What does Queen Elizabeth II have in common with Oberon, the Titanic, and the Nicene Creed?
Nothing.
Unless you are exploring the October edition of Force and Beauty!
American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay is our focus for October. She was recognized for her poetry as a young woman but was well known for her poetry readings and recitations. While choosing poems for our October edition, I noticed many poems filled with deep emotions of sorrow and wonder in the natural world. She had a good sense of humor too. Here’s a great example:
Grown-Up
Was it for this I uttered prayers,
And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,
That now, domestic as a plate,
I should retire at half-past eight?
If you want pre-chosen poems to read from Millay, click on over to Ambleside Online to find a curated list.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we spent extra time discussing the British Monarchy so I added the historical song “God Save the King/Queen” into our patriotic song section. The Titanic folk song was added because of a child’s current obsession with reading historical accounts of the disaster. What’s more fun than singing about a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean?!
At the women’s gathering during our recent presbytery-wide meetings, one very young child requested the hymn “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” It was a surprising request and not a hymn I know well. The acapella singing was beautiful. I hope you enjoy learning and singing these simple, encouraging words.
We moved on to a new passage in Deuteronomy and to the Nicene Creed, but you’ll find the same quotes from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice along with the Gettysburg Address. I think it is valuable to give a bit more time to think and digest longer passages.
As always, you’ll find some audio files to use in your home if you wish. My youngest has found them to be extra helpful in learning to recite. Enjoy!
Afternoon on a Hill
The Autumn Chant
Travel
Doubt No More That Oberon
Deuteronomy 30
The Nicene Creed
The Gettysburg Address
OTHER RESOURCES
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (song starts about the 1-minute mark)