April Holidays

Hello everyone –

The month of April contains both sacred and secular holidays, so here we have two poems – one dedicated to the holy days being observed this month within the Abrahamic family of faith traditions, and the other dedicated to the remembrance of Patriot Day, the third Monday in April, celebrated throughout New England in honor of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of our nation.

 

“Love (III)”

By George Herbert (1593-1633)

 

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

If I lacked anything.

 

“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here”:

Love said, “You shall be he.”

“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on Thee.”

Love took my hand and smiling did reply,

“Who made the eyes but I?”

 

“Truth, Lord; but I have marred them: let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.”

“And know you not,” says Love, “Who bore the blame?”

“My dear, then I will serve.”

“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”

So I did sit and eat.

 

“Concord Hymn” (1837)

By Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and Thee.

The Norse god Heimdall stands before the rainbow bridge while blowing a horn, as painted in 1905 by Emil Doepler. Within the context of this issue of Quotemail, the rainbow bridge is intended to be a symbol of unity within diversity, showing forth how the world's faith traditions can provide a bridge to peace that everyone can follow, while simultaneously appreciating the beauty of their own and other's faith traditions. (Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Until next time –

Rob