martinmas

we sang and read a few poems this evening . . 

autumn fires

by robert louis stevenson

in the other gardens

and all up the vale,

from the autumn bonfires

see the smoke trail!

pleasant summer over

and all the summer flowers,

the red fire blazes,

the grey smoke towers.

sing a song of seasons!

something bright in all!

flowers in the summer,

fires in the fall!

st. martin

by eugene schwartz

st. martin, st. martin, a roman soldier bold,

swiftly on his snow-white steed through icy streets once rode,

not fearing bleak november skies nor numbing winds so cold!

an aged, ailing beggar martin met upon his way,

"oh, could you spare a coin for one so poor, my lord, i pray?

"oh, would you save a soul who suffers from the chill this day?"

martin drew his cloak more tightly 'round his shoulders broad;

bright red was the woolen cloak that stretched from helm to sword;

only roman soldiers wore such warmth as their reward.

yet the wind cut keenly through the rags the beggar wore;

beneath the soldier's roman garb a christian heart grew sore --

from his armor martin now the woolen mantle tore.

with his sword he cut the bright red cloak in pieces two:

"what was one i'll double so that it may be shared with you!"

(multiplying by dividing was a secret martin knew!)

martin dreamed a wondrous dream upon thath icy night:

hosts of angels drew him upwards to the starry heights,

where the lord his mantle wore, wrapped in radiance of light.

"it was i in beggar's guise who asked your charity:

you were wise to trust to heart and give so graciously --

for what you do to any one you do so unto me."

november 

by elizabeth gmeyner

golden light is turning grey,

mists begin to rule the day.

bare the trees their branches lift,

clouds of dead leaves earthward drift.

through the field the farmer goes,

seeds of ripened corn he sows,

trusts the earth will hold it warm,

shelter it from cold and harm.

for he knows that warmth and light

live there, hidden from our sight,

and beneath a sheltering wing

deep below new life will spring.