Category Archives: Wednesday Words

Wednesday Words: 11 December 2013

Over the last year or two, there has been a lot of debate (not, I would add, without good cause) on the justification, cost, and effectiveness of our country’s involvement in military action. I came across these lines by Chesterton:

The men that worked for England
They have their graves at home:
And bees and birds of England
About the cross can roam.

But they that fought for England
Following a falling star,
Alas, alas for England
They have their graves afar.

And they that rule in England,
In stately conclave met,
Alas, alas for England
They have no graves as yet.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 – 1936)

Note the time in which Chesterton lived. What’s changed?

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

‘Wednesday’ Words: 29 August 2013

The inverted commas are a concession to the fact that the twenty-ninth is Thursday. Publication was delayed due to (ahem) pressure of other commitments. There. Looks plausible, doesn’t it? I’ll stick to that, then…

How many times have you heard (or even said) that expression ‘you can prove anything on paper’ in a cynical way?

One somewhat scathing summary was:

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

Benjamin Disraeli  (1804 – 1881)

But this is perhaps a kinder approach to the concept:

“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts – for support
rather than illumination.”

Attributed to Andrew Lang  (1844 – 1912)

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 21 August 2013

For ‘Wednesday Words’ this week, as hosted by Emma at Crazy With Twins, I first of all reflected a little on the way I often tend not to credit singers or ‘showbiz’ personalities with much capability for serious thought. Others of you may feel the same, if you think it over. Now, some, indeed, may be rather empty-headed; I say may. But many have made some striking observations! Here is one that I love:

“A fan will grab you and hug you and will not let go. When that happens,
you wish it could be that way all over the world.”

Charley Pride, American country music singer  (b.1938)

I think this quote, like his singing, shows a depth of feeling. Try this one… and while you’re at it, read this biography. Quite an eye-opener!

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 14 August 2013

Anyone who, in whatever capacity, teaches others, especially adults, may care to reflect on this:

“Strike a balance between what people need, what they have already achieved,
and the learning opportunities you can realistically provide for them.”

 – from Adult Learning Adult Teaching by John Daines with Carolyn Daines
and Brian Graham  (Fourth edition, 2006 – Welsh Academic Press)

A good guide to go by, I think…

Copyright is acknowledged. This quotation is published under the scope of the ‘fair dealing’ provision under UK copyright law in regard of ‘criticism and news reporting’. (In this case, positive criticism.) 

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 24 July 2013

A few of you know of my passion for war poetry; when I tweeted out my Silent Sunday post three days ago, I quoted:

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old…”

That was because the plane in that photo, a DC3, actually served as a supplies aircraft in World War 2; at the ‘fly past’ I witnessed, we were exhorted to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice – then, before, and since.

But did the ‘war poets’ only ever write poems about war? I’ve often wondered about this – and then, just today, I found this:

The Little Dancers

Lonely, save for a few faint stars, the sky
Dreams; and lonely, below, the little street
Into its gloom retires, secluded and shy.
Scarcely the dumb roar enters this soft retreat;
And all is dark, save where come flooding rays
From a tavern window; there, to the brisk measure
Of an organ that down in an alley merrily plays,
Two children, all alone and no one by,
Holding their tattered frocks, through an airy maze
Of motion lightly threaded with nimble feet
Dance sedately; face to face they gaze,
Their eyes shining, grave with a perfect pleasure.

Robert Laurence Binyon (1869 – 1943)

It seems to me that, just as he could portray such vivid images of war, with all its horror and consequences, and, at the same time, honour the fallen, Binyon could give us insight into touching social scenery totally detached from war; here, clearly a part of an era now long gone, and yet some time-honoured activities survive!

Thank you for reading.

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 17 July 2013

Some of you who know me here, and on Twitter, know of my passion for both poetry, and history that is brought to life. Thinking over what I might post here today for this linky, I settled on this poem, that takes us back to World War One, by one of the great war poets…

Everyone Sang

Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on–on–and out of sight.

Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away … O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.

Siegfried Sassoon (1886 – 1967)

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 26 June 2013

It’s been a busy day, so this will be a teensy weensy effort… but I remembered this:

You poor idiots who despise me for my way of saying ‘me’
If you were my close friends, you would know how I say ‘thee’.

Sasha Guitry  (1885 – 1957)

(The translation is my own – I think I’ve got it substantially correct.)

Perhaps we are like that, sometimes; it is often easier to focus negatively on some mannerism than truly appreciate someone for who, and what, they are. Happily, though, generally, the blogging community is an appreciative one – I have personally felt its warmth!

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 12 June 2013

OK, so I’m a sentimental old what-not… But let’s hear it for old-fashioned love poems, now and then! I’ve chosen this one for Wednesday Words, as hosted each week by Emma over at Crazy With Twins. It was written in 1928 as an adaptation of an Italian aria in the opera ‘Tolomeo’ (Ptolemy) by Handel.

Silent Worship

Did you not hear My Lady
Go down the garden singing
Blackbird and thrush were silent
To hear the alleys ringing

Oh saw you not My Lady
Out in the garden there
Shaming the rose and lily
For she is twice as fair.

Though I am nothing to her
Though she must rarely look at me
And though I could never woo her
I love her till I die.

Surely you heard My Lady
Go down the garden singing
Silencing all the songbirds
And setting the alleys ringing.

But surely you see My Lady
Out in the garden there
Rivalling the glittering sunshine
With a glory of golden hair.

Sir Arthur Somervell (1863 – 1937)

Set to the music by George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)

You can listen to this song here, sung by David Hughes.

Wednesday Words

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest

Wednesday Words: 15 May 2013

Actually being posted late Thursday… (circumstances beyond our control, blah, blah, blah…)

Anyway, many of you know what a sucker I am for sentimental songs! I thought of this one – another favourite:

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White

It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white
When your true lover comes your way
It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white
The poets say.

The story goes that once a cherry tree
Beside an apple tree did grow,
And there a boy once met his bride to be
Long, long ago.

The boy looked into her eyes
It was a feat to enthrall
The breezes started their sighs
The blossoms started to fall
And, as they gently caressed
The lovers looked up to find
The branches of the two trees
Were intertwined.

And so that’s why the poets often write
When there’s a new moon up above
It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white
When you’re in love.

Words by Mack David (1912 – 1993)
Music by Louis Guglielmi aka Louigay (1916 – 1991)

Here is a link to a video.

Wednesday Words
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest