THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512230220
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Oscar Scott is a true believer in peace and love.
If you don't believe it, you have only to listen to his clear, lilting voice as he strums his guitar and croons: ``Peace and love from heaven surely belong to you; peace and love from heaven will carry you through.''
Scott, 66, is well-known throughout northern Isle of Wight County. He frequently walks where he has to go, and you see him picking up a scrap of paper here, a can or bottle there.
``It's a way of keeping God's Earth clean,'' he says with a grin.
For years, Scott has entertained with his guitar and his songs at hospitals, nursing homes - even once last summer at the concert on the green in downtown Smithfield.
But now, Scott has achieved a little more prominence in the world. An original poem he wrote appears in the National Library of Poetry's recent publication ``A Sea of Treasures 1995.''
Scott's poem, titled ``Sun Light,'' goes like this:
The sun light is shining,
shining very, very bright.
One stream of light is all right
Shining down from heaven.
Smiling on you.
Surely, surely, belongs to you.
So, don't worry about the tomorrow,
for tomorrow is just as far away, is yesterday.
Peace and love today, is the way.
Surely, surely, surely, just as the day light fades away.
Peace and love with understanding.
Will carry you through.
Peace and love from heaven.
Belong to you.''
Scott's poem was selected from several thousand submitted by amateur poets across the United States, says Pat Talley, a customer service representative with the National Library of Poetry. The committee that makes the selections for publication usually chooses only a small percentage of the poems submitted, she says.
The National Library of Poetry publishes from eight to 10 anthologies each year. The most recent is ``Sea of Treasures.'' Scott's poem appears in the book along with a brief outline of his life.
He was born in Warwick County, on the Peninsula, in 1929. He is described as a retired music composer, performer and writer. He's lived in Smithfield for about eight years.
But it doesn't appear that Scott has retired. He's still doing what he has been doing for most of his life - writing, composing and singing. He displays three briefcases packed with his literary efforts. Most everything he has written has been submitted to the National Library of Congress. He's a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He released a record in 1965.
``It didn't go anywhere,'' he says. ``But that's all right. Never mind money. I just like to make people happy, to see them smile.''
Scott is a veteran of the Army, Air Force Reserves and the Korean War. He's a member of Bethany Christian Church.
Right now, this spiritual man is working on a book: ``Man's Knowledge of God's World Today.'' Simply put, he says, it's about life and living.
His music is a little country, a little folk, always uplifting. The words tell of stars that guide us, of a mother's love for a child and a little town named Smithfield.
``Birds singing, church bells ringing - this little town called Smithfield.''
He talks a lot, through his music, about God's guidance and love - not only in his own life but in everyone else's.
He doesn't mind requests.
``Whenever somebody wants me to play, I can play.''
He demonstrated:
``A real mother's love for her child means more than silver and gold . . . ''
And the Smithfield office of The Virginian-Pilot was filled with music. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
A poem by Oscar Scott appears in a national poetry magazine.
by CNB