Regarding "Matthew 5:5"

So much beauty in
Life is hidden, known only in
Its existence by the
Creator. It is often that
This beauty is the most humble
And self-effacing, for fear
It is not really beautiful, at
Least as far as the superficiality
Of the world judges…
Some beauty prefers not
To draw attention to itself.
It was in this context
That I stumbled upon an
Absolutely stunning
Crocus in my garden as I
Was crawling on my
Hands and knees.
It was almost completely
Under a bush, and I
Have no recollection of
Its being there in
Years past. It seemed
To almost recoil from
Me in shyness, thinking
Itself unworthy in
My gaze, giving me the
Feeling it just wanted to blend
Into the background,
And let daffodil, tulip, and
Iris get all the applause
Come what may…

Leo Carroll
April 10, 2022

Regarding "Swans"

There is a small body of water
In Melrose, Massachusetts.
It is called, “Ell Pond,” and is a
Well-known landmark
In the heart of town.
It originally got its name
Because its configuration was
Shaped like the letter, “L.”
Whenever I drive past, I
Invariably see people
On benches gazing
Peacefully out upon the
Water. My mother,
Now age 100, used to
Swim there as a young girl
About age 12, and even
Now fondly recalls
Doing handstands in the
Water with her girlfriends!
They would get to the
Beach early so they would
Not have to pay an entrance fee!
And over the past several
Decades, Ell Pond has
Woven itself into the lives
Of one of my sisters
And her daughter, as they
Have faithfully tracked
The wildlife comings
And goings on the pond,
Particularly those of the white
Swans which have
Exquisite beauty.
On Ell Pond today there
Are two swans, one named,
“Mel,” and the other, “Rose,”
Obviously after the town
In which they reside!
From time to time, Mel and
Rose have been featured
In local news media, and are
Very well known in the
Community. In the
Mythical poem associated
With this meditation,
The female swan, “Rose,”
Comes upon a little
Secluded section of woods
Bordering the water,
And awaits the love of
Her life, “Mel,” to arrive.
She is going to meet
Him for the first time, and
She demurely and shyly
Holds her breath,
Not knowing if he would
Come by coach or
Glide by in disguise!

Leo Carroll
May 1, 2022

Regarding "Who Dares Say This?"

When I was watching
A video clip of the wild sea state
Occurring at Plum Island
On January 29th, I
Was reminded of the
Old Christian hymn,
“How Great Thou Art.”
The basis for this famous
Work was a nine
Stanza poem written by
Swedish minister,
Carl Boberg, in 1885.
He had been on the Swedish
Seacoast on a beautiful
Day, when he was
Overtaken by a tremendous
Thunderstorm of
Unspeakable power.
And then, just as suddenly,
The sky changed again,
And a beautiful blue
Appeared and birds began
To sing! He dropped
To his knees and began
To utter words which
Would be the basis for his
Poem and afterwards
His song. Next to “Amazing
Grace”, it is considered
The most beloved
Of all Christian hymns.
Flash forward to several
Weeks ago, when on
January 29th, a ‘bomb cyclone’
Snowstorm ravaged
New England and parts of the
Massachusetts coastline
With up to 30 inches
Of snow. In the midst of the
Frenzy that day, a very
Brave woman had, in a sense,
Her own Carl Boberg
Moment, and captured a
Forty two second video clip of
What it was like that
Instant to stand just a few
Bare feet from a wild,
Frigid Plum Island surf.
Thanks to the courage
Of that woman, we, too, can
Understand how someone
In 1885 would say,
“How Great Thou Art!”

Leo Carroll
February 13, 2022

Regarding "So Cold"

These two poems are
Simply two instantaneous
Impressions of what an
Old, worn oak leaf lying on a
Winter ground manifested
To me. The oak leaf,
Lying atop snow crystals
And accompanied by a few
Sparse pine needles,
Could potentially convey an
Infinite number of
Possible meanings and
Associations. In theory,
I could write of this
One scene my remaining
Life and never lift the
Lid on all the aspects and
Interpretations.
Everything about us has
Countless takes and
Re-takes as if in a studio
During filming. This is because
Everything is part of
The unknowable mystery
Of Creation, and as the
Lord said in Isaiah,
“For My thoughts are not
Your thoughts, neither are
Your ways My ways.”
Creation’s faces are
Uncountable and ever-
Changing, but unfailingly
Have imprinted on
Them the divine features
Of Love and Beauty,
Together with those of life’s
Every day cares.
Just look into the eyes of
Whatever or whoever
Stares back at you, and you
Will see the light and
Shadows and hurt and
Happiness of the moment.