The Caretakers

Welcome! The other day I posted a blog entitled “The Cost of Joy”, and I included a rather wordy excerpt from my story “The Caretakers”. If you saw that post, you were introduced to a character named Jeremiah, “the gardener-poet”. Jeremiah’s manner of speech makes him seem to be an anachronism. But although he dates from the 19^th century, he is not actually time-displaced; rather, his presence is outside time altogether. Jeremiah can’t help spouting poetry, for that is his Nature, and in the Garden one’s Nature is unclouded by any shadow.

I thought it would be worth acquainting you with another of his poems:

“The Caretakers”

How many called for souls to care

How few that hear; still less who heed

How blessed the burden all must bear

How small a kindness meets the need

Yet they that tend My Garden know

Who bend to toil midst thorn and weed

You till the soil of hearts, and sow

The Husk of Hope, the Golden Seed

In fertile fields of futile fears

Who keep with Faith this high pursuit

Though now they water with their Tears

With Joy shalt reap its healing Fruit

I imagine Jeremiah was familiar with Psalm 126:5-6:

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

If you want to see about spiritual “seed”, take a look at Matthew 13:1-23. You might also want to look at the first “By ‘The Way’…” blog, in the discussion of the lyrics for my song, “Shadow Land”.

By “The Way”… what do you think? Let me know: rmhamilton@gmavt.net

Rodger