine.
on August 31, 2011 at 2:14 PM | Reply Martin Shone

Hi Dennis, thanks for taking the time to visit my writing blog and especially for liking “Why?”. Much appreciated.

I agree with this – My taste in poetry doesn’t always mesh with the critics. It doesn’t even always match those who award prizes for poetry – I may write (or attempt) poems but I don’t class myself as one as I do sometimes find it very hard to read other peoples poetry, including the prize winners. I prefer it simple with an image or thought/theme running through it.

Thanks again

Martin
on September 30, 2011 at 1:20 PM | Reply annedearle

I am so glad you liked my poem “On the Road to Chichester”, it was inspired by an actual event.
on October 6, 2011 at 5:22 AM | Reply Lindsay Waller-Wilkinson

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for visiting my site and reading one of my poems.
I have enjoyed reading yours. A lovely mix of your work, (I enjoyed your Haiku) and others.
Lindsay
on October 6, 2011 at 5:11 PM | Reply Caddo Veil

Thank you Dennis, for visiting my new website. May God bless you in all ways, & especially for your Pledge to Poets–How wonderfully generous!
on October 9, 2011 at 4:33 PM | Reply wordcoaster

The more I read about you, the more I like you. I think too often there’s a critic bandwagon that people are expected to jump on. Glad you make your own decisions, and based on your poems I’ve read, I trust your judgment. I nominated you for the versatile blogger award and truly appreciate your blog 🙂
- on October 9, 2011 at 6:37 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks very much for your kind words and for the nomination. When one only has to be true to self and what one likes, it’s an easier road to hoe.
on October 19, 2011 at 9:40 AM | Reply bobsblog54

Thanks for taking the time to comment on my post. I really like your header picture.
on October 20, 2011 at 2:47 PM | Reply Caddo Veil

Mille Gracie for stopping by again today–God bless you Richly!!
on October 21, 2011 at 7:13 PM | Reply lscotthoughts

Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog! I’m a subscriber! I also share your same views on critics! Looking forward to reading more…
- on October 21, 2011 at 7:15 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks for subscribing!
on October 22, 2011 at 12:26 AM | Reply scribe62

M’lord Bard,
Thanks for putting the “likes” on my humble scratchings, if I may, my quiet friend, I should like to deliver a dedication to you, in the form, naturally, of a poem.

The Bard on The Hill (Dedicated to DL)

High on lonely windswept tor,
A voice is heard to whisper.
Tales of courage and derring-do,
Tales of years from before.

Tales of warriors and heroes,
Of felt yet bare seen things,
Tales of kings and fools,
Of love and life’s last throes.

The histories of the land,
Recounted in hushed voice,
Stories of the old ones,
Such stories dire and grand.

Long ago and by own choice,
The bard sat upon this spot,
Telling the tales to the people,
Who gathered to hear the voice.

Long gone now as all things will,
The venerable bard is at rest,
But pass atop that lonely tor,
You may hear the wise voice still.
©TB 2011
- on December 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM | Reply Caddo Veil
  
  Oh my, isn’t this wonderfully lovely!! Beats the blog awards all to heck, I’d say!
on October 22, 2011 at 7:01 AM | Reply thebardonthehill

I feel like a celebrity now! 🙂 Thanks for the dedication. And, as I said when I visited your blog, I do like the poem!
on November 16, 2011 at 3:40 PM | Reply Linda Willows

thank you for appreciating my poem, Hush, the girl. Before publishing I felt that no one could possibly “like” it. thank you
Your site is unique and you seem to be as well.
I like the poem on what it takes to be a man; strongly felt,
Linda
on November 20, 2011 at 1:45 AM | Reply A. A.Trivedi

Hi Dennis (aka Mr.Bard on the Hill),

I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award, and you were one of the five blogs I wished to pass the award along to! You can read more about it on my blog.

Many thanks,

A.A. Trivedi
- on November 20, 2011 at 8:00 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Wow! Thanks! I’ll visit your site and thank you there, also.
on November 22, 2011 at 1:17 PM | Reply bardessdmdenton

Thank you for visiting my blog and liking my poem, ‘Wrestling with Love’. I’m always glad to have new visitors to expand my blogging horizons.

I will be investigating what’s here very soon–I want to give it the time it deserves.

Love your introduction here regarding poetry and critics, etc. And your blogging name is great too…I’m a bard (ess) in the woods…
- on November 22, 2011 at 1:25 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  It’s nice to run across another named “bard” on WordPress. 🙂
on November 27, 2011 at 4:26 PM | Reply lscotthoughts

Hi Dennis,

I have finally created a blogroll and have included your wonderful blog. You are listed as Dennis Lange, but if you prefer to be listed differently, please let me know! 🙂
Lauren
- on November 27, 2011 at 11:09 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  That will be fine. Thanks!
on December 6, 2011 at 3:17 PM | Reply Angela

And from Lauren’s blog roll, I’ve found your wonderful site Dennis! Love your take on poetry 🙂
- on December 6, 2011 at 4:08 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  I’m glad you came by to read! Thanks.
on December 22, 2011 at 3:38 PM | Reply samatwitch

Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog. I enjoyed your Christmas haikus and look forward to reading more of your poems.
on December 25, 2011 at 8:13 PM | Reply Bluesander

Hey Dennis, Merry Christmas! 🙂
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (http://bluesander.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/the-versatile-blogger-award/).
You’re simply amazing and I can’t help but adore all of the breathtaking poetry you put up here. It’s stunning.
- on December 26, 2011 at 9:00 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thank you so much. I’m honored.
  - on December 30, 2011 at 4:41 AM Bluesander
    
    Another one for you! (:
    http://bluesander.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/the-kreativ-blogger-award/
    The Kreativ Blogger award since I really enjoy what you put up on your blog here. Your own poetry is simply stunning.
    Congratulations and Happy New Year,
    ‘Nessa.
on January 2, 2012 at 10:06 PM | Reply Caryn

Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I’m glad it brought me to your blog, as I really enjoyed looking through the poems you posted and especially your own. Awesome work!
- on January 2, 2012 at 10:47 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks. Glad you dropped by!
on February 1, 2012 at 2:11 AM | Reply nightlake

Hello,
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my post. You have a lovely blog. Your appreciation of other poets is highly motivating.
on February 6, 2012 at 10:24 AM | Reply Jean Mishra

I enjoy and have selected your blog to award The One Lovely Blog Award. Follow this link to collect your award and see the rules. If you’ve already received this award, just know I think you deserve another one!

http://moonlightenedshelves.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/one-lovely-surprise-one-lovely-blog-award/
- on February 6, 2012 at 10:31 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  No, I’ve not received this award and will try to follow through with the rules involving it as soon as I can. I’m behind in these things. 🙂 But thanks very much. I’m honored.
on April 25, 2012 at 10:25 PM | Reply sandraconner

Hello, Bard. Just letting you know that I have nominated you for the “Genuine Blogger” Award. I have not seen anything about your having received it prior to this, but if I missed it, I apologize. Assuming I am not mistaken, you will find all the details at my site at this link: http://sandraconner.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/genuine-blogger-award/
I hope you know that this nomination is definitely “genuine” (no pun intended), because you are certainly one of the most sincere and genuine bloggers I’ve met here.
Blessings. Sandra
on April 26, 2012 at 6:50 AM | Reply thebardonthehill

Thank you. I have been nominated for some awards, not sure about this one, but haven’t accepted any of them yet due to several factors, including an extremely hectic life for about 6 months. But I’ll get to it. Thank you again. I appreciate your words and nomination very much.
on April 26, 2012 at 11:40 AM | Reply sandraconner

I understand perfectly. One part of me hesitates to nominate people for awards, because I realize they all come with some “rules” for accepting that generally involve passing the honor on to other bloggers. Not that we don’t want to do that, but it necessarily requires a good deal of time spent making sure the other bloggers we want to nominate haven’t already received the award and being sure we get their name and link posted, etc. It can get time consuming. I recently received a different award that calls for passing it on to 13 other bloggers. I’d like to do that, but I don’t know 13 people who fit the criteria but who have not already received that award. So I’ve decided in my own situation that I am not going to stress over any of that. I figure we can take as long as we need. We can even post the award and pass it on to just one or two people if that’s all we know about for sure. We can always go back later and add more names to the list.
- on April 26, 2012 at 7:13 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  It’s my understanding that these are all awards made up by bloggers, that they aren’t WordPress awards. So, by the time they get to us, I suppose we could change the rules a bit. 😉
  - on April 26, 2012 at 8:14 PM sandraconner
    
    You bet. And I don’t mean to imply that my rules are a little more sensible than some, but …….. well … they are!
    
    I do like the idea of passing on the awards because I like to honor people who put a lot of effort into their blogs and who inevitably give something valuable to the people who visit them. But I want those awards to be a blessing and not a burden. I will never be offended if someone decides to bypass an official award sent to them by me. I may have to do that at times myself. But I do appreciate many of the people I’ve become connected with in this blogging community, so I want them to know that I appreciate them.
  - on April 27, 2012 at 9:31 PM thebardonthehill
    
    If I ever get caught up to where I can accept the awards (and I see another couple of mountains tumbling and about to fall on me, I’ll probably change the rules a bit.
  - on April 27, 2012 at 10:48 PM sandraconner
    
    We may both end up being considered rebels by some of the blogging community, but to tell you the truth, I think most of the other bloggers are glad to see someone breaking the mold. I have had a lot of positive response to my latest post — the one about the Versatile Blogger Award (the other award I received this past week). I said on my post that I was passing it on to only five people whose blogs fit the definition of the word “versatile,” and I told all the people I nominated that they should feel free to take their time and pass the award on only as they felt comfortable doing so. (That award called for being passed on to 15 people, and that’s too many at one time.)
    
    Anyway, a lot of people who have won tons of awards responded positively to that post, so I think they are glad to see some things changing.
    
    I am also trying to tell the people I nominate for any award why I think the award fits them. I don’t think they are of any value if they are just passed on to obey rules, without making sure those blogs (bloggers) fit the criteria. Your blog, for example — and your heart in posting it — are so obviously genuine that you were the first person I thought of for that award.
    
    Well, I got carried away. The short version is that I think it’s time to break the mold and make sure these awards can all be a blessing instead of a burden to anyone. Go for it.
    
    (But sorry to hear that you may have to deal with more problems.)
  - on April 28, 2012 at 7:25 AM thebardonthehill
    
    Good! I’m glad the change was well-received.
on June 11, 2012 at 5:37 AM | Reply Jemmy Farmer

I am passing this to you as a way of saying thank you for sharing your wonderful blog with me

http://jemmyfarmer.wordpress.com/2012/06/11/versatile-blogger-award/

regards,

Jemmy
- on June 11, 2012 at 6:51 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks very much for the award. I’m glad you like what I post and I appreciate your acknowledgment very much. Thanks again!
on August 4, 2012 at 10:37 AM | Reply Dr Bill

I have truly enjoyed your posts and have nominated you for the Sunshine Award at http://drbillwooten.com/2012/08/04/many-thanks/
on November 8, 2012 at 12:09 PM | Reply gigglinggranny

Love your blog and nominated you for a blog award. There’s no pressure or anything you don’t even have to accept if you don’t want to. I just wanted you to know that I think you have a great blog. For details, you can click on this link: http://grannyslittleprojects.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/poem-awarded/
on April 18, 2013 at 4:13 PM | Reply Jean Mishra

I’ve nominated your blog for the Thank You Award! You can nab it here with a heart-felt “thank you”! 🙂

http://moonlightenedshelves.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/the-thank-you-award-a-million-thanks/
- on April 19, 2013 at 7:28 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thank you for nominating me for the award. It’s always a good feeling when people appreciate what they read here.
on April 29, 2013 at 1:42 PM | Reply Eva van Beek

Envy your view, love what you post 🙂
- on April 29, 2013 at 6:03 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  My view is something I enjoy every day. I’ve never grown blase about it. Thanks for the follow and hope you continue to find much here to love.
on May 23, 2013 at 9:47 AM | Reply sandraconner

Hey, Dennis, I sent a link to your site to a friend because he insisted in a recent conversation that you never see the color green in rainbows — and thus it is not a natural color to expect to find in the regions of outer space either. I insisted that the movement of light rays and various kinds of particles in the atmosphere, etc, do cause the color green to show up in rainbows as well as other areas of atmosphere and even outer space. I noticed today that the color green very definitely shows in the rainbow in your photograph, so I’m sending him over here to prove my point. Thanks.
- on June 1, 2013 at 11:27 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  I never thought my photo would be used for that purpose. 🙂
on July 4, 2013 at 12:44 PM | Reply kabirgandhiok

Amazing poetry, quite enjoyed reading them 🙂
- on July 4, 2013 at 3:27 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Since you didn’t specify which (mine, or my haiku, or the greats of the past), I’ll assume you meant the latter. And yes, men wrote some wonderful poetry. Thanks for stopping by to read.
  - on July 4, 2013 at 3:57 PM kabirgandhiok
    
    You’re welcome! And I was referring to the poems Ceblerating The Fourth of July and Difficult Problems.
  - on July 4, 2013 at 3:58 PM kabirgandhiok
    
    I also did read The Fountain by Wordsworth which was superb!
- on July 4, 2013 at 8:49 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  I’m glad you liked all three.
on March 27, 2014 at 10:43 PM | Reply Joe Bradshaw

I would like to say I love your blog and the wonderful and beautiful things you share as well as the inspiration and smiles you bring in doing so! Thank you for being you and I hope even if you do not accept awards you will accept the sentiment expressed as I honor you with one. There is no prize that comes with the award other than my appreciation and being grateful you are part of our world and making a difference by sharing in such a positive way…
I have posted the award and link to it here I hope you will accept it or at least the sentiment behind it! http://artisticlyxpressedthoughts.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/awards-and-shared-gifts/

With love,
Joe
- on March 31, 2014 at 9:39 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Joe, thanks very much for the award. Your words are very kind and much appreciated. I’m glad you enjoy my blog and hope you continue to enjoy it.
  Thanks again, Dennis – the bard on the hill
on June 22, 2014 at 2:49 AM | Reply Thom Hickey

Thanks Dennis. Sounds like you have a very sound philosophy informing your blog. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (give it a spin!).
- on June 23, 2014 at 2:26 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks, and I did make a visit to your blog. Enjoyed.
on December 11, 2014 at 7:05 AM | Reply Nomzi Kumalo

So far so good. 🙂