Arts Articles
In Quaker Meeting
this morning I practise sitting still in the top of a tree legs abreeze
Music ministry
Paulette Meier is a Friend from Ohio who has been visiting Britain and sharing the wisdom of early Friends through her ‘song chants’. Her ‘music ministry’ involves singing quotations of seventeenth century Friends and her tour in Britain, doing workshops with Friends, took her to Swarthmoor Hall, Woodbrooke, Oxford Meeting,...
Destinations
The route I need To reach my destination My sister losing touch with life Departing from the North at dawn Alone No-one to say ‘well done’ or ‘take a break’
prayer
may I make amendment not in the mind – Le Corbusier’s machine for living in his signed environment –
I see you now
I have looked into your eyes, spoken no words except ‘Forgive me. Please forgive me’.
Quakers and Shakespeare
Through most of our history, Quakers were strongly discouraged from going to the theatre. Friends once objected to Shakespeare being studied and performed in Quaker schools. Our attitudes changed gradually, with the formation of the Quaker Youth Theatre in 1976 as a key moment. Nowadays we have excellent touring Quaker drama...
Cherry blossom
Outside my window I can see Pink blossom on the cherry tree. Delicate, a lovely sight, It gives me such intense delight.
Slow crawl
A small green insect slow-crawls the keyboard, a cumbersome climb on delete to home. Wait… It moves on for break, and then pause before travelling back to insert, which he did, or she. Now lost forever I’m afraid to continue lest squashing an insect prolong my karma.
Final journey
When I make my final journey, in the large black Bentley with the huge windows, I shall travel light. Men will stop, remove their hats, look down as I go past, a tribute to my lightness. Acknowledging my lack of weight women will pause their children’s play and bow...
Thought for the Week: Quaker cheer
Heavy clouds pushed gently back by a pale heatless sun Garden birds singing louder signals to me that change is here