Ode to My Children
I lift a box from under my bed
I'm Just going to clean a bit
I run my duster over the top
But without thinking I open it.
Out tumble a mound of pictures
I smile but a lump in my throat I get
I see you girls dancing in the tutu
I fashioned from pink nylon net
And playing the bride in white
I'd sewn from an old white sheet
Sharing brownies with friends
Your little oven made that treat.
The boys swinging in the hay loft
On the tire swing in the old barn
Right into a large mound of hay
Back at home at the old farm.
Remember the day you made wine
Crushing the berries with your feet
That I had to soak in a tub of Tide
For a week this ritual I had to repeat
The ice skating rink we assembled
From the steel sides of an old pool
We built a fire and toasted mallows
And your friends thought it was cool
But then,as children do, you got older
Eventually we had to move to town
But you made the adjustment well
With new friends and activities found.
And as you grew it was plain to see
You were happy and close to each other
And fortunately thats how it stayed
You still look out for one another..
I thank you all for the memories
You've so free and lovingly given to me
I would't trade anything in the world
For those days etched in my memory
Dear Family
When I was just a little pup
You picked me from the litter
You thought I was so cute
And a friendly little critter.
I moved in with the family
And the kids loved me so.
We played and ran daily
Watching each other grow.
But now that we are older
No one has any time for me
To feed or walk me is a chore
Who's job it is you can't agree.
And because you all ignore me
An accident may often result
And then I'm really punished
When it's really not my fault.
When I try to get your attention
You usually just shoo me away
And tell to go lie down again
That's how I spend my day.
Just trying to tell you I love you
Just want a pat on the head
Or a kind word now and then
It's you're walking away I dread.
I don't live as long as you folks
I won't always be here with you
Let me know I'm part of the family
And that you still love me too.
Faith
When ever I listen to a hymn
Like HOW GREAT THOU ART
I have a a spiritual experience
That reverberates in my heart
My soul aches for the non believer
Who doesn't get to know the feeling
Or to partake of our sacred ecstacy
And experience a spiritual healing
So if you are blessed to have faith
Do everything you can to nurture it
Like anything else it must be tended
And be greatful your God does exist
Touch Me
One of the things you truely miss
As you get on and are alone in years
Is the touch of your former lover
Who could smile away your tears
His hand would touch yours' lightly
Give you a gentle tap on the cheek
Or brush the hair from your face
Still causing your heart to leap
And at other times to hold you
Caressing your eager body to his
Neither of us saying a word
All your cares he could dismiss
I look at his photo on the shelf
And run my fingers all over it
But it doesn't respond to me
So with disappointment I quit
At night when sleep is nigh
I think I can feel him very near
Reaching out to me once again
But reality brings on a tear
As the tears lead me into sleep
I roll over to his side of the bed
As I hold his pillow close to me
In dreams we are once again wed
When My Time Comes
When my time comes to leave this world
Promise me you will not mourn for long
Life is to enjoy for the short time we have
And to waste it on saddness is just wrong
I'll never truely be far away from you at all
I'll be right there in your heart and thoughts
Just listen for the birds song lightly sung
As its perches in the oak tree's boughs
Or feel the touch of the breeze on your face
Or you feel the kiss of a new family baby
You'll know I'm around somewhere close by
Keeping you close to me and visiting daily
Life is a cycle that we all must go through
We come in as bundles of joy none the wiser
And we hope to leave a mark of our own
But sadly we all go out of here as fertilizer
Thanks Y'all
It hurts to lose your close friend
Someone you talked to everyday
Who listened while we shared all
Tears,laughter or anything we say
And we enjoyed hearing from you
All your life's joys and struggles
Together we tried to fix everything
Or laugh away our own fumbles
I'm sorry if we hurt your feelings
Be sure that was not our intent
Sometimes we get over zealous
With words that are not relevent
Friendship is too important to drop
Simply because of a faux pas read
Inadvertently said in haste or anger
When I could have shut up instead
I hope our friendship on this forum
Has brought some happiness to all
I know I've enjoyed some time here
And for that I wish to thank y'all
The Self Importance of Youth
It occurred to me just yesterday
While observing the young adults
Of our own very large family tree
They have inherited the same faults.
Its amazing how they see things
Their self importance and pride
Is only lessened by confidence
As through this life they glide.
My mind drifted back in time
To those now long gone years
And I laughed to see myself
With no inhibitions or fears.
One incident came to mind
I decided to stop dating
My boyfriend of two years
This was a chore I as hating
Because I Knew for a fact
That he was so in love with me
He would write me a sad song
And get down on one knee
This song would be so sad
He'd cry at least a week
Or else he'd go get drunk
Until his mind was weak.
But instead of all that
He went off to Ohio State
And became a doctor
And that was his fate.
And about ten years later
His wedding invite came
And of course I'd RSVP
And if he asked I'd explain..
Then came the reception line
And infront of them I stood
And he cocked his head and
He'd talk to me if he could.
And he said with a question
You look familiar but no
I can't remeber who you are
Tell me before you go.
I looked at him in silence
And finally found my tongue
I'm here for the bride I said
As slowly my head hung.
And at this his Brides eyes
Were the size of a dinner plate
And I saw the searching look
I just moved on and did not wait.
Heaven on Earth
Million dollar plus homes
Lurury cars in the garage
Perfect gardens out back
Could be a beautiful mirage.
Delicacies on their tables
Luxuries abound throughout
Nothing wrong in their world
Of that there is no doubt.
Trophy wives in their satins
To their sugar daddies delight
Have waiters pouring the wine
That's aged and chilled just right.
Their nights will be comfortable
In their luxurious bedroom
No stress to prevent sleep
They can sleep until noon.
These are the folks you know
Who have heaven on earth
Some of them have earned it
And others have it by birth.
Still many aren't as happy
As you'd think they'd be
All that glitz and glamor
Is just superficial you see.
If they'd just open their eyes
Their hearts and their minds
They'd see the impoverished
The feeble, and the blind.
Everyone needs to contbibute
To be part of the Human Race
Don't think it's not your problem
You know that's not the case.
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Remember Me
Will anyone remember me
Long after I've left the earth?
Will someone think of me
And know I had some worth.
Will anyone read my poems
Smile at the photos I've taken?
Or will they lay up in the attic
in a cardboard box forsaken?
Will someone tend my tulips
That the neighbors so admired?
Or will they just be left alone
As no longer to be desired?
All the trees I've carefully planted
Will they shade another generation?
And who will keep the beauty going
With their own personel creation?
I hope someone will think of me
At least every once in a while.
I hope the little things I've left
Will give them a reason to smile.
My Tulips
It's a marvelous tribute to nature
How all life strives to survive.
Facing many daunting hazards
Miraculously manage to revive.
Like my tulips on that thin stem
The wind fiercely blowing 'em around
The stem bending almost in two
Its flower kissing the frozen ground.
They bloom on as glorious as ever
In the calm of the following day.
Their beauty simply too awesome
It actually takes my breath away.
My tulips stay for just a short time
I wish they lasted a long while
The roses and lilies will soon follow
And they too will bring a smile.
To Blake
To you my friend I deeply apologize
Sometimes I say things that I regret
Cruel and harsh words without thought
Just come forth in the heat of argument
I say they will make me feel better
And I needed to get it off my chest
But truth is I just wanted to be right
And I became someone even I detest
We are both very committed to ideals
And I shouldn't expect you to relent
You have every right to your opinions
I should not misconstrue your intent
So forgive me old friend and I promise
I'll be more attuned to listen to you
And not parse every word you write
Cause I don't know it all; who knew?
Voices
Have you ever heard a prettier sound
When everyone at church stands to sing
All those untrained voices yet in unison
Praise to their God Their heavenly king
The old man who's voice is cracking
Sings his praises above all the rest
The children's soft voices now blend in
Everyone singing is what I like best
No one cares I can't carry a tune
And that I don't know all the words
Or that a baby is loudly screaming
Giving all the emphasis it deserves
Its wonderful to have the feelings
You always get after the hymn is done
You smile at the people around you
You love the person you've become
No Turning Back Now
I can laugh out loud at a joke
Or sob through a sad story
I can listen to your rants
And help you not to worry.
I'll hug you when I need to
And pray you'll soon recover
I'll wipe all your tears away
And be your one true lover.
I've seen the best of you
And often times the worst
And I've loved you anyway
Of your ways I am well versed.
So if we have to cry at times
Let's hold on to each other
Let's always share a laugh
As in my arms you hover.
Too late to change our minds
Who else would want us now?
Two old codgers shuffling on
The best way we know how.
My Wish for the New Year
I try to be a good citizen
And listen to all the news
But I'm not at all happy
With our president's views.
Does he not respect life
Or see the mistakes made?
Is he not aware of our wishes
And the price we have paid?
It pains me to feel shame
For the actions we've taken
I pray for our service people
Don't let them feel forsaken.
But we can not tell the world
To obey our every command.
To live the rules of our design
When it is their life and land.
If we could end this chaos
And get our own lives straight
And be good neighbors to all
I think it would be just great.
The Forum
We have some good times
Talking and sharing our lives.
And we've met some folks
Who have given us hives.
We've gotten angry often
When others can't see
What is absolutely true
And so very clear to me.
We've shared good times
But also the the very bad
And if it didn't continue
We'd all be extremely sad.
So if some one hurts us
Don't lash out in anger
Just try to ignore them
And don't instill rancor.
We're like a big family
Who won't always agree
And I'll listen to you
I hope you'll listen to me.
So thank you my friends
For spending time with me
Where else can we get this
Much entertainment for free?
The BCS Bowl
Everyones a buzz today
Here in our great state.
The BCS championship
Will finally end the debate.
So good luck to both teams
They've fought hard to be here
And for our own home team
We'll loudly hoot and cheer.
But whoever wins will brag
And poke fun at their prey
And the other team will
survive to fight another day.
Both coaches are native
To Ohio and much alike
Their teams are excellent
And will put up a good fight.
So I'll be watching the game
With great anticipation you see
Which coache's lineage is
Spawned from the buckeye tree
Urban Meyer is from Ashtabula
Where I was born long before him
Tressel is a heroic legend where
I live now and he used to coach in.
So good luck Urban Meyer
You're a fine coach indeed
Just don't mess with Tress
But watch and follow his lead.
The Gift
My grandparents came here
Along way over the sea
To start a new life in America
And plant a new family tree.
They worked hard for this new life
Their allegiance was for the USA
They loved everything about it
And thanked God every day.
And when they passed away
They didn't leave much money
Just a few cherished momentos
And memories so very sunny.
The thing that really mattered
Was the gift they left behind
The birthright of citizenship
And love of country defined.
Happy Father's Day
Dads are very special folks
Who don't ask us for much
And they give us their love
With each look and touch.
They will quietly watch you
And show you the right way
And help when you need it
when your feet turn to clay.
They want you to be happy
As well as healthy and smart
And they do what they can
To give you a good start.
So take him to the ball game
And get a six pack of beer
Cause he deserves much more
Then an old card once a year.
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