Sunday Blessings

The Summer 2015 issue of Time Of Singing, A Journal Of Christian Poetry was in the mail this week. This small press literary journal is international.  Lora Homan Zill, Editor, also mentions that “TOS is sent to prison inmates, libraries and church libraries.”  TOS is published by Wind & Water Press.

I’ve mentioned that the large print book from Quiet Christmas Poetry is for sale on the TOS books page.  The first book listed is Welcoming Hope: Poems for those in need (2007, Elin Grace Publishing).  This is an anthology, with poems by several poets, and illustrated by Charles A. Waugaman.  It feels as new as the day we first published the book.

With all the wonderful fruit for sale in the stores these days, I thought I’d reprint this poem, by Charles A. Waugaman, from Welcoming Hope.  All proceeds from both books benefit the good work of TOS, which was founded by Dr. Benjamin P. Browne in 1958.  Audrey Stallsmith is the Webmaster for the TOS website.

SALVAGING HOPE

Like truth out of living
I salvage blueberries, one by one,
From the tangled mat of the meadow.
Small as they are,
The grasses fight for them,
Vetch maneuvers in camouflage,
And wild rose claws at my wrists.
Birds spy from the hedgerow
And sing indifferent melodies
Hoping to lure me away
From their succulent repast.
Why this surprising demand?
Blueberries are wealth:
They are something of sun
And something of soil;
They are sky and wildness;
Beauty and wine,
Winnowed from weedy worthlessness,
Blueberries glow in my palm
As welcome … as hope.

By Charles A. Waugaman (1932 – 2010), all rights reserved.

Post updated on August 15, 2015

Time Of Singing – Facebook

Time Of Singing has several interesting posts on Facebook.  There is current news about poets and poetry, ideas, quotes, and other information.  I read there today.

Lora Homan Zill is the editor of Time Of Singing.

Poetry notes

As I was reading the new Time Of Singing, I remembered that Betty Spence has a blog.  I read her work first in TOS.

Today I see a wonderful poem by Darlene Moore Berg in my WordPress reader.  I remember first reading her poems in TOS, when I was caring for my mother, and maybe before then.

Darlene’s site is Darlene’s Poetical Pursuits.

As many of you know, Lora Homan Zill is the editor of TOS and her site is the blue collar artist.

Blessings, Ellen

Christmas Chapbook and Time Of Singing

As many of you know from my first blog, Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin, my small site, Quiet Christmas Poetry, is now available as a large print book.  The Christmas site will stay online as a free version of the print book.  People read in so many ways now, which is wonderful.

The book is listed at Time Of Singing, on their books page.  All proceeds benefit this poetry print journal, which was founded in 1958 by Dr. Benjamin Browne.  Lora Homan Zill is the current editor, and Charles A. Waugaman was the editor when I began with this journal in the late 1980s.

Here on Poems From Psalms And Nature, I created a special page for the book: Quiet Christmas Poetry Chapbook.  There is a large picture of the cover, which is a favorite photo by Karl, of the Lake Michigan beach in winter.

The design of the book reflects my past career in special education, and the years I served as one of my mother’s caregivers.  Along with home health care, I also spent a lot of time with my mother in a nursing home.  I think this book will work well for all ages.  My many years of reading and writing haiku are also a major influence.  When I was recovering from major surgery and a chronic illness, the simplicity of haiku chapbooks blessed me, and continues to bless.

And I prayed the Psalms, and continue to pray the Psalms.

So this is a book of short poems and Bible verses (32 pages).  It is a gentle book.  There are two blank pages at the end, if readers wish to write a few poems of their own.  Or perhaps if someone is reading the book, taking a short break, a place to write a list for a store, or something to remember to share with a friend.  A prayer.  I hold this book close to my heart, and I also let it go.

This work would not have been completed without Karl’s help.  And thanks again to Lora Zill for handling the sales of the book.  Her press is Wind & Water Press.

Thank you, Ellen

Editor’s Arias by Lora Homan Zill

Yesterday, I watched rain turn to snow.  How beautiful the view outside the windows.  I’m rereading the Winter 2012-13 issue of Time Of Singing.

Lora Homan Zill’s Editor’s Aria reflects upon the Christmas story, and holding on to hope in our complex world.  Her article can be read on the Editor’s Arias page at Time Of Singing.  She writes about how poetry “gives us the space to wrestle with existential questions, and then settle in the depths of the Mystery when they remain unanswered.”  She hopes TOS offers a community where we are not alone as we seek, and where we can be at peace along the way, in our journeys of faith.

Lora also blogs with WordPress.  Her site is the blue collar artist, knowing God through creative work.

Time Of Singing is published by Wind & Water Press.  Lora will be handling the sales for the Christmas book Karl and I are working to complete (almost ready for the printer).  We are donating proceeds to TOS, to help with postage.

Time Of Singing Fall 2014

Yesterday the new Time Of Singing, A Magazine Of Christian Poetry arrived.

Lora Homan Zill is the Editor.

Many years ago, I found this excellent poetry print journal through Poet’s Market.  I was teaching and remember I had completed my grades, and then I stopped at a bookstore at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois (late 1980s).

Lora included a note in the new TOS about the review I wrote for a new book by Luci Shaw.  I posted the review on Amazon.com, and the title of Luci’s book is Adventure of Ascent, Field Notes from a Lifelong Journey (IVP Books).  As Lora mentioned, former editor Charles A. Waugaman published Luci Shaw in Time Of Singing years ago.  My few short reviews for Luci Shaw’s books are thank you notes.

Karl and I are working on a chapbook for Quiet Christmas Poetry.  We are donating all proceeds to Time Of Singing, which is now in its 41st Volume.

As with all of our blogs, we keep offering hope, keep growing our art.  A day at a time.  Sometimes too the fields are fallow, and then the work is renewed.

The photo of the geranium is by Karl.

A few Monday blessings

“Summery Tanka” by Carol Purington at Woodslawn Farm.

The Lyric, edited by Jean Mellichamp Milliken.  This poetry print journal has been publishing traditional poetry since 1921.  Please visit their website for more information.  I’m reading many poems aloud.

I learned of The Lyric years ago from Time Of Singing, edited by Lora Homan Zill.  I am also rereading TOS as I look forward to the next issue.  Rereading poetry brings much peace and beauty to my days.  Sometimes I return to a poem I read years ago, and it’s like hearing from an old friend again.

Many of the peonies in our area are bowed down by the rain.  Ours have not bloomed yet, with the cooler weather by Lake Michgian.  The photos by Karl are from July 2011.  There have almost always been peonies where I have lived.  My parents had white, pink, and red peonies.