 CEFR Level B1-B2 “It’s so beautiful,” they say,
And my eyes are wet. “I believe you,” I say, And my heart wonders, Big news! I self-published an ebook, 19 Poems, with all of the poems on the Variety Page from July - December 2023! 19 Poems even includes some poems that didn't make it to the blog. Grab your copy here!  Christmas is said to be a happy time,
But when we see this war and hate and want Is joyous life resistance or a crime? Bells merry and funereal both chime, Past and future are places we might haunt. Christmas is said to be a happy time. To hang the lights, up ladders we will climb. No frozen earth or darkest night will daunt. Is joyous life resistance or a crime? The past recalled may freeze our thoughts with rime Yet living now, we chose the perfect font. Christmas is said to be a happy time. We fill our houses with fresh scents of pine. Baking, we know none will leave looking gaunt. Is joyous life resistance or a crime? A stable scene looked at not as a shrine - Giving hope if believing we are wont. Christmas is said to be a happy time. Is joyous life resistance or a crime? The winter solstice is oft observe
To go unnoticed by those that live it. The sun soon hidden by the planet Should be cause to those concerned To find any reason to be assured Nature isn’t thinking how to can it. Whether sky or screen, we might scan it And through our study become allured. Taught science and less of fantasy, We lose the romance of lives that formed us. Story yields to facts forgotten. Slow movement is hard for us to see. Praised most by those who scorned fuss From movement of an orb we’re not besotten. What is a nativity set,
Why do we spend, And stress, And decorate, All in the name of Peace on Earth? What is a nativity set That we select Because That’s what one does, All in the name of Make it Yours? What is a nativity set, What do we learn, And teach, And bring to mind, All in the name of It’s My Faith? This is a nativity set: A sign of wealth, A tool, A faithful art, All in the name of Jesus Christ Prepare.
Christ is coming. Jesus was born; Christ came. Jesus is with us; Christ will come. We wait. Each day we say, thank you.
But for what and to whom Give we our praise anew? Thanksgiving Day, it grew From lives surviving doom. Each day we say, thank you. Day by day, the years flew. Still for thanks we give room. Give we our praise anew. Other stories we knew - Recall, do not assume. Each day we say, thank you. The past gives us a clue. Now we see life in bloom. Give we our praise anew. Even when feeling blue, Know Life came from the tomb. Each day we say thank you. Give we our praise anew. Fun to smash, heavy to carry
When served for dinner, we seldom tarry. Green to bright, orange is very Popular tonight, but never hairy. Best pureed, tricking the wary Breads and pies sweetly nutrients ferry. Thinking We know what’s what, We fail to learn the truth, Overlooking lives now living Unseen. This poem is a reflection on my K-12 education about Native Americans and the attitudes and ideas I have experienced from non-Native adults.
Poem 1 Could you bring me my favorite? And join me to savor it? Not saying that we’ll cave for it. Dinner will wait for it. You know which is my favorite. Poem 2 Crunchy, creamy, cocoa, and crisp Apple, soda, pizza, and pie Not a flavor is let go by Daring and odd, fads are a wisp You leave them behind with a sigh Poem 3 Can I eat it all the day And never think of how much I weigh? No, not really, if longevity in good health is your goal Do think carefully on the caramel roll. Your choices today in tomorrow will have a say. Why do we feel afraid?
Safety, if only just. Of what are we afraid? Falling, noise, loss of trust. Why do we feel afraid? Thrills, hope to feel the rush. Of what are we afraid? Spiders, gore, knives, and pus. What good does it do us? Our minds become unmade. You are where I find calm.
The myst’ry “you” that is my rest. The undisclosed “you” of this psalm. Kisses under the palm. Lover’s steps coming from the west. You are where I find calm. Not compared to napalm, Sweetly we sleep, snug in your nest. The undisclosed “you” of this psalm. I praise You without qualm. Worshiping You pours out my best. You are where I find calm. Your presence is my balm. Singing songs, peace is also zest. You are where I find calm. The undisclosed “you” of this psalm. If it is true that most piano music in the 1800s was written for girls and women and one takes the view that the lyrics of the song “Du bist die Ruh” request a visit from an illicit lover, then that gives a different feeling to this popular Lied (classical music song in German) by Franz Schubert and Friedrich Rückert.
Was this poem that Schubert turned into a song written so young women could sexually fantasize or give coded messages to secret lovers? To wholeheartedly embrace that theory seems sensationalist, even as it feels perfectly in tune with human nature. I wonder what parental conversations were about this song. What was wondered, but never recorded? I can imagine one parent saying, “Don’t let our daughter learn that risque song! It will give her ideas about how to sneak around with boys. It could ruin her life!” And the other responding, “It’s fine! Everyone is singing it. You’re reading too much into it. It’s just music.” In modern times, “Duh bist die Ruh” is taught to student singers. Singers of classical music quickly get used to learning standard repertoire with lyrics that do not represent their own attitudes. They even devote themselves to learning songs that express ideas precisely opposite of their values. “Du bist die Ruh” is often interpreted as a beautiful love song. It can also be considered a spiritual song where the object of the singer’s devotion is God. But if it is true that this song speaks of afternoon trysts and booty calls, that is an uncomfortable thought. Imagine teaching this song, and this particular interpretation, to a high school or college student! Considering that some parents think that classical music is “safe” for their young adults, this particular interpretation may be jarring or offensive. Then again, it doesn’t take much looking into classical music to find all sorts of objectionable ideas set to song. From a different perspective, perhaps this interpretation makes the song more interesting to sing and more relatable to today’s mores. Maybe this is a reminder that humans are the same throughout history. The specifics may change, but the core motivations and concerns are constant. Labor Day starts the season.
Why? I see no reason. Workers died. Death tolls rose. The cheap pants on sale you chose. A black squirrel is an odd site,
Reputed to gleefully bite. Put to the vote by the board, The council’s of one accord: Furry mascots bring tourists. That’s right.  The yellow flowers, sunny as the summer day
A bendy stalk, whorled with leaves ascending A buzzy friend, pollen to its legs appending Could any sweeter view before me lay? The many petals, set in the form of a ray And bud after bud, and buds unending A brilliance to the field ever lending What plant is this? Please tell me, please do say. Egg-yolk yellow, fuzzy summer flowers Moths and birds, those rabbits, too, living in the leaves It thrives in barren sod This plant, many insects does empower This autumn beauty, once truly known, deep love breeds It’s lovely goldenrod. |
Just want theology-related posts? Try my Substack, The Variety Page Limited.
ESL PostsSome Beyond the Beginner videos are from The Variety Page posts that were edited for ESL listeners. Find those Read-Along transcripts here. Hire a WriterDo you need a content writer who writes without using AI? I have experience with shorter posts and longer articles. Learn more here. PhotosAll photo credits go to Jill Hames, unless otherwise noted. Categories
All
Archives
January 2026
|
RSS Feed
Jill Hames is a writer, musician, biblical studies teacher, and ESL tutor who finds life too interesting to pick a niche. She has a B.A. in Music and Spanish, a Masters in Library and Information Science, is TEFL.org 168-hour certified to teach English as a second language, and is working towards a Master of Divinity. Jill is a member of Delta Omicron and the International Women's Writing Guild.
[email protected]
Copyright 2025
[email protected]
Copyright 2025