Tag Archives: Alfred Lord Tennyson

Death and the helpful hand of poetry

12 Wednesday Aug 2015

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nightseaiiLife’s events sometimes rear up unexpectedly and hit you with such force that the solace of kindhearted people and poetry are the things that get you through the pain.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson – Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put put to sea,

But such a tide of moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Best wishes – Denny Bradbury

Thoughts on May Day

01 Friday May 2015

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Every year my mother would quote from Tennyson’s ‘The May Queen’. Although it is a sentimental and terribly sad Victorian poem she always quoted it with a smile and a little dance – so for me they are very fond memories. The first verse:

You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;
Tomorrow ‘ll be the happiest time of all the glad new-year –
Of all the glad new-year, mother, the maddest, merriest day;
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

Extract from Alfred Lord Tennyson – The May Queen

Perhaps Kahlil Gibran captures more how I feel about the Spring:

“Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun.”

Happy May Day everyone – very best wishes – Denny Bradbury