Proud To Die by Emily Dickinson

So proud she was to die
It made us all ashamed
That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed –
So satisfied to go
Where none of us should be
Immediately – that Anguish stooped
Almost to Jealousy –

 

 

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The Pulley by George Herbert

…….When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
…….Contract into a span.”

…….So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
…….Rest in the bottom lay.

…….“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
…….So both should losers be.

…….“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
…….May toss him to my breast.”

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A Stinging Accident – haiku by Dennis Allen Lange

—

Wrecked the car!
Drove into the pole!
Why?   Bee cause.

——————–

photo by Karunakar Rayker at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/mgtzdCW/Honey+Bee

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* The haiku I write are lines of 3-5-3 syllables instead of 5-7-5.

See Haiku article here for explanation, if needed: https://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/haiku/

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© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2018.

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The Single Parent Family by Dennis Allen Lange

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A single parent family’s a chore –
A lonely sole without an absent mate.
It is a rowboat with a single oar.

God saw that one was in great need of more,
That only one had too much on his plate.
A single parent family’s a chore.

The single parent strives to reach the shore.
The burden borne’s an overwhelming weight.
She/He’s a rowboat with a single oar.

When laden, there is none to ope the door;
For another’s help, the one can’t wait.
A single parent family’s a chore.

There’s none to comfort when the muscle’s sore
From single ‘gainst the doubled current’s rate.
She/He’s a rowboat with a single oar.

There is no second for esprit de corps;
Entirely in the hands of one’s their fate.
A single parent family’s a chore.
It is a rowboat with a single oar.

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*The spelling in line 2 is deliberate.

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photo by Bern Altman at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/nrnowLm/Weathered+Rowboat

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© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2017.

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Trouble Ahead For So And So – haiku by Dennis Allen Lange

—

The first step
In losing one’s shirt –
Lose buttons.

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photo by Adrian van Leen at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/nvTcQWg/mixed+buttons4

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* The haiku I write are lines of 3-5-3 syllables instead of 5-7-5.

See Haiku article here for explanation, if needed: https://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/haiku/
——————–

© Dennis Allen Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2016.

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To The River Otter by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West!
…How many various-fated years have passed,
…What happy and what mournful hours, since last
I skimm’d the smooth thin stone along thy breast,
Numbering its light leaps! yet so deep imprest
Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes
…I never shut amid the sunny ray,
But straight with all their tints thy waters rise,
…Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey,
And bedded sand that vein’d with various dyes
Gleam’d through thy bright transparence! On my way,
…Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil’d
Lone manhood’s cares, yet waking fondest sights:
…Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!

 

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My Maryland by James Ryder Randall

The despot’s heel is on thy shore,
…Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
…Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle-queen of yore,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

Hark to an exiled son’s appeal,
…Maryland!
My Mother State, to thee I kneel,
…Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
The peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
…Maryland!
The beaming sword shall never rust,
…Maryland!
Remember Carroll’s sacred trust,
Remember Howard’s warlike thrust,
And all thy slumberers with the just,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

Come! ‘tis the red dawn of the day,
…Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
…Maryland!
With Ringgold’s spirit for the fray,
With Watson’s blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

Dear Mother, burst the tyrant’s chain,
…Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
…Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain, –
“Sic semper!” ‘tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain,
…Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
,,,Maryland, my Maryland!

Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
…Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
…Maryland!
Come to thine own heroic throng
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chant thy dauntless slogan-song,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

I see the blush upon thy cheek,
…Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
…Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek,
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
…Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
…Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll,
Better the shot, the blade, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
…Maryland, my Maryland!

I hear the distant thunder hum,
…Maryland!
The Old Line’s bugle, fife, and drum,
…Maryland!
She is not dead, not deaf, nor dumb;
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She burns! She’ll come!
…She’ll come!
…Maryland, my Maryland!

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video of the song being sung (3:48) –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJcHNCZNj24

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Thou Must Be True by Horatio Bonar

…….Thou Must Be True

Thou must be true thyself,
…If thou the truth wouldst teach!
Thy soul must overflow, if thou
…Another’s soul wouldst reach;
It needs the overflow of heart
…To give the lips full speech. 

Think truly, and thy thoughts
…Shall the world’s famine feed;
Speak truly, and each word of thine
…Shall be a fruitful seed;
Live truly, and thy life shall be
…A great and noble creed.

 

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Three Miscellaneous Haiku by Dennis Lange

No, No Guzman

The Frenchman
Said, “Funny goose, mon,
That mongoose.”

——————– 

 

 

Well, Powder it!

It hides well
On white paper, ‘cept
For pink nose.

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Every Deed

All of life
Like dried leaf into
Book of life.

——————–

Guzman – photo by Karnakar Rayker at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/2dkzT3q/Mongoose

 Powder – photo by Agnes Scholiers at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/nB3xwfo/Little+spook

Deed – photo by Adrian van Leen at
http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/mCU7WsA/pressed+plant

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* The haiku I write are lines of 3-5-3 syllables instead of 5-7-5.

See Haiku article here for explanation, if needed: https://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/haiku/

——————–
© Dennis Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2014.

 

 

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Sonnet 19 – Fog Weeps by Dennis Lange

Windshield Wipers (Photo credit: shannylynne)

Sonnet 19 – Fog Weeps

Fog weeps against my windshield as I drive;
It knows it is a wisp, a passing mist
That comes on suddenly but can’t survive
For long, past when the sun this earth has kissed.

We weigh its time against the length of day,
And find it transitory, short in span.
It is the sun that lasts, that rules, holds sway,
As fog morosely packs its caravan.

I weigh my years against the centuries,
And find I barely tip the cosmic scale.
I feel the sun, the heated, speeding breeze,
And sense the brevity of life, and wail.

I weep upon the windshield of the world;
I am a moment’s mist against it hurled.

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© Dennis Lange and thebardonthehill.wordpress.com, 2012.

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