"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti


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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

R.E. Slater - Three Coins in a Fountain (a poem)





Three Coins in a Fountain
by R.E. Slater



I placed three coins in a templed fountain,

wishing each worn farthing fare thee well,

content before its glittering, flowing waters,

against a clearing sky’s deep azured blue.



With the first I wished for wonder’s contentment,

the second a lifetime filled with abiding joy,

and third for love’s sublime abundance,

upon all my days this jealous earth.



Thence followed to my greatest pleasure,

a golden parade playing wondrous tunes,

heralding fine instruments in regaling colours,

filling with boys and girls each gaily dressed,

bearing fair golden lockets upon blazing vests.



Bright with happy, joyous faces beaming,

clasping flashing golden harps their breasts,

marching to brassy drums’ thunderous beats,

beneath superfluous melodies soaring high.



So fine a parade that I forgot my wishes,

feeling blessed with warmth and happiness,

lasting all my days until evening’s hours,

when darkness finally came to rest.



And there before the golden fountain,

I sought again each coin I tossed,

to give each one a little lad beside me,

filling all his days and waking hours,

like as mine upon a fountain blest.




- R.E. Slater
March 25, 2013


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