This morning, I came across this obscure poet, Peter Burn (c. 1755–1788). His works include "Night and Other Poems," "Voices of Nature," and "Poems," but I could not find them. However, here are a few poems that I find to be calming in this troubled and tumultuous time:
Kindness
by Peter Burn
Show kindness to others!
Treat all men as brothers,
Whatever their station, whatever betide;
All envy disdaining,
A failing discerning,
Seek not to uncover, but rather to hide.
Speak kindly to other,
And wealth shall be yours,
The magic of story still lives in kind words;
Let them be spoken,
And hearts will fly open—
Kind words are ever more mighty than swords.
Ode To May
by Peter Burn
Queen of months, supremely fair,
Cloth'd with garments rich and rare,
None in beauty can compare
With thee, sweet May.
Lovely month, thou bringest mirth,
Spreadest sweetness o;er the earth,
Causest Nature to give birth
To fruits and flowers.
Thou art lov'd by young and old.
Joys for each thou dost unfold;
Never shall our hearts grow cold
To thee, sweet May.
Heaven
By Peter Burn
There's a land where the souls of the righteous reign,
A home where the weary ones rest;
There, there is enjoyment without any pain,
There nought can be found that has blemish or stain,
For all with perfection are blest.
'Tis free from the wearisome darkness of night,
'Tis blest with continual day;
Our God is its sun, and we walk in His light;
There, cruel disease has no power to blight,
'Tis free from the spoiler, decay.
The Joy of Hope
by Peter Burn
When lonely and dejected,
When weary and oppress'd,
I love to think of heaven,
That place of joy and rest;
I love when trials meet me,
And waves of trouble roll,
To think upon the pleasures
Which there await my soul.
The path I tread is dreary,
My lot, alas! is poor;
But heaven's promised to me
Why should I wish for more?
This life is but a vapour,
Which vanisheth away,
Earth's pleasures are as flowers,
They wither and decay.
But, oh! the joys of heaven
Are not like those of earth,
They're real and enduring,
No tongue can speak their worth;
No mortal eye is able
To picture aught so fair;
No blight, no death, no sorrow,
Are known to enter there.
I want to recommend to those who may be interested a wonderful website:
This life is but a vapor…. So true
Pete Burns a Poet I have not come across prior to this. Doc you amaze me everytime! What beautiful Poetry,I am going to try and find more of his work. Your posts tell me that as well as being a good Decent Person, you have so much Empathy and Compassion I see that in the Work you post. Yet again I feel as if it was meant to be that I found your notes on here, so much that you post makes me think and really appreciate the work you do on here. It must be really time consuming, I'm glad that even when you disagree with something you still show decency and Compassion, these poems are making a statement, it's like my Mother's Sayings ie "It's Nice to be Nice " it's how I try to live my life. I have been in a not so good place with what's happening in my life, I'm Tired , I don't know why but my emotions are all over the place just now, physical Pain as well as an anger within me. Reading the poems has picked me up I don't feel like I'm falling or more to the point "Failing" . I have sadness in my heart, I have had to stop watching the News due to the Cruelty that seems to be taking over. It matters not to me any longer Who started the ongoing War in Ukraine or the Iran Israeli debacle it's too much testosterone and messed up braincells tbh. What does matter is the Civilians who are being attacked and killed,Women Children The Elderly. Its Cruelty on steroids and I am just Angry that I can't do a damn thing to stop it all. So thank you for being You and understanding people's failings.