Sunday, 13 October 2013

Poem for October



I Remember, I Remember

by Thomas Hood - 1799 – 1845


I remember, I remember,
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at dawn:
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!

I remember, I remember,
The roses, red and white,
The violets, and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,-
The tree is living yet!

I remember, I remember,
Where I used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!

I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.






Margarete Mizera - by Nigel A JAMES




Margarete Mizera
A Night in the Hay!


When travelling back in our thoughts to long, long ago, it is, more-often-than-not, that the nice people of then are the ones who come right to the front of our minds! And, once upon a time, there was a friendly policeman who deeply impressed a very young lady. And, 50 years later, Margarete Mizera – for she was that very same person – still remembers him well!

The day was coming to a close, and Margaret and her husband had just completed a strenuous 7 hour climbing tour. They were not only exhausted, but tired and hungry as well; and, of course, they were looking for a bed for the night. But it was summer and very high season, and, in the beautiful Austrian mountains of Styria where they had gone for a week there wasn't a bed to be found. They had tried everything. They had knocked on every door, and they had even considered sleeping under the bridge, but, with a storm coming up they were desperate. A night in the mountainous open with no shelter at all was not such a very good thing!

But then, through the darkness of desperate thinking came shining a light. In front of them, and not far away, was the village police station. And, why not?

And the policeman was an angel. Although his police station cell was full, he knew of a way! And then, before they knew what was happening, Margarete and her husband were in the back of a police car, a very small VW Beetle, and being taken to a farm on the side of a mountain. And their luck was still in.

The farmer was their second angel of the day, he had no rooms, all were taken, but, what he had to offer was not only a night in his barn, but also a delicious evening meal! And they needed it, and they were thankful.

And, as Margaret and her husband lay wearily down to sleep in the hay, they could hear from outside the rain and the storm in all its great fury. They were warm and they were safe, and, as they peacefully dreamt the morning gradually came, and with it another surprise.


The farmer and his wife had prepared an unimaginably fantastic breakfast – the best they could offer! And, so it was, that the next mountain was climbed with not only a very full feeling, but, also a heart full of thanks! The policeman and his friend will never be forgotten!  

Maggy Steiner

  Maggy Steiner had a wonderful childhood.  She went to school in Vienna, and spent her summers with her uncle and aunt and her two cousins ...