Birthday Poems: Nathanael 2013

My eldest daughter has been asking me to post all the family poems here on this blog, so I'm going to begin making more of an effort to get more of the poems for all the kids published here (lately, I've been focusing more on William's, since his birthday was recently). Here's one written for Nathanael's seventh birthday, two years ago. The reference to the missed poem from the previous year is a theme you'll see in all the other poems written that year. There's a reason for that, but it's not important to go into here.

Stronger

A Poem for Nathanael’s Sixth…and Seventh…Birthdays

May 3, 2013

WCN

It’s true—I really should be jailed:

Forgive me, son, for I have failed

As poet of the home.

This day last year, when you turned six,

When, from my rhyming bag of tricks,

I should have grabbed poetic bricks

To build your birthday poe’m,

I didn’t—and the reason why

Would make a heartless giant cry,

In pity for my woes;

But let’s not bring that up again!

Please, just forgive me for my sin

(Or, if it will augment your grin,

Just punch me on the nose!)

But now, your birthday’s here again,

You’re six from thirteen, three from ten

(That’s seven, in my view);

By writing at the end of year,

I can look back on all the cheer,

On every joy and every fear,

On how you changed and grew.

But I can also look ahead,

To things you’ve not yet done or said

Which you should not (or should);

But first the past: look back with me:

A stronger boy is what I see,

In faith, in hope, in loyalty,

In loving what is good.

  

You’re more mature, your wisdom grows;

And like a wind that always blows,

Your mind moves all around;

Asking questions, seeking facts,

For anything your knowledge lacks,

You’re always filling in the cracks

Of Understanding’s ground.

And yet, I ought to caution you,

That something else is stronger too—

I wonder if you know?

As you grow strong in love and grace,

An enemy that you must face

Is right behind and keeping pace—

Keep close your shield and bow.

Temptation is the villain’s name:

A foe of rather famous name,

I’m sure you’ve heard of him;

So in the year that’s up ahead,

The Year of your First Wine and Bread,

Don’t let him fill your heart with dread,

To make your hope grow dim.

Press on in all that’s sound and true,

In hard things that are good for you,

Do not despise the rod;

As I have seen your love for me

Grow like the first Edenic tree,

More than all else I look to see

Your stronger love for God.

Birthday Poems: William and Nathanael 2010

Here's another poem written for William, along with his brother, Nathanael: I combined their poems this particular year (2010). Inspired by John Milton's Comus, this is one of my all-time favorites.

Band of Brothers

A Poem for Nathanael, on the Occasion of His Fourth Birthday (May 3, 2010); and William, on the Occasion of his Seventh Birthday (July 19, 2010)

Given, With Love, By Your Father

Nathanael:

Well, here we are, just me and you,

There’s only two of us.

We boys, I mean: there’s only two;

Two brothers: we are small and few;

Whatever can we hope to do?

William:

Now, don’t despair, don’t fuss!

It’s true that we’re not army-size:

We can’t besiege a town.

But like the knight who charges, dies,

With noble luster in his eyes,

That gold and silver never buys;

And takes the foeman down;

So you and I are richly blessed

With courage from our Lord;

I’ve seen you, brother, sorely pressed,

Yet rise with valor, meet the test;

And you and I shall meet this Quest,

Come fire, death, or sword.

Nathanael:

Thanks, brother; now I’m set to try

To take the heights above;

For just two brothers—you and I—

By God’s dear grace may crack the sky;

We may not win but we can die,

To save that which we love.

As Jonathan and his servant went

Against a mighty crew;

So now two brothers have been sent,

To force the wicked to relent;

‘Til all heart-treasures have been spent;

And hearts are piercéd through.

William:

Well said, my brother! Now look to

The sword of steel you wear; 

Whatever can we hope to do?

Nathanael:

Nay, here were are, we happy few:

A band of brothers, small, but true;

A noble cross to bear.

Narrator:

Then bursting through the door to Hell,

Where Sorcery held sway;

Two brothers with a mighty yell,

Sent serpents spinning, beasts pell-mell;

And drave the Devil, tales do tell,

And nobly won the day.

Thus set they free their sisters twain,

Who, captured in the wood,

Refused the wizard’s cup to drain;

To keep their hearts from every stain;

And were enchanted for their pain,

For clinging to the Good.

And now the four walked hand in hand,

Walked in the dying gloam;

And knew not all that yet was planned,

Of twinkling stars and grains of sand:

That more would join their little band,

To grace their little home.

Birthday Verse

I am trying to get into the habit of writing short poems for special family remembrances: birthdays, anniversaries, and the like. Here are a couple composed recently for the birthdays of my two sons. William just turned four yesterday, and Nathanael was one year old in May. Here's William's, first:

Four
A Poem for William’s Fourth Birthday
Four Seasons our Lord sends;
Four Corners, the World’s Ends;
Four Evangelists nobly bring
Four Gospels for One King.

Four great Winds around us blow;
Four Directions a man may go—
East, West, South, North;
And Four brief years since you came forth.

Four years since your happy birth
(In this Fourth Age of Middle-earth);
Four Rivers flow in Paradise:
Drink deeply, and be strong and wise.

May the God of truth your heart enflame
(He of the great, Four-lettered Name)
With all the Four high Virtues, son—
Do not neglect a single one.

Ride on with valour, bravely fight
The Four Dark Horsemen of the Night;
And from this never turn aside:
The Foursquare City of the Bride.

And here's the one written for Nathanael:

A Poem For Nathanael On His First Birthday

A year has passed (as of today);
Again it is the third of May.
The Earth has travelled ‘round the Sun,
And now my little boy is one.

I think that you’re too young to guess
Your father’s pride and thankfulness
(Though I suspect you see and know
More than the experts say is so).

The mysteries behind your eyes,
The parables of infant cries—
So long would take to comprehend,
While our brief time will quickly end.

So while the days are young, and new,
God grant that I may be for you
A father: noble, strong and wise,
Who seeks the truth behind your eyes.