How Long the Winter Lasts

donaldlindsey Free Verse, Student Poems , , , , , ,

Logan Rose is a 13-year-old who is homeschooled in Michigan and loves creative writing. I was his instructor in a course titled Ancient Civilizations (Literature), at Coram Deo Academics, a homeschooling co-op, over the past two semesters. Logan is the first place winner of our class poetry contest this year for his poem titled “How Long the Winter Lasts.” Congratulations to Logan!

How Long the Winter Lasts

How long the winter lasts
How soon the springtime fades
How we love the springtime
And playing in the glades

After spring comes summer
And the weather is cleared
How we love this season
That banished all we feared

Let us not forget fall
The period of change
When the green leaves turn red
But also a whole range

How long the winter lasts
How soon the springtime fades
How we love the springtime
And playing in the glades

Copyright © by Logan Rose
All rights reserved, 18 June 2020

Unabashed Innocence

donaldlindsey Haiku , , , , , ,

““Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return” – Job 1:21

unblemished joy

glide from the warmth of the womb

into tepid bath

Cosmic Blunder

donaldlindsey Haiku , , , , ,

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”–Mark Twain

virus with soft voice

seduces with subtle lies

so we stay inside

Trails of Grace

donaldlindsey Essay / Criticism, Free Verse , , , , 


Longfellow's famous poem "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" contains a stanza we can hang our hats on, no matter how difficult things are in our lives:

"And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'”

I'm grateful to the The Gospel Coalition for leaving this morsel of truth. It altered my perspective and softened my pragmatic heart this past Christmas season. It made me see how small my difficulties are.  

Sometimes we read or listen to poetry blindly, without bothering to look into the circumstances of its conception. I urge you to select the link above, read Longfellow's story and his poem, and think about the impact that Luke 2:14 had imprinted in his consciousness. 

The truth is that there never has been peace on earth. The world has never been free of the bonds of hatred. But pure joy & peace comes from a source outside ourselves. 

Longfellow shows us how to overcome our circumstances and find grace in the most unlikely space and time, and perhaps the most ironic situation imaginable. 

Peace among those with whom He is well pleased!