Resurrection

Dazzling tulips bloom in spring,
Perform the bright day long,
Awakened from their winter sleep
By robin-red-breasts' song.

There was a plan for these to come,
Break winter's icy grip,
Each seems to listen, nod their heads,
At tree-top birds' courtship.

Within the Night

I hear a door close softly in the night,
I listen for a footstep in the hall,
And not a sound I hear to break the quiet.

I do not leave my bed as well I might,
I neither make a sound nor make a call,
I hear a door close softly in the night.

Another time it would not cause such fright,
I turn my head and face a silent wall,
And not a sound I hear to break the quiet.

I shiver in the cold and pray for light,
Then all at once I feel so very small,
I hear a door close softly in the night.

Soft whisper in my heart console my plight,
With sweaty hands I reach to get my shawl,
And not a sound I hear to break the quiet.

Then finally, I hear the dark take flight
And daylight makes a very welcome call,
I hear a door close softly in the night,
And not a sound I hear to break the quiet.

Winter Berries

Nandinas red in clusters hang;
Held there in winter's grip,
Icicles make a crown to wear
On nature's finger-tips.

A morsel for the hungry birds;
They dangle there in space,
Upon the brawny arms of green,
They dance with winter's grace.

Dawn's Early Light

I thought it must be cardinals
Strewn there across my fence,
But then my eyes were sleepy

And morning still was dense.
But when the world awakened,
It seemed the red-birds flew,
And there, instead, were roses
To make their June debut.

When I was Young

Time was, I held the world within my hand,
I listened only to enchanted breeze,
Bewitching gardens were a wonderland,
With hidden music in the emerald trees.

I opened wide my arms, embracing youth,
And laughed at life as she laughed back at me;
I drank from crystal glasses of vermouth,
Made of the word "depression" one of glee.

My heart was light, no vision of a tear,
With children; happy, healthy in their day,
Because I did not know, I had no fear,
No thoughts of stormy days, and no dismay.

But winds of fate turned mournful in my life,
And I know bitter-sweet as mother, wife.

I Found my Song

Today I searched but could not find my song,
I climbed the mountains where they meet the sky,
I scanned the valley; hunted all day long,
It was as though my song had said good bye.

Bow River offered peace and beauty rare,
A melody was whispered through the trees,
Alberta is a Providence with flair
But my song was not hidden in all these.

Then racing back to childhood in the glen,
I listened to the birds with melodies,
The sweetest song came from a tiny wren
But it could not fulfill my urgent plea.

And then it came on breezes soft and free;
My song of childhood, Yes Jesus Loves Me!
 

Canada in Autumn

When autumn woos the gentle breeze
And color reigns supreme,
I fly in fancy 'round the world
And pamper self-esteem.

In autumn's path a subtle change
Takes place across the land,
United States and Canada
Is gaudy by her hand.

Oh lovely, splashy Stanley Park
In Vancouver, B.C.
I opened wide my arms to you,
I heard you sing with me.

There is a King's Highway from Banff,
To ice-fields, glaciers; green,
The crevices are dangerous;
What a breath-taking scene!

Thousands of years it has been so,
Athasbasca Glacier; grand,
Imposing in majestic stance,
Held in Alberta's hand.

Recalling awesome wonders now,
In that land just next door,
Exploring in those snowmobiles,
Made poetry evermore.

Message in the Sunsets

I did not need to ride a plane
Or take a trail afar,
I only gazed from my back door
Viewed sunsets where they are.

So brief; as life itself is brief,
Yet I caught glory there
Within my grasp, elusive, yet
It touched me everywhere.

These sunsets, in their silent voice,
Gave messages to me,
Enjoy and love this beauty rare,
Because it soon will flee.

I stood and watched it drift away;
Felt twilight's sweet caress,
And knew the loneliness of peace,
And sadness, I confess.

And so life hovers in a space
Of time I cannot hold,
God gave a son, took him away
But gave me sunset's glow.

To a Dragonfly

Oh dragonfly with gauzy wings,
You taught my heart how nature sings,
How, in my youth you brought surprise
Into the brown of seeking eyes.

And even now, in latter age,
You've turned for me another page,
Yes now, as even 'way back then,
I count you as my flying friend.

So now go on your way and bring
Music for those who wait for spring.

Images and Text
Copyright © 1986 - 2002
Hazel Bell Nicholas
All rights reserved

About the Author

Hazel Bell Nicholas, the only daughter of a farmer-blacksmith, credits any talent she has for poetry to a poor, but loving family and her own love of the country and nature.

She started her career by writing poetry for advertising contests. Then, in 1951, she sold a poem called "Summer's Lass" to Radio Mirror Magazine for the impressive, at the time, sum of five dollars.

Her other published work includes articles for travel, nostalgia, treasure hunting (with metal detectors), and horse magazines -- more than fifty articles before she turned fifty.

Hazel says that God gave her the talent and strength to travel through a long, dark valley of sadness with the death of a loving husband and son.

At the age of eighty-six, Nicholas had her sixth book of poetry published, entitled "Come Walk With Me." You can find information about Hazel Bell Nicholas's poetry and order her other book "Whispers of Autumn," as well as her newest book published in soft-cover by writing to this this address.

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