The Poem Speaks
The Gestation of a Poem
by ARHuelsenbeck
my creator is struggling
bungling
crumbling
trying to put her vision and emotions
into words
my gestation is taking too long
well beyond her self-imposed due date
she’s close to giving up
I could be another poem
that languishes in a file
the last line reading
"not finished"
that last line in red
to remind her
that I can’t be shipped out yet
submitted to a classy journal
or a prestigious contest
or included in her next chapbook
she may tackle me again
some other day
or she may abandon me altogether
to languish
stillborn
List Poem
Things that are precious
by ARHuelsenbeck
a baby’s laugh
a silver dollar
an old piece of jewelry
a family portrait
a sunny spring day
the first snowfall
the beach early in the morning
a mountaintop
an intergenerational group roasting marshmallows
singing Christmas carols
playing board games
friends watching a funny movie together
discussing a good book
a school play
a field of wildflowers
the smell of bread baking
a hug and a kiss from a child
a hug and a kiss from the one you love
an old diary
a ticket stub
an old valentine
a newspaper clipping
a christening gown
a child’s drawing
memories
Dream Poem
Recurring
by ARHuelsenbeck
every night I get out of bed
throw on a tee shirt and shorts
carry my sneakers to the front stoop
where I put them on
then run through the town where I grew up
at first my feet don’t want to move
it takes all my willpower to propel them forward
but finally they engage
as I hit my stride, I leave
my old neighborhood of working class houses behind
pass the library and run past the expensive estates
with expansive manicured lawns lit by landscape lanterns
mansions I’ve only dreamed of being inside
it would be peaceful
except as I pass each house
a chorus of barking echoes
intruder! trespasser!
reminding me I don’t belong
and so I run on
virtuously completing my nightly circuit
returning home along the river road
stretching my complaining leg muscles
before removing my sneakers
and slipping back into my bed
Video of the Day: Red & White Quilt Show
This is a long video–19 minutes! But if you’re a quilt nerd, you’ll want to watch every second.
The Heart of Christmas
Last year, my church choir sang the cantata The Heart of Christmas by Pepper Choplin on one of the Sundays preceding Christmas. In this video it begins at the 27:24 point, although you’re welcome to watch the entire church service if you’d like. I’m the second lady at the right of the first row.
Posted in Christmas music
Tagged Christmas cantata, Pepper Choplin, The Heart of Christmas
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Scripture Break #60
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 KJV).
Handbells for Christmas
Christmas is the perfect time to listen to handbell choirs. Here at Doing Life Together, it’s an (almost) annual tradition. So here are some wonderful performances by some of the best handbell ringers on the internet.
Joy to the World, Pine View High School Handbell Choir:
Zion Handbells play The Little Drummer Boy:
These young Praise Ringers perform Greensleeves beautifully:
Pat-a-Pan, St. Olaf Handbell Choir:
Mary Did You Know, FBC Eastman Handbell Choir
Blue Christmas, Carolina Brass:
This Christmas Bell Choir concert is nearly a half hour long. Songs played are Angels We Have Heard on High, Welcome Christmas, The First Noel, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Carol of the Bells:
Can’t get enough Christmas handbells? Check out these posts from past years: 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2019.
Allison Boley
Carol Boley
dgood648
Joy
Andrea R Huelsenbeck
Betty Mason Arthurs
Linda Carlblom
Peggy Levesque
tuesdayschildren100
Judy Robertson
Doing Life Together 