Breeze

This post is inspired by haiku Heights prompt word “Breeze”.

On of my favourite places is London. There is nothing so inspiring as the city skyline viewed from the South Bank of the Thames on a summer’s evening. Imagine feeling a gentle breeze drifting over the river at sunset and listening to the birds singing in nearby trees ~ magical! Do click on my link to hear the fabulous Glenn Miller Band playing one of my favourite songs ~ the inspiration for this haiku ~ with a nod to one of my favourite poets too ~Thomas Hardy.

Nightingales

As gentle breezes blow

Nightingales in bushes sing

Sublime serenade

One of my favourite times of year in the Vale of Evesham and generally in the Cotswold, is Spring, when the blossom covers the fruit trees and the ornamental cherry is out.

Boughs bend to the breeze

Covering the earth in a

Blanket of blossom

Ornamental cherry

Watching butterflies

Their beauty borne on the breeze

Children barely breathe

Butterfly in captivity

There are times when a gentle breeze can have a powerful effect, as can a still small voice.

Gazing on Taize

Sunflowers bow to the breeze

And my spirit soars

I will never forget the time I went to Taize. In the 1940s Roger Schutz was appalled by the violence and suffering he saw across Europe. Throughout the war years, he sheltered political refugees, especially Jews, whom he helped cross the border into Switzerland from the occupied region of France. He began to develop the idea of a community based on mutual understanding and respect for all. He found a suitable site at Taize near Cluny in the Burgundy region of France and on Palm Sunday of 1948, seven men took monastic vows. They dedicated their lives to working and praying for ‘outsiders’ of all kinds; especially those living in extremes of poverty, hunger, or disease. Taize is now famous for its gentle and powerful worship built on meditation through repetitive chants, a model of worship which has spread around the world. Brother Roger’s work continues; to bring reconciliation, unity and peace to all the peoples of the world. www.taize.fr

There is a beautiful icon of Mary in the Church of Reconciliation in Taize. I would recommend anyone who travels to France to make a detour so that they can spend some time there and see this Icon.

Icon of Madonna and child from the chapel at Taize

When I went to Taize one summer I had an amazing experience. I stood alone in a field full of sunflowers, at the foot of the hill looking up towards the church, as a gentle breeze blew. The wind caused the flowers to bend and the sound they made was so strange. It reminded me strongly of the beautiful words of one of my favourite hymns:

Be still for the presence of the Lord

Be still for the presence of the Lord The holy one is here

Come bow before him now With reverence and fear

In him no sin is found We stand on holy ground

Be still for the presence of the Lord The holy one is here

Be still for the power of the Lord Is moving in this place

He comes to cleanse and heal To minister his grace

No work too hard for him In faith receive from him

Be still for the power of the Lord Is moving in this place