My brother, my brother, I love you I do
I think of you often so often it's true
My brother, my brother, your sister loves you
This poem is so silly but, it's so true.
                                                By Connie Hopkins

Flower of Spring
What do you bring?
A gift of love
A ring of gold
Someone special for me to hold.
                                 By Connie Hopkins

If you go into the Forest,
Get ready for me,
I am a Crawler and Creeper,
A Bugaboo and Critter,
A Goblin and *****,
Mostly I am just a Varmint,
A Varmint that likes you.


By: Connie Hopkins

Critters are sweet.
Wonderful and kind
Watch them with wonder!
Let them into your mind,
You will laugh and cry,
All at the same time.
God sends them from up above you know.

So, if you see a critter,
Show them kindness and love.
They may become your best friend,
For life here and above.
                                         By: Connie Hopkins

Across the creek
in days gone by
when 8 tracks played

Across the Creek
through the woods
the air smelled sweeter
the rides were longer
the days were shorter

Talks were quietly spoken
words spoke slower
space was less
in between us

old wooden bridges
covered with a sky of trees
red dirt roads winding
with hollows on each side
deep, dark, and cool from the shade

Your future was in front
now it is behind
you feel lost
somewhere in between

When you venture out
you are not walking on dirt
just leaves that have fallen
in days gone by.

                                      By Connie Hopkins

I can't match your fancy words
I do understand them however
I found you listen good for a man
You have read between some of my lines
You leave me nowhere to hide
You are right with most of your remarks
Some of them even smart


By: Connie Hopkins

By her side, he was always there
What will become of his wife left here
She misses his presence that was always near
Sometimes his voice she will here
The memories of their life she will hold dear
Her family and friends will be close
But, they don't take the place of  the husband she lost
The house will seem empty, but time will soon pass
And she can be with him happy at last.
                                        By Connie Hopkins

Twinker Bell, Twinker Bell
Doing whatever it is a Twinker Bell does
Because she's so cute and she's so sweet
She got some big O'll eyes
And her little stinky feet
                                By Lisa Ferrel      
                                         and
                                     Connie Hopkins

I have lost my mind
with all these piles
where did it land?
how with all these
piles will I find it?
I will say it bounced
then I will pounce on it
or it will roll
then I will use the
hole in my head
and just let it roll right on in.

                          Connie Hopkins

Beautiful trees that blow with the breeze
Birds up high flying in the sky
Shells on the beach always out of reach
Bees that zoom when flowers are in bloom
Stars so high they light the sky
Clouds so white and fluffy
Bushes of green with limbs so lean
Ants that go running
Cats so cunning
Soft little puppies with
Noses black as guppies
All these things we see
We know from where they come
God sends them to you and me
But for our children will they always be?                                                  
                                                       By Connie Hopkins

What has streets like in your neighborhood?
What has houses like in your neighborhood?
What has house numbers like in your neighborhood?
What has doors and windows similar to your neighborhood?

There are no mailboxes like in your neighborhoods,
Because these residents don't read,
That's because these neighborhoods consist of,
residents who are never home,
Cemeteries are full of empty houses.
                                                  By Connie Hopkins

In this realm of the sphere where I am
Life strums the different strings of my heart
I go so far back sometimes
I am afraid I will lose my way home
I have to carefully pick
Which strings to play or fret to hold
To get just the right note
So, I don't fall to far back
Is it yours's or mine I fell into
They are to close it's hard to tell.

By: Connie Hopkins

Born in Big Springs Texas you know,
Left for Selma Alabama,
Went to Abeline a few years ago,
Couldn't stay there so I moved again,
Ringgold Texas is my hometown friend.

There on the white dirt road I walked each day,
To the six-room schoolhouse three blocks away,
I ended up in Mrs. Henery's class,
Which was fine with me.

Just walking home from school one day,
I walked by Durham's house along my way,
This boy would bother me every day,
I told him if he spoke once again,
Me and my daisy would come back for him,
He would be sorry if he did not go in.

So, me and my Daisy returned in 10,
There he stood with that big silly grin,
I raised my Daisy and ask this of him,
Where did he want it in his fat tummy or chin?
He just laughed without believing me.

Well, one doctor's visit is all it took,
He never spoke to me again.

By: Connie Hopkins

When I got married
Joe picked the song
"Take The Ribbon From Your Hair"
This was our first dance
He asks the band to play it and why
The band announced it, and Joe and I danced to it
It was the father and daughter dance
He was so sweet to think of it.
                               By Connie Hopkins

Our family and friends have gathered
To be with each other, some with heads bowed
My tears are falling, and my pain is great
As we talk of your life, and talk of your fate

It is so hard to believe that you are gone
You were always there so caring and strong
My father, my friend I pray you can hear
How the memories of my life with you
I hold so dear.
                                     By Connie Hopkins
Dedicated to               Your Constance
"Daddy Joe"
"Paw Paw Strickland"  

You always said "You're gonna miss me when I am gone"
And, you were right I do,
More than you could have ever known.

The fire is built, it's jumping and leaping
Christmas is near, do you feel that feeling?
Stockings are hanging in different sizes
Waiting to be filled with all sorts of surprises.

Tall and green the tree stands bare
The decorations placed with love and care
They shine, and sparkle, they twinkle like new
How proud it stands and dreams with you.

Look at the gifts all wrapped so bright
Secretly placed during the night
Colors of red, green, silver, and gold
All securely fastened with ribbons and bows.

Lights that twinkle, ***** that shine
All these things for yours and mine
You laugh and cry from stories of old
As you listen carefully while they are told.

You look and you listen and hope to see
That little old man in his flying machine
Up above in the sky so high
When he makes his pass morning is nigh.

So off to bed the children go
And under the blankets, they sink so low
When morning comes they'll rise with smiles
And all the gifts they will open in a little while.

Christmas has meaning this we all know
The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ here below
Our Lord and Savior who forgives our sins
Now and forever he shall always be our King.
                                                By Connie Hopkins

So, it is your birthday once again
Just like an annual flower
It comes once a year
So Happy Birthday
Some flowers don't reaper every year
But the wild pink rose does each year
Trustworthy, bright, and sweet
Happy Birthday

                         By Connie Hopkins

Pines to the sky so straight and tall
Sleeps a little lamb, alone by his home
Flowers planted by his mother's own hands
Still bloom and shine                                                                  
                                                                                                        
Through those tall straight pines


The house is gone, and the rocks from the
Fireplace lay crumbled beneath layers of leaves
From all the years and seasons that have
Blown through the passing of time.

Quiet and peaceful all around
Winds gently blowing and whistling
As if it were singing

Through those tall straight pines

As I walk with my husband
We talk about family and home
I wonder about Lesley and about
The loved ones he left alone as he was layed

Beneath those tall straight pines

I walked with my husband
And children down this road
Where Lesley and his family
Once also strolled.

His headstone is leaning and
Darkened with age
The inscription upon it has lost
it's depth
Still, you can read it
As did his mother when she
Wept over it

Over a century has passed
From that day and now they
Are with him in our heavenly
Fathers way.
                                             By Connie Hopkins

I hear you, I see you, but can't feel you
I reach out to you and your not there
So where are you, where are you?

If I can see you why can't I touch you
I hear you, but can't understand you
The love I feel in my heart has turned to pain
The hurt stays in my heart and my father I will miss you

You won't be there when I need you
We can't talk because you're gone
I cannot call you or run to you where you are
Because where you are I am not for now allowed.
                                  By Connie Hopkins

Dad's hand I held, his shoulders so strong
A mind of wisdom, his memories unknown
Daddy's face so familiar, his voice I can hear
He's gone from this life my father so dear
We loved him so much this figure so strong
He touched our hearts and soul with his song
The end came fast almost without pain
I know his life was not lived in vain
He left behind the children he loved
And his wife so dear he's waiting for above.
                                 By Connie Hopkins
Dedicated to
Audie Lee Hopkins

Grain of salt
I've been aught
You have to take
That grain of salt
It tastes more bitter
Than the rest
But in the end
It's for the best.
              By Connie Hopkins

What do you get
When you mix
An Oak Tree
And a house?
Give up?
A **** mess
that's what!

                           By Connie Hopkins

Thought can be deep witty and wise
Sometimes thought will tell us lies
True or not, thought is there
Thought for some is often rare.
                                  By Connie Hopkins

For a daughter like you
There are not enough words
To express how we feel
There are not enough compliments to give you
All the sweet memories we have of you
And now here you are all grown up
With a family of your own
Later you will have all the sweet memories too
Like we do of you
                                      By Connie Hopkins

Oh the memories of yesteryears
With some, you smile
And some, you cry
Memories sing you a song
And then say good-bye
It happens all the time
And that can be fine
But, you remember at your own cost
Because some memories
Sure can make you feel lost
Memories are fine
When they keep their place
Memories that don't cause your mind to race.
                                                        By Connie Hopkins

You followed your own heart,
When you did you broke mine,
Now you are gone from this life,
Oh, how I prayed for you,
That you would not leave us,
Never the less, your pain was too great,
You could not stay here and wait.

When you were a little boy,
We went from house to house,
Never from home to home.
When you were growing up you,
You did not feel loved as you should,
Once you were asked to describe the meaning,
Of mother and Apple Pie,
You were 14 when you said you,
You did not believe in the mother and Apple Pie story.

On your third try, you got it just right,
You ended your life on that Labor Day of 2009,
I miss you and love you still, and forever will,
I wish I could have one more hug from you,
But, I know I never will.

                                            From your loving sister
                                            Connie L. Dement Hopkins

A leaf against the darkened sky
Falling and twirling as it goes by
It turns, twists, clatters, and spins
Look at them all, which one will win?
                                           By Connie Hopkins

So, it is your Birthday today,
On your cake I would check the flames,
Even if they couldn't get all those **** things on there,
It will be a hot time on your cake tonight,
Enjoy it, you know how it certainly isn't your first.
God Bless and take care.

By: Connie Hopkins

On our way home to mom and dad
To share the love we all have
Through the woods, all blanketed in snow
In this big red sleigh going so slow.

The ground is covered with snow so white
Stars shine above and light up the night
Trees are covered in blankets so soft
Oh, look at that snow the wind blew a loft
It sparkles and shines just like glitter.

And in the distance, you will see
A little old house set between two trees
The windows are lit up and yellow inside
Their sleigh is here their not on a ride.

The rickety old fence about to fall down
And on the front porch lies an old hound
The stars are high and twinkling above
I'll bet that old house is full of love.

Nestled in the furs so deep in the woods
I know that flickering fire sure would feel good
Cakes, candy, cookies, and pies
All these we smell as we ride by
I'll bet there's a family- like yours and mine
Behind those old walls set deep in the pines
                                                           By Connie Hopkins

To a mom and dad who can't compare
Right or wrong they come through strong
When life falls on me like a bomb
She's always there my mom
I've been good and I've been bad
I am so glad you were my dad
Through thick and thin with him, I win
With all these thoughts
I keep in mind how much
I love those parents of mine.
                                             By Connie Hopkins

You tell me you love me
You act like you love me
Then how can you leave
Me in a hot car with no air?
                                  By Connie Hopkins

Writing poems I love to do
Telling all my feelings just to you
To feel the feelings and think the thoughts
To give you things that can't be bought
From my heart come these lines
These are things on my mind
I hope you like them I really do
I enjoy them and I hope you do too.
                               By Connie Hopkins

This man I knew as Joe
Breezed into my life 50 years ago
There were awkward times for sure
I was just 13 when he appeared
He was my third step-dad
Yet he became my father, he became my friend

This man I knew as Joe

He changed my life for the better back then
I have no pretty pictures
I have no storybook
All I have to tell you are these lines
I have taken them from my heart, memories, and mind

This man I knew as Joe

I love him, I miss him, and some sweet day
I will see his smile just as sweet as always
This man I knew as Joe.
                                             By Connie Hopkins
                                             Your Constance

Think what you want?
Not all the time
Thoughts seep through all cracks of the mind
Some you like, Some you hate
Don't you wish you could put thought on a plate
Use a fork and pick out what makes sense
Some you chase around like a pea, some you can stick
With a meal, you can finish but what about thought?
                                              By Connie Hopkins

I am not finished, I wanted to talk to you,
You were yanked away from me Unwillingly,
Wrongfully, and totally.

Where there was some there is none,
What can I do, what can I do,

This man who did this needs to die!
I want him to feel the fear he made my daddy feel,
Looking down the barrel of that gun, shot right between his eyes,
I want him to know the feeling of life draining away,

Nothing he can do or say can make that,
Awful, Empty, Sinking feeling go away.

God, please forgive me for what I feel,
I know it is evil and wrong,
Revenge is yours, Lord, this I know,
This hate I feel, please, Lord, make it go.
AMEN
                                         From your daughter
                                         Connie Hopkins