Tag: John Blase

The Second Act – A Guest Post: John Blase

~ Elizabeth W. Marshall ~ 1 Comment

I have invited some folks –  poets, brothers, sisters, word-weaver friends – to come here with their unique lens. Their spun- like-gold words. To visit with their art. To gather as a loose band of poets to make some music.

Today it is my honor to begin this little project with poet John Blase. I’ve marveled at his poetry for a good long while. If you aren’t familiar with John’s artful ponderings, then discover his poetry and savor his words.

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The Second Act

there were no crimes and blunders,
in his youth to finally catch up with him
because he’d lived his young years clean –
straight and narrow as an arrow.

but nobody remembers the nice guys
except God, and maybe their mothers.

so he altered mid-course and began to
decidedly miss the marks, nothing heroic,
just still small choices to daily transgress.

at first he was wobblier than a shepherd
in king’s armor but he kept at it, in time
becoming quite good at being human.

at the end the minister sighed He lost his way,
but still he’s hemmed safe in mercy’s cuff.

many from his later years came bearing
forgiveness laced sweet with affection.
a few nice allies from early on arrived
envious having followed his wayward star.

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About John – John Blase preached for over a decade but then he thought he’d go where the money is, so he started writing poetry. He’s a lucky man with a stunning wife and three kids who look like their mother. They all live in Colorado. His books include Know When To Hold ‘Em: The High Stakes Game of Fatherhood; Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas; and All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir  (co-written with Brennan Manning). He ponders faithfully at www.thebeautifuldue.wordpress.com

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Joining my good friend Laura Boggess today at her lovely writing home.

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Beautiful And Lovely Finds Along The Way

~ Elizabeth W. Marshall ~ 3 Comments

I am looking back, into the glass  of the rear view mirrored lens of lovelies. These are some of the beautimous things in my remembering. I want to share with you.

1.  A Lovely Film — “Quartet”. You may watch the trailer here. You’re most welcome.

2.  A Lovely Poem — Today at Burnside Writer’s Collective  there is a beautiful poem entitled “This Ain’t Rocket Science” by John Blase. I am fond of his poetry. All of it. This piece is lovely.  If you want to read more of John’s poetry he blogs at The Beautiful Due. There are beautiful poems just waiting for you there.

3.  A Lovely Line From A Book — I am reading  several books at once, alternating between books on poetry, fiction, non-fiction, you name it.  This from “Writing Poetry From The Inside Out: finding your voice through the craft of poetry by Sandford Lyne”:

All of this is to say that, for the person who works at writing poems, life is never again the same.  Seeing is not the same. Hearing is not the same. Thinking is not the same. Remembering is not the same. And dreaming is not the same.  Everything is bigger; everything is more palpable.”

4.  A Lovely Classic —  I am slowly reading this Thomas Wolfe classic  while I am “home again”. So, in fact and ironically,  you can both go home again and read a tome entitled you can’t when you can  when you have a propensity for shorter and much pithier writing styles.  I may finish it one day, perhaps before my children have children.

You Can't Go Home Again

6. A Lovely Childhood Memory–  Oh does this book bring back wonderful childhood memories. The illustrations by Maurice Sendak are whimsical and wonderful. And the humor and message for  both children and adults on being well-mannered is marvelous. I highly recommend it. You are welcome, my dear.what do you say dear

7. A Lovely New Memory – Visiting The Chapel Of The Prodigal to see the lovely fesco with my mother while a music student practices the piano. Looking forward to this next season of Downton Abbey. Mother is too. We sat and listened to the theme from this Masterpiece Theater Classic while we soaked in the glory of the fresco.

the prodigal fesco

8. A Lovely Scene From The Natural World –  This Oak Hydranga takes my breath away. every. single. time. I walk by. Glory be.

oak hydranga

9. A Lovely Idea Well Executed – Emily Freeman from Chatting at the Sky blog has a monthly link up entitled “What I Learned This Month”. Visit her blog and read some rather interesting lists of things learned in July by her readers and fellow bloggers. You may especially enjoy my friend Shelly Miller’s list of July “things”. Shelly blogs at Redemtpion’s Beauty and her list can be found here.

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I am on instagram @graceappears and on facebook. It would be lovely to see you there.