Something Whispered . . .

Weather vane
United Methodist Church
September 2015

While walking last week, a melody and some lyrics surfaced from long ago - a memory from 1967 or 68 and a time when I sang in the high school choir. The school's music teacher was Clayton Arnold, a man who loved music and loved teaching choir and band. His wife Sammy was the accompanist for the choral performances as well the one who often came to the classroom to play while Mr. Arnold instructed and worked with the various choir sections. Mr. Arnold was demanding, and the results were phenomenal for a small school. One year the choir was recorded on reel to reel tape, and a small record was produced, basically unheard of in those days. I still have that record.

The song that popped into my head and prompted by the weather forecast was "Something Told the Wild Geese."

Something Told the Wild Geese

by

Rachel Field

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go,

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly,

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

Thursday morning
November 17, 2016

The weatherman and my long-lasting memory were correct . . . 

the storm hit with force Wednesday night

 and continued throughout the day on Thursday. 

The whisper became a shout, "Winter is here!"