A Celebration of Life: Collected Poems
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About this ebook
Meg Hartfield’s poems flow from her deep faith and a longing for a peaceful world.
The poems in the first half of the book – Light of the World – are a retelling of the story of Jesus’ life. Starting with the Word and the nativity, then onwards to the Cross, Resurrection and Pentecost, the poems draw us into the mystery of God among us. Taken together they form a new gospel, a new sharing of the good news, for readers today.
Meg takes us inside the heads and hearts of the Bible characters and we find that they were just like us: brave and afraid, striving to live well but often missing the point, capable of loving and of hating, of violence and of gentleness. She brings alive these dramatic stories that point us to the shining light of God’s love for us, made human in Jesus.
Thirteen poems focus on Peace.
“Ploughshares – implements for cutting furrows; Swords – implements for cutting people...” begins one poem. They explore the big picture of war and international conflict, and the small, everyday things we can do to create a peaceful community and world.
This collection also includes a section of Tributes to family members and other people, poems about nature and it is rounded out by a set of happy haiku.
Use these poems in reflective worship services, for group devotions and for personal inspiration.
Meg Hartfield
Born in Cardiff to missionary parents, Meg spent her early years in Kenya. She qualified as a nurse and midwife in London where she met her future husband Jonathan, a medical student. They spent 10 years in a turbulent Nigeria before settling with their 4 children, in Whanganui in 1973.After buying 4 hectares of bare sand hill, they have created a beautiful garden which they share with their donkeys.Meg has been a Sunday School teacher and lay preacher in the Church. She makes banners. Both have worked in Hospice for the last 20 years, and are active in music and peace making.They rejoice in their 9 grandchildren.
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Book preview
A Celebration of Life - Meg Hartfield
A Celebration of Life
Collected Poems
Meg Hartfield
Copyright © 2017 Meg Hartfield
All rights reserved.
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ePub Edition
ISBN 9781927260678
Line drawings and calligraphy:
Meg Hartfield
Dedicated with my love to
Jono
Sheila, Michael,
Nicola and Stella
Philip Garside Publishing Ltd
PO Box 17160
Wellington 6147
New Zealand
books@pgpl.co.nz www.pgpl.co.nz
Print, PDF and Kindle editions also available
Front cover photograph: Pohutukawa in bloom
by Alexander Garside—Garside Imaging
Table of Contents
Title and Copyright
Light of the World
In the Beginning was the Word
Lord God, too Mighty to Grasp
The Nativity Play
How Can It Be?
Light of the World
The Outstretched Arms
Wise Men
Storm on the Lake
Costly Love
The Alabaster Jar
Simon the Leper
Hosanna
The Last Supper
Betrayal
Peter – Put Up Your Sword
Peter’s Denial
Mockery
Pilate
Simon of Cyrene
The Title – Jesus of Nazareth –The King of the Jews
I Thirst
The Feet of Jesus
Wood
The Tunic
The Stronger Power
The Cross Today
The Grave Clothes
Saturday
The First Day of the Week
Easter Evening
Thomas
Darkness and Light
The Tree of Life
Emmaus
Pentecost
Fire
The Dream
The Day of Rest
My Lord of the Every-Day
Openings
Glory to God
Tributes
Rosamond
Our Daughter – On Your Wedding Day
For Anne
Joanna
For Graham
First Grandchild
For Elizabeth
The White Chair
Peace
The Green of New Life
Swords Into Ploughshares
War and Peace
Stop the Clock
Tim’s Castle
The Blood-Soaked Ground
A Culture of Peace
Peace Haiku
The Way of Love
Hiroshima Day 2006
Peace
Candles of Light
Lamb of God
Nature
Greenness
The Plum Tree
Variety
New Life
Bees
Solitude
Seed Wonder
Sea Song
Blue
Autumn Leaves
Sparrows on Takapuna Beach
Reflections – Through a Chapel Window
Seaside Reflections
Pohutukawa
The Norfolk Pine
Seed Thoughts
Shells in Fiji
Fish
Forgive
Whales
Trees
Haiku
In Fiji
Our Garden
Loved Places
Colours
About the Author and the book
Light of the World
In the Beginning was the Word
Creative
powerful
and ever since –
the world’s languages, spoken, written
whispered words of love, healing
scorching words of anger, destroying.
Since time began
all words ever spoken
still somewhere, never to be recalled
all words ever written
somewhere – mouldered – or written still
words without number
as the stars, or grains of sand.
Daily, hourly, torrents of words
necessary, unnecessary
beautiful, filthy
gentle, bullying.
Lord, today
let my words be truthful
peaceful
encouraging
full of love for you
the Word, made flesh.
Lord God, too Mighty to Grasp
Lord God, creator of all –
immensity of space
stars, galaxies beyond number
my mind reels, grapples, fails
all too mighty