Kirjahaku

From poignant to playful, this collection of poetry and verse sings through a solar year of thoughtfulness, whimsy, nostalgia, fun, and devotion. Nature is never far away on these pages, which begin and end with the joy and gloom of the winter solstice. Like life, this collection is unpredictable: sometimes waggish, sometimes tearful, sometimes metered and rhymed, sometimes in free form--but always with music in the words. The poems follow the author's memories and thoughts in moonlight, in sunlight, and in awe for the Maker of both. ""Singing the Gamut offers a medley of delightful poetry, ranging from the cleverly humorous to the deeply emotional. Ray Haan reveals himself to be an extraordinarily skilled wordsmith. Sit back and savor the poems. You will relish them time after time. Each reading provides both profound insight and light-hearted quirkiness."" --John Van Dyk, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, State University of New York ""This is an anthology of life itself, including moments of profound praise, dry humor, and quiet surprise. A few pieces speak concretely and movingly of Haan's own history, but most of them offer satire, reflection, and common prayers for souls of all ages. Some of these poems march solemnly; others dance; still others grin and nudge you in the ribs. But Haan has an excellent ear for the English language, and every poem sings."" --Chad Engbers, Professor of English, Calvin College Raymond H. Haan attended Calvin College and the University of Michigan. He scrambled through thirty-nine years of teaching English, simultaneously pursuing his passion for church music by serving as organist and director of music and by publishing much choral, organ, and instrumental music for worship. Since retiring from active music-making, he has written a light-hearted book of serious grammar instruction, and he has also produced miscellaneous prose and a good helping of poetry. He and his wife, Claretta, live in Cutlerville, Michigan, within a few miles of their four children and a goodly quiverful of grandchildren.

From poignant to playful, this collection of poetry and verse sings through a solar year of thoughtfulness, whimsy, nostalgia, fun, and devotion. Nature is never far away on these pages, which begin and end with the joy and gloom of the winter solstice. Like life, this collection is unpredictable: sometimes waggish, sometimes tearful, sometimes metered and rhymed, sometimes in free form--but always with music in the words. The poems follow the author's memories and thoughts in moonlight, in sunlight, and in awe for the Maker of both. ""Singing the Gamut offers a medley of delightful poetry, ranging from the cleverly humorous to the deeply emotional. Ray Haan reveals himself to be an extraordinarily skilled wordsmith. Sit back and savor the poems. You will relish them time after time. Each reading provides both profound insight and light-hearted quirkiness."" --John Van Dyk, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, State University of New York ""This is an anthology of life itself, including moments of profound praise, dry humor, and quiet surprise. A few pieces speak concretely and movingly of Haan's own history, but most of them offer satire, reflection, and common prayers for souls of all ages. Some of these poems march solemnly; others dance; still others grin and nudge you in the ribs. But Haan has an excellent ear for the English language, and every poem sings."" --Chad Engbers, Professor of English, Calvin College Raymond H. Haan attended Calvin College and the University of Michigan. He scrambled through thirty-nine years of teaching English, simultaneously pursuing his passion for church music by serving as organist and director of music and by publishing much choral, organ, and instrumental music for worship. Since retiring from active music-making, he has written a light-hearted book of serious grammar instruction, and he has also produced miscellaneous prose and a good helping of poetry. He and his wife, Claretta, live in Cutlerville, Michigan, within a few miles of their four children and a goodly quiverful of grandchildren.

This little congregation of poems begins with fishing and ends with a candle snuffer. Between come encounters with fear and faith, parting and death, friendship and love, dejection and peace. You will encounter a good bit of spiritual sense and just a bit of nonsense. You will read a strange story or two, you will feel the clutch of loneliness and the sting of bereavement, and you will be reminded of wisdom that shines far beyond these poems. Rhymed verse, free verse, a bit of rollicking fun, and a good deal of heart compose this uniquely varied and diverting collection of poems. Time and birds, a chipmunk and a squirrel, daisies and maples, a bloodhound, a zipper, a jar and cover, a nest, a buttercup, a bier, used shirts, tea, a cross stitch, and, almost inevitably, the sun come one by one to entice your thoughts and affections.

This little congregation of poems begins with fishing and ends with a candle snuffer. Between come encounters with fear and faith, parting and death, friendship and love, dejection and peace. You will encounter a good bit of spiritual sense and just a bit of nonsense. You will read a strange story or two, you will feel the clutch of loneliness and the sting of bereavement, and you will be reminded of wisdom that shines far beyond these poems. Rhymed verse, free verse, a bit of rollicking fun, and a good deal of heart compose this uniquely varied and diverting collection of poems. Time and birds, a chipmunk and a squirrel, daisies and maples, a bloodhound, a zipper, a jar and cover, a nest, a buttercup, a bier, used shirts, tea, a cross stitch, and, almost inevitably, the sun come one by one to entice your thoughts and affections.

Hearts have no template: they vary as much as snowflakes. Like snowflakes, some hearts are cold, but others are warm as babies' hands. Some are gray with melancholy; some bright with good cheer. This collection contains poems that reflect moments of the heart's delight and struggle. Some of the poems are indirect, merely suggesting the presence of the heart. Some are happily frivolous, as hearts can be; others are drawn from deep wells. Yet others squeeze into the group, altogether heartless, having slipped in between pulsations.

If poetry has a soul, it might be metaphor, since metaphor transforms and enlivens even our most common objects and experiences. In this latest poetic excursion by Raymond Haan, you will find many common objects, among them garbage cans, a mole, a dune ride, Oliver the dog, a door and hinge, a needle, a raspberry, and a trapped raccoon. For the author, each of these bits of common terrain transforms into a new-found land, a fresh and less tangible territory that invites a bit of exploration and offers some joy of discovery.

Hearts have no template: they vary as much as snowflakes. Like snowflakes, some hearts are cold, but others are warm as babies' hands. Some are gray with melancholy; some bright with good cheer. This collection contains poems that reflect moments of the heart's delight and struggle. Some of the poems are indirect, merely suggesting the presence of the heart. Some are happily frivolous, as hearts can be; others are drawn from deep wells. Yet others squeeze into the group, altogether heartless, having slipped in between pulsations.

Reading Word Songs and Whimsies is like taking a ride on a magical tandem bicycle: the author pedals and steers, and the reader travels behind, viewing the sights selected by the author. Your tour brings you to the violent ward of a mental hospital in the 1950s and (sixty years later) to a farmer with a rebellious billy goat. Along the way you examine flowers, clouds, and trees--and you pause to consider the songs of the tree toad and the cricket. You speed past pictures of the sins of youth, and you stop to examine portraits of old age, framed with fear and faith. Ragged, struggling, and saintly people appear as you push along, and at intervals you have time for rest and reassurance as you pause before wayside shrines depicting the love of Jesus. Sometimes a scene is touched with humor or pathos--or even with a pinch of irony; and sometimes a misty picture wants a second look. Always the motion of the verse and the sounds of the poetry help to make your journey smooth.

Reading Word Songs and Whimsies is like taking a ride on a magical tandem bicycle: the author pedals and steers, and the reader travels behind, viewing the sights selected by the author. Your tour brings you to the violent ward of a mental hospital in the 1950s and (sixty years later) to a farmer with a rebellious billy goat. Along the way you examine flowers, clouds, and trees--and you pause to consider the songs of the tree toad and the cricket. You speed past pictures of the sins of youth, and you stop to examine portraits of old age, framed with fear and faith. Ragged, struggling, and saintly people appear as you push along, and at intervals you have time for rest and reassurance as you pause before wayside shrines depicting the love of Jesus. Sometimes a scene is touched with humor or pathos--or even with a pinch of irony; and sometimes a misty picture wants a second look. Always the motion of the verse and the sounds of the poetry help to make your journey smooth.

Here they come--our ancient, never-aging alphabetical friends. This little book of light verse and pleasing sketches endows each letter with personality, some charming and some a bit rascally, some odd and some pathetic. Most of the letters take humor seriously, and so, as the verse and art frolic about them, they maintain their expected dignity and grace. They will, however, allow you a chuckle at their expense. If, perchance, you have neglected these steadfast friends, here is your chance to make amends. Samuel Johnson said, ""If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair."" Maybe a little visit with our saints and scamps will renew your friendship with each one--and help to keep that friendship in a state of jolly good repair.