My Poetry And Prose-Page 9
Here is a collection of my poetry and prose writings that I have written over the years. Most of my writings were created and composed in my youth.
(423) Creativity
Creativity is as much a part of our being as the blood that flows in our veins. Most of our waking moments we are engaged in some form of creating. The creativity expressed in someone's occupation or avocation is no less important and worthy of admiration and honor than the creative works of an artist or a writer.
Any work or leisure activity may reflect our creativity. Actually any human endeavor entails some element of creativity. We create by our very thoughts, words, and actions, and the creative process is continuous and unending.
We are happiest when we are in the process of creating. A certain childlike anticipation and enthusiasm takes over us, and even though we might be old in years, we become youthful again in our mind and spirit. In a way creativity is a fountain of youth which inspires and revives even the sick and aged. It is also a wonder cure for depression and apathy.
It think perhaps creativity may be a vital part of our life processes, much like breathing, and that if it doesn't function naturally like it should and was intended to, we may begin to wither away and die.
(424) Star Burst
A star flashing in the night,
Bursting into an array of light,
Ten thousand light years away,
What a spectacular display!
Somewhere ages hence,
Another soul may look thence,
And find within the night sky,
What flashed before my eye.
For what we see in the now,
May be in the future somehow,
And what happened eons past,
Might be in some future world cast.
(425) The Garden at dawn
The garden at dawn,
is enveloped in the mist,
The dew on the flowers,
By the sunlight gently kissed.
The birds joyfully sing,
And freshness is in the air,
The sadness lifts from my heart,
As I bow my head in prayer.
Beauty is all around,
And as I lift my eyes above,
A peacefulness comes over me,
Of the presence of God's love.
(426) The Blackbirds
In the autumn and spring the blackbirds gather in great flocks. Thousands of them flock together filling the sky like a black cloud, and the sound they make flying overhead is eerie and like the roar of an immense wind.
The flock of blackbirds seem to move as of one mind, thousands of them moving as one, changing direction, swooping and swerving in unison, and then suddenly descending and landing all together in a field, a hillside, or a grove of trees. It almost seems supernatural in a way.
After they have alighted in the trees or on the ground, the sound of their chirping is almost deafening. They all mill around with great excitement, and then at the slightest noise or movement of an animal or person which startles them, they all burst into flight as one great cloud again and are gone in an instant.
(427) God Cares
When I am sick and old,
And I am hungry and cold,
When I am in a hospital ill,
Or when a nursing home bed I fill;
When I have no money for heat,
And I have no food to eat,
Or when I may be homeless this day,
And have no place to stay;
When I have no family or friends,
And no one cares when my life ends;
When I am depressed and sad,
And my condition is very bad;
When my life is drear and dark,
And my world is cold and stark;
When I am alone and fearful,
And I tremble, and I'm tearful;
When troubles fall like rain,
And my life is full of pain,
I cry out, "isn't anybody there?"
"Doesn't anybody care?"
I believe God cares for you and I,
Even though dark is the sky,
And we are in our darkest hour,
God will protect us with His love and power.
(428) Our Special Pet Friends
Our Special pet friends,
Who give us so much love,
Who brighten our days,
Are surely gifts from above.
They are always there,
Through good times and bad,
Supportive and caring,
Cheering us when we are sad.
They never say hurtful things,
They are never unkind,
Never treat us unjustly,
Our faults they never mind.
Such special friends are they,
Without malice or animosity,
If only people were more like them,
A kinder world it would be.
(429) The Golden Dawn
It seemed just another day,
As I arose from my bed,
But the view outside took my breath away,
When I looked above my head.
There was a brilliant light,
Radiating from the eastern horizon,
And everything around was so bright,
And glowing from the golden sun.
The great sadness my heart had known,
in the soft golden light was gone,
An before me there like a vision shown,
Was the peace of the golden dawn.
(430) The Black Of Night
It was the black of night,
In a world of moan,
I cried out in fright,
From my universe alone.
The gorgons hissed at me,
From behind the veil,
My horrors I could not see,
They shrunk beyond the pale.
One more night alone am I,
The darkest night of the year,
This may be the night I die,
The worst of the worst I fear.
(431) The Game Of Life
The game of life I play not so well,
Many errors I make along the way,
I think I will stop and rest a spell,
Maybe play the game another day.
But the clock keeps ticking still,
The game of life has no break,
Playing on even against one's will,
With little chance to right a mistake.
I hope before the game does end,
I can correct what I've done wrong,
And some broken fences mend,
Before I hear the game's final gong.
(432) Misty Morning
I walked into the misty grove,
The leaves were dripping with the dew,
The birds were singing cheerfully,
On this misty morning bright and new.
Soon I will have to leave,
Misty morningsbright and green,
And the night will soon encompass,
As I go far from this lovely scene.
I am bound for another shore,
Where mornings like this may not appear,
And as I breathe the fresh cool air,
I feel sadness that my time is near.
Though perhaps after the night is over,
A misty morning may await me,
Even more beautiful than this,
And a glorious dawn I will see.
(433) Trust In Jesus
Only Jesus can give such peace,
A peace near divine,
Which comforts my heart,
A heavenly peace is mine.
Dear Jesus, Our Saviour,
He alone salvation can give,
I can but humbly receive,
And my life for Him live.
With joy I praise His name,
No longer do I fear,
But put my trust in Jesus,
And know that He is near.
(434) Do Not Despair
Even though the clouds of doubt,
Hang over us like a pall,
Tomorrow may be a brighter day,
And there may be no clouds at all.
Sometimes when things seem their worst,
A sliver of hope may appear,
Like a little ray of light,
And things may not be as bad as we fear.
So don't give up no matter what,
Even if it is cloudy and dark today,
We never know what tomorrow will bring,
Maybe our troubles will all go away.
(435) Jesus Cares
Take His hand,
Jesus cares for you and me,
He does understand,
He will set you free.
He died for you,
Do not be afraid,
His peace He gives you,
The price has been paid.
He will never forsake you,
Your troubles He will bear,
He will never leave you,
He will always love and care.
(436) Honoring and Respecting Yourself
You have to accept the fact that not everybody is going to like you. No matter who you are or what you do, somebody is going to be critical of you, and say disparaging things about you. The important thing is that you at least try to like yourself, and no matter what people say or do still respect and honor yourself.
After all you can't really respect and honor other people if you don't respect and honor yourself. You have to come to terms with the fact that you are not perfect and that you are going to make mistakes, but that does not mean that you are inferior or a badperson. Everybody makes mistakes, and no one is perfect.
The most important thing is not to give up and to keep striving to reach your goals no matter what. Other people's opinion of you doesn't really matter, and cannot prevent you from succeeding. Only your own opinion of yourself matters, and can help or hinder you from reaching for the stars.
(437) Keep Reaching For The Stars
Keep reaching for the stars.
Never give up your quest.
The person who strives for hours,
Is more likely to succeed than the rest.
The people who keep their dreams,
In spite of trial and woe,
Are more successful it seems,
Than those who give up and let go.
If you hang on for one more try,
That might all the difference make,
So never let yourself say die,
But always one more step take.
(438) The Bereavement Journey
Our hearts ache with the sorrow,
As the long night of our grief does begin,
And we dread waking up tomorrow,
Knowing our loved one will not be here again.
We look around the home we shared,
Out at the yard where they once walked,
At the scene at which they once stared
And we remember them as they talked.
Everything seems so changed now,
Our life no longer seems the same,
Their passing has altered the world somehow,
And with their death a sad world it became.
(439) Emptiness
After the death of a loved one,
There is a great hole in our heart;
The clouds darken the sun,
And of the world we no longer feel a part.
We are not whole anymore,
After our loved one is gone away;
The part of us that held together before,
Is now forever from us torn to stay.
We are but an empty shell,
Of the person that once did care;
On the outside we may look well,
But inside we are no longer there.
(440) Nobody Seems To Understand
When our loved one passes away,
Nobody seems to understand,
They don't know what to say,
Maybe it's best they just hold our hand.
Sometimes people laughing we see,
Like everything is the same as before,
When we feel so sad and unhappy,
That our loved is not here anymore.
Others don't seem to notice our pain,
They do not feel our loss so great,
But it better not to complain,
Only those who have suffered loss can relate.
(441) Thoughts Of You
Often my thoughts turn to you,
For comfort from the trials of the day,
For solace when I am blue,
And all my bad thoughts go away.
You always knew the words to speak,
To make me feel better about things,
When my outlook became bleak,
Your kind words lessened life's stings.
But now you are here no more,
And I alone must this life face,
Yet thoughts of you my hopes restore,
And images of you my heart grace.
(442) The Golden Morn
I look forward to that golden morn,
When I see your smiling face,
No more will I feel forlorn,
When we reunite in that heavenly place.
All the tears will be forgotten then,
All the sad and lonely nights,
Will be forgotten when we meet again,
And we are surrounded by the heavenly lights.
Our tears will be tears of joy,
And sadness will no more be so,
But only happiness without alloy,
And peace we will forever know.
(443) On Angels Wings
Softly and tenderly borne,
From this earthly sphere,
There is no need to mourn,
That our loved one is no longer here.
For the angels in their flight,
Draw them tenderly to their heart,
Ascending quietly in the night,
To the heavenly realms they depart.
There is no sorrow where they go,
Beyond this world's mortal shore,
So let us not sad thoughts know,
For they are at peace now evermore.
(444) You Are Always With Me
I see you in the morning dew,
As it shines upon the flower,
I see you in the ocean blue,
And in the first faint evening star.
I hear you in the warbler's song,
I sense you in the springtime air,
I know you are with me all day long,
And in the night I know you are there.
Though you are now on another shore,
You are in my thoughts every day,
And even though you are here no more,
Your gentle spirit will never pass away.
(445) Reaching Out With Love
There are many who are in need,
In need of someone with a caring heart,
To help them with love in word or deed.
Come, let us do our part.
Let us reach out with love,
To comfort the victims of life's woe,
For God in His love and compassion above,
Would have us such love and kindness show.
Just a kind word can ease someone's pain,
Just a smile can comfort give,
Worth more than all the wealth we could obtain,
Is a life of showing love for others while we live.
(446) Love And Kindness
If we could only be kind everyday,
And treat others with respect and dignity,
Be kind in the things we do and say,
How much better our world would be.
Incivility can cause much harm,
Rudeness and arrogance tends to alienate,
Angry words and actions create a storm,
But love and kindness prevent anger and hate.
It is better the hand of friendship to extend,
Than the fist of of animosity and ill will,
Only when we are kind will conflicts end,
Only love and kindness will warfare still.
(447) The Curse of Cruelty
The curse of cruelty the generations span,
Unforgotten atrocities molder in the ashes,
And with each renewed violent act the flames fan,
Resulting in unending cruel and bitter clashes.
So it is we reap what we sow,
An act of cruelty never goes away,
Though the deed may have occurred long ago,
The repercussions always come back someday.
The horrid pain inflicted is embedded in time,
And even if hidden and in secret done,
A price must be exacted for the crime,
For cruelty places a curse on everyone.
(448) The Universal Love of God
Listen when all is still,
To the sound of eternity,
It will your soul fill,
And you will find serenity.
Peace whispers from afar,
Softly our soul caressing,
Travelling light years from a star,
And our being gently blessing.
Lift your eyes and look above,
Into the star filled sky,
And feel the universal love,
Enter your soul from on high.
(449) Messages Of Hope
Let us convey messages of hope,
Not the messages of despair,
Let us try to help other people to cope,
And let them know that we care.
Let us dwell upon what is good,
And let peace and happiness abound,
For if we are positive like we should,
Then negative thoughts will not be found.
Sometimes the best thing we can do,
Is just smile and be kind to each other,
Just say that I love and care for you,
And to always be there for one another.
(450) "Thinking Of You"
I was just thinking of you,
Of all the nice things you do,
And hoping everthing is alright,
That your world is happy and bright.
You are a very special person,
Always helpful to everyone,
So kind and thoughtful each day,
In the things you do and say.
For others you are always there,
Ever giving with love and care,
So I just wanted to let you know,
My thoughts are with you as you go.
(451) Old Age
My sight is growing dim,
My teeth number few,
My outlook is growing grim,
My mood is often blue.
My health problems increase,
As the years go by,
My good days decrease,
As my time draws nigh.
I have more aches and pains,
My hair has turned gray,
My bones ache when it rains,
Old age won't go away.
(452) Thankful For The Rain
I'm thankful for the rain,
For peace and freedom from pain,
For every blessing here below,
For friends I have come to know.
I'm thankful this morning I awoke,
And the golden pitcher not yet broke,
That the gift of another day is mine,
That I may the path of love define.
I'm thankful for the glowing sun,
And for the race I have already run,
Though I may have faltered now and then,
I'm thankful my part in life has been.
(453) Life Is A Riddle
Life is a riddle,
Within a riddle,
Life is a puzzle,
Within a puzzle.
Life is a circle,
Within a circle,
Life is a box,
Within a box.
Life is a being,
Within a being,
Life is a world,
Within a world.
(454) A Tear In The Fabric Of The Universe
There is a tear in the fabric of the universe,
Some people say it has always been there,
I noticed it one day when it was raining.
But there is really no way to compare.
I guess it all depends on one's perception,
To a squirrel an acorn is a boon,
To a rabbit a hole is heaven,
Who knows if the universe is at high noon?
We and the universe are linked by fate,
And while we bask in our hour in the sun,
In our little nook in the scheme of things,
The universe may be almost done.
(455) A Summer Shower
I vividly recall the air after a summer shower. Dare I call it air that so invigorates the being, for it is more like a breath of beauty or a whiff of hope. Standing there as raindrops drip from the trees, watching the patches of blue sky widen as the clouds depart, and basking in the seemingly brighter sun as it returns to produce glorious scintillations all around, on the rocks, the grass, and on the leaves, one feels hope and fresh and pure as the scene around him. Something deep in the heart seems to say, "this is what you were born for, this is your reason for living, to witness scenes such as this."
(456) Happiness Is
Happiness is a bird that flies in the sky. It is a word spoken by someone we love. Happiness is a flower covered with early morning dew. It is a child who says, "I love you." Happiness is a window looking at the sky. It is a place to rest and maybe sigh.
Happiness is loneliness melted by a smile. It is a heart too obdurant and willful grown mellow after a while. Happiness is cold and damp made warm by someone dear. It is the feeling that someone who cares is near. Finally happiness is what we find in ourselves when we seek to give it to others.
(457) Believe
The best moments in life are when we believe. When we believe happiness fills our mind, but when we doubt sadness engulfs us. We must believe in life, in the flowers, in people, in the cheerful birds, in God, in the sunlight, in the stars, in the earth, and in ourselves to find happiness.
We must believe in life, in tomorrow, in our actions, in the way of life we are living, in our words and thoughts, in our purpose on this earth if we wish for happiness. We must believe especially when the days are gray and overcast, when the nights are dark, and when the roads are the roughest. We must believe despite the hopelessness of the moment, despite the seemingly impossible dream, despite how much other people and our doubts tell us not to, because believing is our only hope.
(458) Deny
And what if men deny the beauty in life? What if our very heart denies it? What if death denies the promise of life? What if the bad denies the good? Does that make these things not so? In moments of despondency we hate others and we hate ourself, and almost we hate life, but does that blot out the fact that at other times we love, and hope, and believe? Does a cloudy, rainy day make void all the sunny days? Do our doubts and fears make less real the moments when we feel wonder and awe for all the world?
(459) World of Love
We are at the threshold of a whole new world, that of love. We have stepped out of that great darkness of insensitivity and savagery. The light is blinding. We fall back frightened and confused, dazzled by that too brilliant light. We relapse into wars and instances of inhuman brutality, but slowly we are becoming accustomed to the glare of that sun.
We are haltingly, and with much hesitation, but perceptively turning our backs on the darkness. There lies before us a world of untold wonders and glories in which the promises are illimitable. The adventures of stepping forth into that world of love, a world abundant with giving, caring, and ministering, are yet to be recorded.
(460) A Garden
I'll keep a garden in my heart. I will fill it with roses and hyacinths. There will be a clear blue pool in the midst of it. Bluebirds will be there and snow white doves. I will line the banks with periwinkle, and around all I will place your love. Time, that great robber will not have the power to purloin one moment there. The killing frost will not touch there, and only gentle showers will fall. When the days grow gray and somber, and I am sick and weary with the desolate years, I will retire into my heart and live there with you.
(461) The Green Things
I love the green things of earth. I love the grass, the trees, the vines, and the tiny plants. I feel for them a sense of attachment which fills my thought with joy each time I see them. Indeed my love for them seems to grow stronger as I grow older. To the plant kingdom I owe the better portion of my life. My happiest moments have been in the woods and fields observing and feeling a part of the wonderful world of green plants.
A generous supply of luscious, green, growing plants would be to me a paradise. I am never so at ease as I am when a vernal setting surrounds me, when grass is at my feet and the treetops above my head, and when birds are singing cheerful songs in my ear. Then, if at anytime, I feel free and at peace. At such times my darker thoughts, if not fully put from my mind, are at least so submerged they can do me no harm. I feel a music within not unlike I think what the gentle songbird feels or the beautiful flower. That such moments are rare makes one treasure them even more. All our life is vanity and vexation except for those few moments when we are filled with quietness.
(462) Life Is Infinitely Worth The Living
Life is infinitely worth the living, even though we fowl up at every turn, even though it seems we are always out in the rain, and our heart is always torn up. Life is infinitely worth the living even though we are all mixed up, even though we cannot see the stars for the clouds, and night stays on way too long.
Life is infinitely worth the living, because people do sometimes seem to care, because there are flowers and rainbows, blue skies and whip-poor-wills, because on the other side of every trouble there is a quietness. Life is infinitely worth the living because our pains and pleasures are as those of all people, because the best days are those after hardship, and God has placed within us more strength than we suspected. And most of all because we share a wondrous universe and have an opportunity to reach paradise.
(463) Kindness
Kindness is a sign of progress. Kindness is an indicator of how civilized a community really is. It is perhaps the only true indicator. The hope of the human race exists in kindness, for it is protector of dignity, freedom, and life. It has been an uphill struggle toward kindness, compassion, and understanding.
There have been dark ages in the history of humanity which were almost devoid of kindness, but not quite. Always there has been that little ray of kindness that has inspired humanity to overcome the darkness, and to forsake the ways of cruelty and inhumanity, and seek the peace and harmony that surrounds people who care for one another.
To acquire kindness is the highest attainment a person may boast of achieving, for it is the perfection of the human soul. Cruelty is a step backward as is callous disregard for life. The future of human beings depends on their ability to preserve and cultivate kindness, to let kindness predominate all their decisions, and be the guiding power for all they do.
In a world were dependence on one another is essential kindness is all important, for without it there is no assurance of safety or co-operation between people. To discard kindness even momentarily can be disasterous. Any meaningful existence or true relationship with other people demands kindness. A world without kindness would not be a world desirable in which to live.
(464) Concern For Other People
Concern for other people should be our prime motive in life. If we deny the rights of one person then we endanger the rights of all people. If we maltreat one person and permit that person's abuse to go unnoticed and unpunished then we jeopardize the safety of us all, and initiate the unravelment of the very fabric of our society.
If we allow someone to starve when it is in our power to feed them, or allow someone to suffer when we have the means to aid them, then we commit against that person and society a heinous crime. Each person is born with certain rights which are sacred and inalienable. It should be our lifelong task to preserve, dignify, and uphold the rights of the individual, for once concern for the individual and the individual's rights are lost humanity faces a bleak future.
A concerned society is a productive, healthy, and growing group of people, whereas an unconcerned society is sick and destroying itself, while neglecting its people. The future of mankind, if there is to be a future, depends on the concern one person shows for another, and whether in the end selfishness or brotherly love wins out.
(465) Frogs
Frogs are one of nature's major gifts to children. Those somewhat slimy, green, knob-eyed monstrosities are a never ending source of novelty to youngsters. Sitting beside a pool of water in a seemingly half dreaming mood, a frog enchants the passerby. How they love to dive into the water with one magnificent leap. The expression of a frog is one of great contentment. A huge smile is constantly on their face. Trying to catch a frog is a difficult matter, for they dart and maneuver with the utmost alacrity, and in addition to all that, they are exceedingly slick.
Frogs prefer cool watery envorinments. Puddles, little rills, and creeks all shaded with weeds and grass growing right up to the edge of the water, suit them fine. I remember them from my childhood, and little did I know then that some of my fondest memories would be about them. Not about frogs in particular perhaps, but about places where they were about and mingled in the scenes. I remember the little ones no bigger than my thumb which I tried to catch, and I remember the big old green bullfrogs bigger than my fist. I recall them in the spring of the year especially when they sang loudly and seemed to be everywhere. In the heat of summer they are quiet except after a rain.
(466) I Hope
I walk out among the trees and I hear sounds as old as life itself. I hear the wind and birds, bees and insects. I hear the rustling leaves. It's all old, and yet it is ever new. New people are always listening and hearing much the same thing as those of old. The sun shines, the flowers bloom, and the stream is cold and clear for each new generation.
Sometimes storm clouds gather, and sometimes it is bright and clear, the evening shadows obscure, and the morning rays illumine, and the seasons come and go. The sounds of June are different from the sounds of December. The stillness blankets the winter, except for the wailing wind. What I hear all mankind hears, for it is a worldwide message that has been noted in every land since the birth of men and words.
I hope there will always be these wondrous things in the natural world about us. I hope there will always be sunsets, and apple pies, and ribbons in the hair of little girls. I hope the stars will always shine, and flowers will always bloom. I hope there will always be springtime, and cats to meow and dogs to bark, and roosters to crow.
I hope there will always be clouds and blue skies, and fishing worms for little boys. I hope there will always be games and laughter. I hope that people will always have a sense of history, and a great hope for the future.
(467) Loving Someone
Loving someone enhances our own human worth. Love is the only true wealth. It enriches our heart, and all those whom it touches. When loving we forget for a time to be selfish, we forget to fear and doubt, we forget our grievances against others.
Something happens to a human being that cannot happen otherwise when he loves. Doors open for him that would have otherwise forever remained shut. He is spectator of new worlds, worlds he never dreamed existed. More than anything else love purges the brute from him, and instills a recognition of what is most beautiful and pure.
(468) What Is A Kitten?
What is a kitten? A kitten is a little bundle of fun, a fluffy, lively, happy ball of fur that makes us laugh in spite of ourself. With antics and games the kitten entertains us for hours. The games include chasing butterflies, trying to pounce on grasshoppers, wrestling with brother, climbing fence posts, or just racing across the yard with abandon. With tail up, back raised in a bow, and the hair on its neck standing on end, the kitten takes his stance when the dog comes near. Kittens are blessed by nature with a carefree attitude, and just like children one moment they are perturbed, but the next they are up and playing again as if nothing ever happened.
From the first when he wobbles out on shaky legs a kitten is curious as he seems fascinated by the world. Every little thing attracts his attention. A kitten is one of the most playful of creatures. His day is filled with play, and his young life is a continuous holiday.
Though the older a cat grows the less inclined is he to play as his games are of a more serious kind, that of stalking his prey and making trips in search of food. Little kittens are not concerned about such grownup matters however, as it is run, jump, and play in youthful jubilance for that all too brief period of time in life. A six week old kitten whose eyes have just opened to the world is a never ceasing source of enjoyment to those of us who watch.
(469)The Meadowlark
Deep in a field of clover there dwells the meadowlark. His is the world of open fields and silent dells. The meadowlark is a gift to the quiet places. He is a pleasant member of a pleasant realm. His music sweetens the summer air hallowing the world of butterflies and bumblebees, and making the clover blossoms to dance.
He dispels our loneliness with his song of delight as he lifts us to those heights he enjoys, reviving our sense of what is beautiful and good in life. Walking on the ground the meadowlark resembles the quail, though somewhat smaller, with a V for victory on his yellow chest. His brown-streaked back, black cross bars over the eyes, and white tail feathers distiguish him.
He never seems a part of hurry or confusion. He frequents not the haunts of people, but spends his hours in harmonious and secluded habitats. If we would see him we must climb the hill, go through the woods, and enter a sequestered valley where sunlight and shade abound, where trees and grass mingle in tenderness, and each being exhibits a zest for life.
(470)Hope
Each of us hopes for something good along the way. We hope for something good, or true, or beautiful. We hope for something lasting, and for something that means something. We hope for rainbows, springtime, bright stars, sparkling waters, and happy sounds.
We hope for little yellow flowers, great blue skies, and gentle breezes to cool our brow. We hope for bright eyes, tender smiles, and kind touches. We hope for fair weather, smooth sailing, and easy going. But most of all we hope for hope. We hope that whatever condition life throws us into that we will be able to summon up enough of that precious article called hope to go on living.
(471) Thought
Our true being consists of thought. Our flesh and bones merely support our thoughts. Our only true possessions are our thoughts, and they don't have any weight, or form, or existence outside of us. A thought cannot be seen or felt, and it can't be known by anyone else if we don't want them to know. A thought is as linked with the past in memory as with the present, can conceive of a mountain on one hand and a housefly on the other, and can relate to the stars above or the dust at our feet.
(472) Sunset
I like best that time of day when the last birds are seen hastening their way to their nights abode as the sun sets. It is very still, and the air has a hint of coolness, while across the far horizon a few red strips of clouds lie suspended. Behind my shoulder a bright yellow half-moon stands out in the clear blue sky.
For a few moments time seems to stop as nothing moves, and then suddenly it becomes dark. It is those few moments just before dark that I prefer. It is then that I wish to be out so that I can put the finishing touches on my day, and so that I can recover my lost dreams.
(473) After A Rain
How glossy the leaves are after a rain. They shine and seem to emit a coolness. It simply does not seem like the same world after a rain. Luscious scenes replace dry, parched scenes. Particularly a spring or summer rain produces spectacular changes. The mist fills the valleys after a rain, and the green is so much brighter and the air so much fresher. It is like being witness to a miracle everytime it rains. Right after a rain when the water is still dripping from the trees is a good time to step out and breathe deeply.
(474) The Bad Days
There are days that paralyze us with their venom. There are days that take all the heart out of us. There are days that strike us down like a fallen bird, and it seems for all the world like we are down there to stay.
There are days that slash us to the bone and pain us long after they are gone. There are days that tear down all the dreams that we have ever piled up, and leave us standing there bewildered without anything, anything at all.
(475) A Quiet Place
Our only way to recover from the bad days is to find a quiet place. Finding that quiet place is not always easy. It might be a retreat, our favorite nook, or a place of beauty and serenity in Nature. It might not really be a place at all, but somewhere deep inside us, or maybe even another form of being, kind of like out of the body so to speak, like the other side of the looking glass. So much of what we see and hear, the here and now, drowns and suffocates us with it's noise and furor. If we can't escape it then we will go under the waves.
(476) A Hummingbird
That there exists in our world a hummingbird is ample proof of God's loving spirit. Here is a little bundle of cheerfulness, a tiny ray of beauty, dipped from the finger of the Creator. The little hummingbird with his green back and ruby throat is truly a beautiful sight--that is if we ever get to see him.
Generally we just get a glance of him because he moves too fast and is so tiny. Often our first intimation of the hummingbird is to hear that peculiar whirring noise his wings make. In contrast to other birds, the hummingbird has the knack for standing in mid-air and thrusting his long thin beak into flowers. The wings move so fast that we can't really see them.
Aided by those wings the hummingbird darts about with lightening speed, starts and stops in mid-air, and literally performs unbelievable feats. The hummingbird has two very small specks, black and luminous, for eyes, which see exceedingly well, since it is nearly impossible to sneak up on him as he gives a shrill whistle of fright and flies off to visit another flower.
(477) The Whippoorwill
It has been my pleasure often in the cool of the evening to listen to the whippoorwill. He fairly shatters the stillness with his beautiful song, and yet he not so much interrupts the peace of the evening as he adds to the seeming tranquillity. The whippoorwill seems so much apart of the night and the sounds that are prevalent then, that we often are unconscious of his singing as he blends in with all the other nighttime sounds.
He is a part of the summer night. The night would not be the same without him. The whippoorwill seems to call the darkness as his voice echoes across the countryside and the night slowly descends. Our cares seem lessened as we listen to him, and his song impresses peace to our hearts, the peace of the eternal, omnipresent harmony of the universe.
We expect to hear the whippoorwill as shadows lengthen and the twilight of the evening slowly drapes the land. On a distant hill he begins his serenade, soon to be followed by others until the night is alive with their delightful songs. All winter we miss his song, and find ourselves lonely, oppressed without the hope and joy he gives. His is the song of happiness, divine acceptance, and understanding of life.
We are made to feel at the sound of the whippoorwill a sense of well being, and that the world is yet on an even keel. Perhaps what strikes us so mysterious about the whippoorwill is the fact he sings only at night after all the other songbirds have gone to sleep.
The song of the whippoorwill is unique as there is nothing else like it, a plaintive, sad, yet strangely peaceful song. The whippoorwill sings us to sleep at night as with his rich mellow tones we are lulled to sweet, peaceful dreams. The world is a better place because of the whippoorwill.
(479) The New Generation
To the youth we must yield the scepter. The babe in arms will be our captain tomorrow. Our knowledge, our possessions, our grasp of truth and beauty all goes to them at last. They inherit the best and worst of us. We leave them our wars, our prejudices, our vanities, and our mistakes.
We hand them the world with all that is good and all that is bad. They will tear down much of what we have built to build their own projects. They will forget about us all too soon, and the lessons we have taught, and the maxims we have proved. It is always a new world to the new generation.
(480) Youth
All things stand ready to glorify the youth. Nature unfolds before the youth to reveal secrets we oldsters have forgotten. Youth is wrapped in the magical world of make-believe, and their senses are all alive and attuned to what is fair. Their vision is more perceptive, and their minds more supple than ours.
Beauty that is lost to us is beheld clearly by them. It is that insatiable enthusiasm and curiousity of youth that carries each new generation into the mainstream of life with something extra to give. They bring with them a whole new cargo of dreams and ideas, whereas we have discarded many of ours. Youth is blessed with unlimited promise, and their potential is boundless. Time and destiny await youth ever, await their strength and determination, and await their boundless energy and hope.
(481) Death
Herein exists our unease, the thought that we are between two eternities, the past and the future, the thought that we the simple and weak, flesh and blood, man and mortal, are so precariously lodged. Our position lends itself to untold peril and vulnerability.
We are pivoted by a mere heartbeat, a breath of air. Regardless of our turns in life the thought hangs over us that our lifetime is only a speck in infinity, a flicker in the darkness of eternity. The immortal dreams are locked in the mortal brain.
One day the blood that rushes through our body like some subterranean river will cease to flow. The flesh which covers our bones will one day dry up like an October leaf, the thoughts that are formed somehow, I know not how, out of this conglomeration of flesh, and blood, and bone will stop forever, and the being, the I, will lose itself and all contact with conscienceness on this earthly plane. One day the life force, that impulse which sparked the infant, will have gone out leaving only the inanimate ashes.
(482) A little flower
I beheld a little flower nestled among a host of leaves, as tiny a flower as I have ever seen. It was just a lttle gleam of clear blue, a little pinpoint of blue in a world of dreary brown. Chill was still in the air, and life in winter's cruel grasp still was held, yet here a herald of spring bravely dared to shine like a bright star amidst all that austerity.
Could I behold that little flower bearing its tender petals to a cold, cruel world to proclaim life's glory, and not feel a gladness, yea, a sense of awe? When life becomes burdensome, and I think the world is more than I can bear, then my thoughts harken back to that humble little flower in that dark and lonely forest with all around alien and austere, yet who courageously chose to dwell in beauty, simple and free.
(483) My Favorite Things
Some of my favorite things are: maple trees all aflame in autumn, the bay of a hound in the night, grasshoppers bounding in a field, bees hovering over clover blossoms, forked lightning in the June sky, frogs peeking from a waterhole, wild geese honking overhead in their familiar pattern, an insect scaling a blade of grass at my feet, rain water dripping from the eaves, mayapple patches in the spring, those little gray lizards that hang around on old gates, a preying mantis on a tree trunk, a willow bending in the wind, the smell of dogwoods and redbuds when in bloom, the smell of plowed earth, the green grass stretching over the top of a hill or filling a valley, quacking ducks and cackling chickens, old houses with great big trees around them, children with a fishing pole over their shoulder, and windows with the sun shining in them.
(484) Summer Evenings
As a child on summer evenings I loved to climb the hill above the house and sit and watch the darkness come. If there were clouds I would watch them drift and gradually change colors as the sun slowly slipped behind the trees on yonder hill. Then, if at any time, I felt happiness. I felt it was a good world after all, and that life was good too.
I felt I was being honored, and that the magnificent spectacle was being displayed for my benefit as a form of welcome to me as a member of the universe. The heavens seemed truly to smile at me, and I smiled back at that expansive view contentedly.
(485) Life Without Her
Life without her is like a day without sunshine, like a morning without dew, like a rose bush without a bloom, like a butterfly without wings, like a bird without song, like a storm without rain, like a night without the stars.
Life without her is like a tree without leaves, like a house without people, like an ring without a finger, like a river without water, like a yard without grass, like a winter without snow, like a lake without fish.
Life without her is like a marriage without children, like a field without grain, like a life without dreams, like a man without hope.
(486) Life
Life, how wonderful to be alive. Nothing can equal the miracle of being alive. Nothing can compare with waking up in the morning and being alive. I feel glad not because of anything I have done, but because I am still alive, because the sun still shines down on me, because I am still able to view the flowers and birds flying in the sky.
I feel fortunate because life still throbs away in my veins, and because life is still enjoyable to me. I still wonder at the world like a child. It still moves me. Curiousity has not yet abandoned me, and the gift of laughter has not yet departed. Those same old longings are with me yet, though perhaps less intent. My trust has not yet abated, though a trifle tattered. Most important of all I still look forward to tomorrow.
(487) You Remind Me
You remind me of flowers in May, and of stars in a summer night's sky. You remind me of the eyes of baby calves, of sprightly fledgelings about to abandon the nest, and of fireflies in the first warm nights of the year.
You remind me of all the things I love, and I seem to love them more because of you. You remind me of frosty mornings sparkling in the sun, of snow covered hills in their robe of white, and of full moons and lightning storms. You remind me of the tranquil forest, of leaves and vines and crystalline stones, and of the infinite in repose.
(488) A Dog
Once a dog becomes your friend he always seems to like you. It don't matter what you have done or whether anybody else likes you or not, he likes you. He comes over to you and you pat his head, and think "I wonder what he sees in me worth liking?"
You get down on your luck, and you don't seem to have many friends, then you step out the gate your heart rather low, and that bright-eyed, happy old dog comes bouncing up to meet you somehow making the day seem brighter. You can even call him names and mistreat him, and he will come back in a little while trying to make up, and begging your forgiveness.
(489) Planting A Tree
One of life's most rewarding tasks is planting a tree, and particularly the planting of a fruit tree. There is this fascination at its yearly growth. We often walk about the yard and note its progression.
We anxiously await the spring blossoms, and on the first warm days are out inspecting its boughs. Because we planted it we feel a certain greater attachment to it than otherwise. When it thrives and prospers we are elated as at the prosperity of a dear friend. Few actions in life give more pure pleasure and simple joy than planting a tree.
(490) The Little Things
Commonly the things we look forward to are not very important as the world goes. They are little uncomplicated things that fill our days and thoughts.They are simple, innocent things that make life worth living. We look forward to the spring blossoms and the greening of the grass. We look forward to our eggs getting hatched, and our pigs and calves getting born.
We look forward to big juicy tomatoes and big cabbage heads, to green beans and roasting ears from our garden. We look forward to autumn's leaves, and to winter's first snow. We look forward to moments alone on a hill, and nights reading a book. We look forward to taking walks and looking at the stars. We look forward to spending time with our family, and enjoying our precious time with each other.
(491) Prayer
Prayer does much to reconcile. Prayer takes away anger and hatred as a stream takes away mud and silt after it has been stirred up. As a stream prayer also takes away our sorrow, our fear, and our despair. What prayer does not take away, it makes it easier to live with.
Though many are not aware of the power of prayer, and the miraculous rewards to be derived from it. The full resources of prayer have never truly been tapped. Few have but barely delved into the manifold blessings of prayer.
Prayer opens the eyes to new good and to new truth. It clears up the shadows which cloud one's faith and reveals the heavens. It lifts the heart of one above this world of strife, and lets one view in part the beauty of God.
Prayer is a supplication that need not be spoken, but it must be heartfelt. As the Bible says; "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." To pray is to communicate with God. In prayer as in no other thing, the soul reaches out toward the higher heights and the inner courts. When the soul is in prayer it is in its profoundest hour. In prayer the soul cultivates its highest nature, its spiritual nature. The true nobility of the soul is recovered and experienced only in prayer.
(492) The Empty Chair
A chair empty where before a person had sat seems not the same. The very room seems not the same after their death as when the person's presence permeated all. Not an object moved, not a picture from the wall, and not an article of furniture moved, but the room seems vastly different. Indeed the world seems different.
Time passes over and leaves the impressions, and leaves the memories, while often leaving the same sights and sounds, while stealing the person away. After a while we have trouble recalling the sound of their voice, and even their face, though they were most dear to us.
The wind blows the leaves, and a fragrance greets us, and we recall memories, though we cannot return. Nothing is ever the same again. Time changes after its subtile fashion. What was yesterday can never quite be again, no matter how much we wish it.
(493) The Future
Surely stars will endure, and trees to look at. Surely raindrops will always fall, and rivers running to the sea. I cannot imagine a world without children playing games, and mothers watching over them. The light I am certain will ever reveal the colors of the rainbow.
I cannot help believing puppies and kittens will live on until the end of time nuzzling at the hand of some child in search of love. If anything is bound to last it is music, and if nothing else the music of the wind.
Who can say what will remain ages hence, and in what changed and strange forms? But it is hoped it will be gentle and innocent, and far less of what is cruel and harsh. It is hoped that kindness will rule in beauty the world of the future.
(494) All Is For The Best
In quiet moments some voice within us seems to say, "all is for the best; trust in God." The One who set the stars in place also notes the falling of a sparrow. We can rely that the rains will come in due course, and that at the end of the darkest hour comes the dawn.
In a world in which there is the wonder of birth, the magic of growth, and the marvel that is youth, can we doubt it is all for the best? Can we watch a creature struggle for life in those initial hours, and not feel an awe and admiration? Can we behold the sprouting of a seed as those first tender leaves of a plant burst through the clods to sunlight, and not sense that in such a world there is a merciful Power directing the proceedings?
(495) We Never Repent Of Our Kindness
We never repent of our kindness, only our harshness. Offending someone hurts us more than it does them. We are buffeted by bad memories years after an outburst of temper. We recall our own acts of meanness and incivility, and view them with more remorse than we do the times we were mistreated by someone else.
We never regret our kindness even though the other person never returned our kindness. We never regret treating the other person with respect, but we do regret our moments of disrespectful behavior toward other people. We never become so callous but what we feel some regret for hateful actions.
(496) Timeless Things
Some things never grow old: a spring day, a thunder shower, the blue sky, the sound of the wind, and the sound of water trickling over the rocks. Bird's singing, bright colored flowers, and the warm sunshine are forever young and filled with hope. It seems as if those things never really began, but that they were always, and will always be.
I cannot imagine the world without them. They are so much a part of our life, and our heart. The years take us swiftly on, but those things change not. They retain that youthful quality, and that same fascination as when first we viewed and became endeared to them.
It seemed only yesterday when we looked up at the clouds with a gleam in our eyes as a child filled with wonder and awe. Time, nothing can take from us the memory and love we have for timeless, eternal things, and the sight and sound of them while we live.
(497) The Light
When I catch a selfish thought stealing in I feel shadows dimming my soul much as clouds produce when obscuring the sun. Therefore I perceive that evil is a great darkness. When I hate I feel myself cast down in a great bottomless gulf with the darkness smothering me, and in the distance what is good and beautiful shines like tiny stars, while I am isolated.
From birth it is a ceaseless battle to preserve the light of life which is love and hope from the darkness of doubt and fear and hate. The warfare is always, because the enemy is within us.
(498) Brotherhood
There is a hope in every person that something wonderful will one day dawn in human affairs, that one day nations will cease warfare with one another, that a real brotherhood will exist between all races, creeds, and peoples, that exploitation and profiteering will cease, that privation and neglect will be replaced by caring and genuine concern.
It is hoped that a great interchange between cultures will produce stimulation of a delightfully varied and beneficial kind, that society will become on the whole beautiful and refined, that the spiritual and material needs of the individual will be of utmost importance, and be met as never before in the saga of humanity. This is the future that hopefully awaits some future generation.
(499) We Must Leave
Soon the waters cover our being, and we become the submerged. Behold, are not the stars bright, the flowers lovely, and all the world happy and alive? Youth is jocund with shining eyes, and spring comes with the grass and insects in all their glee. The streams flow, and storms still come in the night. The lightening flashes and the thunder roars, but we must go.
The wind howls and sends breezes all around as it brings winter snow and summer relief. The trees sway all green and radiant in the summer, and filled with color in the fall, while stark in winter. They stand and pose a thousand poses. Kittens trying to catch their mother's tail, and puppy dogs being chased by setting hens are things everlasting. Baby pigs waddling out on shaky legs are things that never change. The sun, the moon, and the blue sky will continue, but we must die.
The bluejay will squawk his delight in the morning air, and the red bird bathe in the little creek, but we must leave them all. Departure will be sad, though it will be good to know all these things will go on. It is good just to be a part of all this.
(500) The Bluebird
It is truly a glorious day when the bluebird comes to call. The first bluebird I see in spring is a source of great inspiration to me. Suddenly on a warm day there he is on a twig as the leaves are just budding, and the grass starting to green.
The bluebird is perhaps our reward for enduring the hardships of life, and a blessing to help make up for the evils that beset us. Upon seeing a bluebird it is difficult not to believe in the goodness of life, and that somewhere, somehow, there exists a divine intelligence who directs the harmonious order of things.
The bluebird seems to have an aura of the divine about him, and gives us a sense of the joy and wonder of life. Where the bluebird goes is holy, and where he alights is sacred, and forever remembered as the domain of the bluebird. Our eyes pursue the bluebird in his course across the sky, and his blue glistens in the sun even more fair than the sky itself.
The bluebird is a perfection of nature. It is a being as pure and beautiful as our concept of it can imagine. The bluebird personifies the touch of a benevolent Creator, One who wishes to portray His love and tenderness in the form of a being as exquisite as a bluebird.
(501) Be Kind To Yourself
Be kind to yourself. Relax, lean back, put your feet up, and close your eyes. Take a walk. Listen to the birds. Feel the warmth of the sun on your face, and the gentle brush of the wind against your cheek. Be kind to yourself. Sure you have made mistakes. We all have made mistakes, but we can't just keep beating ourselves up over them. No one is perfect.
Forgive yourself and forgive others who may have wronged you. Let all your guilt, anger, and fear go. Be kind to yourself. You have worked hard, and you deserve a break. Look at the sky. Watch the clouds go by. Listen to some music. Hum a tune. Breathe in deeply and be at peace. Let the world go by for a little while. Find the time to treat yourself and be good to you.
(502) The Healing Power Of Prayer
The healing power of prayer,
Is for pain a soothing balm,
A comfort in time of sorrow,
For distress a peaceful calm.
The healing power of prayer,
Gives us strength to go on.
When burdens and troubles abound,
And when our hope is almost gone.
The healing power of prayer,
Is our refuge in time of need.
For God in His love and mercy,
Would have us from our worry freed.
(503) A Beautiful Sunset
At the end of a difficult day,
A beautiful sunset we see,
Suddenly our cares go away,
And somehow we feel happy.
A sunset is a blessed event,
At the close of day we find,
Seemingly from heaven sent,
To bring peace to our mind.
A sunset has a special power,
To take us to a tranquil place,
Where our troubles seem to expire,
As we the lovely sunset embrace.
(504) A Bluebird
The first bluebird of spring,
Is an auspicious thing,
An omen from above,
A symbol of God's love.
Sometimes when we feel sad,
Or things are kind of going bad,
The bluebird's arrival each year,
Brings us a little bit of cheer.
When our outlook is a bit bleak,
And some optimism we seek,
Suddenly a blue bird we see,
And it makes us feel happy.
(505) The Sunshine
The flowers love the sunshine,
And the birds love it too,
It ripens the fruit on the vine,
And revitalizes everything anew.
It awakens us each day,
And casts away the night,
For the darkness cannot stay,
When the sun is shining bright.
So it is with the life we live,
when somber thoughts appear,
Then comes the sunlight to give,
A glow of warmth to cheer.
(506) The Bees
In our world the tiny bee,
Is a vital friend to you and me,
For without the bees our food supply,
Would all wither away and die.
The bees go from flower to flower,
And our survival is in their power,
As they pollinate and restore,
Fruit and plant life forevermore.
Bees are a blessing sent,
For our benefit they are meant,
Working tirelessly each day,
May they never go away.
(507) An Owl
It was a cold winter night,
The moon was shining bright,
Reflecting off the snow,
With a cold soft glow.
In the distance I could hear,
An owl hoot loud and clear,
The sound echoed through the trees,
And resounded in the breeze.
A fellow creature wild and free,
Was communicating to me,
And less alone I felt now,
At peace and comforted somehow.
(508) Autumn
Behold the leaves multicolored in the October sun,
With every gust of wind the leaves fall like rain,
It is a melancholy time, though not unpleasant,
As the green departs without much pain.
A golden time of the year is the autumn,
As there is the golden grain and sun,
The golden leaves, and the golden flowers,
And golden moments of reflection for everyone.
Soon the music will stop, 'tis autumn now,
There is a frosty chill in the wind,
But crickets, tree frogs, and katydids still sing,
Loudly and happily they sing, but soon it will end.
The goldenrods waved at me in the wind,
A whole troupe of them did wave,
And I felt gratitude at that moment,
For the blessings that autumn gave.
(509) The Opossum
A creature of the night,
Usually stays out of sight,
Almost never seen by some,
Is the unobtrusive opossum.
It has a knack for playing dead,
The young in a pouch are fed,
Feeds on scraps here and there,
Eats almost any food anywhere.
It has survived since antiquity,
And still lives wild and free,
In the modern world of today,
In its own unique opossum way.
(510) November
No flowers, no bees,
No leaves on the trees,
No beautiful butterflies,
Just cold winds, and gray skies.
No gardens, no warm sun,
No berries for anyone,
No fruit on trees or vines,
But bitter cold weather signs.
No vibrant colors, no green.
Only muted grayish tints seen,
As November has come again,
Hope for spring must begin.
(511) The Chipmunk
A little chipmunk I see,
In the yard running around,
So happy and free,
Running across the ground.
Such optimism it shows,
Such a carefree way,
Like no sadness it knows,
Just to frolic and play.
Great to be like it there,
Happy as the chipmunk appears,
To be without a care,
To have no worries or fears.
(512) The Little Mole
Little mole in the ground,
Digging tunnels all around,
You seldom see the sun,
You don't seem to have much fun.
But maybe you like it down there,
Maybe you don't care,
Digging around in the dark,
Maybe to you it's a lark.
All the bad things up here,
You don't have to fear,
In your tunnel digging away,
May be a good place to stay.
(513) Sing Little Cricket, Sing
Sing little cricket, sing!
Your chirping sure does ring.
You a lot of happiness bring,
As you welcome in the spring.
I miss your chirping all winter long,
It's sad without your song,
I'm glad when spring comes around,
And once again I hear your sound.
It's lonely when you're not here,
In the night to bring cheer,
In winter it's so cold and still,
In the grip of the wintry chill.
(514) The Frosty Morning
It was a frosty morning,
The sun was shining bright,
The air was cool and crisp,
After the chilly night.
No doubt summer was gone,
And the cold was here to stay,
The flowers were all dead,
The bees and butterflies gone away.
But the winter birds were still here,
And the bright blue sky serene,
The trees and grass were agleam,
Amid the splendor of the frosty scene.
(515) The Snow
The snow fell in the night,
And a new world on every hand,
Appeared in the morning light,
Forming a beautiful wonderland.
A snowy landscape everywhere,
As far as the eye could see,
And a freshness in the air,
In a scene of tranquil beauty.
The sunlight glistened off the snow,
On a limb a cardinal sang sublime,
And all around the heavenly glow,
Of a magical moment in time.
(516) The Stream of Life
Life is like a flowing stream,
In an unending dream,
Past memories ebb and flow,
As the waters of life past us go.
Eddies form from day to day,
As life unfolds along the way,
Amid the rocks the waters swirl,
As the stream of life does unfurl.
Looking back in time we see,
Memories until the present be,
How swiftly time does fly,
As the stream of life goes by.
(517) Otter Creek
I was born near Otter Creek,
Where my parents and I used to go,
To fish and have picnics sometimes,
As near our farm it used to flow.
As I remember back to my youth,
I have happy memories of the stream,
And time I spent with my parents there,
Though so long ago it does now seem.
My parents are passed away now,
And I wish I could go just once more,
Back there on Otter Creek again,
Fishing with my parents like before.
(518) The Meteorite
There was a meteorite on our farm,
I remember up the hollow it lay,
A large round reddish colored rock,
And as a child around it used to play.
Sometimes I would at it stare,
Wondering how it traveled so far,
And landed in the woods there,
Imaging how it traveled from a star.
It lay alone in a wooded area,
Like an entity unto itself it dwelt,
And sometimes when I was there,
Near it a sense of peace I felt.
(519) Fieldon Hollow
I remember Fieldon Hollow well,
As our farm was just across the ridge,
Down past the rock quarry,
Just before Otter Creek bridge.
A winding road south of Fieldon, Illinois,
My parents and I would often follow,
And in my memory it was a good feeling,
Coming home down Fieldon Hollow.
As time has passed and I've grown older,
My memories are somewhat less clear,
But Fieldon Hollow is still etched there,
As a pleasant memory I hold dear.
(520) The Nutwood Church
I fondly remember the Nutwood Church,
That my parents and I attended years ago,
Located in the small town of Nutwood, Illinois,
Near where the Illinois River waters flow.
My mother especially loved the church,
And to sing the gospel hymns and pray,
She was a kind and caring person,
Who prayed and read the Bible every day.
I remember with fondness the congregation,
Who attended the church way back then,
As they all seemed a part of my family,
And I wish could go back there in time again.
(521) The Union Forest Church
I remember as a boy I attended,
A church with hills and trees all around,
A true country church near Otterville, Illinois,
The Union Forest Church was hallowed ground.
The sound of gospel music could be heard,
Throughout the hills and hollows nearby,
A cathedral in the woods it was,
Beneath the stars and the bright blue sky.
In my memory back once again I return,
To that place of worship and love,
Where the presence of God seemed near,
And heavenly peace descended from above.
(522) The River Town
I remember from my youth,
A true river town nearby,
The town of Grafton, Illinois,
A beautiful river view for the eye.
Located at the confluence of two rivers,
The Illinois River and the mighty Mississippi,
Grafton is the most unique of towns,
A place of wonderful scenic beauty.
Grafton has the river on one side,
And on the other side bluffs and trees,
It was a fascinating place to visit,
That will always live in my memories.
(523) The Piasa Bird
The legendary Piasa Bird mural,
Depicts a Native American dragon,
On the bluffs along the Mississippi River,
Near Alton, Illinois it is painted on.
When I first saw it as a child,
Viewing it struck fear in my heart,
It appeared such a fearsome creature,
Though it was a beautiful work of art.
The mythical creature was much feared,
And said to be a devourer of men,
That ages ago inhabited the area,
Hopefully it doesn't return once again.
(524) The Jersey County Courthouse
I remember as a small boy,
Viewing with awe at the architecture,
Of the Jersey County, Illinois courthouse,
A beautiful and majestic structure.
Designed in the Romanesque style,
With a tall octagonal cupola atop all,
Terminal towers at the front corners,
And a raised front porch stone wall.
It looked to me like a European castle,
That I had seen in books before,
And every time I went to town,
I looked forward to seeing it once more.
(525) The Carrollton Sale Barn
I will never forget as a small boy,
Of going with my father years ago,
To the Carrollton, Illinois Sale Barn,
And the excitement I was to know.
There was a menagerie of animals,
And it was like heaven for me,
The pigs and cows and horses,
And outside small animals to see.
Outside also were other farm products,
Machinery, hay, and furniture sold,
And in my memory it was a wonderland,
A place of happy memories untold.
(526) The Christmas Tree
What a joy for all to see,
The beautiful Christmas tree,
Decorated with love and care,
To provide a happy festive air.
All the family gathers around,
And all the presents are found,
At the Christmas tree each year,
As it is a place of holiday cheer.
The Christmas tree is a traditional lore,
That all the family does adore,
For happy memories there are made,
That time and age cannot fade.
(527) The Icicles
Icicles hanging from the eaves,
Sparkling radiant in the sunlight,
Forming drip by drip over time,
Like gem stones gleaming bright.
In the moonlight a silvery glow,
In formations of glittering array,
Like stalactites hanging in a cave,
Creating a spectacular display.
The icicles around our homes,
Are crystal clear and pristine,
From freezing and thawing of snow,
Forming a beautiful winter scene.
(528) The Aurora Borealis
The beautiful Aurora Borealis,
A spectacular phenomenon in the night,
As the night sky explodes,
With a dazzling display of light.
We are blessed on earth to view,
Sights to brighten and cheer our heart,
Which help us to cope with life,
And the problems which are our part.
Viewing northern lights in the sky,
And other natural wonders that display,
We find the beauty and grandeur there,
Uplifts our spirit as we go along our way.
(529) The Old Oak Tree
In my yard grows an old oak tree,
Probably a hundred years old or more,
With huge limbs that cover my house,
And it stands right outside my front door.
In summer it provides welcome shade,
And in autumn the leaves are bright red,
It shields my house from the blustery wind,
And from the hot summer sun overhead.
In springtime the green leaves sprout,
And on the limbs the birds perch and sing,
And each day as I awaken and see it there,
A feeling of peace and comfort it does bring.
(530) The Little Chickadee
Upon a tree limb near me,
Sits a small bird called a chickadee,
A friendly little bird often near,
Around my home all seasons here.
They often visit the bird feeders nearby,
Or as I walk in the yard overhead fly,
And they often sit on a limb and sing,
A little song that cheerfully does ring.
Even in cold weather they stay around,
An uplifting sight with snow on the ground,
And sometimes when I feel down or sad,
I see a chickadee and it makes me glad.
(531) Everyday Is A Blessing
I'm thankful for every blessing here below,
For friends I have come to know,
For peace and freedom from pain,
And I'm thankful for the blessed rain.
I'm thankful this morning I awoke once more,
And for the birds singing outside my door,
That the gift of another day is mine,
And that I may still my path in life define.
I'm thankful for the glowing sun,
And for the race I have already run,
Though I may have faltered now and then,
I'm thankful for the blessings that have been.
(532) Music All Around
There is music all around in the forest green,
There is lovely music in every woodland scene,
There is the music of the leaves rustling in the breeze,
There is the music of the rain dripping from the trees.
There is delightful music all day long,
There is the music of the bird's song,
There is the music of the stream that flows,
There is the music of the wind that blows.
There is a musical orchestra all around,
There is a beautiful symphony of sound,
There is a harmonious rythmic sound array,
Which we are blessed to hear each and every day.
(533) Night Gives Way To Dawn
The darkest night will end,
A shattered heart will mend,
And our worst fears will be gone,
Night gives way to dawn.
No matter how long the night,
The daylight will be bright,
And our life will go on,
Night gives way to dawn.
Give not in to despair,
There are people who care,
To the night be not a pawn,
Night gives way to dawn.
(534) Full Moon Shining Down
Full moon shining down,
Illuminating all around,
Casting a soft silvery glow,
On everything below.
Like a vision in a dream,
So unreal it does seem,
Like viewing a fantasy land,
All about on every hand.
The view calms the mind,
A sense of peace we find,
In the heavenly scene,
So beautiful and serene.
(535) The Grand Canyon
Natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon,
Enthrall and awe us with their beauty,
All around us in our spectacular world,
And we are inspired by all that we see.
How fortunate we are to live on earth,
As a part of such grand wonders here,
And to be aware of our existence,
Amidst these magnificent vistas so dear.
Sometimes life can be very difficult,
And we become weary and depressed,
But viewing scenes so beautiful and awesome,
Helps us despite our troubles feel blessed.
(536) The Rocky Mountains
Of the wonders of the world,
The Rocky Mountains rank high,
Towering snow packed peaks,
Reaching far into the sky.
They are an awe inspiring view,
And a fantasy land they seem,
Of grand majestic splendor,
Portraying an artist's lovely dream.
They uplift the human spirit,
And our horizons expand,
Beyond our everyday life,
Unto a beautiful wonderland.
(537) The Redwood Forest
The beautiful redwood forest,
Of two thousand year old trees,
That tower into the sky,
And sway in the breeze.
The magnificent redwood forest,
Of trees that spanned the ages,
Gigantic in size and height,
A masterpiece on earth's stage.
The spectacular redwood forest,
Is an awesome source of delight,
Truly a wonder of the earth,
An uplifting inspirational sight.
(538) The Storms Of Life
The storm is near,
A powerful force,
Dark clouds appear,
As it sets its course.
The lightening flashes,
The thunder roars,
The atmosphere clashes,
Wind blows and rain pours.
In our life we find,
Storms come and go,
For our peace of mind,
Comfort in our faith we know.
(539) The Yellow Warbler
Years ago I remember I heard,
Lovely sound like never heard before,
As I awakened to the song of a bird,
Singing just outside my front door.
At first I thought it was a dream,
For so beautiful it did sing,
From a dream or paradise it did seem,
Not of this world could such beauty ring.
Then from my doorway I did spy,
A tiny yellow warbler bird in the tree,
Which suddenly then away did fly,
After singing a heavenly song for me.
(540) The Stars Appear
At the end of day,
The sun goes away,
But to calm our fear,
The stars appear.
A stormy night,
May have no light,
But when clouds clear,
The stars appear.
When life has woe,
And sorrow we know,
Then above we peer,
The stars appear.
(541) The Harbor Lights
Some wayward vessel comes this way,
Lost in the darkness far from shore,
The lights may guide them safely to the bay,
And they may wander sad and lonely no more.
Cast a light upon the dark sea,
Someone lost may be wandering there,
And the light of your loving-kindness may see,
And may know that someone for them does care.
Our lives here on this earthly plane,
Were meant to be lived in love and caring,
In helping others and easing pain,
And in giving, ministering, and sharing.
(542) The Honey Bee
The tiny overlooked honey bee,
Is essential to you and me,
For the pollinator work they do,
And the honey they produce too.
They are busy day and night,
Often working out of sight,
Doing their part to help us all,
From spring to summer into fall.
In the world's grand scheme,
The bee a little creature may seem,
But when all is said and done,
The honey bee is vital to everyone.
(543) The Little Fawn
I once saw a beautiful little fawn,
Playing about in a field nearby,
It was shortly after the dawn,
The sun just rising in the sky.
The fawn was running all around,
As the mother deer watched it play,
So gleefully it did jump and bound,
In youthful jubilance that day.
Watching the fawn was an idyllic sight,
The fawn had such joy for being alive,
As it played in the early morning light,
Peace from the blissful scene I did derive.
(544) Mushroom Hunting Time
It's mushroom hunting time once more,
To search the hills and hollows like before,
As every spring the mushrooms pop out,
And whole families go searching all about.
Where one morel mushroom is found,
There are probably many more all around,
And every spring it is a lot of fun,
To go out looking for another one.
The delicious mushrooms taste great,
And all the people can hardly wait,
For spring to arrive again every year,
When it is mushroom hunting time here.
(545) Blossom Time
It is that wonderful time of the year,
The blossom season is here,
And joyfulness is in every sight,
As everything turns green and bright.
Though every season has its charm,
Spring is when the blossoms form,
And there is a freshness is in the air,
As blossoms are blooming everywhere.
It is good to see the spring showers,
And the beautiful spring flowers,
To hear the frogs croak and insects sing,
In the blossom time of the spring.
(546) My Prayer For You
Comfort when you are sad,
Smiles when days are bad,
Rainbows after storms strong,
Laughter when things go wrong;
Sunsets to cheer your heart,
Peace when plans fall apart,
Sunshine to brighten you way,
Beauty for you to see each day;
Confidence when doubts form,
Love to shield you from harm,
Courage to achieve your goal,
Hope when troubles take a toll.
(547) When The Dogwoods Bloom
Every spring when the dogwoods bloom,
Memories of my youth return again,
And tears of sadness come to my eyes,
Of thoughts of happy times back then.
In spring blooms of dogwoods fill the woods,
And blooms of redbuds and bluebells too,
A beautiful kaleidoscope of color everywhere,
A rainbow of green, white, pink, and blue.
Each spring in the wonderful blooming season,
The memories come flooding back to me,
Of loved ones who are passed away now,
But peace I feel when the dogwoods I see.
(548) The Mayapples
It is mayapples time of the year,
As every spring they appear,
In wooded patches growing away,
During the merry month of may.
The plants with large green leaves,
Were part of my childhood memories,
Inhabiting a cool shady forest glade,
Where as a boy I sometimes played.
Now when the mayapples I see,
The memories come back to me,
A happy memories treasure trove,
Of years ago in a wooded grove.
(549) The Forest
I have always felt an affinity,
For the beautiful forest,
As a place of tranquility.
Beneath the canopy of trees,
Towering majestically above,
I felt peace in the cool breeze.
With the forest creatures around,
I always enjoyed their presence,
And the pleasant songs and sound.
The forest has always been,
A place to calm my thoughts,
And find my serenity again.
(550) The Peonies
My mother loved the beautiful peonies,
That bloomed in our yard back then,
Year after year the flowers bloomed,
They always bloomed each spring again.
I remember them from my childhood,
And how happy my mother seemed,
To see the peonies blooming once more,
And how lovely the flowers gleamed.
My mother has been gone years now,
And I still miss her very much every day,
But my precious memories of my mother,
And the peonies will never go away.
(551) The Redbuds Blooming Time
It is the redbuds blooming time,
In the woods everywhere,
In the springtime of the year,
And happiness is in the air.
The birds are singing cheerfully,
The bees are buzzing in the trees,
The landscape is turning green,
And excitement is in the breeze.
The long winter is finally over,
And the warm sun is shining bright,
The lovely pink redbud blossoms,
Are a beautiful and joyful sight.
(552) My Mother's Garden
My mother loved her garden,
Growing vegetables and flowers too,
And she enjoyed time spent there,
It was something she loved to do.
As a child I have fond memories,
Of being with my mother back then,
In our garden so many years ago,
And wish I could be there again.
My mother has been gone awhile,
And memories return each spring,
Of my mother planting her garden,
And some tears the memories bring.
(553) The First Bluebird Of Spring
The first bluebird of spring,
Is a very auspicious thing,
And always a good omen for me,
A hopeful sign for one to see.
After the winter long and cold,
Hopes rise as spring does unfold,
And then the bluebird does appear,
A feeling of optimism also is here.
The leaves are green on the trees,
The blossoms blooming in the breeze,
Bees and butterflies again are found,
And behold the bluebird is back around.
(554) The Irises
Irises bloom year after Year,
Every spring irises reappear,
They are perennial flowers,
Returning like nightly stars.
Things often change around,
And are no longer found,
Our life quickly goes by,
And our loved ones die.
Beautiful irises though never,
Cease flowering again ever,
But yearly once more bloom,
Helping take away our gloom.
(555) The Daylilies
It's summertime of the year,
And the daylilies are here,
Even along the highways,
Their blooms brighten our days.
The colorful orange flowers,
Each day brightens our hours,
The blooms close up at night,
And every day open up bright.
On days when we feel low,
They uplift us with their glow,
They are a summer treasure,
Providing cheer without measure.
(556) The Yucca
Behold the beautiful yucca plant,
And its spectacular flower,
That adorns our summer days,
Glowing brightly like a star.
A lovely summer ornament,
A wondrous cheerful display,
That beautifies our yard,
And brightens up our day.
The decorative yucca,
A plant of glorious beauty,
Is a source of enjoyment,
A gorgeous sight to see.
(557) The Rain
I have always loved the rain,
The sound, the fresh smell,
As it falls upon the plain.
The rain is a peaceful sound,
So pleasant and soothing,
Falling upon plants and ground.
Rain is a blessing to us all,
A miraculous phenomenon,
That over earth does fall.
Each time I hear the thunder,
And see the falling rain,
I am filled with awe and wonder.
(558) The Wind
A powerful force is the wind,
Other times a gentle breeze,
Causes trees to sway and bend.
On a hot and humid day,
The wind is a welcome friend,
To help take the heat away.
I often look into the sky,
As I feel the wind on my brow,
As the clouds go drifting by.
The wind is sometimes still,
And sometimes rises and falls,
As it blows from valley to hill.
The sound of the wind whines,
And eerily whispers and wails,
As it stirs through the pines.
During a storm the wind roars,
Like an angry enraged beast,
As waves pound upon the shores.
(559) The Sun
I love the warm sunlight,
As it shines upon my face,
So comforting and bright.
In winter the sun seems far away,
And the warmth more sparse,
But summer brings a warmer day.
The sun gives birth to daybreak,
And an end to the darkness,
As to the morning we awake.
The sun is our heavenly friend,
Without it darkness would prevail,
And the night would not end.
(560) The Clouds
I love viewing the clouds in the sky,
And the various shapes that form,
As the fluffy white clouds pass by.
Against a blue sky background,
The clouds are beautiful to view,
As different cloud images are found.
I also find peaceful a cloudy day,
When everything is silent and still,
And the cloud cover over all is gray.
Also darker clouds appear in a storm,
And they bring the blessing of rain.
A natural miracle that clouds perform.
(561) The Moon
I have always been fascinated by the moon,
Since my childhood it has enthralled me,
Hanging in the night sky like a giant balloon.
An object of enchantment and dreams,
The heavenly body nearest to earth,
The moon a mysterious world it seems.
There is something eerie about the moonlight,
As it transforms the landscape all about,
Into a ethereal dreamland in the night.
The soft moonlight shining all around,
A feeling of comfort seems to convey,
As it casts its silvery light on the ground.
(562) The Light of Dawn
There is no other time like the dawn.
The breaking of day and end of night,
When the last of the darkness is gone.
Nights are long and darkness holds sway,
But when the daylight finally is here,
Then all the darkness must go away.
So it is with the tribulations we endure,
That when it appears there is no hope,
Like the dawn hope appears once more.
Never give in to the darkness all around,
For dawn awaits us if we hold fast,
And the light of day will again be found.
(563) Honoring The Flag
I Honor the flag of my native land,
The United States of America,
The republic for which it does stand.
A great nation I'm proud my home to call,
Represented by the red, white and blue,
Dedicated to liberty and justice for all.
May the stars and stripes fly forever,
In honor of the brave who served,
That we would lose our freedom never.
The flag is a symbolic representation,
Of all America from sea to shining sea,
The sacred emblem of our nation.
(564) The Blue Sky Above
I love looking into the deep blue sky,
A feeling of peace comes over me,
As I gaze into the blue depths on high,
I feel a sense of spiritual serenity.
As into the clear blue sky I peer,
Over my being contentment flows,
My worries and troubles disappear,
And my feelings and thoughts compose.
All our lives we have the blue sky above,
A canopy of beauty draped over all,
A vision of hopefulness and love,
Giving us happy memories we recall.
(565) The Evening Shadows
At the ending of the day,
By the dimming evening light,
The evening shadows display,
At the beginning of night.
Time itself seems to slow,
Sound tends to lose its din,
Even the wind ceases to blow,
As the darkness starts to begin.
We tend to feel a peace,
A calmness comes over all,
Day's stir begins to cease,
As night begins to fall.
(566) A Scenic View
I love a beautiful scenic view,
A view so peaceful and relaxing,
Improving our outlook on life anew.
Life can be sometimes distressing,
And we encounter some difficulties,
But a scenic view is so refreshing.
A scenic view is a pleasant balm,
Helping to compose our thoughts,
And find a happy place of calm.
As we travel this life's highway,
Viewing such a beautiful horizon,
Delightfully brightens up our day.
(567) Into The Unknown
We travel daily into the unknown,
We cannot see what lies ahead,
Only the present to us is shown.
To this point in time we have come,
With many sights along the way,
And memories of where we came from.
But ahead the dark unknown dwells,
We cannot see beyond the veil,
No vision the future to us tells.
For comfort we trust in God above,
That whatever awaits us up ahead,
We have hope and faith in God's love.
(568) Ring Around The Moon
Ring around the moon,
A sign of a storm soon,
My father used to say,
There is rain on the way.
I didn't know it then,
How wise he had been,
Memories of long ago,
Return the older I grow.
Of life he understood,
The signs bad and good,
Always seemed to know,
Which way one should go.
(569) The Highway of Life
The highway of life,
Has many twists and turns,
With hills and valleys,
The highway onward churns.
Sometimes the going is bad,
With a rough road ahead,
Other times the road is smooth,
And travel is good instead.
The scenery along the way,
Is often enjoyable to view,
Even though we get weary,
There is always something new.
(570) Old Houses and Barns
Sights of the rural scenes,
Bring memories of long ago,
As I drive the countryside,
Thoughts of my youth flow.
My mind goes back in time,
A child on the farm I dwelt,
Old houses and barns,
Help me recall what I felt.
Old houses and barns,
Bring back the memory,
Of many years gone by,
Of how life used to be.
(571) I Believe In Bridges
I believe in bridges,
That span the divide,
That we can cross over,
Safely to the other side.
Though great the chasm,
We can come together,
And abide peacefully,
In accord with one another.
Bridges help us unite,
With the opposite side,
Find a common ground,
Where hope does abide.
(572) The Full Harvest Moon
Behold in all its splendor,
The Full Harvest Moon
Shining brightly down,
End of summer so soon.
The crops are ripe now,
And ready for the harvest,
The fruits are ready to pick,
And the garden at its best.
Winter is on the way,
It is time to gather all,
In this beautiful season,
As we enter into fall.
(573) Refuge Of The Spirit
Some places on the earth,
Are a refuge of the spirit,
Are a quiet serene haven,
With peacefulness near it.
When troubles assail us,
And we need a safe abode,
We seek a calm hideaway,
To lighten our crushing load.
A beautiful natural sanctuary,
Is a port of serene repose,
Helps us find our mooring,
And our thoughts compose.
(574) Hallowed Ground
Sometimes we come upon a scene,
So beautiful in appearance found,
In which the very air seems sacred,
That we sense is hallowed ground.
The awesome view is so spectacular,
That we feel a spiritual veneration,
The sight is so incredibly breathtaking,
And a source of wonder and inspiration.
The amazing scene for years afterward,
May remain a pleasant part of memory,
Such sights seem to have the power,
Of uplifting us ever after with their beauty.
(575) Out On The Ledge
There are times in life,
We stand on the edge,
At the steep precipice,
Posed out on the ledge.
As we travel our pathway,
We may stand at the brink,
Looking down at the abyss,
With no way out we think.
But with courage and faith,
We may safely prevail,
And traverse the steep cliffs,
We encounter without fail.
(576) Butterflies Symbolize Hope
Butterflies symbolize hope,
They also symbolize rebirth,
And new purpose in life,
In our sojourn on this earth.
More than capturing hearts,
They are an inspiration,
A symbol of resurrection,
And of beautiful transformation.
Sometimes when depressed,
And we feel unhappy or sad,
Then we see a lovely butterfly,
And we feel happy and glad.
(577) Beautiful Autumn Season
The beautiful autumn season,
Of clear blue skies so fine,
With brightly colored leaves,
And pumpkins ripe on the vine.
After the heat of summer,
The cool crisp night air,
Is a welcome relief for all,
With beauty everywhere.
Leaves are falling down,
Blown about by the wind,
In this season of change,
A pleasant time we find.
(578) The Fall Color Show
The fall color show has begun,
Everywhere the colors display,
A rainbow of brilliant colors,
Across the landscape every day.
All throughout the fall season,
We are spectators of fall's story,
The trees and bushes ablaze,
With a panorama of color glory.
At the glorious fall season height,
We are enthralled by the scene,
The leaves glistening in the sun,
Are a pleasant delight to everyone.
(579) The First Frost
Summer comes, and summer goes,
Something that everyone knows,
That someday green will be lost,
And one day will come the frost.
Out of the north the cold does come,
A time of sadness it is for some,
As the flowers and leaves are gone,
But our life continues to go on.
The frost glistens in the morning sun,
There is beauty still for everyone,
The frost severs the leaf and flower,
The ice crystals now steal the hour.
(580) You Didn't Know!
Yesterday I was feeling low,
But you didn't know,
Your kind words helped me through,
And I no longer feel so blue.
I felt like I had no place to go,
But you didn't know,
Still you made life seem not so bad,
And for that I'm really glad.
Sometimes when the world seems grim,
And our troubles flow over the brim,
Someone's kind words may help us so,
Even though they may never know.
(581) The Old Red Barn
I remember the old red barn,
From my childhood years ago,
Back then on my parents farm,
Happy memories I did know.
In the hot summers I recall,
Up in the barn loft storing hay,
Then going to the nearby spring,
To rest and take my thirst away.
In winter we fed the cows there,
And spread the hay in the snow,
The cattle would come and eat,
As the cold winter wind did blow.
(582) Autumn Picturesque Tranquility
Autumn picturesque tranquility,
A blessing for you and me,
During this beautiful time of year,
Everywhere our eyes do peer.
The colors reflecting off the lake,
As a pleasant walk we take,
Refreshing is the autumn air,
This colorful season is so fair.
A sense of peace is all around,
In every autumn sight and sound,
In the leaves falling from the trees,
And flying about in the breeze.
(583) Fantasy Winter Scene
Enveloped in the snow,
A fantasy scene unfolds,
A view unlike any other,
That our sight beholds.
In the realm of dreams,
Or visions from afar,
Light and snow combine,
To form a glittering star.
Under snow laden trees,
A stream of water flows,
In a misty cave like setting,
The shimmering light glows.
(584) The Hummingbird
A tiny flash of colorful light,
Darting from flower to flower,
Hovering in midair in flight,
The hummingbird is a star.
In the region of blissfulness,
Of elysian enchantment flair,
A state of wonderful happiness,
The hummingbird dancing in air.
Perfect contentment it gives,
As we watch it fly each day,
As if in a fantasy land it lives,
The hummingbird does play.
(585) Winter Wonderland
The world is transformed overnight,
To a fantasy land of glorious white,
Snow the trees and bushes adorning,
To a winter wonderland in the morning.
So fresh and pristine is the scene,
Everything has a beautiful sheen,
As if taken from a holiday postcard,
Nature truly in harmonious accord.
Such is the winter season of delight,
When all the world is shining bright,
No more scenes of dark and gray,
The snow takes the bleakness away.
(586) The Golden Sunrise
The golden morning light,
After the cold winter night,
Shining with a golden glow,
Reflecting off the fallen snow.
The night was long and cold,
But morning is glorious gold,
Shimmering in radiant array,
Taking all our sadness away.
So it is when troubles assail,
We find refuge without fail,
Beholding the golden dawn,
And all our worries are gone.
(587) Purple Sunset
At the close of a winter day,
The setting sun going down,
Reflecting off the fallen snow,
A purple splendor all around.
In the foreground a mighty oak,
Stands amidst the winter scene,
In the background a purple haze,
Drapes over all that can be seen.
Time itself seems to suspend,
Amid the beautiful visual sight,
As the winter day does end,
And the world drifts into night.
(588) Heaven's Stairway
Some sunsets are so beautiful,
They look like heaven's stairway,
And as in awe we look at them,
All our cares seem to go away.
A calm sense of peace we feel,
As the lovely sunset we view,
Our burdens are lifted from us,
And we view the world anew.
Our thoughts find a harmony,
Our stresses and anxieties depart,
As we view the distant horizon,
And a tranquillity fills our heart.
(589) Soaring Eagle
Soaring eagle flying high,
In the glowing evening sky,
Soaring free in the breeze,
Above the water and trees.
At the close of the day,
The eagle is flying away,
To its roost for the night,
In the radiant evening light.
The eagle seems in repose,
As through the air it flows,
At one with the sky and air,
Serenely flying without a care.
(590) Winter Sunset
Winter sunset that we see,
Standing alone a cedar tree,
Beneath a clouded sky,
A masterpiece for the eye.
Reflecting off the snow,
The clouds seem to glow,
And in the midst of it all,
A cedar tree standing tall.
A lovely scene it does display,
That takes our breath away,
A sight of beautiful nature's art,
That captivates our heart.
(591) Glowing Winter Sunset
Glowing brightly the evening sky,
A dazzling picture for the eye,
Resplendent beauty on display,
That takes our breath away.
The clouds illuminated on high,
All ablaze in the gleaming sky,
The brilliant scene cheers our heart,
And all our troubles seem to depart.
At end of day a pleasant sight,
Brightly radiant in the waning light,
A tranquil scene for one to view,
When the winter day is through.
(592) The Milky Way Galaxy
Up above in the night sky,
Is the great Milky Way Galaxy,
The home of our solar system,
And many sparkling stars we see.
We are part of a universe,
Of vastness incomprehensible,
Beyond the realm of imagination,
A creation that is so incredible.
A sense of peace we feel,
As we gaze into the night.
The beautiful stars on high,
Are sources of heavenly light.
(593) The Mighty Mississippi River
The Mighty Mississippi River,
Flowing in America's heartland,
From Minnesota to the Gulf.
Truly a river that is most grand,
Whose waters pass through,
A beautiful shore on every hand.
Since the founding of our nation,
The Mississippi River has blessed,
The people who live in our country.
Of all America's rivers, it is the greatest,
A source of water and commerce,
And divide between east and west.
(594) Pleasant Reflections
My thoughts go back to moments in spring,
To birds sitting on a limb that sing,
To blue skies on crisp autumn days,
To sunlight that on the ground plays,
To snow pure and sparkling in the sun,
To refreshing smells after rain is done,
To warm summer skies radiant and blue,
To lovely sunsets when day is through,
To beautiful flowers that in the garden grow,
To glistening grass in the dawn's glow,
To the reflection of a stream in sunlight,
To a sparkling stars shining in the night.
(595) A Scene Within A Dream
Some sights seem too beautiful to be real,
They must surely be a scene within a dream,
For how could such wonder and awe we feel,
When viewing scenes that so idyllic seem.
The conscious mind is totally spellbound,
By an entrancing view that is so entralling,
And momentarily a spiritual realm is found,
As we view a beautiful sight so beguiling.
We are blessed on earth such sights to find,
That are truly mesmerizing and captivating,
And that bring joy and peace to our mind,
And that our hearts find blissfully fascinating.
(596) Down A Country Lane
Down a country lane,
Memories return to me,
Of my youth on the farm,
With every view I see.
The woods along the side,
Bring peace to my mind,
With every turn of the road,
Pleasant memories I find.
The golden sunlight glows,
As I travel along the way,
I feel serenity all around,
And harmony fills my day.
(597) The Seasons
Each season has its glory,
The winter has the snow,
Each season tells a story,
In spring the flowers grow.
In summer there's the green,
And warm weather day and night,
In fall bright colors are seen,
As the leaves are a beautiful sight.
Sometimes winter is a bit too cold,
Sometimes summer is a bit too hot,
But as each season does unfold,
Something wonderful each has got.
(598) A Forest Stream
A quiet refuge of the soul,
A peaceful forest stream,
Hidden among the trees,
Flowing like in a dream.
Leaving the outside world,
To a place of tranquility go,
Listening to pleasant sound,
Of the trickling water flow.
A paradise in nature's realm,
To renew our spirit and hope,
Where we can pass restful time,
To help with our problems cope.
(599) Misty Morning
I walked into the misty grove,
The leaves were dripping with the dew,
The birds were singing cheerfully,
On this misty morning bright and new.
A peacefulness enveloped me,
As the golden sun shined above,
And filtered through the trees,
I felt a sense of hope and love.
(600) The Dawn of a New Day
There is a magic, a wondrous feeling,
Which attends the dawn of each new day,
And those first faint rays of the rising sun,
Always seem to beam new anticipation,
And hope into our heart in a serene way.
The beautiful rays of the morning light,
Seem to buoy our spirits somehow,
Though the day before we were down,
A new hopefulness and purpose is found,
And we feel much more at peace now.
(601) The Wonders of Life
The wonders of life are uncharted and unlimited,
The living have the stars within their purview,
Life is a treasure whose value is inestimable,
A diamond of luster too brilliant to fully construe.
We awake each morning to a new promise,
God reveals to us life's beauty and majesty,
As a window is opened for our heart and soul,
Revealing a marvelous scene for us to see.
We have been given the gift of comprehension,
Beyond the realm of fantasy and infatuation,
All of beautiful creation is shown to us each day,
The wonders of life are beyond our imagination.
(602) The Crocus And The Bee
The crocus flowers bloom,
Very early in the spring,
After the long cold winter,
A bright color they bring.
Bees are happy to see them,
The first flowers of the year,
After winter's lack of flowers,
To bees crocuses are dear.
Warmer days have arrived,
Buds are forming on trees,
The days are longer now,
Back are crocuses and bees.
(603) Supernova
A star flashing in the night,
Bursting into an array of light,
Ten thousand light years away,
What a spectacular display!
The universe staging a show,
Forming a magnificent glow,
A moment in time's scheme,
That seems almost a dream.
Such a wonder for us to see,
Looking into the dark mystery,
Of the distant stars in space,
From this our earthly place.
(604) The Spring Flowers
The tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils,
Are blooming in the valleys and hills,
On this beautiful spring day,
And have chased all my gloom away.
It's spring, and warm weather is here,
And time for unhappiness to disappear,
Now that the winter chill has gone,
Hope and love for life live on
The bright, cheerful spring flowers,
That I fondly gaze upon for hours,
Make me feel so happy and glad,
No more do I feel forlorn and sad.
(605) The Spring Showers
The spring showers are priceless,
They bring out the buds and flowers,
They turn the grass a bright green,
So wonderful are the spring showers.
After the long cold winter season,
The sun shines warmly all around,
Everything comes back to life again,
As the spring showers wet the ground.
After the spring showers have fallen,
The air is so fresh and sky so clear,
Our spirits are lifted by the season,
Of the beautiful springtime of the year.
(606) The Sun
The sun rises each morning,
And gives us life giving light,
Without the sun we would plunge,
Into a world of eternal night.
Not only light, but warmth,
Comes from the sun's golden rays,
All around our world brightly shines,
Lighting up our earthly days.
In the evening the sun goes down,
Leaving us in darkness until dawn,
And each morning of life we awake,
To the sunshine and darkness gone.
(607) A Forest Brook
A secluded forest brook,
Flowing beneath a canopy,
Of trees, vines and bushes,
Is a heavenly place to be.
A freshness is in the air,
The wildflowers grow near,
And the wilderness animals,
And birds and bees are here.
It is a serene peaceful place,
From noise and turmoil apart,
Where a person may find,
Composure for one's heart.
(608) Where The Wild Rose Grows
There is a place dear to me,
Where the wild rose grows,
Beneath the old oak tree,
Where the little stream flows.
Quiet moments spent there,
Viewing the beauty around,
In midst of a scene so fair,
A sense of peace I've found.
The sounds of singing birds,
And nearby flowing stream,
A serenity beyond words,
Are like a wonderful dream.
(609) A Mountain Plateau
Behold a mountain plateau
Where the wildflowers grow,
The sun does brightly glow,
As the mountain winds blow.
Our spirits rise at the sight,
In the beautiful natural light,
Our outlook is more bright,
As our woes take their flight.
Life has its troubles galore,
And hardships we endure,
Thus we value much more,
Lovely sights that we adore.
(610) The Winds Of Change
In spring the warm winds blow,
Bringing forth summer in June,
In fall the colder winds we know,
Will usher in the winter soon.
So it is in our earthly sojourn,
The winds of our youth are near,
And we bask in our life's morn,
But then the winds of age appear.
We can't stop what time brings,
And the inevitable winds of change,
It is part of the scheme of things,
We must for this our lives arrange.
(611) The Road Of Life
As we travel down life's highway,
We are always looking ahead,
Hoping for a much brighter day,
And better outcomes instead.
The road of life has many turns,
And can be difficult to navigate,
It is a highway that often churns,
Between a happy and sad state.
Sometime the sights are bright,
Other times darker views appear,
Hopefully everything will be alright,
As we our future destination near.
(612) Misty Grove
I walked into the misty grove,
The leaves were dripping with the dew,
The birds were singing cheerfully,
On this misty morning bright and new.
The spring blossoms all in bloom,
Glistening in the morning light,
A pleasant scene in bright array,
Too soon I had to leave the sight.
For time moves swiftly on in life,
Scenes like this are fleeting and rare,
So one must enjoy the moment,
While the beauty is still there.
(613) Purple Sunset
Across the waters of the sea,
The purple sunset came to be,
A moment in the purple sky,
A beautiful sight for the eye.
As the evening curtain falls,
And the night soon befalls,
A lovely purple sunset sight,
Illuminates the evening light.
Our time on earth is brief,
With some sadness and grief,
But a purple sunset so rare,
Does take away every care.
(614) Autumn Leaves
Brightly colored autumn leaves all around,
On the trees and falling on the ground,
Forming a beautifully colored landscape,
And a lovely sequestered place to escape.
With every gust of wind the leaves descend,
Landing in abundance on the ground to blend,
Into a gorgeous autumn scene everywhere,
A heavenly dreamlike vision appears there.
There are moments in life we hold dear,
And the colorful autumn leaves we revere,
As they fall all about on an autumn day,
And in their beauty take our cares away.
(615) The Fall Season
The fall season is here,
The harvest time of year,
Leaves fall from the trees,
And blow about in the breeze.
Brightly colored leaves are seen,
In every beautiful country scene,
And every street and yard too,
Providing a lovely delightful view.
There is a chilliness in the wind,
As the the fall season nears its end,
Longer is night and shorter the day,
As the warm weather goes away.
(616) Fantasyland
Some views seem not quite real,
Beyond the realm of possible seem,
Like part of a fantasyland they feel,
Or a scene of something in a dream.
When we come upon such a sight,
We have a feeling of peace and awe,
Everything appears in heavenly light,
And we are in wonder at what we saw.
A sense of being transported far away,
To some paradise beyond the now,
And for a brief moment in time we stay,
Enthralled by the beautiful scene somehow.
(617) From Dusk To Dawn
It was the end of day,
The sun was going away,
In the waning light,
Dusk gave way to night.
From the dusk to dawn,
The sunlight will be gone,
As we see the setting sun,
Descend below the horizon.
There is no reason to fear,
When the dusk does appear,
For with dawn will arise,
The sun to morning skies.
(618) Goldie
Goldie was my childhood friend,
Came walking up the road one day,
Barely more than a puppy then,
Dad said that she could stay.
As a hunting dog she was great,
She looked to be a redbone hound,
Who for hunting could hardly wait,
But more than that a friend I found.
Memories of Goldie are with me still,
From my farm boyhood long ago,
My companion over vale and hill,
She was a wonderful dog to know.
(619) Grandpa's Pet Squirrel
My grandfather Westfall loved animals,
And my father said he had a special way,
Of communicating with animals of all kinds,
Even wild animals he would feed and play.
My grandfather had a pet wild squirrel,
Who would enter the house and eat,
Climb up on my grandpa's lap at times,
And he would give the squirrel a treat.
He even cut a little hole in the door,
So the squirrel could come on inside,
And the children would gather to watch,
As grandpa did nuts the squirrel provide.
(620) Grandpa's Pet Ferret
My grandfather Westfall had a pet ferret,
And when rabbit hunting trips he went,
He put the ferret in the pocket of his coat,
And into the rabbit hole the ferret he sent.
The ferret would chase rabbits from holes,
And from brush plies and hiding places,
The ferret was a smart and agile little pet,
Who was able to enter very small spaces.
The ferret also lived in the family home,
My father said it was not caged away,
But the ferret ran freely all about the house,
And was very friendly and liked to play.
(621) Gathering Memories
Life is the gathering of memories,
Some are stored from long ago,
In the dim recesses of the mind,
Who we are and what we know.
Why we remember some things,
And tend to forget so much more,
Is one of life's greatest mysteries,
Recollection is a mystery for sure.
Memories are from many sources,
Gathered all along life's highway,
From friends and family members,
To our surroundings of each day.
(622) The Substance of Thoughts
The substance of thoughts is unknown,
Not a physical entity that is shown,
They are not in the world we behold,
Not something we can see or enfold.
But thoughts have transformed earth more,
They have built cities and objects galore,
They are not visual like a rock or tree,
They are an invisible unfathomable mystery.
Thoughts seem very real within our mind,
But they are not something we can literally find,
Thoughts portray the light of existence each day,
If thoughts disappear then darkness holds sway.
(623) A Fallen Log
An old fallen log in the forest,
A part of the forest scene,
Partially covered with moss,
Once a tree living and green.
I recall fallen logs from my youth,
From the woods on our farm nearby,
I would often sit on the fallen logs,
From them watch clouds in the sky.
Often my memories go back in time,
And I see fallen logs in my dreams,
They were part of my life back then,
And part of my memories it seems.
(624) An Ethereal Vista
An ethereal vista in the waning light,
So radiant and glowing bright,
Does from a fantasy world seem,
Or from some wonderful dream.
Wispy reddish clouds drift by,
In the gossamer evening sky,
Reflecting in a dazzling display,
On the misty waters of the bay.
A spiritual awe envelopes the view,
An intangible peace it does imbue,
A supernatural presence seems near,
As the burdens of life disappear.
(625) A little Rivulet
In the back woods runs a rivulet,
A small stream in seclusion set,
By the forest trees hidden away,
Trickling over the rocks each day.
In spring the first flowers grow near,
In summer lush foliage does appear,
In fall the fallen leaves line its shore,
And drift about in its waters even more.
In winter there is the ice and snow,
As the cold winter winds over it blow,
But ever onward flows the little stream,
Like a beautiful part of a happy dream.
(626) Heavenly Light
Heavenly light shined from above,
Down through the trees with love,
The bright glow of heavenly light,
Transformed the view of my sight.
A sense of peace came over me,
And a calm feeling of tranquillity,
Here in the forest brightly gleamed,
A serenity that like heaven seemed.
All my troubles and woes went away,
And I felt hopeful of a better day,
Sometimes we are permitted to view,
Scenes that our heart and soul renew.
(627) Groundhog Day
It is Groundhog Day once again,
In his hole the groundhog has been,
But today he comes out to see,
What kind of weather it may be.
The old saying is if he sees his shadow,
Six more weeks of winter we'll know,
If the groundhog does not see anything,
There will then be an early spring.
Forecasting the weather he has a knack,
Then to his hole the groundhog goes back,
Many Groundhog Days I have seen,
And observed the seasons in between.
(628) Beautiful Waterfall
In the sanctuary of the forest,
Unfolds a hallowed scene,
Beneath the towering trees,
A beautiful waterfall is seen.
Flowing in pristine beauty,
In the forest hidden away,
The rush of water flows,
In a spectacular display.
In a lovely natural haven,
Secluded away from all,
In the wilderness flows,
A magnificent waterfall.
(629)% Mystical Sunrise
Mystical sunrise in the forest,
On a misty morning this day,
The sun just beginning to rise,
As the day gets underway.
Every day begins with promise,
And a hopeful future holds,
As we awake to morning light,
And the day ahead unfolds.
A beautiful scene like this,
Enhances an optimistic view,
As we embark each morning,
On the days of our life anew.
(630) How Swiftly Rainbows Go Away
How Swiftly rainbows go away,
How brief childhood does fly,
Was but the shadow of a day,
But I remember as time goes by;
Was so like a springtime shower,
An instant in eternity,
The glimpse of a falling star,
But still the joy it gave to me;
Was like a linnet on the wing,
Was like a snowflake from the sky,
Like a far away bell's brief ring,
Like light reflecting in one's eye.
(631) A Child's Prayer
Childlike he spoke,
Simple enough were his words,
But he through the clouds broke
With sweeter music than birds.
Heaven above
At children must surely smile,
Their heart so full of love
Dwells with angels for a while.
Wisdom so clear
Comes from children lips so tender.
Unto them God is near,
All His love to them does render.
(632) The House Of Doom
Toxic was the very air,
And surrounded with gloom,
As it stood in solitude,
The malevolent house of doom.
Death was everywhere,
Evil lurked within the walls,
Terror at the sight of it,
And horror stalked the halls.
No mortal could long endure,
The dark presence around,
Fears of something sinister,
Permeated every sight and sound.
(633) By The Stream
I came upon her sitting by the stream,
In the evening cool like a dream,
Sitting there without a sound,
Making blessed the ground.
There a holy place she made
Which after her stayed.
Her presence made all there
To be things more than fair.
I watched her as one might a star,
Worshiping from afar.
Just seeing her was delight.
She was joy to my sight.
(634) Happiness Is
Happiness is a bird that flies in the sky.
It is a word spoken by someone we love.
Happiness is a flower covered with early morning dew.
It is a child who says, "I love you."
Happiness is a window looking at the sky.
It is a place to rest and maybe sigh.
Happiness is loneliness melted by a smile.
It is a heart too obdurate and willful grown mellow after a while.
Happiness is cold and damp made warm by someone dear.
It is the feeling that someone who cares is near.
Finally happiness is what in ourselves we find,
When we seek to give it to others and are kind.