Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Once in Time

A road that goes and doesn't come back
a train that travels a one-way track
life seems long and hard sometimes
but then, a new day breaks
and all seems fine,
for we travel this way but once in time.

Now and again we need our friends
some folks to lean on when times are tough
people who are made of real strong stuff,
those to guide us and point the way
when we get lost and don't know what to say
friends who will follow after us
to show us that all can be fine
for we pass this way just once in time.

It takes a village to raise a child
cause life's not always acting so mild,
things are dealt us along the way
that makes this life seem not so gay,
but there's no need to get distressed
for there is a way to deal with this mess.
All we need is to try and be kind
for all of us pass this way but once in time.

God has given us strength for the day
and we all know that He has the final say.
Life is fickle we are told
and we should face our problems and try to be bold,
just strive, and seek, and hope to find,
for all of us pass this way but once in time.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I Know Where I'm Goin'

If I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
those are the lessons of my life -
times I've seen, me and my wife,
down that road together
no matter what the weather
many a day, some filled with strife -
but still I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
For three score and 10 plus a few more thrown in
that's all I been doin'
just keep'n on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
yes sir, that's been my life.
I've seen good days and bad
some that truly were sad
but through it all
I kept on movin'
cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
There's been days of tears
and some smiles too
it's easier to smile
and causes less wrinkles too
I look at the good side
'cause life has a flip one
and there's nothing to see
on the dark side,
but an unhappy me.
So why should I choose to be sad in life
when I got a smilin', good natured wife.
The roads not all rocky
the paths not all rough
all you got to do
is hang mean and tough.
That's why I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
It's not so hard to be happy
no, not when you're me,
just keep on smilin'
as I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
and that's been my life.
Some folks ask me
how long my life will be
tell 'em I have no idea
'cause that's for God to see,
all I do
is keep on movin'..
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'....
...and that's been my life.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Lost and Found

Gave my heart
It was crushed and lost
Lived for another day.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Pain and Love

Pain is suddenly being left alone
its when you lose someone who was everything
pain is when you don't know what to do
when all seems to be falling in on you
pain is when you have no one to dry your tears
or hold you in the night
when everything seems a fright
pain is just hurting because you feel all alone
and don't have anyone to hear you call out in the night
its when you walk and walk and walk, and have no where to go
pain is all these things and more;
but somewhere - sometime - a gentle soul enters your life
and gives you a smile,
dries your tears, and lets you know that you're not alone.
you find that pain is no longer controlling your life
when this gentle soul shows you the way
its when you can tell them:
when I lost my smile,
you gave me yours;
when I needed a friend,
you were there;
when I didn't know what to do,
you showed me;
for all that you have been, and all that you are -
I will love you.


Dedicated to my wife, Janet - for all that you have been and are.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Stop - Look - and Listen

A fish and a turtle were out at sea
the fish darted by and said 'look at me'
I can swim fast and scoot,
can even swim faster than you, too boot.
The turtle plodded along
and said to the fish...'this is where I belong'
I may be slow and not very fast
but I can get where I want to go, and won't finish last.
The fish ran along, swift as could be
and taunted the turtle to get out of his sea.
The turtle said the sea belongs to us all
it was meant to be free.
The fish swam by and said watch,
I can catch that fish...its smaller than me.
But the turtle warned there are troubles sometimes in the sea.
The fish only laughed and grabbed the small fish
when suddenly a line went tight and a hook was set....
and he couldn't get free.

Heaven's Gate

There is a place far from here
yet not so far, but really near
a place whose door is open wide
a place where everyone is welcomed inside.
Heaven's Gate is its name
it's a place where all who enter are treated the same.
It is the door to a place of rest
for all who enter are treated with the best
a place where calm and peace prevail
where beauty and love are not for sale
all are given free and clear
a home for all with nothing but cheer.
It was bought with the life of the man inside
given to us as a sign of his love
and marked on the door is a descending dove.
It is a place where there is no envy or hate,
and all who come are welcome to enter Heaven's Gate.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Rat A - Tat- Tat

Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
the drums did roll and beat
the men in their uniforms how they stood
so tall and trim and neat,
by ranks and files and squads they stood
with weapons, packs and flags
the flower of our nation's youth
did march to the drummers' beat.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
off to the wars they marched
with waves goodbye, and speeches of pride
they marched away while their loved ones cried.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
While one could question the wisdom of war
no one could doubt the soldier's scars,
war after war they were sent...
and bravely wherever sent - they went.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
The drums did roll and beat
the men in their uniforms how they stood
so tall and trim and neat,
and off to the wars they marched
to the sound of the drummers' beat.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
In battles they won to keep us free
but not without a price for victory.
They returned from places with names so strange
but some returned to a different beat,
with a slow roll, slow march - mournful and sad
they brought our loved ones home again.
To a grateful nation they gave their all
without a whimper or complaint they saw it all
and returned from places far away
battered and scarred - but free.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
Soon the sound of drums were heard
and leaders did call again...
with struts and speeches that sounded so grand
off our youth were sent with a band
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat.


Dedicated in loving memory to all who served.

Questions to Life's Answers (or I know all the Answers, I just don't know the Questions)

1. There are times I have felt like I could do everything on my own.
What is man that God cannot make it better?

2. I am a self-made man.
Who can achieve anything on his own, if God does not make it possible?

3. I have done all things, and accomplished all things.
What are the times of one's life that success would be achieved without the aid of God?

4. I don't need anyone.
How can man do better if he operated strictly on his own?

5. I don't know what to do.
I can see a way forward by asking for the help of God Himself.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Blaze of Glory

A sudden scurry of light
flashed across the darkened sky
cosmic particles flew across
the horizon creating enough light to
attract these wandering eyes.
A fiery display like fireflies
leaving a trail of glowing embers
weaving a pattern of radiant light
through the darkened night.
A sense of cosmic games being played
by bodies as old as time itself
falling from heaven's grace
in a flood of color and flames.
Across the sky comets moving like balloons
on a string to the delight of children
looking into the night.
Again appeared in that expanse of space
the death of a far away star
blazing its eerie trail across the night sky -
leaving momentarily a ribbon of light; then to be seen-
-no more.
A celestial grand plan put in place
by other than man, only He could devise
such a thing to hang stars as ornaments
in the sky, leaving man to provide only
names for someone else's scheme.

Everything in life has its time and place
yet what more to seek, but not to find,
than a falling star to treat these old eyes of mine.

So whenever our call comes to follow these flaming beauties -
shall we go quietly to a darkened space,
or shall we like these celestial things, leave this life
in a blaze of glory - a lasting moment of beauty and grace,
as we move on to some other place.

My Grandchildren

S for special
H for happy
E for empathetic
L for love
B for beautiful
I for independent
E for enjoyable

L for love
Y for youthful
D for dependable
I for intelligent
A for apple of my eye

Two hearts - two loves - all special to me
a gift from heaven each
a joy for a life long lived
a blessing from God up above
a measure of His unending love.

My Right Hand

My right hand is my strength and my guide
he is always by my side.

My right hand is my leader and friend
it is to him I turn when my life is need of a mend.

My right hand is the one I lean on the most
he is the one who guides me when I feel lost.

My right hand is the one who shows me the way
the one to whom I speak to first before I have my say.

He is the one whom I trust
whenever I have got into a fuss.

When fear tries to take control of my life
I turn to my right hand to lead me from the strife.

When I feel lost and don't know what to do
my right hand is always present and leads me out of my stew.

I would give my life for my right hand to stay free
just as He has already done for me.


Adapted from:

Psalm 16:8

Three Friends

a frog and a mouse
went for a ride
went along side by side
down the road they rode to see
until they got to the big oak tree
sat in the shade
all day they did
until they met a new katydid
a frog and a mouse went for a ride
joined by a katydid who rode by their side
sang to a tune the katydid knew
out of the trees the birds flew
no one seemed to really understand
the friendship of this merry band

Monday, July 4, 2011

Paradise not Lost

Surrounded by tropical treasures
large plummed birds called in
strange and beautiful ways
only to be answered from another
a long way away,
flowers with bright petals provided
a blanket of color with a dazzling array.

Cascading water forms a foaming white tower
falling, falling down a long wet slide
broke the calm of an otherwise peaceful day.
Breathtaking in speed and power the race of the
falling water deafening to the ears causes
the heart to race with its power.
Green footprints form where the falls left their trail
a lasting story of a never ending tale.

Two hearts intertwined in a paradise
far away from the noise of another land
Lost in love like no other love
two souls joined as one on a tropical sand.

With passions meeting as two deeply in love
a kiss - a touch - an embrace to last
away from the life so far past
lost in love, like no other love could be.

Pulled to the sound of the never ending fall
high above the turbulent pool beneath
the two lovers watched the waters falling
their hearts racing with the rush of the water.

Arm in arm they stepped into the rush
and down with the flow they went
falling with unbelievable speed and power
to meet the pool far beneath.

Deep into the pond they fell
searching for each others arms
at last touching their fingers
pulling each into the others arms.

Lips touching the others
deep and lasting the effect
as they reached for the light
that shown above them before they
lost their breathe.

Gasping with one last effort
to reach that final breathe
a sound was heard in the distance..

..."Good morning America, its 6:00 a.m.
in the morning, and here is the news of
today...."

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Old Shoes

I opened the closet and walked on in
my foot hit something that had fallen from its bin.
An old pair of shoes - wrinkled and worn,
lay out on the floor reminding me of a long lost friend.

Quite a story old shoes can tell
where we've gone - a life that's been lived well.
Oh, I know that some folks
don't care about the past,
only the present - 'cause times are just too fast.

But old shoes go slow
with memories from so long ago
of times good and bad
smiles and tears
of things happy and sad.

Old shoes are like friends, they stay around
in good times and bad,
they are really quite sound.

At times we struggle in life to find
a place of happiness, peace and a companion to be kind.
Old shoes are with us every step of the way
through good times and bad
bright days and sad.

Old shoes are like good friends
you don't throw away
just tuck them back
and bring them out another day.

Bats

Been in our new home no time at all
when out of the dark something darted down the hall,
a fluttering of wings in the kitchen was heard
turned on the lights to see if it was a bird.

Hanging from the wall and ceiling too
were Bats!! ugly!! - dark, and away they flew!
With yellow pointed teeth
black squinty eyes
they were hanging from the walls -- "yeek" -
they were just horrid freaks!!

Too high they rested to reach them at all
odors and droppings were beginning to fall.
Distraught, angry and crying too
I didn't know what I was to do.
I called for an exterminator, only to be told,
tomorrow is a holiday, and he hung up on me cold.

Picked up the phone and called for help
then arrived on the scene a good friend and my mom -
my exterminator squad.
As quick as a flash,
with brooms in hand
they set to work swinging at that band.
Around and around the bats flew
almost laughing at my determined crew.

A light came on and the Bats took to rest
to the top of the walls flew these pests.
Quick as a flash a plan was hatched
a long pole was secured with a cup attached.
The cup in turn over each Bat was placed
and down the wall he was pulled
to an awaiting broom where he was dispatched.

A look of triumph on mom's face appeared
as the last of those creatures disappeared.
Eyes dried of tears,
a smile reappeared
as my house from bats was at last cleared.