GRANDMA'S THANKSGIVING
"Over the river and thru' the woods to Grandmother's house we go."

No, we don't go to Grandma's house anymore.
As we did away back in days of yore.

But we still remember the good times we had.
The caring and love, tho' times were bad.

Grandpa saying Grace in his old German ways.
Grandma in her apron; those were the days.

It all started about nineteen-fifteen,
With it's tall White house and big red barn.

Come Thanksgiving, with no relatives near,
They gathered with neighbors to bring Holiday Cheer.

To the four-mile schoolhouse they came all together,
With families and food -- no matter the weather.

For each pioneer mother did her very best
To cook her special treats and out do the rest.

And give thanks for gardens and neighbors so near,
They brought and shared gladly their food and good cheer.

The children had practiced for weeks., come what may.
For each had a piece to  be given that day.

A song to be sung, maybe a poem read from a card, ,
While the Wheezie old ***** was pumped very hard.

When all the program was over and done,
On to Grandma's and Grandpa's for more food and fun.

A few years later instead of the farm we'd go,
To the old Rock  House -- home of Tena and Joe.

Eventually the group grew too large and so
To Potwin Community House we did go.

So today we give thanks for a legend in our time,
For Grandpa and Grandma and the memories they left behind.

And for friends and aunts, uncles and cousins,
We come altogether each year by the dozen.

to remember the past and visit a while here.
Then to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

- Doris G -- 1983

RENEW MY VIEW

Stuck in a passageway lots of exits but just looking forward to see the end of the tunnel

Becoming Blase' while slipping on the blinders ,how often will your call be adjusted before you fall

That man at the store told each of us a different tale,you saw a schemer while I saw another caught up in the shuffle

Simple slips of time routinely pass through our minds,which is truth or how much more is left to explore

Sight being blocked through blemished views set from patterns that were blindly askew,many thoughts to juggle

Who is to say they have partaken in the perfect perception,is what we are showing really all that is in our core

Is our goal to judge a persons  role or to let the scales remain balanced,Honest inquiry creates a puzzle

Two people reach out to assist,which one responded to help themselves,is it someone they ordinarily deplore

After the first Hallelujah is the function  to analyze or criticize ,one mans actions left  a person to grumble then another feeling humble. R.C.

BRIGHT NIGHT DARK DAY

Warming glow has helped to mellow my flow beginning a new rush as the sun is beginning to set

Wishing to escape the burning heat from the light ,finding a new fondness as the path leads to grey

What a treat as sunbeams begin to fleet ,what is hiding in the shadows ,something new I haven't discovered yet

Blocking the light leaves many places and things out of sight ,much of the mystery may be here to stay

Suffering in the heat under it's rays I may be beat ,released from the day to make my way gaining new strength with the twilight

Wait to open that gate, feeling new energy from radiance around the edges
love cast by the moon shadow

Many may ask if it's brightness you seek why search where it's bleak,but just because it's murky does make it finite

More characters & symbols need description when illuminated, outlines on edges reveal less,seeking unknown ghosts requires more bravado

What is time if we find nothing,better,  obtain the solace rather than be morose
from the dusk can come new insight

Inspiration is needed limits wanting to be exceeded,finding truth with a sunbeam glow or awaiting my hours of darkness to truly feel the flow. R.C.

LEAVING THAT LAST JOURNEY

Memories and memoirs left resting in place,imagining the energy it might take to get back in the race

Many a singer saying about hitting that road again or how waiting to long might mean we will never win

Dreams are still safe when kept captive ,misadventures on blind paths will surely upset our now stable pace

Waiting idly watching and hearing falls migrations is beautiful to behold but wanting to follow brings a whole new spin

Once had a range unlimited by even national geographic,now seeing wider openings but also limited by cyberspace

Extra exploration enveloping my mind, let the fantasy grow as it safely drifts away into an unknown entity

Needing to add just a little more to my soul,not a check on the bucket list, merely a memory or two to save face

Many mysteries left unsolved from sitting still while the earth revolved,idleness swiftly becoming an enemy

What will it be from the tips of peaks from sea to shining sea ,fuzzy maps forming
as nameless places slowly form new mazes

So will it be a hitchhikers guide lead by the stars or an armchair travelers mental expedition left meandering through the mind with telepathy .R.C.

REACHING OUT
When reaching out you soon find yourself searching farther down   or seeking that once glossy crown

Why start second guessing something that was clearly missed,waiting patiently for that puzzle train to come by again

Finding inner power often not needed until we are lower,open question can we survive any suffering alone

If needing a guiding light when the streets are not quite so bright, will we know to seek help at the helm

To often stuck never noticing the rut,harder to recognize from the inside if we're in that zone

Glass half full but floating in an open pool being drawn out by the tide ,quickly time passes almost overwhelm

Goodbye mister bluebird voices floating in the air, come again when the day is fair,your voice helping me to regain my own tone

Clouds quickly breaking, bright beams flowing in everywhere,reaching out to others do we dare,will they be the quickest to condemn

So many fallen before, life moves so fast, too quickly become her *****,certain events we can no longer postpone

Clouds quickly breaking bright beams flowing in everywhere,reaching out to others do we dare,most of life is gone before we know it, so much of the world that is never seen

Left alone Like a sapling bending in the wind  R.C.

MAYBE A SONG FOR YOU TODAY

Kindred spirits riding the same rail enjoying that mutual feeling in the air

Always a curious calling bringing new rhythms for us to be falling

Each day open for another way, which sounds will draw us into their lair

Skip to my Lou brings memories and rewards or maybe you'll find that old gospel was the true calling

Natural noises shake shivers from our inner timbers,shuffling your feet to that creaking door

Sample a simple sonnet or bask in ballads,giddy over a new diddy or find some new orchestral scoring

Serenades for the stars or something to echo from the smoky bars,getting us up and moving and out on that floor

No pretense for the deep passion often triggered by compositions ,awaiting a new fate ,subtly finding it enthralling

Oh Oh what is the deeper role of the song is it just to guide us along ,phrases coming in phases to show us a new door

Lost beneath the rain a sometimes violent storm of notes ,liking the linking of beats and rhythms ,settling in it becomes restoring

Open mind allowing so much new to find,pieces always adrift ,will it's warbles add to our next score. R.C.

MUMBLING,GRUMBLING ,HUMBLING

Ringing in the distance with a rush of beeps, blending into of what had the potential to be an unforgettable dream sequence

Pushing more feathers against my head,holding eyes tighter to keep an unknown day at bay

Blinks nods and winks holding back but on the brink,now is the test for our reaction to the stimulus

Broken dawn with a first yawn,open opportunities for a growl or howl but equal time for a grin today

First foot hits the floor as another clips a door ,let loose a squawk or see it all as ridiculous

Blinding light while called to muster,blinking eyes regain some luster,quickly becomes a choice to stomp or ballet

Break the silence with sounds and smells of Folgers fairies,magic warmth for a cup of cheerfulness

Real world wanting in, waiting to find your own spin,time to seek positive while holding the negative at bay

How to find balance is often a challenge if scales are tilted, finding peace in increments

New dawn fresh ideas to spawn,letting in life before it is gone,hoping that life will let me see modesty and realize tomorrow can be better than yesterday. R.C.

Think I missed part of it with HUMBLING at least,we should never have to look far to bring us down a notch . But still avoid the whining when possible:) some rough days made this easier to find the right vibe or words.  sometimes we need to pinch ourselves a little more often:) Thanks for reading Your thoughts are helpful.Rick