Death’s angel knocks
on every earthly door
Sometime.
Even the homeless are roused
as their time draws near.
The knock begins at birth
Keeping time with the heart.
The knock is so gentle
Many claim they never hear it.
Was it the ears that failed?
Or a fear of meeting
the knocker?
Death’s angel does not come
to frighten us,
But to befriend us,
And show us the way.
We’ll all need her guidance
because in the new life
all is changed.
Those who’d struggled
in a life of poverty and want
Will be led to homes
of blessing and joy
And all those accustomed
To blessing and joy
Will find themselves
in Heaven’s slums,
Surrounded by fear and prejudice.
Glorious life after death
For those who can adjust
To this other-worldly plan,
Promising a future
of justice and equality.
13July2020 - mshr
Monday, July 13, 2020
Friday, July 10, 2020
Curbside Concert
The hours of self-imposed isolation during a pandemic move very slowly. They crawl even more slowly through the aches of age such as impaired eyesight, breathing problems, and the resistance of uncooperative joints.
So we were delighted when we heard of a new program being offered by the local Arts Council. A friend nominated me to be a recipient and I was chosen to receive a “Curbside Concert.”
At 3:00 pm on a recent Sunday afternoon, a pick-up truck pulled into the parking area in our little condo village and the passenger stepped out. In the bed of the truck he set up a large speaker connected by Bluetooth to an iPad which held accompaniment tracks for his music. Then from the back seat, he took out a tenor saxophone. For the next half hour we, and a few of our neighbors, were entertained by some beautiful music on that instrument that had come to visit us. That genial musician had chosen music wisely for his aging audience. Our ears rejoiced at the sound of “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” “Danny Boy,” and other soothing ballads from an age when music sounded like music rather than disorganized noise.
About 3:30 p.m. the musician packed up, waved “goodbye” to his audience and took off for his next gig. What a delightful way to spend some of those pesky pandemic hours!
10 July 2020 - mshr
So we were delighted when we heard of a new program being offered by the local Arts Council. A friend nominated me to be a recipient and I was chosen to receive a “Curbside Concert.”
At 3:00 pm on a recent Sunday afternoon, a pick-up truck pulled into the parking area in our little condo village and the passenger stepped out. In the bed of the truck he set up a large speaker connected by Bluetooth to an iPad which held accompaniment tracks for his music. Then from the back seat, he took out a tenor saxophone. For the next half hour we, and a few of our neighbors, were entertained by some beautiful music on that instrument that had come to visit us. That genial musician had chosen music wisely for his aging audience. Our ears rejoiced at the sound of “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” “Danny Boy,” and other soothing ballads from an age when music sounded like music rather than disorganized noise.
About 3:30 p.m. the musician packed up, waved “goodbye” to his audience and took off for his next gig. What a delightful way to spend some of those pesky pandemic hours!
10 July 2020 - mshr
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