“The New Rule” by Rumi

It’s the old rule that drunks have to argue
and get into fights.
The lover is just as bad: he falls into a hole.
But down in that hole he finds something shining,
worth more than any amount of money or power.

Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street.
I took it as a sign to start singing,
falling up into the bowl of sky.
The bowl breaks. Everywhere is falling everywhere.
Nothing else to do.

Here’s the new rule: break the wineglass,
and fall toward the Glassblower’s breath.

Rumi
Open Secret: Versions of Rumi
trans. John Moyne and Coleman Barks

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“The House by the Sea, Eriskay” by Niall Campbell

This is where the drowned climb to land.
For a single night when a boat goes down

soaked footprints line its cracked path
as inside they stand open mouthed at a fire,

drying out their lungs, that hang in their chests
like sacks of black wine. Some will have stripped

down to their washed skin, and wonder
whether they are now more moon than earth —

so pale. Some worry about the passage,
others still think about the deep. All share

a terrible thirst, wringing their hands
until the seawater floods across the floor.

Niall Campbell
Best Scottish Poems 2014

Saoirse from “Song of the Sea”

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“God Our Strength” by John Bowring

Have ye not seen? have ye not heard?
And hath it not been told to you?
‘From the beginning,’ that the Lord
Will strengthen, will uphold you?
If, struggling through life’s weary race,
You keep His law, and seek His face.

Yes! ye have heard, and ye have seen,
The Wise,-the Great,-the Holy,
Will ever be what He hath been,
The refuge of the lowly;
Who from the depth of prayer’s recess,
Seek strength from His almightiness.

Was it not told you from the first
He faints not, tires not ever?
He still is merciful as erst,
His glory waneth never!
We pine in pain and pass away,
He knows nor darkness nor decay.

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