An anthem for the New Year

This morning, again, I hollered “Get!” to deer munching on rows of lavender on the hillside outside my kitchen window.

The herd stood in deep snow, looked uphill to me, returned to their feast.

As they do every winter in a sustained snowfall, the deer have shorn the lowest row of lavender to below the snow.

If deer weren’t this destructive, I’d be glad to oblige a tasty meal or two.

However, deer do not understand boundaries when searching for food, particularly culinary delicacies.

Thankfully, winter after winter, the plant’s root remains resilient.

Then, I spied more deer chewing on the huge, fallen maple tree limb and branches near the lavender patch.

“Get!” I repeated several times, clapped my hands.

They ignored me.

“Okay, you asked for it,” I said, and banged on the house’s siding with my hand.

Mama deer looked up to me, quite miffed, left the fallen limb, and leapt downhill.

Her young followed.

Oh yes, they returned this morning to the branches and lavender, for there’s more food for their taking.

That’s less cleanup for me and my tree guy when he arrives with his chainsaw to mend the tree’s wound.

Within my musings of the challenges and costs nature brings to my door, I recalled a poem by Effie Smith titled “Forever”.

I cannot remember how I acquired her little red book titled “Rosemary and Pansies,” first published by The Gorham Press, Boston, in 1909.

Recently, I removed the book from a bookshelf in my study and carried it upstairs for bedtime reading.

My companion throughout the vigorous Christmas season with my two surviving daughters and grandson, one poem arose above them all.

Dear Reader, I submit my anthem for 2026.

Forever
We sigh for human love, from which
A whim or chance shall sever.
And leave unsought the love of God,
Though God’s love lasts forever.
We seek earth’s peace in things that pass
Like foam upon the river,
While, steadfast as the stars on high,
God’s peace abides forever.
Man’s help, for which we yearn, gives way,
As trees in storm-winds quiver,
But, mightier than all human need,
God’s help remains forever.
Turn unto Thee our wavering hearts,
O Thou who failest never;
Give us Thy love and Thy great peace,
And be our Help forever!

Contact Iris at irisfarmletters@gmail.com