Author Archives: thebardofkelvindale.com

Brighter Prospects

Brighter Prospects

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In this dark month of Janus, the herald of new beginnings

and transitions, we discern the prospect of better things

But presently, shrouded in cold and damp, we find little

To bring us cheer or even hope of change

 

The signs of spring still well concealed beneath,

Tiny shoots not yet daring to raise their spears

Above the sodden earth, under the skeletal trees

The ground a wasteland bereft of life or spirit

 

 

But if the earth’s faithful calendar remains true

Its progression round the sun will surely bring

A daily change to our allotted portion of the light

And daylight hours will steadily extend

 

Then doubtless spring will waken all of life

From deep winter’s restoring hibernation

Flora and fauna each in their respected realm

Stretch stems and limbs, escaping from the night

 

And in due time we pray the sun’s caressing rays

Will invigorate the whole created world

Thus brighter prospects fill our hearts with joy

Sustaining us amidst this winter gloom

 

Ken Fisher

The Post Box

The Post Box

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This familiar cylinder in Pillar Box Red

Like a sentry standing to attention

Its open mouth awaiting to be fed

By words of our own mind’s invention

 

 

I hope we have not missed the post

Our message in that box will languish

Our words of wisdom will be lost

And our hearts be filled with anguish

 

 

But we must not doubt the Royal Mail

Whose reputation is at stake

Surely they will never fail

Their promises they will not break!

 

 

So when we see the bright red pillars

Part of the furniture of our streets

Like lamp posts to us so familiar

Those boxes, letters love to eat

 

Of course you may say that is old hat

Replaced by email’s endless ‘pings’

But letters dropping on the mat

Ensure that from our chair we spring

 

 

So let’s give a cheer for old snail mail

Paper sleeves with stamps or frank

The contents we must then unveil

For this, the postie we must thank

Ken Fisher

 

Looking Forward

LOOKING FORWARD

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A brand new year, its days stretching out before us

What might they hold, of good or ill, who knows?

Does it fill our minds with hope or trepidation

Will it bring joy or sadness, pain or pleasure?

 

In childhood life is lived forward day by day

In youth, excitement and anticipation

Each year a preparation for the next

When confidently we will take flight

 

The middle years building a career

Vying with others for pride of place

Not only in the world of work

But in relationships yet now so transient

 

Then life casts upon us its heaviest burdens

As we seek to nurture those around

While responding to the call of duty

And yet still trying to be ourself

 

 

Each day seems to pass like a blurred photo

No time to look at each image one by one

Responsibility must be our watchword

Commitment is our master of all things

 

And then suddenly we ask – another year?

Where have they gone – much less ahead

Than once there was in front

The summation of life in days and years

[Is this it? Surely not!]

 

Ken Fisher

 

 

thebardofkelvindale 2015 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,700 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 45 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

At The Threshold of the Year

AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE YEAR

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Time is sometimes called the Fourth Dimension
Length, breadth and height the other three
But time can fill our hearts with apprehension
No wonder that it’s often said to flee

‘Tempus fugit ‘ we plead as ready-made excuse
When everyday concerns and never-ending cares
A sense of guilt and failure doth induce
Our quest for peace and freedom thus impaired

But time cannot be stalled; its steady progress will not falter
It’s march like Roman legions moving ever onward
Along straight roads, their fixed direction does not alter
The army moves in steps that take them ever forward

And so it is that in these dark fading days of late December
As we approach the threshold of yet another year
Thoughts filled with joy and sorrow as we remember
Hopefulness for days ahead but not without our hidden fear

What lies ahead beyond the gate of this New Year?
We’ve been warned: ‘the past no guide to future performance’
Would life be simpler if the way ahead was clear?
Why do we ever have to seek for reassurance

And so as we peer into the void beyond this New Year’s Day
We simply must accept that unlike length or breadth or height
The realm of time brings with it ‘come what may’
Our prayer remains that faith and hope will bring us light

And so my friend step onward with a steady pace
Give thanks for many blessings in the past
Let love for life and all mankind your heart embrace
And to God’s providence our trust remain steadfast

Ken Fisher

 

Will You Still Say to Him – No Room?

 

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The words of the familiar Christmas song say:

“No room for the baby at Bethlehem’s Inn

Only a cattle shed,… nowhere to lay his head etc.”

……………………………………………………..

Will you still say to Him – no room? 

I wondered if in this modern sophisticated age
There is even less room now than in those ancient days?
A glance at the nativity scene no longer can our souls engage
The conjunction of God in man fails to set our hearts ablaze

We’ve grown beyond such simple tales of the incarnation
Who needs God when mankind becomes of all things the true measure?
The manger scene no longer commands awestruck prostration
Our hearts now drawn to the shrine of our own worldly treasure

We have ensured that in our life so self-sufficient
The only saviour that we need, immortalised in our possessions
Achievement and success regarded as omnipotent
No more obliged to appease a God with praises or confessions

So why I wonder do we still cast a wistful eye
Towards that stable bare where power was turned upon its head?
The star still twinkles in the dome of that celestial sky
Pointing to the Holy Infant in the manger bed

But perhaps in all our self-assured and confident living
We may just falter for a moment, our souls yearning for a home
And for all life’s blessings make our own thanksgiving
Discover, for that Baby, in our heart there still is room

Ken Fisher

A happy Christmas to all who read this, and other poems, from thebardofkelvindale

WINTER SOLSTICE

Winter Solstice

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Winter Solstice

 

The shortest day the longest night
Benighted souls seeking the light
The sun in deepest declination
Darkness shrouds the northern nations

The solstice marks a time of change
From the light we’ve been estranged
For longer days our hearts do yearn
Sunlight surely must return

For in due time by steady progress
The sun’s climb will this dark suppress
And soon its penetrating rays
Bring the lengthening of each day

As the solstice now we mark
Entombed in gloom and shadows dark
Let’s look to brightening days ahead
As light again becomes widespread

Ken Fisher

Turkey Dinner [Not recommended for vegetarians!]

TURKEY DINNER

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It’s that time of year again when diets are discarded

When reasonable restraint seems no longer such a virtue

After all ‘tis the season to bring benevolence and charity

To all God’s creatures – except perhaps the fated fatted turkey!

 

It’s amazing how most of us neglect this flightless bird

Throughout all the other months of our culinary calendar

Then suddenly, as advent signals the season of “goodwill”

This benign breed now the object of desire

 

Who can ignore the flavour of that firm carved flesh?

And that savoury stuffing to complement the meat

No-one can resist those chipolatas and the veg

Ambivalent views of sprouts resolved among the piping gravy

 

And as our picture shows the Yorkshire puddings

Join together with the carrots red and peas so green

To present the diner with a mélange incomparable

A harmony to delight the palate and the senses

 

So we should indeed give a thought for the unselfish turkey

The crown and centre-piece of this delectable display

And give thanks that unlike us – the beneficiary of their goodness

They bring to us such pleasure and seek nothing in return

 

Ken Fisher

 

CHRISTMAS CAROL – FOR PARTY PEOPLE

Christmas Carol – for Party People

[This is a re-posting of a poem from Christmas last year]

[Sing this to the tune of ‘Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown’]

CHRISTMAS CAROL - FOR PARTY PEOPLE

We left God alone with his throne and his crown
For we had little time to spare
We were too busy spending our hard earned cash
Buying gifts and grooming our hair
For it’s party time and we must look good
As we’re all heading off to town

But then someone reminds us of that stable bare
With the Holy Child in the manger
And the ox and ass and wise men three
Then we thought of those living in danger
The sick and the poor and the refugee
And all those deserving our care

So that Baby of old and the twinkling star
Tells of God’s great love which came
Into the world to save souls in their need
By kindling that loving flame
So come dear Lord wipe out all our greed
With the light from that stable afar

God never says no when we celebrate
He is happy to rejoice with us all
So give thanks to God who loves each of us
He too will come to the ball
So come dear Lord, we won’t make a fuss
As again you with us incarnate

Ken Fisher

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts [A reposting of last year’s Poem. Issued between Black Friday and
Christmas Eve]

Selfridges London

 

The Three Wise Men – is it them we should blame?
For starting this craze which can drive us insane
Each Christmas demands that we spend so much cash
As in our giving we are ever more rash

We know that it’s time that we all took a stance
And tried to control this needless expense
But somehow it seems we cannot reduce
As the desire to give still seems to seduce

We feel that it’s good to be kind to our friends
So to one and all our largesse extends
But we know that deep down their love can’t be bought
And much reckless spending is really for nought

So why don’t we reflect as did those Wise Men
Who sought out the Infant in far Bethlehem?
That gifts are mere symbols of their adoration
As to that Baby they bent in prostration

Now, as long ago, we need only one gift
As we too our faces to Jesus uplift
Just hearts filled with love for God and for man
Reflecting that glory whenever we can

Ken Fisher

 

A Little Light in Darkness

A Little Light in Darkness

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A little breath of summer

To lighten these dark days

 

A glimmer of sunshine

To fall upon our way

 

A splash of brilliant colour

To lift our depressed mood

 

A light that brings new hope and joy

Thus making all life good

 

 

Ken Fisher

The End of Christian Britain?

The End of Christian Britain?

[Following the Report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life]

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The Commission on Religion and Belief

May cause our Church leaders so much grief

As it’s now claimed half our adult population

Are non-religious in this once pious nation

 

This Commission of illustrious grandees

Are unlikely the church’s clerics to much please

As ecclesiastical power they endeavour to diminish

And ancient privilege they certainly would finish

 

The influence of Bishops in the Lords

Is one thing they really do abhor

Being centre stage in national events

Another honour they’re determined to prevent

 

These reformers would cast their nets far and wide

And old traditions from them will not hide

Faith schools and religious education

Also seem to cause them great vexation

 

But it is claimed they do have positive views

Knowing faith issues feature highly in the news

Recognising what our people are today

Owes much to the Church’s loving sway

 

 

Ken Fisher