MY TURN........
                (to rant)

There was a time when Halloween
was lots of fun, no one was mean.
We didn't have to check our treats
and children safely crossed the streets.

And then the "seventies" arrived
with liberal concepts all contrived
to change our "Dull" society
bluring lines of propriety
bending rules of decency,
corruption, greed and call it "Free".

No freedom lies within these mores.
Suffering now, we've locked our doors.
We scan for weapons all  aboard
or come to school a frightened hoard.

Is this the "New Society" that once they blithely stated
would bring to us a world that's free of hatred, educated,

would bring us new insightfulness?
Devoid of all the frightfulness?

A better place for us to live?
A healthy place to raise our kids?

When mistress Miley gets on stage,
or "Beeber" gets arrested
are we really proud of them?
Well I'm not, I'm ashamed

In my yard a hummingbird is sipping on a flower
While breezes through the old Mimosa sway

In my ear a dove is cooing in the morning hour
a Meadow Lark is welcoming the day

In my eye a butterfly writes "Peace" across the lawn
In my nose a fragrant rose perfumes the early dawn

In my heart a song of joy
put there by God alone

For in my yard
the love He gives makes this old house a home

"If some people like your painting, fine.
If some don't, well, there's the door.

Take your work seriously
But don't take yourself seriously

Paint for yourself
Enjoy yourself"

I was watching a show on PBS today
"The Beauty of Oil Painting" with Gary & Kathwren Jenkins

Gary said this and I marveled at how much this echoed the attitude we should cultivate when writing poetry.

Like the Ocean's Tide
The roller-coaster ride of life
A bitter pill to swallow

when you know too much
When you feel too much
When you Love
.........too much
When you care too much,
you get hurt too much

Vast the Ocean, Deep and Dark
It's mysteries so beguiling
As if the fates have conspired
To a wailing call of the sirens

The evoking chants of the night's air
The eerie howls of the dark wolves
Like the ocean's unending seasons,
So is life's endless tussles

Boundless the ocean's depths
Far and wide
Boundless the ocean far and near....
And blue the waters, blue as tears.

There are hearts that are so tender, Lord

Hearts that are so rare
that every little grievance
causes pain that we can't bear

Oh, hear our cry,
dear Lord we pray

Give comfort and assurance

that though we cry
you are near by
to strengthen our endurance

Matthew 24:13
But he who endures shall be saved

It is stunningly amazing

What you can hear and see

while quietly you're seated

Beneath an old oak tree

If thou indeed derive thy light from Heaven
      Then, to the measure of that Heaven-born light,
      Shine, Poet! In thy place, and be content.....
                                                --William Wordsworth

Roses, Roses, Roses
Yellow, pink and red
Dreaming in a flower bed

Ducks afloat
upon the pond
Gliding graceful
To and fro
Searching for a piece of bread
Thrown from the pier
on which two children perch.

While I may search

for peace, of which I don't deserve
for struggling through this unforgiving world
for making many errors on the way

But, now it's done
I see so clearly
There's only peace
a price so dearly
paid for me by One

Somewhere there are
Flowers blooming
Dew is trimming
each and every petal

Somewhere there are
Oceans booming
fishes swimming
everywhere

Somewhere there are
People laughing
Happy families
Babies clapping

Sun is shining
no more whining
Peace and quiet
No more riots
No more bombs
or people hating

Just not here...........

Preachers teaching
God is reaching
out to you

If  you listen, you can you hear
His sweet voice is everywhere

Fret Not!
Thou canst but read them all!

Hordes beset the pages now here-in
Contorting mental faculties to new and different bent

Perusal of Poetry in monumental quantities
is known to suddenly suffuse the brain with lusher thoughts, ideas

Behold! A new man doth arise
as a Phoenix from the ashes of despair

Continue on, my friend, to try to drink of all the knowledge here
While Eliot wafts his magic wand creating wonders in the air

But, ya can't read 'em all.............alas

It's cold outside
and it's windy, Wyndee
The sun is obscured by the clouds.

Do you know that on Wednesday, Wyndee
the flowers will bloom
and the grass will grow
and what do you know...it's Spring outside again.

The Sun will be shining, Wyndee.
When you look out the door you'll be finding
That the birds are singing "Spring" outside
What a wonderful time of the year!

Love, Mom

High, thin, cirrus clouds
cutting off half of the moon

Just the bottom shows

Tall trees, swaying breeze
nightingales in joyful tune

But, the old Owl knows

Spring is for the young
Love and roses everywhere

"Who...says that's how it goes?"

Our beautiful, rosy,Texas dawn
wakes up as only Texas can

One thousand birds in joyous song
proclaim the day is here

The fragrance of the trees and grass and life is all around us
The vastness and the open air never ceases to astound us

Wake up!  Wake up and seize the day
The grand and glorious Texas way

Gently,
like a soft breeze through a willow
He reaches out and bids me take his hand
An easy step across the River Jordan
No more need to understand
All things are clear to me upon my pillow

"I'm here" He said "just like I promised"

"No more sorrow, No more fear.
You'll not ever shed another tear
No more pain and no tomorrow,
eternity is your's.  
Well  done my friend"

Not a sound
in th forest
Not a leaf
in the wind

On the lake
not a ripple
there's a storm
coming in

Not a deer
in the meadow
Not a hiss
not a howl

Not a breath
Not a whisper
There's a cat
on the prowl

Not a twitter
of a bird
Not a Bat
Not an Owl

Silence in the forest
There's a cat on the prowl



All is well until he brushes against my legs, looks
up at me and meows - lunch time

Set in silver
braids of gold
memories of days of old

Stiff lace collar
eyes of blue
inner beauty shining thru

Crinolines and high-topped shoes
transcendental state if muse

Have you seen the moon?
Hidden by a cloud
it's missing

Missing what was ours
Truly it was never meant to be
Gone forever out among the stars
Whisked away, a vapour, just a dream

Have you seen my heart?
Melted by my tears
it's missing

Missing plans we made
When you took your love away from me
Overwhelmed by sorrow and dismay
Surely I will wane and fade away

Just like the moon

I pedaled so hard to get to the place
that I thought that I knew was right

And when I get to where I have got
I sometimes find out that the right
that I thought was right.....
was not

So I picked myself up and I dusted me off
although I'm a terrible sight
I got on my horse (I hope no one's  watching)
and galloped off into the night

It isn't so bad to make a mistake
just go to the end of the line
a lesson you've learned just like everyone else
and you start all over again

starting over is not such a horrible thing
sometimes it's all for the best
your perspective is better, your mind is much clearer
you've triumphed and won like the rest

A good sense of humor and love in your heart
are required for a life without woe
you'll never be able to live without those
and we all have to learn to let go

I still can hear the train
it left here hours ago

It rattled past me down the track
on it's way to Tupelo

I hear the singing rails,
the lonesome whistle song
The earthquake feel of strength and steel
and the quiet when it's gone.

Polly is my favorite horse
She's tall and lean and dapple
She comes to me for food, of course,
and always wants an apple.

She carries me to Avalon
upon her back I'm Kubla Kahn

We're spirits of favonian

I'm Lancelot

She's Lippizan

Awake! You lazy pen who gives me nothing..
You fingers parlyzed

Awake!  You stubborn thoughts who lie in puddles..
Refusing to cooperate when all I ask is such an easy task,

Give ear to all the world encompassing your gifted sight

Stoke the fire that burns wthin the ashes of your heart

Beat out a tune for all of those who live to write