Poet: John McLeod © 1998
And some they tilt at windmills
And some they push the plough
The Poet does both on wind-filled wings
Above the "wonder-how"!
And some may never see beyond
The bow-wave sparkling bright
To where the questing Soul will find
That broader, wiser sight.
Me thinks this sometimes Poet and Clown
Love's blessings rich endow,
To brush the stars as, through the glass
Sees much less darkly now!
Poet: William R. Jacobs
Pond'ring o'er a gilded volume
Rich with gems, I am to-night,
Looking for the sweetest column,
Scanning for some rays of light.
Here are poets from the distance
With the softest lyric rhyme.
Calling back into existence
Sweet chords lost in lapse of time.
Here portrayed are silent faces —
Silent lips and silent eyes —
Where my finger deftly traces.
Looking for some glad surprise —
Looking for some friend who's drifting
Out upon the Western world.
For companions now uplifting
Drops of ink for drops of gold.
Lo! inwrought like fibres golden
In yon leaf upon the tree,
Are these stanzas, new and olden,
Penned in chants of melody.
Quaintest rhet'ric penned, but splendid
In simplicity and truth —
Facts and fancies; as blended
By the aged bard and youth.
As I turn the snowy pages,
Each enframed with golden wire,
Mystic sounds come back from ages.
Strains from Moore and Milton's lyre.
Dreams of Shakespeare's musing rambles,
Thoughts of Goldsmith and his fife,
Odes of Pope and Scott and Campbell
Flash across the path of life.
And when sleepily I fold them —
Fold the rhymers back in place,
Fancy's mind can quite behold them,
As the dureful hymns they trace.
Some are mothers with devotion
In their sonnets of to-day.
Others sing of field and ocean,
Mount and glen — and sweet their lay.
Quotes about Poetry
Poet: Unknown
There are poems unwritten and songs unsung
Sweeter than any that ever were heard;
Poems that will wait for an angel-tongue,
Songs that long for a paradise bird;
Poems that rippled through lowliest lives,
Poems unnoted, and hidden away
Down in souls where the beautiful thrives
Sweetly as flowers in the airs of May;
Poems that only the angels above us,
Looking down deep in our hearts may behold;
Felt, though unseen by the beings who love us;
Written on lives all in letters of gold.
Sing to my soul that sweet song that thou livest;
Read me the poem that never was penned,
The wonderful idyl of Life that thou givest,
Fresh from thy spirit, Beautiful Friend.
Poet: John Imrie
What work are the poets doing?
Teaching men to live;
Not like slaves with scourges driven,
But like men, with powers God-given,
Using them for God and heaven,
Gaining while they give!
What work are the poets doing?
Teaching men to think:
That this life is man's probation,
Fitting for a nobler station,
Rising higher in creation,
Up from Chaos' brink!
What work are the poets doing?
Teaching men to see:
God in Nature every hour,
Beauty in each leaf and flower
Wonders wrought by sun and shower.
Winds, and waves, and sea!
What work are the poets doing?
Teaching men to:
Drawing nearer man to man.
Doing all the good we can,
Working out "the golden plan"
Taught by God above!
What, then, are the poet's wages?
To be lov'd of men:
More than gold is approbation,
Praise inspires his emulation, -
Naught he cares for wealth or station,
Contra - love of men!
Does the poet love his calling ?
Note his answer true:
"More than Ophir's golden treasures,
More than earth's alluring pleasures, -
Love I Music's rythmic measures ?
More than life I do!"
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Poetry can be compared to people.
Some are complicated, some so simple
Some are short some are tall
Poems reflect them all.
Reading a poem can change your thoughts
You may find the verses connect the dots.
Poetry can be happy or sad
It can make us feel gloomy or glad.
A verse or two can bring a smile
To an adult and a little child.
A poem can offer us wisely advice
Often they contain a message in disguise.
They usually don't take long to read
They can inspire us to do a good deed.
Poems contain much wisdom too
Written from experiences that are true.
So appreciate the Poet's art
In their words, wisdom they depart
Reflect on the verses you read
And listen to the wisdom they heed.
