Sounds of Distant Drums.. a book of Poetry.

By Alfred Hutchison.

I originally posted this in 2013, July I think, and today while breezing through the book I came once more on this poem… one of my favourites… which reminded me of this post that had me writing poetry…. well I call it poetry… thought I’d share it once more… below is the original post…

I received a gift from a good friend of mine, a book of poems… This was so un-expected… but so appreciated… I immediately rushed into the nearest Coffee shop and started to read… when I got home, I sat and this poem just flowed out of me, (remember I’m no poet, but love poetry) .. here is what I sent Alf. ….

Oh Lord I receive a gift today,

Sent to me from far away,

A gift, that has me inspired,

To emulate the desire inside.

 

A gift from a friend who God has blessed,

With the words of the poet inside his head,

A man of God who remembers his past,

A true man whom can’t be taken to task.

 

Is it a gift that one would expect?

Which I went with enthusiasm to collect,

A surprise when opened I had to read,

A book from Alf it was indeed.

 

Could anyone impede the need?

To quickly open this book and read,

The wise words of wisdom spread,

Not written in pen or pencil lead.

 

A coffee shop across the road,

To which I entered with ordered code,

A mug of coffee, not good for me,

Instead of ordering a pot of tea.

 

I sat and read with head bent down,

Upon the words of a friend I’d found,

The words that stirred deep memories,

Of long age pasts sweet journeys.

 

The words so profound,

That it did compound,

The feelings I past felt,

That Alf has been dealt,

A gift from God to which he is blessed,

That has stirred the past in me refreshed,

The poems filled with rhythm and rhyme,

That in themselves talk of Heaven Divine.

 

Alf replied to my thanks with more words that touched my heart…

“See how easy it is Rob ? Accept the book as a gift for all the unending encouragement you have given me … May God richly bless you my friend …Now you have a taste for poetry lets see more ….”

Oh how I wish I could… but with his permission I add one of his poems here, with a few photos of mine that just sprang to mind when I read the poem… (no animals were hurt or damaged in anyway in this poem or the photos depicting the poem….)

Called……. “A Lion Roars”

           Come with me, hold tight my hand,

           Whilst I show you my beloved land,

           Africa’s blood washes through my veins,

      From Bushveld glades to savannah plains.

           Have you ever heard a lion roar?

           Been close enough to touch his paw,

          Stared eye to eye, smelled his breath,

              Observed razor teeth of instant death,

  

 

           

                    And then that roar… that numbing sound

                    Send tremors through the very ground.

               A lightening swipe of five sharp claws;

               No video this, you can’t press pause.

 

                   Reality life, your minutes numbered,

                   Certain death … your life encumbered;

                   But that day twas not meant to be,

                   God’s heaven had no need of me.

 

                  A shot rang out … a sound so sweet,

                  The King of beasts lay at my feet,

                  This was no trophy, no great prize.

                      My life, his death … no compromise.

Author Alf Hutchison.. with permission.

Alf’s Book is available from hutch@yebo.co.za

and if on Face Book go to https://www.facebook.com/soundsofdistantdrums

and like his page and read more of his work… brilliant….

Our Life Together.

A poem that came to me after reading my wife’s blog and her cancer story… CLICK HERE TO READ IT…

 

Life is a paragon of instances to enjoy,

the life and times of being a young boy,

the growing up to become a man,

in a world of those that don’t give a damn.

 

The fleeting glimpses of the one to marry,

yet the times we take and times we parry,

to ensure that we have plenty of fun,

before the date and deed is done.

 

And when we finally take the step,

to take that wife and have her accept,

a proposal to spend so much time,

enjoying her life and sharing in mine.

 

The time we spend being together,

going through life’s changing weather,

accepting all that God may send,

for us to raise and to attend.

 

And when the children fly the coop,

together we will continue to stoop,

to grow through age, its ups and downs,

and snuggle beneath winters eiderdowns.

 

And when the time comes for one to greet,

that moving on, the Almighty to meet,

let our lives and memories be a testament,

how our life together was meant to be spent.

 

A poem from the Bulldog.

Remember 9/11?

Another poem by Alf Hutchison, poet extraordinaire and good friend….

Can you recall where you were, September nine/eleven?
When all hell did brake loose; from Kamikaze heaven,

In disbelief, you watched aghast… another plane, another blast.

Can you recall your disbelief, when Pan Am hit those Towers?
Proud symbols to a decadent world, of capitalistic powers;

Twin phallic symbol monuments… to green backs, dollars, cents.

Can you recall those heinous scenes; gut wrenching, grim and dire?
The New York skyline so unique, engulfed in smoke and fire,

This was no false illusion… Pandora’s Box of mass confusion,

Can you recall saying farewell, to those who died in vain?
Giving thanks to firemen; friends, you’d never see again,

Saluting unsung heroes… with your tears of grief and woes.

Can you recall the Israeli news; so grotesquely vile and sour?
Palestinians singing in the streets; praising ‘Islam’s finest hour’!

Never will we be the same…Jihadist joy, now Islam’s shame.

Can you recall having pondered, before that fateful flight?
A second ‘Viet Nam’ would rage; with not an end in sight

Times have changed now in The West… Jihad won’t let free man rest.

Can you recall when on your knees, praising God through prayer and song,
Protect our nation, even though, in the eyes of God, we have gone wrong,

A Saviour stands now in the wings…He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Choose now America, Hell or Heaven…or have you all forgotten…nine/eleven?

Alf Hutchison Author “Sounds of Distant Drums”

 

MASTER JACK

Master Jack was old and grey; time had passed him by,
Wizened hands betrayed his age, but a glint lay in his eye;
Physique so very frail now, had fought a thousand ‘wars’,
Waiting now upon God’s will; Jack’s life had lost its cause.

The souls of those who’d mattered; were now long in their graves,
Fond memories of times gone by, crashed over him in waves.
His children had all forsaken him; forsaken him, every one;
Embarrassed by his manner, and the sharpness of his tongue,

Tears fell upon his trembling hands, as he gazed on them with love,
These hands had been God’s gift to him, from heaven up above;
Hands that blessed the Lord almighty; gave thanks for all their food,
Those hands had even built their home, beside the forest wood.

Hands carved their wooden furniture; and planted crops to sell,
When drought had struck the barren land, they dug for him a well,
Skilled hands had caught his children, emerging from the womb.
Seven boys, and three small girls; now adults in full bloom.

Gnarled hands from manual labor, digits enflamed and sore,
Busy hands made impotent; were functioning no more,
Spastic hands, arthritic hands; worked now ‘to the bone’,
Not one soul to help him farm; Master Jack prayed all alone.

“My Lord I have to thank you, for these two hands of mine,
The countless tasks accomplished, through your two gifts Divine”,
Calloused hands now pressed in prayer; “I wish new turf to roam”,
Soulful eyes glinted heavenward, “Please Lord… take me home”

Courtesy of…
Alf Hutchison

This poem is shared with Alf’s permission, I am enamoured by his poetry… oh just so good… one can picture the hands so well drawn by Alf’s Daughter.

Where’s the Bulldog going.??

Kalahari here we come.!!

On Saturday the 15th I’m off to the Kalahari for almost a whole month. The Internet is not of the best… so please miss me… but let me give you a little taste of what you can expect when I return… or rather what I’m going to take photos of……

I don’t know how much blogging time I’m going to get, but it will not be a lot… so… to you all I say, “have a Happy Christmas, may it be a joyful time and may the New Year bring you all that you wish for….” 

When I return I will not attempt to catch up as it will just be too much .. what with 200 odd blogs that I follow .. Soooooo..

I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.

I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day;
In every thing that’s light and gay.
I’ll always think of you that way.

I’ll find you
In the morning sun
And when the night is new.
I’ll be looking at the moon,
But I’ll be seeing you.

And then for the cream on the top…..

Or if the rain keeps on falling… maybe this…