Legend of the Snowflake

By Rose Marchen

From Heaven God came, the world to save

From far up above out of our sight

So we recall, a snowflake He made

Glittering form with crystal inlaid

Softly falling to earth in the night

From Heaven God came, the world to save

He was in a humble form arrayed

So small Our Lord, no power or might

So we recall, a snowflake He made

With simplicity He is portrayed

Yet close look detailed beauty highlight

From Heaven God came, the world to save

From heaven it comes, is not manmade

He is of this world and yet not quite

So we recall, a snowflake He made

For a short while with us He stayed

Before rising back to heavens bright

From Heaven God came, the world to save

So we recall, the snowflake He made.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Praise

By Rose Marchen

Tell all the world

Our Savior is born

Sing out the news

It's Christmas morn

Play on your harps

Blow on your horn

Tell all the World

Our Savior is born!

Give Glory to God

He is the King

Give praise in your stories

With loud voices sing

He will save the world

Peace does He bring

Give Glory to God

He is the King!

Hark, angels sing

Salvation is nigh

There is joy in the air

It lights up the sky

There's joy in the streets

Rejoicing on high

Hark, angels sing

Salvation is nigh!

To Him be honor

To Him be praise

He sleeps soft now

In Mother's loving gaze

Great will be done

In fufilment of days

To Him be honor

To Him be praise

Tell all the world

God's Son is born

Sing out the news

It's Christmas morn

Play on your harps

Blow on your horn

Tell all the World

Our Savior is born!

'Tis Christmas Eve!

Midnight Mass

by Rose Marchen

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Bells ring, Mass is begun

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born

People all sing, the notes are airborne

Kyrie Eleison

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Cloths and candles the altar adorn

The priest prays with deacon

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born

We remember Christ, tiny newborn

Come to save His children

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Praying, expressing feelings inborn

Awe for what God has done

Know all ye lands God’s Son is born

Sing Alleluia for Christ our dear Lord

Incense floats, bells are rung

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born.

The Fourth Week of Advent

Tomorrow I Will Come

Part 4

We hear tell of the Lord's coming
The news is in the songs we sing
Listen to what the prophets say
They fortell the hour, tell the day.
The advent of the Lord is near.

He comes as a baby crying.
God With Us, a mighty being.
O Emmanuel, save me I pray.
The Lord is near.

He is in a manger lying.
Gently is His mother smiling.
Angels sing out “Be not afraid.”
The watching shepherds are amazed.
Three kings in awe worshiping.
The Lord is here.

The Third Week of Advent

We hear tell of the Lord's coming
The news is in the songs we sing
Listen to what the prophets say
They fortell the hour, tell the day.
The advent of the Lord is near.

He comes as sunlight glimmering

Radiant as the new dayspring.

O Rising Sun, warm me I pray.

The Lord is near.

He comes as of nations ruling.

Over all His subjects watching,

Keeping us to the narrow way.

All His majesty is displayed.

O King of Nations, bells shall ring.

The Lord is near.

The Second Week of Advent

We hear tell of the Lord's coming
The news is in the songs we sing
Listen to what the prophets say
They fortell the hour, tell the day.

The advent of the Lord is near.

He comes of tribes continuing.

From ancient eldar He shall spring.

O Root of Jesse, we now pray.

The Lord is near.

He comes as one wise governing

Closing things shut and opening.

Power has He to do as may,

We must follow orders He gave.

O Key of David, bells shall ring

The Lord is near.

The First Week of Advent

Tomorrow I Will Come
by Rose Marchen

We hear tell of the Lord's coming
The news is in the songs we sing
Listen to what the prophets say
They fortell the hour, tell the day.
The advent of the Lord is near.

He comes and with Him knowledge brings
With wisdom and understanding.
O Wisdom guide us, this we pray.
The Lord is near.

He comes as a great Lord shining.
The Lord is our judge, our great king.
He keeps us from going astray.
To Him be honor, glory, praise.
O Lord for whom the bells shall ring.
The Lord is near.

Looking for Topics

I find myself in need of your assistance, gentle readers. For these last days of November I am in search of topics to pen poems about. Any suggestions, however detailed or not, complex or not, ridiculous or not - all shall be looked at with eagerness. So please, if you have an idea that you think would make a cool poem, I pray thee, share it with me!

Feast of Christ the King

Today is the feast of Christ the King, an important feast in the Catholic Church, as well as the end of the liturgical year. It follows naturally that I would write today's poem about Our Lord. I'm afraid it is not very good, but I hope it will please Him.

All give hail to our glorious King
Majesty He is, peace He brings
In resplendent array He comes
King of our hearts, King of our homes
With glad voices His praises sing.

With mercy for every being
Can't you see Him kind smiling?
Arms wide open and warm welcome
King of our Hearts

He makes an end of suffering
No more will we feel death's sharp sting
No better place then His Kingdom
Such a King brings joy to thralldom
His love is here in everything
King of our Hearts.

Beware of Self

This poem - which I wrote yesterday - was inspired by chapter 5 of "The King of the Golden City". My theater troupe will be performing a stage adaption of this lovely tale next summer, and to prepare for it we are doing an "imersion". At each of our meetings we are split into four groups. One group listens to and acts out two chapters of the story literally. A second group acts out the chapters in a modern format. The other two groups do different skits.
The chapter for yesterday was about not giving into Self, a natural choice in theme for my poem.

Beware of Self
Beware the fight when you awake.
Do not give into Self.
Be careful of what choice you make,
It may destroy your health.

Do not give into Self.
When she tells you to stay abed,
It may destroy your health.
Why don't you go to Mass instead?

When she tells you to stay abed,
Say no, go on your way.
Why don't you go to Mass instead?
How good will be your day!

Say no, go on your way,
When Self urges you to give in.
How good will be your day,
If you deny your selfish whim.

When Self urges you to give in,
Resist for your dear King.
If you deny your selfish whim,
You will to Him joy bring.

Resist for your dear King
All the evils that will appear.
You will to Him joy bring
To the King you are, oh, so dear.

Beware the fight when you awake,
All the evils that will appear.
Be careful of what choice you make,
To the King you are oh, so dear.

I Can't Believe I'm Posting This

...Presenting "The Ballad of Tadpole the Trout", a goofy nonesense poem that was the outcome of yesterday's PePoWriMo. Please keep the rotten vegetables to yourself, because I kinda like it.

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

There was a trout called Tadpole

On account his mum a frog

He’d take a lark an’ take a stroll

Chase a cat and splash at the dog!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

Now Tadpole was a lil’ trout

But big at heart, doncha know

Beat a whale in a race full out

Ridin’ his big ole Kerflado!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

One day Tad went for some fun

An’ met with a flibber-foo

He sent that flibber on the run

Chasin’ after yellin’ “Yahoo!”

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

Then one time when out Tad sailed

He found hisself in the air

Got catched by Quap, no good to flail

So the poor trout had to stay there!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

But Tad wasn’t done, oh no

When Quap tried to eat him up

Back up Quap’s throat Tad he did go

Knocking him out with a wallup!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

Tad walked back to his ole home

Splashin’ back inna water

An’ still afar he would go roam

All a searchin’ for adventure!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

Merry as ye’d e’er see

Swim inn a lake, Swim inna sea

Hi ho Tadpole happy an’ free!

To go find the world’s far end

Aye an’ that was Tadpole’s dream

Said good-bye to family an’ friend

To this day he ain’t e’er been seen!

Tadpole is a fine lad he

No one knows where he yet be

He inna lake or inna sea

Your guess’ll be as good as me!

Hush, Hush, Lullaby

Hush, hush, baby bye
Hush, hush, don't you cry
Hum now softly sigh
Listen to my lullaby
Hush, hush, baby bye

Listen to my voice sing
No need to fear a thing
Back and forth my arms swing
Hush, hush, baby bye

Hush, hush, baby bye
Hush, hush, don't you cry
Hum now softly sigh
Listen to my lullaby
Hush, hush, baby bye

Let my love enfold you
Let me hear my baby coo
All I tell you is true
Hush, hush, baby bye

Hush, hush, baby bye
Hush, hush, don't you cry
Hum now softly sigh
Listen to my lullaby
Hush, hush, baby bye

When the tossing storm shout
Fell my arms go 'round about
I will drown the noise out
Hush, hush, baby bye

Hush, hush, baby bye
Hush, hush, don't you cry
Hum now softly sigh
Listen to my lullaby
Hush, hush, baby bye

Hush, hush my baby mine
I will love you 'till I die
Mother's love is the sky
Hush, hush baby bye

Hush, hush, baby bye
Hush, hush, don't you cry
Hum now softly sigh
Listen to my lullaby
Hush, hush, baby bye

Hush, hush
Hush, hush
Hush, hush baby mine

Copyright 2009

The Warrior

This poem is a villanelle (though I changed the format a little bit). It was inspired by "The Warrior" composed by Eric Genuis, which you can listen to here.

The trumpet sounds a fanfare,
A flute begins to play.
Can you hear the warrior there?

The piano's notes must have their share
The violins swirl fast.
The trumpet sounds a fanfare.

Triumphant is the sound in air
Boldly the melody shouts
Can you hear the warrior there?

Marching, clashing, the music shares
Rousing themes with the world
The trumpet sounds a fanfare.

Calling out so loud and clear.
Beat, hearts, wi' the notes.
Can you hear the warrior there?

A noble hero, throw away care!
Instruments fill the soul,
The trumpets sound a fanfare.
Can you hear the warrior there?

Poem Copyright 2009 ladyoftherose.blogspot.com

Poems for Today

Alright, here are me poems today! I wasn't home for most of the day, so I tried out some shorter styles of poetry. First I have a Diamante, a simple style I've been wanting to try for a while.

Hell
Dark, Fearful
Burning, Screaming, Crying
Despair, Hope, Pain, Peace
Singing, Healing, Praising
Light, Joy
Heaven

It's interesting. And then I wrote a couple of Limericks, because I just love limericks. The first one is called "Stuck in My Head" and pretty much describes the state of my mind since I watched these two awesome videos on YouTube. (Video 1 and Video 2).

What to do when songs stick in my head?
Drives me insane! Wish I were dead.
Singing "The Way I Loved You"
Song I don't know the words to...
I regard my mind with a great dread.

The next one is an oxymoron. (AKA a serious limerick.)

She sinks down into a swirling mist,
The shadows 'round her whisper and hiss.
They curse and they bite
Throughout the long night.
A deadly embrace and fatal kiss.

All poems Copyright 2009 ladyoftherose.blogspot.com

PePoWriMo

So in addition to appointing myself Official NaNoWriMo Cheerleader on the Forum (along with Ella)
and NaNoWriMo Psychiatrist (for those writers who need to rant, sob, complain, vent and kill someone)
I have invented a November activity for moi, called "PePoWriMo". PePoWriMo stands for Personal Poetry Writing Month. It's 'personal' and not 'national', because well... I'm the one doing it. ;)

The goal I've set for myself is to write on poem every day for the month of November, all about different topics, and trying to use a wide variety of poetry styles! I started yesterday, so I've got one poem written. I haven't written today's poem yet.

This event was inspired by Lanta asking me if I wrote a lot of poetry, me answering no, her commenting that that was sad, and me agreeing with her. So by the end of November I shall have at least 28 poems! I'll try and post all or most of them up here for any who are interested to read.

Here is my poem from yesterday.

All Soul's Day

The dead were dead and laying still, in
Cold caskets buried beneath the grim ground.
No record was there of virtue or sin,
They lay forgotten, no mourners around.

'Tis only their bodies that lay there so still
The soul of Life is departed and gone.
Waiting are they with hope, waiting until
Kind prayers should free them from Purg'tories bond.

Yet no prayer is said for all those who wait,
No please is uttered, they are forgotten.
Denied the joys of Heaven that is their fate,
Suffering on their own, no helping friend.

Remember them in prayer, say one today.
Loved ones may forget, forgotten are they.

Twas the Day Before Christmas...

by yours truly

‘Twas the day before Christmas and the Wal-Mart was packed,

With holiday shoppers, in lines back-to-back.

And I in my sweatshirt and Papa with his staff,

Tried to make our way through the season’s mish-mash.

I looked about in horror, Papa exclaimed with fright,

“Why all these shoppers are a terrible sight!”

We grabbed a few things, and fought our way through,

All the while dodging every Dick, Harry and Lou.

Then looking about, I exclaimed with glee,

“Well what d’ya know, this aisle’s empty!”

We entered the aisle sighing with relief,

Then more shoppers came, bringing us nothing but grief.

We tried to get through, to get to the door,

But a stampede of shoppers knocked us onto the floor.

I said, “Dad, this is crazy, let’s get out while we can.

We can swing on the lights, then run to the van."

So we jumped and jumped ‘till we reached the ceiling,

Than Papa looked down and said with feeling,

“The sight of those shoppers is making me sick,

Let’s leave right now, make our exit, and quick!”

So we swung over the heads of those holiday shoppers,

No one saw us because they were busy spending their coppers.

Then finally we reached the far away door,

We let go of the lights and dropped to the floor.

Landing on our feet, we ran to the car,

And did not speak ‘till away we were far.

Then Papa said, looking like a partially plucked hen,

“We’ll never go shopping on Christmas Eve again!”

Poem copywrite ladyoftherose.blogspot.com

Pure Poetry

Ladies and gentleman, I interupt this Week of Fanatical Dress to bring you one of the most beautiful and moving songs I have ever heard. Here is a music video with it on there, and it also is now playing in my music playlist.

Lyrics are as follows. Hope you cry.

HOMEWARD BOUND
Words and Music by Marta Keen

In the quiet misty morning, when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red,
When the summer's ceased its gleaming, when the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning, I'll be homeward bound in time.

Bind me not to the pasture. Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow.

If you find it's me you're missing, if you're hoping I'll return,
To your thought I'll soon be list'ning; in the road I'll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end,
And the path I'll be retracing when I'm homeward bound again.

Bind me not to the pasture. Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing, I'll be homeward bound again.

Random Thoughts...

As far as I can remember, I have not honored my faithful fans with any posts in 'my own' words for a while, and as my ladyship has nothing of pressing importance to say -yet, this is only the first paragraph - I shall tell you about my week. I know you are all just dying to hear about what I've been doing lately, so I shall not keep you in suspense any longer. (A more appropriate comment would be "I shall not torment you with my terrible sarcasm any longer." =) Breaking news first....

A few weeks ago, I submitted a poem of mine on the Civil War to a poetry contest, hosted by a local library. Last week I was called and informed that I had won First Place for my grade level! I was so excited, I forgot to tell my father I had won. ={ He found out the day before the poetry reading at the library. Ahem, anyhow... when we got there, each of the first place winners read there poems, we were told that there had been over 100 poems submitted, and then I found out I had won 2nd place overall! And no, I did NOT forget to tell my dad that, because he was right there. I was very excited, even more so when I totaled all the prize money. ;) That’s it for the excitement folks. Now for serious stuff…

Yesterday we went to the First Holy Communion of my dad’s cousin’s son. We opted to go to that Mass, instead of going to our usual Mass and just the party, but we should have known better. Think typical upper class influenced modern day American Mass and church, and you can pretty much get the picture. The sad thing was that the homily was great; the priest spoke to the first communicants, telling them exactly who was coming to them, and he seemed to really believe what he said, but when it came time for the consecration, the lack of respect for what was going on at that moment, that moment when Christ becomes truly present in the Holy Eucharist was just appalling. We desperately need to pray for the return of reverence at Mass! The return of beautiful churches may indeed play an important part in that, because far from being distracted by an ornate church, it reminds me who is living there. A plain church, with no focal point or statues anywhere in sight, hardly makes you think of the Divine Person who dwells there! Lest my thoughts turn into ranting, I shall leave this topic for a more appropriate time, perhaps its own post…
The party though, was very nice.

The rest of my past week has been schoolwork (done with one subject!) baby-sitting my younger siblings at least once a day while my mom leaves. (I think she’ll be home this week!) and crocheting things that I am supposed to be selling somewhere in the future (Where?????) Now for the announcements…

Here Ye Here Ye! This is an announcement for the praying of 1 Million Rosaries For Unborn Babies on May 3rd simultaneously! Please join in this endeavor to pray for all unborn children, by registering HERE and clicking HERE to find the starting time for your time zone. Let us all join in praying for the end to abortion! Spread the word, sign up to pray, and then pray with your whole heart on Saturday, May 3rd!

New Versions of Old Rhymes...

Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice.
See how they run, see how they run!
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Have you ever seen such a sight in your life?
As three blind mice!

Three Sightless Rodents,

the alternate intellectual’s version:

Three sightless rodents, three sightless rodents.
Observe how they ambulate, observe how they ambulate!
They all pursued the agriculturalist’s spouse,
Who severed their posterior extensions with a carving utensil.
Have you ever observed such a spectacle in your existence?
As three sightless rodents!

And..

Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

The "Other" version!

Propel, propel, propel your craft
Placidly down liquid solution
Ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically
Existence is merely an illusion.

~Bryant

Haiku(s)

At the December meeting of the St. Faustina Girls Club that I attend, we wrote Japanese haikus, since we are studying Japan this year. I thought you might like to read the one that I wrote and two that I co-authored with my friend....

The snow on the ground
Lies softly in the moonlight.
Together they shine.
~Amanda

The great Chinese rock
Is looming over the heads
Of spiders below.
~Veronica and Amanda

The toad in the grass
Hops around in great circles
Trying to lose weight.
~Amanda and Veronica