Melodies

MELODIES

A wren woke me this morning

with a melody forthcoming.

Several notes were heard sung

strung together in a run.

Was it practicing a concerto

with an audition in alto?

It didn't seem to follow the rules

as so many musicians are taught to.

It was up and down the scale

as the melody sailed

through the air,

a loud blare...

for it got my attention

through the window open.

If only I could imitate the melody,

I know you too would think the song was lovely.

If someone would memorize than record,

it would be a #1 hit record.

A heavenly melody

sung without harmony.

Until a cardinal joins in.

What a happy way to begin

this weekday morning -

with joyous singing.

The air is filled with tweets,

chirps, twitters, and cheeps.

This feathered band

awakens humans.

Be sure to start your day with a song.

Before long you'll be singing along.

Your day will be better for it,

if there is a song in it.

* * * * *

Keep a song in your heart

no matter what

for you'll find cheerful singing

changes your disposition.

A joyful attitude

brightens everyone's mood.

Turn some music on

and sing to the song.

You'll feel better.

Your heart lighter.

For music soothes the soul

and fills your heart full.

Not a song of heartache and despair.

A song of joy and hope should fill the air.

Learn a lesson from the birds.

Start each morning in accord

with an attitude of gratitude.

Try it. It will change your mood.

Sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

proclaim is salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:1-3

Sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvelous things;

Psalm 98:1

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn -

shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 98:4-6

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:2-3

Is anyone happy?

Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:13b

...as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16b

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NIV note: Psalms refers to the OT psalms, some of which may have been set to music by the church. Psalm could also describe a song newly composed for Christian worship, where hymn is literally psalm in the Greek text.

A hymn was a song of praise, especially used in a celebration, much like the OT psalms that praised God for all that he is. A song recounted the acts of God and praised him for them, much like the OT psalms that thanked God for all that he had done.

One by One

One by One

One by one

spring comes

a day at a time

over weeks in time.

The sun rises earlier each morn.

You'll notice temperatures slowly warm.

One by one piles of snow melt

before day is done in the snow belt.

One by one twittering birds appear.

To see them return is quite dear.

To hear them return brings cheer

as their tweets ring loud and clear.

This morning chirps and cockles are loudly heard one by one.

Tweets and twitters join in as all the birds under the sun

sing to their hearts content.

I think thankfulness is meant.

Daylight lasts longer in minutes, one by one.

One somehow feels younger as each new spring comes.

An excitement returns

with each new sun-filled morn.

Needed spring rains

green the grass again

and flower bulbs are no longer hibernating

seen one by one now daily awakening.

Purple crocus' bloom

one sun-filled afternoon,

one by one visited by bees

despite the cool spring-time breeze.

One by one daffodils and tulips now race

quickly growing heavenward inch by inch.

They put a smile on my face,

though other things I see bring a wince.

It's time to start winter's clean up.

One by one sticks are picked up.

This afternoon pine cones are raked up

an hour before it's time for sup.

Each spring garden chore is accomplished one by one.

At the end of the day I no longer feel young.

And come tomorrow there's still much more work to be done

while being serenaded by the birds under the sun.

One by one

spring comes.

I couldn't wait for it to come

despite much work to now be done.

* * * * *

Solomon had a lot to say about work:

its satisfaction, its enjoyment, its worth -

for work is a gift from God,

yes, even digging in the sod.

Especially the miracles that spring forth

one by one as each tiny seed brings new birth.

There's a satisfaction, a happiness, a mirth -

waiting to be born under this turf called earth.

Find satisfaction in his work.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

Find satisfaction in all his toil -

this is the gift of God

Ecclesiastes 3:13

There is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

To be happy in his work – this is a gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Joy will accompany him in his work

all the days of the life

God has given him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

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Chorus

Chorus

What's this I hear?

Pleasant to my ears.

One instrument starts,

though it's not a harp,

than another joins in -

soon it sounds like singing.

Another member joins

this joyful chorus line.

A new composition

is being written.

It's an original opus

which seems to greatly please us.

One member of the choir, late

joins this original debate

richly enhancing the song

with his a Capella long.

Confident, he's not at all shy

as his voice floats through the sky.

Another member who felt sick

now feels better for the music

lifted his woebegone spirit

and he soon feels better for it.

He now joins in with song

while tapping his toes along.

This chorus sings without instruments

for their voices are their instruments.

Finely tuned they sing,

morning and evening,

songs of thanksgiving -

a heartfelt offering.

You're met these chorus members before.

They were welcomed outside your door

when the first robin of spring

and other joyfully singing

songbirds

are heard.

* * * * *

Music can lift our spirit

whenever we hear it.

Not just from constructed musical instruments

but also from nature and all it represents.

The buzz of bees is sweet to hear

when to flower blossoms they veer.

The singing of birds

is joyous music heard.

The lapping of the ocean's foam,

the rushing of the river's drone,

the wind that blows,

the cattle's low.

The bleating of sheep,

a chick's peep-peep-peep,

the rooster's er-er-er-er-errr,

the drip of a passing rain shower.

And quacks and clucks and gobbles and honks

all add to the music that talks...

in fact, shouts for joy to the Lord

for nature is never bored.

It celebrates with music.

Don't be shy, join in it.

Make any joyful noise.

Your spirit will be buoyed.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn -

shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea resound, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it.

Let the rivers clap their hands,

let the mountains sing together with joy;

let them sing before the Lord.

Psalm 98:4-9

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Spring

Spring

Spring has begun

when songbirds come

and hatch their young.

Spring has begun

when birds feed their young ones

just caught earthworms – yum!

Spring has begun

when you hear bees hum

under the beaming sun.

Spring has begun

when laundry's hung

out in the open.

Spring has begun

with fresh new scents sprung

or when skunks surprise someone.

Spring has begun

when yard work is begun,

though it feels like a ton.

Spring has begun

when flower bulbs open.

Many bringing pollen.

Spring has begun.

Earth hums

with fun.

Spring has begun.

Is any season

more welcome? None.

* * * * *

God has begun a good work in you

and He will bring it to completion, too,

for your life's history

plays a part in His story.

Yes, it's true, God could have chose someone else,

but He chose you, with your one-of-a-kind help,

to be His ambassador from His family of faith

filling you with His love, joy, peace, faithfulness, and grace.

So remain strong

in the face of wrong

and let God, who has already begun a good work in you,

use you to show others His way is faithful and true.

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it?

I am making a way...

Isaiah 43:18-19

Being confident of this;

that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion.

Philippians 1:6

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors,

as though God were making his appeal through us.

II Corinthians 5:20

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

Whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -

think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

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Thrills

Thrills

Despite a noticeable chill

in the early morning air still

there's much about that thrills

this first day of April.

Chirping birds trills thrill

from songbirds bills

as melodies spill

across the hills.

An a Capella chirp at will.

Someone else sounds like a drill.

A refrain answered with a trill.

A chorus spills from someone's bill.

Fat buds thrill on bobbing daffodils

surrounding yet-to-be-born yellow frills.

Warm, sunny days will

soon open their five gills.

Perhaps it's the many trills

that pop open these frills.

Perhaps daffodils can't wait to thrill

after their long internment is filled.

Another thrill might be seen, not heard, over the hill

when the sunset graces the sky overhead at will.

Be sure to watch this kaleidoscope change, it will,

from gold to orange to pink. It always thrills!

Before long the sun slips behind the hill.

Twilight descends as quiet silently spills

upon hidden nooks and rills

as chirps and trills become still.

Listen to these musical trills

bid each other goodnight, it'll thrill,

as birds communicate then become still

as quiet descends and the day ends fulfilled.

Nightfall again brings a chill

overlaying rills and hills

until,

until...

the new day's morning sun will

silently peek through window sills

while joyous trills

once again thrill.

Which awakens the day: sunlight that spills

or the joyful chorus of songbirds trill

heard every sunny morning, it will,

welcoming the days of April?

* * * * *

April means "to hope," signifying the beginning of spring

as when birds sing and flowers appear each and every spring.

In my neck of the woods, snowdrops and crocus begin spring's dance,

then trumpeting daffodils and tulip's exclamation points enhance

after the spring rains green the grass

and songbirds return at long last.

Everyday there's something new

in our gardens to view.

A welcome anticipation

after winter's long duration.

A joyous celebration awaits

as spring gloriously awakes.

Flowering bulbs buds open

eliciting smiles often.

Happiness graces

gardeners faces

as miracles daily unfold

like tangible gifts of gold.

Spring's rebirth

gives birth

to more than blooming flowers.

There's an unspoken power.

Anticipation

replaces depression.

Hope is restored

as angst is moored

replaced by a can-do attitude

improving everyone's dismal mood.

The advent of spring, yearly giving birth,

offers hope to everyone on earth.

For, lo, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds has come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (KJV)

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;

but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 (KJV)

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