Colossians Three Sixteen » Poetry (and sometimes music) Friday

Fridays here are typically set aside for two posts. One of those simply chronicles some of the things that caught my eye over the past week. This one focuses more on the artistic side of life. God is a God of creativity and He has instilled in people the ability to create and we celebrate that to His praise. I typically try to link to the photography of several people (Steve McCoy, Joe Thorn, Will Turner, Joe Kennedy) who have now conveniently compiled those photographs in a central location. I also feature a poet, including a brief biographical account and at least one poem. Lastly, I typically highlight a musical artist, also featuring a brief snippet about them. The qualification here is that the artist must make at least one track available for free and legal download.

Today’s poet is also my first (to my recollection) repeat in this feature. I featured William Cowper some time in July which was not that long ago. However, it’s my blog and I’ll repeat if I want to! Cowper’s poems have often been a sourse of inspiration, particularly his honest in struggling with depression and his continual reliance upon the Lord. Today’s poem is aptly titled “Grace and Providence:”

Almighty King! whose wondrous hand
Supports the weight of sea and land;
Whose grace is such a boundless store,
No heart shall break that sighs for more.

Thy providence supplies my food,
And ’tis Thy blessings makes it good.
My soul is nourish’d by Thy Word,
Let soul and body praise the Lord!

My streams of outward comfort came
From Him who built this earthly frame;
Whate’er I want His bounty gives,
By whom my soul forever lives.

Either His hand preserves from pain,
Or, if I feel it, heals again;
From Satan’s malice shields my brest,
Or overrules it for the best.

Forgive the song that falls so low
Beneath the gratitude I owe!
It means Thy praise: however poor,
An angel’s song can do no more.

Purchase William Cowper’s books

Today’s musical selection comes from a Canadian band calling themselves Below the Sea. Allmusic.com says of the band: “In the wake of Godspeed You Black Emperor!’s international success, many Montreal post-rock groups tried their chance, but none sounded as sincere and promising as Below the Sea. With members stretched between Montreal and Quebec City, this trio traded GYBE!’s pathos for a softer kind of melancholia more associated with shoegazing and added a touch of ambient electronics.”

The comparison really isn’t a fair one other than that Below the Sea is an instrumental band from Canada. They do not utilize the strings nor the soft to quiet approach, nor do they incorporate the overdone dramalogues that weighed so much of GYBE!’s music down. Instead we are presented with fine melodic instrumental pieces incorporating minimal electronic glitches over nice hooks.