Gather 'Round

Occasion: The death of Washington Preston Young...my grandpa, my namesake, and my hero, 1988.

At supper time and holidays,
Occasions of all kinds,
We gathered at our Grandpa’s house,
With happy hearts and minds.

Some sat beside the fire,
While others sat in chairs,
But all enjoyed each gathering,
Where we had no wants or cares.

We gathered ‘round the Bible,
To hear each wondrous story,
That Grandpa’s shaking voice would read,
While his spirit glowed with glory.

We gathered ‘round the pictures,
Of the clan in times gone past,
And smiles lit up every face,
While all day long we laughed.

Then we gathered round the mem’ries,
As he laid there in his bed,
And remembered how he’d shaped us,
And all the words he’d said.

Now we gather in our sorrow,
As we say our last fare-well,
To the greatest Grandpa ever made,
Who meant too much to tell.

And someday we will see him,
When through life we have trod,
And we’ll hug and kiss him once again,
Gathering ‘round the throne of God.

The Color of Easter

Occasion: Easter Sunday, 1987, Basic Training, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Of all the days of the year, I was assigned KP on Easter Sunday. I stood washing some very grimy pots and pans, getting prune hands in a big way, and glancing out the window every once in a while. If memory serves, the sunrise was entirely beautiful.

While standing in the twilight,
Early Easter morn,
I thought about the life of Christ,
And the colors that He's worn.

I wish I could have been there,
To see that star shine bright,
And to bow before that manger,
And that little face of WHITE.

I would have been a wise man,
Coming from afar,
Searching for that dazzling life,
Following His star.

And then I think about His life,
And His ministry so bold,
And how despite the hard times,
He shone like purest GOLD.

I would have been a follower,
And seen His love shine through,
To every sinner everywhere,
In shades of ROYAL BLUE.

I think if I'd have been there,
To see His shattered back,
I would have cried forever,
On that gloomy day of BLACK.

I would have been a mourner,
Had I seen His body dead,
And the water flowing from that cross,
Mixed with SCARLET RED.

But by far his resurrection,
Was the fairest color yet,,
It gave us all the chance to call,
On Him when ere we fret

That oh so glorious color,
Is one that none has seen,
But one that none can do without,
And on which all must lean.

I thank you, dear Lord Jesus,
For your colors pure and bright,
And the color, God, of Easter,
Which has saved me from the night.

Wishes

Occasion: This is one of those silly love poems from the heart of a love sick boy. I wrote it in 1985 and I have absolutely no idea which of my many crushes prompted it.

If I could have three wishes,
This is what they’d be,
First I’d be next to the shore,
With you walking next to me.
Next we would be in a far away place,
Where nobody else could find us,
Third we’d be living on Easy Street,
With our troubles and cares all behind us.

Well maybe Easy Street doesn’t exist,
And we’ll always have troubles to face,
And I kind of like having people around,
And this ain’t such a terrible place,
And just cause we live quite away from the shore,
Doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to see,
Cause no matter where or how near or how far,
I’d still like you walking with me.

That's When

Occasion: During Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri I wound up in the post hospital with blood poisoning. I wrote this poem from my hospital room on April 9, 1987 upon hearing of my oldest brothers separation from his wife.

When my troubles all surround me,
Like mountains on all sides,
When I wallow in the mire of despair,
When I cannot see the bottom,
Of the pit of discontent,
When it seems that life is harsh and so unfair.

When I have no where to turn to,
When my path has met its end,
When I can't go on and all my strength is drained,
When pain has racked my body,
When my mind is fading fast,
When everything within my life is strained.

That's when I turn to you oh Lord,
That's when you turn to me,
That's when I focus on your shining face,
That's when I know you're there dear God,
That's when I lean on you,
That's when I feel your sweet, amazing grace.

When your blessings all surround me,
Like mountains on all sides,
When I'm swimming in the sea of sweet relief,
When I cannot see the end,
Of the plains of perfect peace,
When my life is without sorrow, pain or grief.

When the road that leads to happiness,
Lies before me clear and true,
When I have the strength to go the extra mile,
When my body is alive and well,
When my mind's alert and strong,
When everything in life seems so worthwhile.

That's when I turn to you oh Lord,
That's when you turn to me,
That's when I focus on your shining face,
That's when I know you're there, dear God,
That's when I lean on you,
That's when I feel your sweet, amazing grace.

Untitled

Occasion: I wrote this during my first semester of Bible School in 1986. More than likely I was racked with guilt about something I thought I should feel guilty for that probably wasn't all that big a deal. Nevertheless, I like it for it's old fashioned hymn like quality.

Don’t let my heart be hardened,
Don’t let my soul be stone,
But compel me Lord to come to you,
And worship you alone.

Make my life like new, Oh Lord,
Please wash me white as snow,
So I can do what ere you want,
And go where ere you go.

Keep my life in constant check,
So I won’t stray from thee,
Open my ears so I can hear,
And my eyes so I can see.

Help me Lord, to see the pain,
Of others as they cry,
And show those people you’re the one,
Who makes our spirits fly.