Tuesday, November 17, 2020

The voice utters what the eye cannot reach

 The voice utters 

what the eye cannot reach—it provokes us—

from moment to moment!

“You think too much

of articulation, “ it says.

“Do you understand

how the roots of a tree 

are folded,

wait in the icy cold soil

for the warmth of the sun to

break through?”


Time moves slowly …seasons

pursuing seasons—  in the country,

and in the city...

It’s good to gain more strength!

Roots stretch, stretch, stretch

in the dark—

to find deliverance.

Eventually they lift 

themselves out, 

welcomed by the light,

encompass wider worlds,

are beyond space confined,

shine by their own light.

Wide, oh so wide—

the height of the crown 

is delight!

Thursday, November 5, 2020

All things must change

“A river runs through it...”

All things must change, 

be created new—

from earth and stone

the world’s tears...


EMH—11/5/20 6:22PM


Monday, October 26, 2020

The Servant Leader Revised 03/20

The Servant-Leader:

The role model … 

The risk-taker …

The promoter of others … 

The initiator …

Not the moocher—

But the giver

Is the one who will walk … 

That extra mile—stride

In another … person's shoes … 

Listen!  He and she truly

 Lead, and are …

Always approachable … 

The door of the heart 

Never closes-- 

… As she listens …

She learns —

As does he—

They work together,

Avoiding the arrogance 

That is ignorance—


Both… tend to be...

Generous … 

They wash …

Each other’s feet … 

And the feet of those

Who need it most!


Her words are matched by her gait,

And with her gentle grace

Those before her feel secure—

And he becomes 

Measured, modest and more restrained!


Both by nature are ‘night birds’—

Become leaders 

In the sunlight!


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Love That Binds

As you and I learn to know Love
and its healing power
we experience its gentle tranquillity,
purity, and grace, where
harmony and joy superbly flower.

Here, we rest safe
in the Christly consciousness of good,
where Love reflected by you and me
is silently understood.
Aware that Love bright with light

exposes evil's tales, we see
unkind, selfish, fearful thoughts
as error-woven,
tattered, unreal veils
—evil as naught.

We feel spiritually bold, strengthened
by God's unerring law—
accepting gratefully divine Love
and its shadow-dissolving
glow.

And hear Love's voice, sublime,
gently saying, "All, 
all are mine."
We behold
God-derived brotherly affections
spiritually bind.



From the October 1997 issue of The Christian Science Journal

Friday, September 11, 2020

O Tree!

 O Tree—

one breath of yours

its fragrance

leave upon my verse!

I compose more in my heart 

than by these words!  I mean it and so, I’ll say it—

you help me live,

are a comfort in need!

Who understands your great worth?

Stay strong 

through fire and wind!


Soft, soft air—cool the heat!

O how one desires the flickering stars!

The overhead dark!

To look out from a tree 

And see 

The immensity of space—

To grow into it,

Feel refreshed,

Life as it regenerates!

So let it be

here and now!

And I cry out:

“Oh, peace, peace, peace!”




From the collection of my poetry, “A Glorious Vision Shaded”


O Tree!

one breath of yours

its fragrance

leave upon my verse!

I compose more in my heart 

than by these words!  I mean it and so I’ll say it—

you help me live,

are a comfort in need!


Who understands your great worth?

Stay strong 

through fire and wind!


Soft, soft—

the air 

coming from you

cools the heat!

O how one desires the flickering stars!

The overhead dark!

To look out from your canopy

And see 

The immensity of space—

To grow into it,

Feel refreshed,

Life as it regenerates!


So let it be

here and now!

And I cry out:

“Oh, peace, peace, peace!”


Rev. March 9, 2022







Thursday, August 20, 2020

In a shady room


In a shady room
the curtains

untied usher in

a cool breeze, and a ray

of light

gently touches my skin.

I smile, and hum

a little tune!  

My voice echoes down

into this earth—

friends speak

of the nation’s plight…

I try to distance myself 

from what is soon-to-be behind—

for a good reason!

Moments of stillness are

a miracle in themselves!

What is less or more?




In a shady room

the curtains

untied usher in

a cool breeze, and a ray

of light

gently touches my skin.

I smile, and hum

a little tune,

it echoes down

into this earth

as the rain softly waters 

a field!

Friends, neighbors speak

of the nation’s plight…

though I am moved,

I distance myself 

from the noise and unrest,

all that soon-to-be behind—

for a good reason!

Moments of stillness are

miracles in themselves!

What is less or more?


Rev August 2020











Friday, August 14, 2020

As painful memories flee

As painful memories flee

My heart is at ease! 

A veil is lifted

From a wondrous 

World within—

Just steps away—from

The mundane

Into the sublime!

Thus a smile…

Moonlight suffuses

The sky,

A firefly raised up 

By the wind

Abandons itself

To infinite height!






Friday, July 17, 2020

Exile - revised 2020

Exile

In my solitary way, when words of love
I silently say, I smile and gaze
At memories of sweet embrace,
Glorious vision shaded,
Words on the breath faded—
Settled by the water’s cool
Fondness ushers in a rule.

To my incredulous surprise,
What do I recognize?
An ever-present treasure:
A friend I hold too dear—
As to a reflection in the pond
I am drawn near...

My life is now a hermit’s part,
With Love the beacon of my heart.
Above the whistling of the breeze
A box of music arriving for my needs
Alights with joy a gaze, a smile
That once reflectively beguiled,
Now, melodiously veracious—
With “Thank you, dear” starting,
Restraint echoes through the voice.

Well, Love reopens eyes,
Never again such sacrifice,
For heart and soul and mind parting!
Ask, “Who is the ruler of the heart?”
If love is true, it’s destined
According to Mind’s sacred plot,
Nothing else affords more earthly joy.
If such is our fate—why try to escape?
Why cause anguish by mistake?
Why remove so suddenly the good?
Why, the flirt hastens to his mood,
Is downcast—ah, worldy shared complaint,
Unavailing constraint!

Oh, blessed eyes serene beyond,
Seeing only the very best in man,
Which never is withdrawn
When love, holy beauty awakens at dawn.

Rev. July 15, 2020

Thursday, July 2, 2020

As a longing—quivering flames

As a longing—
Quivering flames—
The healing idea appears,
Its irradiency
Burns through human misery
Cleansing the heart 
Making it pure and the thought crystal clear.
I find Love never absent, then—
A glimpse 
Of goodness so near!
I know how ever long it takes
Fear and sadness must flee—
I exist.
That is enough!  

Monday, June 29, 2020

Within my mind the windows of meaning...

Within my mind the windows of meaning
Open wide—to the day I sought—
And I look out to see what Life has made:

No useful idea too deep
          Or hidden to understand,
No useful idea too lofty
          Or too high,
No useful idea as would carry
          An overbearing burden!

A useful idea is to unfold,
          No matter how long it may take...
                         
Who does not know the endless arguments?

It is better to do nothing contrary to ones’
Highest sense of good!

I will be ready for the winds,
They will blow, be merciless!
                       
From the sea will come a mighty rain
And wash the earth clean of the dust
And soak the dry, thirsty ground!
The herb-bearing seeds will grow
And grow— fruit as the flowers!

Behold!  The trees
Will cover the face of the earth—
How pleasant
And satisfying to our sight!

 Is that just my poetic nature speaking?


Inspired by the Book of Genesis

Sunday, June 28, 2020

I breath in the air...

I breathe in the air,
It is full of rain—
Wet!
A blueish flower 
Is bending towards me yet
So still—
Gently it says, „Can you come near me?
I am not stuck up… I’m in my place, please
Come very close, and you 
May learn of my dreaming!“

Beautiful rose,
You grow and bloom
Wherever the land and the water is!
Glow and I’ll breathe in your
Sweet fragrance
That is floating by in the cool breeze,
A fragrance all of your own,
So you too
Will rest after the sun
Has gone down,
Be refreshed
When a little bird greets 
A new day…

EMH June 2020, Rev. August 2021








I breathe in the air
It is full of rain
Wet!
A blueish flower is bending towards me
So still—solitary at midday!
Gently I say, „Ah, can I come near you?
I am not stuck up… I’m in my place, please
Let me come very close,
And you can learn of my dreaming—
If it  is not inclusive, then know, it’s nothing! —
Beautiful rose,
You grow and bloom
Wherever the land and the water is!
Glow and I’ll breathe in your
Sweet fragrance
That is floating by in the cool breeze,
A fragrance all of your own,
So you too
Can rest after the sun
Has gone down,
Until a little bird greets a new day…“
Early noon—
Overhead the sun shines brightly again.

June 2020


Saturday, June 20, 2020

The sea breeze smells like a wheat field








The sea breeze
Smells like a wheat field,
I rise near the shore.
It‘s elemental within me.
Cornflowers bring the beauty of many years!
Noiselessly swinging their heads,
Giving me their hearts —and
Grace to my days!
I behold the Essence in their faces,
And in mine.
This is called a broad view,
The sameness of intent …






Sunday, April 26, 2020

Variations On a Symbol — “Ah, the curtain...”

Ah, the curtain, 
I see it hiding your deep 
visceral emotion, 
a genuine empathy 
of your heart’s unseen 
but for now 
stranded notions.

The voice of Love
gently flies over the waters, 
gently sounds on the strand, 
gently fills the sky 
and lifts its darkness. 
I smell the rain, 
its freshness, 
not a flood 
but gently pouring. 

O little love-bird, 
let Love winged
still your unrest 
that toils to weave 
a warm nest 
waiting,
waiting on the sand, 
yet waiting 
in its gloom of love consumed.

From the deep sources of your mood 
see the clouds moving, 
see a ribbon of blue sky shining through! 
Dear heart! What is the silent torment, 
what makes you pining? 

Little one, shake your feathers
and join the skylark's upward rising!


Monday, March 2, 2020

Cornflowers

cornflowers—
each blossom
a single thought
of peace—beauty
and love—
ah, mine soul shines!





Sunday, March 1, 2020

A child walkIng along the beach--


A child walking

along the beach—

who follows it?

How are we to understand

those who have only rocks

weighing on their hearts?

Are oblivious to a soft light

touching the grass?

Hate and scorn

bring tears to my eyes,

labor to my steps…

Does not innocence deserve

care and kindness by

those who follow its

imprint in the sand?














Tuesday, January 7, 2020

I live at my ease

I live at my ease
Observing the tips of
Autumn leaves...
Thoughts open
To the movement of each—
A dance with the wind!
Unfaltering praise!

EMH (0ctober/2020)







The moonbeam at night
gently shines on a searching mind,
sorrow-filled—one is at a loss
to be still. The soft light
of the moon cannot reveal
the vast landscape
of a sadness hidden;
the forest is moody and distant,
even though the light silently
spreads over the trees,
over all creatures sleeping
but for the swans—
ah, the moonbeam at night
hides the romance of the heart!  Yet
its winsome wings
are woven into the beam
and reach the horizon,
up to the dim stars
of a dark blue sky,
in the beam of the light
touch a restless mind—
beyond the stillness,
beyond the throbbing heart—
but you, dear, in your spacious soul
feel the softness and the cool
of a certain calm,
as thought races over space
towards you,
to ask for the balm
of your gentle heart!



The moonbeam at night
gently shines on a searching mind,
sorrow-filled—one is at a loss
to be still. The soft light
of the moon cannot reveal
the vast landscape
of a sadness hidden;
the forest is moody and distant,
even though the light silently
spreads over the trees,
over all creatures sleeping
but for the swan—
does it ever sleep?
Ah, the moonbeam at night
hides the romance of the heart!  Yet
winsome wings
are woven into the beam
and reach the horizon,
up to the dim stars
of a dark blue sky,
in the beam of the light
touch a restless mind—
beyond the stillness,
beyond the throbbing heart...
but you, dear, in your spacious soul
feel the softness and the cool
of a certain calm,
as thought races
towards you,
to ask for the balm
of your gentle heart!

Rev. March 3, 2020

Poem by EMH
My tears are flowing
Like a gentle stream
Over cheeks and lips
As I am touched by Your
Gracious Words, and You bid
The inner tumult to cease,
Teaching me, dear God
Your peace! Yes—
Peace to all!



POEM by EMH



Ich lebe ganz gemuetlich,
In Ruhe beobachte eine
Blume, sie lehnt sich gegen
Ein kaltes Fenster— und ich
Denke, “sieht sie den tanzenden
Schnee im Winde?”

translation  ✍️

I live at my ease,
Peacefully observe a rose,
How it presses
Against the cold window glass,
And I ask myself,
“Does it sense
The snow is dancing
In the wind?”

Poem and photo by EMH

Our hearts see…





  • Our hearts see that which is 
  • Invisibly to the naked eye, and
  • WHY? Because hearts speak 
  • And need no reasons
  • To echo the truth 
  • Of what so splendidly unites!





  • Peaks and flowers revealed in the morning light—
    Our joy is praise indeed!

    EMH