Competition rules:
- Anyone who wishes to enter the competition should submit their poem(s) via the St Mary’s email address stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com.
- The subject of your poems is entirely up to you and need not be necessarily church related.
- The poem should be all your own work.
- As a guide your poem maybe two verses and between 4 to 6 lines per verse. Deviation from the suggested format is permissible.
- There is no limit to the number of poems that can be submitted by each entrant, but the Vestry of St Mary’s has the right to decide which poems are published.
- Poems will be published on the St Mary’s website with a number and title. Each entrant will be deemed to grant St Mary’s Vestry a royalty free non-exclusive licence to publish the material.
- The entry fee for each poem submitted is £2 and you can enter as many poems as you like. Payments can be made direct to St Mary’s bank account, or by cheque made payable to St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Carden Place, Aberdeen or via the PayPal donation facility on our website.
- The closing date is set as 17th October (Harvest Sunday).
- The best three poems will be selected by the Vestry of St Mary’s.
Competition entries
1. The Busy Wind
Oh busy Wind do tell me why When you come blowing from the sky You whip around between buildings high As in Marischal Square Where seating should be a welcome rest For people to sit where sun shines best Instead you rush around and by your zest You are chasing incomers away Says Busy Wind that in my mind I search for places where I find Especially to me are very kind That by their lift I’m stronger The high lift of the 'New Built Square' So wonderful, is exactly where Happily swishing I want to share The joy that is given to me Wind stay up not down be on your way Give grace to people who want to stay Enjoying sun and rest while they may Letting people linger longer.
2. Tomorrow
“I’m too busy” said he, as he put down the phone, “I’m too tired” said he as he turned off the light Maybe tomorrow I won’t need to moan, Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel just right No time to delay, no time to look back No time to slow down, no time to be here Maybe tomorrow I’ll start to unpack, Maybe tomorrow I’ll just disappear.
3. Congregation Revelation
St Andrew’s Cathedral was closed for renovation, What was happening to its Congregation? Then suddenly they heard of Zoom, Would this lead to doom and gloom? On the contrary with hearts uplifted, View from the Upper Room was gifted. The Priest appeared in Robes arrayed At the altar, Service, Eucharist was displayed. This choice for many a revelation, Rejoining some of the congregation, Thankfully plus Pro-Cathedral St Mary’s Church, The Congregation were not left in the lurch.
4. It is our Turn
What can all persons do the cry went out, With the pandemic we can’t get about. Self-isolate is now the “new”, Freely about a privilege of a few, Including wild animals on the road, Are creeping out from their abode. Blatantly walking, clearly are seen, Makes us wonder where they’ve been. Where once they watched us fill the streets, Now animals do strut as freedom greets, While we converse at home on Zoom, When shall we like them be free to roam.
5. Rush not thro life
Rush not thro life but pause and let you senses vibrate to the glory around you. The swoop of the swift, the larks evening song, the long haunting call of the whale in the deep and the soft wet nose of the dog at your feet. Look to the heavens and see light travelled aeons to brighten your face; wonder the force that fix stars in their place. Why rush to feed the greed that is ruining our space; the almighty gift to the human race. Are we so blind that we cannot foresee the end of the gross pleasures we seek? Fights for resources, death to the weak. Armageddon oe’r a land that is bleak. God may not have meaning for you but Christ has a message that's only too true, love one another and succour the meek.
6. I’ll be there
I’ll come to Church this Sunday; can you put me on the list? I’m not what you call ‘a regular’ so I’m sure I haven’t been missed. I hope there’s tea and coffee, I hope there’s toilets too, I hope it’s warm and comfy, and not much for me to do. I went to Church on Sunday; I went because I needed to, People smiled and said hello to me, I looked around to see ‘who’s who’, I prayed, I listened, and I raised my voice in song, I’ll go to Church next Sunday, because that’s where I belong.
7. Friends
Friends have always been important to me And always will be Sadly many of them I no longer see But I know if I needed help They would pray for me As they are my friends and always will be
8. Old Age
They say that old age doesn't come on its own I know this to be true but I mustn't moan I am lucky and still have my husband with me So I don't have to suffer it on my own
9. What I’d really like
I’d really like to write a book and tell everyone my story. I’d really like to be the one to witness Scottish world cup glory. I’d really like to shake the hand that shook the hand of someone great. I’d really like to be the guy that absolutely, nobody could hate. But I know I’ll write that book, but probably in years to come, And I’m ever hopeful of the trophies to be won, And I’ve already shook the hand of someone special. And I know that God loves me...that’s enough.
10. The miracle of a child
Folk cry for a miracle their faith to support Yet daily around them a child is spawned. Sperm comes together in a passionate moment. A life starts apace. Cells divide and rush to their place. First a skull and then a face, soon a brain, a marvellous member that gives life to reason, as body follows in its due season With a strain and a cry a child is gestated, a person of merit has been created, with sense to suckle until satiated. They say it is science that makes this all possible, yet cannot account for its ability to think. God you must weep at our lack vision, of the Almighty's daily intervention. Oh love divine when will we see, you don't need us but we need thee.
11. Wheat ears
In a place with no fears, At a different harvest years, With all our peers, So let us all cheer, In this big harvest year!
12.
Light beckons, Overcoming all Varsity stretches Everywhere I look. All can be fair, Love is all around; Love be in us all.
13.
Peace be with you. Race to overcome prejudice: Argument, acceptance, to reach understanding. Your path intersects with all. Petrified corruption, Endeavour to escape the cycle. Anguished and atrophied, Control the fear, Ebb the tide; be one with the beauty.
14.
Standing for what you believe Tempted to obstinacy Answer with care when asked Now listen and accept Do not fail to develop Ignorance will stagnate. Now accepting of the beautiful complexities Given and accepted; at one.
15. The Flight of the Brown Owl
Into the shafts of the mellow moon light, Intent on sourcing a juicy fat bite Moving his head with the help of his sharp eyes and ears The Brown Owl makes a silent plunge with out any fears He pounces unsuspectingly on a tasty field mouse The Brown Owl flies on to his secret hiding place Settling to eat his meal with gusto and leaving no trace In the silence of the night he swiftly takes flight, Seeking another sumptuous snack to devour with delight Into the shafts of the mellow moon light
16. A Fun Poem: Winnie The Wicked Witch
On her electric broomstick Winnie the Wicked Witch flew between the Don and the Dee Then headed speedily over the cold wild North Sea The wind howled, the clouds rumbled causing the broomstick to violently sway Plunging Winnie’s black cat into the sea at Nigg bay Never to be seen again. Winnie the Wicked Witch laughed so loudly and cackled with glee Causing her false teeth to shoot out into the North sea Gripping her broomstick she sent out a potent spell Hoping to retrieve her teeth from the North Sea swell But her teeth had vanished into the gloom of the night Never to be seen again
17. Gone are the days
Gone are the days, When we all used our feet, When our friends , we had to meet. Now we linger, on the brink, For the time to click that link. Gone are the days, When we said " How are you?" Now those days are so far and few. A greeting today is " Are we all here ? " "I think we've lost a few, I fear ? " Gone are the days, When we dressed up all smart, And our make up was really quite an art, Now pajama bottoms are worn to the meet, And no one cares what you've got on your feet . Gone are the days Having coffee with your work mates You sit by you screen and eat many cakes. This new way of working is how it shall be, We all have to learn just to love I. T.
18. Snow drops
The first to wake after the sleeping winter, A sign of warmer days to come, Like a lamp shade , shining a ray of light, A sign of hope and purity, so white. This year , due to covid we search for beauty, To lift up our crumbling spirits, If something so small as this can survive Then maybe we too can blossom and thrive. Everyone says, "the snowdrops are out !" You can hear the smile in their voice, All through the woods and in the hedgerows, And at the bottom of your garden it grows. So delicate yet in February it appears, The humble snowdrop, with head bowed, It doesn't have a clue of it's own power But we know, it's oh such a brave little flower.
19. Tae a Haggis
It's Rabbie's big day, so we aa eat haggis, Aboot the only time we do! Ony ither days we eat the delight, Are really far an few. Wee tatties and neeps it's enjoyed, It fairly fills us up, An wee it, te wash it soon, A fusky ye hiv tae supp. Bit dinna think oor closely, Aboot fit's gaan in tae yer meal, Liver, hart and lungs o a yowe, Noo foo dis at mack ye feel? It's stappet in a yowe's belly, An bilet till it disna look pasty, Scine eence a year we aa tuck in, Tae a haggis, fine an tasty.
20. The cat
The cat as a kitten is a cute ball of fluff, Grows quickly, and is sleek and is clever, She'll soon be bringing you presents of mice, Which means she'll love you for ever. When loved by a cat you feel a bit special, But she's not all soft, don't assume, Though cuddly and soft at the best of times, She's the lion in your own living room.