Yesterday’s prose poem ( I Am Standing Upon The Seashore), written more than a century ago, is as fresh as paint today.
It is attributed to Henry van Dyke. I had never heard of him but thought perhaps he is remembered in America. Yesterday I took a poll among a small sample of my American friends (only one was available) and she had never heard of him either. You, on the other hand, may remember him for this poem (For Katrina’s Sundial).
“Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love, time is Eternity.”
It was read at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, by her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes.
H v D is a true Renaissance man. Author:
“Among his popular writings are the two Christmas stories, “The Other Wise Man” (1896) and “The First Christmas Tree” (1897). Various religious themes of his work are also expressed in his poetry, hymns and the essays collected in Little Rivers (1895) and Fisherman’s Luck (1899). He wrote the lyrics to the popular hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (1907), sung to the tune of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. He compiled several short stories in The Blue Flower (1902), named after the key symbol of Romanticism introduced first by Novalis. He also contributed a chapter to the collaborative novel, The Whole Family (1908).” (Wikipedia)
Academic:
“He served as a professor of English literature at Princeton between 1899 and 1923. … In 1908 – 09 Dr van Dyke was a lecturer at the University of Paris.” (Wikipedia)
Presbyterian clergyman:
“Van Dyke chaired the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian printed liturgy, The Book of Common Worship of 1906. … He officiated at the funeral of Mark Twain at the Brick Presbyterian Church on April 23, 1910.” (Wikipedia)
And diplomat:
“By appointment of President Woodrow Wilson, a friend and former classmate of van Dyke, he became Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1913. Shortly after his appointment, World War I threw Europe into dismay. Americans all around Europe rushed to Holland as a place of refuge. Although inexperienced as an ambassador, van Dyke conducted himself with the skill of a trained diplomat, maintaining the rights of Americans in Europe and organizing work for their relief. He later related his experiences and perceptions in the book Pro Patria (1921).” (Wikipedia)
Knowing about his life has added to my appreciation of the two poems quoted here. I imagine he was a good preacher. Furthermore, he wrote the lyrics to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (1907), sung to the tune of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”.