Beauty in Words for Easter

 

God, on us thy mercy show,
Make on us thy blessings flow;
Thy face's beams
From heav'n upon us show'r 
In shining streams:
That all may see
The way of thee,
And know thy saving pow'r.

- From translation of Psalm 67 by Mary Sidney Herbert.

Happy Easter! We can rejoice because the Lord is risen, He is risen indeed!

During Lent I like to read some kind of regular daily reading to keep my heart in tune with the Lord in an intentional poetic way. I have been reading (as I do each year) Malcolm Guite's The Word in the Wilderness (poem a day with reflection), which is always wonderful to go through.

But this year I also discovered the amazing poetry of Mary Sidney Herbert and her brother Philip Sidney. They translated the Psalms together, (side note: I love the sibling writing project) and the Psalms are compiled in this Oxford World Classics book The Sidney Psalter I have been reading. These poems are glorious. Written over years from the late 1580s, and continued by Mary after Philip died very young from a battle wound. They were never officially published in their lifetime, but manuscripts of the newest Psalm would be passed around widely, and were very well known. People would copy out the latest translation and share with others. 

What's marvelous about these poems is that they are hugely influential on the poets I have loved and read for so long, and for good reason - John Donne, George Herbert, John Milton, Edmund Spenser and many other writers praised these poems in print and often borrowed from their style and methods in their own poetry. 

These are God's words, God's words are ever pure:
Pure, purer than the silver throughly tried,
When fire sev'n times hath spent his earthly parts.  

(from the translation of Psalm 12)

Remembering also, this is all done before the King James Version of the Bible was translated (1611) so they were using the Coverdale 1539 translation and the Geneva Bible. They also used French and Latin translations of the Bible. The Sidneys yoked all these together in a compilation that also reflects their own voices and styles. The result is a set of poems that are flowing to read, they use repetitive words beautifully, rhyming that is musical and lovely, and alternating styles from one Psalm to the next. It's an absolute treat reading these Psalms and I can't believe I did not discover them sooner. 

Their images, metaphors, and overall use of language is masterful. Any poet can learn from what they do with words. 

Then fear not we, let quake the ground,
And into seas let mountains fall,
Yea, so let seas withal,
In wat'ry hills arise,
As may the earthly hills appal,
With dread and dashing cries.

For, lo, a river streaming joy
With purling murmur safely slides,
That city washing from annoy,
In holy shrine where God resides.
God in her centre bides:
What can this city shake?
God early aids and ever guides:
Who can this city take?

(from the translation of Psalm 46)

As we reach Easter and all the joy that this Holy-Day (holiday) is, I reach for these Psalms for a fresh turn of words (ironically, very old words, which often provide the freshest perspective) on the familiar Psalms that we all have read during our lives in varied emotional states. What beauty in words these are and I relish in them. 

I mean, how stunning are these lines? Just read them out loud to appreciate the alliterative sounds and flow: 

My tongue the pen to paint his praises forth,
Shall write as swift as swiftest writer may.

(from the translation of Psalm 45)

May you have a blessed Easter!

Where I've Been Lately: Studying, Books, Coffee

 

A visit to an old browsing spot of mine, Parker's Books in downtown Sarasota.

The open, spacious, lovely Selby Public Library in downtown Sarasota. 

Trying a new (to me!) lunch spot in Sarasota, Lila. Delicious cafe with lots of vegan and gf options.

Study spot on the second floor of the Selby Library. I spent a good couple hours here with the best view out the window of downtown. It's a special place that invokes good memories, as this is almost the exact spot I came to research and write my final English paper in high school on Madeleine L'Engle. Love coming back here.

This is about five minutes after I passed the big exam I have been studying for. So much relief, so much to be thankful for in the ability and blessing that it is to study and pass a tough exam.

Hello, Selby Library, my old friend.

Brunch at Project Coffee in Sarasota. Perfect study spot, delicious food and coffee. It fueled me very well for a good, productive day.

Break time for an avocado toast, matcha, and good book at Black n' Brew at the Lakeland Public Library, another regular spot for me.

Made a latte with an abstract tulip? Still working on my latte art skills (eh, pretend skills)

Hallo - It's been a while! It's also been a bit of repeat for me and my life lately, let's see it looks like - study, books, coffee. You haven't missed much. There may have been a slight variety in the pattern, but the study and coffee showed up in the routine like clockwork. 

Most reading time lately has been occupied by the important studying for a big exam I very recently passed. (I did get a few pages of reading for fun squeezed in each night, don't worry.) I am so filled with thankfulness for the opportunity, and I took a great deal of time for it, and for me studying requires that time and effort. I've always been that way. Back in college the regular occurrence would be that I would sit up on my bed with my very chunky textbook and notebook studying for the next accounting exam whilst my roomie went out to a social event. When I have something important to study, I devote myself to it. I put it ahead of all other fun things I might want to do. Most people would call me "too serious". But it's just my way because I want to know the things I am studying. I also see the end date, the light at the end of the tunnel, and I push through, knowing it will pay off to accomplish a big goal.

In my long study hours, my treat has been to make myself a latte. It feels fancy and tastes delicious. I grind some fresh beans, froth some barista oat milk, and pretend I am in a coffee shop using my beautiful cup and saucer, then I would get back to my desk to study. I love studying, honestly - all the research, reading, thinking, practicing. But the big exam at the end is always the scary part I am not super fond of with all the anxious nervousness.

So I am celebrating now! My way includes hours of reading for pleasure and sleeping beyond 5:15 am occasionally. It feels like I have all this time suddenly. It feels like a gift! And it is. Everyday is truly a gift and I am blessed to get to do good work when I am at the office, and then pursue good things in my personal time. 

I had to travel to Sarasota for the exam, and it was a real treat to my pre-test anxiety to be in an old familiar place I love and have always loved since I was a kid. Being downtown was calming, visiting some of the places I've been to countless times helped take my mind off the exam, and I felt less stressed in those hours. I browsed a bookshop I've been to so many times since high school, I sat in the library with views out the window that bring back good memories, I ate delicious food. But I took study time along the way at the coffee shop and library, so I was still productive. It was an ideal situation for me. 

All that rambling catch-up to say - thank you for being here. For stopping by my little blog door and peaking in to read a post. More to come - my schedule is all clear for lots of reading excellent books that have been patiently waiting for me to pick them up!