Simply Footbridge

Footbridge of Life
Written by Peter A. Todd

The ocean's tide is a reflection of Life
As our nights are turned into days
Young people with hands clung tight
Searching their hearts for words to say
Children running and playing along the beach
Building sand castles of their dreams
The elders crossing the bridge at days peak
Mirrored by the evenings moonlight gleam
The ocean reaching into the shadowed sands
Erasing the footprints along the way
Night's glistening moon,mirror of God's hand
Guiding Natures course along the bay
The Footbridge crosses the Sands of Time
That we in our hearts must not ignore
We must treasure Life for all that it holds
For in its passing in Faith we gain Heaven's shore

Simply Footbridge

C_A_B

Simply Dusk Redux

Dusk again at Niles Beach.
Something about the sun setting over water makes people gaze out over it.

The Sea Of Sunset
written by Emily Dickinson

This is the land the sunset washes,
These are the banks of the Yellow Sea;
Where it rose, or whither it rushes,
These are the western mystery!
Night after night her purple traffic
Strews the landing with opal bales;
Merchantmen poise upon horizons,
Dip, and vanish with fairy sails.

Dusk At Sea
written by Thomas S. Jones Jr.

To-night eternity alone is near:
The sea, the sunset, and the darkening blue;
Within their shelter is no space for fear,
Only the wonder that such things are true.

The thought of you is like the dusk at sea --
Space and wide freedom and old shores left far,
The shelter of a lone immensity
Sealed by the sunset and the evening star.

Tutto è Sciolto
written by James Joyce

A birdless heaven, sea dusk, one lone star
Piercing the west,
As thou, fond heart, love's time, so faint, so far,
Rememberest.

The clear young eyes' soft look, the candid brow,
The fragrant hair,
Falling as through the silence falleth now
Dusk of the air.

Why then, remembering those shy
Sweet lures, repine
When the dear love she yielded with a sigh
Was all but thine?

Nile’s Beach Sunset
written by Peter A. Todd

I gaze upon the evening sunset.
This outstretched Island of golden sand,
As it reflects along our rocky inlet.
Its majestic beach, smoothed by each tides hand.
The shimmering like diamonds of the sea,
As the sun begins to settle in the west.
The Tall Ships sailing through the winter breeze,
As darkness covers at the waters crest.
The mighty waves begin to pound at our shore,
As the nights chill makes the barometer fall.
The call of nature brings its creatures to sing ,
The song of winters first mating call.
What a beautiful and glorious sight,
That our father in Heaven brings to me.
It brings to mind of how beautifully bright,
Gods many mansions in Heaven will be.

Simply Dusk Redux

C_A_B

Simply Reflections

Reflections of our Flag
written by Peter A. Todd

The stars of night glitter bright
As each day is changed by the tides
To gaze upon our vast twilight
With loved ones by our side
The white of the moon peeking through the cloud
While the crickets sing their song
It can really make a person proud
Of this country where we all belong
To see our flags in the cool nights breeze
Can cause your heart to skip a beat
Reflecting our memories of all who've died
Our gratitude shall never cease
So treasure this our Free Nation
The cost of it has been so great
Remember Life is of God's creation
Unto his heaven is our fate

Simply Reflecting

C_A_B

Simply Jacob

A view of Mt. Jacob Cemetery in West Gloucester with poetry by Peter A. Todd.

Jacob's Resting
written by Peter A. Todd

In fields of somber stones
There lies West Gloucester heritage
For it is their wisdom we must atone
For all the hidden beauty to find
Such as the animals of God's kingdom
The natural caress of love defined
West Gloucester and its secrets
Not even in Library books to see
Stories both true and fable
Of the men and women that kept us free
Stones now imbedded in earth
To mark each resting place
Names once etched yet now erased
Only the memory in the loved to search

Simply Jacob

C_A_B

Simply Martin's Dream

The election cycle is over for this year, although I have already started to see hints of it starting up again. I know that the end of elections always results in one side feeling elated and while the other feels dejected. In the past, however, each side tended to be more civil towards each other, most likely because sharing an opinion or expressing a view required doing it in person. This has not been as true during the last few elections.

One of the advantages that the Internet and blogs provide is the ability to quickly and easily share opinions. However, this is also one its detriments. A number of the local blogs that I read are now being filled with postings from gloating winners and sore losers. There continues to be much vitriol and name-calling expressed on both sides. I sincerely doubt that this would be the case if the posters were speaking in person. Although, if they were discussing the issues over a cup of coffee, I would hope that the cups had lids on to prevent undue splashings!

Please do not take this in any manner as a suggestion that access or opinion sharing should be restricted or controlled. I believe highly in the "switch the channel" mode of operating. If you do not like what you are hearing, reading or watching, change the channel, turn the TV / radio off, go to a different blog, etc.

I find myself doing that today. Skipping blogs and websites. Looking for something to read or hear that I've missed or overlooked.

Today, when jumping around some of the Cape Ann websites and blogs, I landed in Peter Todd land. I've mentioned Peter's poetry in the past but had missed this one. I hope you enjoy it.

Colors United Martin’s Dream
By Peter Todd

We search for colors to see
Such as the ocean’s and the hue of Liberty
There is still one outstanding color
That represents life and humans such as we
That of the color of blood Jesus shed
On that dark day that represents inhumanity
We see the color of purple its stature grand
Within the color Yellow of earths sand
Brown, Black, Red and Tan in Martin’s dream
United skins of colors of our Creator’s land
You see Martin dream is God’s reality
For all of his children bleed the same as he
Our Savior died on Faith’s Calvary’s tree
Lift up your voices high and pray to the Lord
Martin’s dream in truth reveals
Hatred of indifference is of the Devil’s sword
Poetry is the Vision of the Soul through the spirit of one’s soul

Simply Martin's Dream

C_A_B

Simply Rainy

The Story of Doctor Foster

Doctor Foster
Went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle
Right up to his middle
And never went there again!

Okay. Different Gloucester.
How about this one?

A Grey Day by William Vaughn Moody

Grey drizzling mists the moorlands drape,
Rain whitens the dead sea,
From headland dim to sullen cape
Grey sails creep wearily.
I know not how that merchantman
Has found the heart; but 'tis her plan
Seaward her endless course to shape.

Unreal as insects that appall
A drunkard's peevish brain,
O'er the grey deep the dories crawl,
Four-legged, with rowers twain:
Midgets and minims of the earth,
Across old ocean's vasty girth
Toiling--heroic, comical!

I wonder how that merchant's crew
Have ever found the will!
I wonder what the fishers do
To keep them toiling still!
I wonder how the heart of man
Has patience to live out its span,
Or wait until its dreams come true.

Give this one a read from Peter Todd!

Little Child

Little child walk with me
Let me show you a gift from God
It is our since time birth
Heaven's skies and earths green sod
Please take my hand walk by my side
Through God's wonders we will stride
Look to the mountains so high above
Behold all the colors of the rainbows love
Miles of beaches of golden sands
The mighty ocean abiding its hand
The sprinkling of rain helping the flowers grow
Stretched afar on our earth below
The churches some small others large with steeples
In my prayers to be filled with many people
My child this is your gift from God above
Treasure this knowledge,this my message of true love

Simply Damp and Wet (Again!)

C_A_B