Occasion: I wrote this one for my siblings for Christmas 1987.
To sit and think back on your life is a monumental task,
It gives you things to think about and questions you might ask,
You think about the things you’ve done and the places that you’ve been,
And you wonder if you had to, would you do it all again?
But mostly what you think of more than any thing thus far,
Is the people that you live with and who they really are.
They are relatives and neighbors, teachers, friends and foes,
Some you see from day-to-day while other no one knows.
It’s difficult to understand why I should be so blessed,
To have spent my life with people so much better than the rest,
I’m speaking of my siblings, with whom I’ve had my fights,
But without whom I might not have made it through so many nights.
The tallest one around the house is my oldest brother, Scott,
He’ll listen to my problems when all the rest will not.
He’s always been my confidante, my example and my friend,
And I know that he’ll be there for me when times are thick and thin.
I only have one sister, she’s the apple of my eye,
She’s as beautiful as Venus and as tough as any guy.
Except for my Mother she’s the best at things a Mom has done,
And I love my sister Kim as much as I love anyone.
The middle child is Craig, who so wants to succeed,
That he’ll do most anything to cover any need.
That’s not to say he’s greedy for he’d give up all he’s got,
To help when I’m in trouble or just love me when I’m not.
And then there’s Chris, the youngest, or the baby as it were,
He’s self-assured and confidant and a snap in school for sure.
I know that he will always have the things that he might need,
And with the savvy he’s been blessed with, he’s destined to succeed.
To be thankful for my brothers doesn’t seem to be enough,
And to love my sister dearly isn’t really very just,
So I pray that God will keep them and that they too will be blessed,
For they deserve the very most for to me they are the best.
December 25, 2004
November 21, 2004
A Love Poem
Occasion: I'm not really sure what prompted this one. Just lovin' my mom that day I guess. Again, the year was 1985.
What can I say,
To one so dear,
“Your eyes are like…?”
No!
How can I tell you,
What’s in my heart,
“Roses are red…?”
Too corny.
What do I do,
To show what I feel,
“Let me count the ways…?”
I guess I’ll just say it,
From the depths of my soul,
“Thanks Mom.”
What can I say,
To one so dear,
“Your eyes are like…?”
No!
How can I tell you,
What’s in my heart,
“Roses are red…?”
Too corny.
What do I do,
To show what I feel,
“Let me count the ways…?”
I guess I’ll just say it,
From the depths of my soul,
“Thanks Mom.”
November 04, 2004
A Little Speck of Light
Occasion: Tina and I were married on September 30, 1988. Two weeks later I was sent to Germany by Uncle Sam. She didn't arrive until mid December. During the three months we were apart I experienced a new kind of lonliness. I concieved this poem walking through the German country side near Achsheim, Germany. As is still the case, she was all I could think about.
Proverbs 5:18, "May you rejoice in the wife of your youth."
The sky was clear as crystal,
The air was cold as ice,
My breath seemed thick as cotton,
That lovely autumn night.
I had no destination,
As I walked on through the night,
Then I saw it blink beside me,
A little speck of light.
We seemed to see each other,
As we gazed from afar,
And nothing else existed,
Just me and that little star.
Oh, there were many others,
But none that shone as bright,
And I knew I loved that star, although
Twas just a speck of light.
And while we stood there staring,
Wouldn’t you just know
That little speck of twinkling light,
Began to grow and grow.
While my heart raced with excitement,
My mind was whirling fast,
And I stood and reached toward it,
To touch my star at last.
Then suddenly it disappeared,
As I opened up one eye,
And I found that I’d been dreaming,
And it made me want to cry.
But then I noticed something,
That I’ve longed for all my life,
On my desk stood a little picture,
Of my dearest, darling wife.
And in that little picture
Was a very wondrous sight,
For in my Tina’s big blue eyes,
Was that little speck of light.
I wrote this poem to tell you,
That no matter where you are,
Tina I’ll love you forever,
And you’ll always be my star.
Proverbs 5:18, "May you rejoice in the wife of your youth."
The sky was clear as crystal,
The air was cold as ice,
My breath seemed thick as cotton,
That lovely autumn night.
I had no destination,
As I walked on through the night,
Then I saw it blink beside me,
A little speck of light.
We seemed to see each other,
As we gazed from afar,
And nothing else existed,
Just me and that little star.
Oh, there were many others,
But none that shone as bright,
And I knew I loved that star, although
Twas just a speck of light.
And while we stood there staring,
Wouldn’t you just know
That little speck of twinkling light,
Began to grow and grow.
While my heart raced with excitement,
My mind was whirling fast,
And I stood and reached toward it,
To touch my star at last.
Then suddenly it disappeared,
As I opened up one eye,
And I found that I’d been dreaming,
And it made me want to cry.
But then I noticed something,
That I’ve longed for all my life,
On my desk stood a little picture,
Of my dearest, darling wife.
And in that little picture
Was a very wondrous sight,
For in my Tina’s big blue eyes,
Was that little speck of light.
I wrote this poem to tell you,
That no matter where you are,
Tina I’ll love you forever,
And you’ll always be my star.
October 29, 2004
The Word
Occasion: When I was in Jr. High I knew a girl named Donna. She was the girl in every school who was picked on, ignored, teased, etc. I never participated in those things, but I also never stood up for her, which I often felt I should. I wrote this poem several years later, in 1984, after I heard she had commited suicide.
She was a good friend,
From beginning to end,
We had the same classes in school,
We always would pick,
Who could be in our clique,
All our classmates thought we were cool.
On the weekend my perch,
Was a place we called church,
I’d show up in my coat and my tie,
They said I was so sweet,
Cause my clothes were so neat,
There was no better Christian than I.
On Monday I found,
She was now in the ground,
Somehow, unexpectedly dead,
On Sunday at home,
Only sorrow she’d known,
By herself put a gun to her head.
When I’d thought it all out,
With a cry and a shout,
It occurred to me, I’d never shared,
That God loved her so much,
That all it takes is a touch,
To bring happiness when ere you’re scared.
Now one word describes me,
And the feelings inside me,
And I hope that I’m not always it,
Now I know He lives in me,
And I pray He forgives me,
Cause that one word is this:
HYPOCRITE.
She was a good friend,
From beginning to end,
We had the same classes in school,
We always would pick,
Who could be in our clique,
All our classmates thought we were cool.
On the weekend my perch,
Was a place we called church,
I’d show up in my coat and my tie,
They said I was so sweet,
Cause my clothes were so neat,
There was no better Christian than I.
On Monday I found,
She was now in the ground,
Somehow, unexpectedly dead,
On Sunday at home,
Only sorrow she’d known,
By herself put a gun to her head.
When I’d thought it all out,
With a cry and a shout,
It occurred to me, I’d never shared,
That God loved her so much,
That all it takes is a touch,
To bring happiness when ere you’re scared.
Now one word describes me,
And the feelings inside me,
And I hope that I’m not always it,
Now I know He lives in me,
And I pray He forgives me,
Cause that one word is this:
HYPOCRITE.
October 28, 2004
The Gift
Occasion: I wrote this poem while watching my son, Samuel, roll around on the floor shortly after his first birthday, in 1992. It had been several years since I last wrote a poem and I wondered if I'd ever write again. That day he inspired me. He still does.
I was sitting in my chair and reading
Quietly at home
My son was rolling on the floor
Content to play alone
Then something caught my eye
So I looked down at my boy
He stood before my chair
Showing me a toy
His eyes were wide with wonder
His face locked in a grin
I knew just what he wanted
So I knelt down with him
And for the first time in a long time
On that quiet autumn day
This father took his only child
And we set out to play
And as we played with all the things
That he had lying there
I looked him in his big blue eyes
And daddy said a prayer
“God, how can I thank you
For this little man of joy
Who brings me so much happiness
Lord thank you for my boy
“My father, take this child please
Though he is only one
I know that you can use him
So I’m giving you my son."
Later on that night
He lay quietly in bed
I reached down toward him
And kissed him on his head
And I thought how much I love him
How it hurts to see him cry
How much more it must have hurt my Lord
To send His Son to die.
"Lord, I really want to thank you
For all that you have done
From one father to another
Thank you for my son."
I was sitting in my chair and reading
Quietly at home
My son was rolling on the floor
Content to play alone
Then something caught my eye
So I looked down at my boy
He stood before my chair
Showing me a toy
His eyes were wide with wonder
His face locked in a grin
I knew just what he wanted
So I knelt down with him
And for the first time in a long time
On that quiet autumn day
This father took his only child
And we set out to play
And as we played with all the things
That he had lying there
I looked him in his big blue eyes
And daddy said a prayer
“God, how can I thank you
For this little man of joy
Who brings me so much happiness
Lord thank you for my boy
“My father, take this child please
Though he is only one
I know that you can use him
So I’m giving you my son."
Later on that night
He lay quietly in bed
I reached down toward him
And kissed him on his head
And I thought how much I love him
How it hurts to see him cry
How much more it must have hurt my Lord
To send His Son to die.
"Lord, I really want to thank you
For all that you have done
From one father to another
Thank you for my son."
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