VERSIFIER (To my Husband)

"You say you have no style for poetry."

Do you know you write each day

A lovely poem formed through your kindness

Of the love words you would say.

That bouquet you bought this morning

Full of beauty, color, shade

Brought its cheer with tender rhythm

Thoughtfulness ... a rich brocade.

Yes! you write me poems of beauty

Words and deeds blend each a part

In the beauteous songs of gladness

That transforms both mind and heart.

INSPIRATION

A little bird poured out his soul in song
Not knowing its melody sweet and strong ...
Reached a child who was ill, making him smile ...
Or that an old man who listened awhile ...
Was cheered, resolving to fight life anew ...
Just as the bird lifted his wings and flew ...
He perched on a bough some distance away ...
So unaware of hope he gave that day ...
God's messengers of song play a big part ...
In aiding young and old to take new heart.

MEMORIAL

She unlocked the door of his tool-shed

She took a spade and hoe ...

A rake - and a ball of twine ...

To measure the garden row.

She brought none of his skill to the gardening

Just a poignantly awkward grace ...

But never, since the day he died ...

Have I seen such peace in her face.

LAST NIGHT I DIED

Last night I died!

My soul in poignancy detached from earthy ties.

Last night eternity seemed something tangible, something I had known

all along but could not define.

Eternity - winging through hazy recollections of beautiful dream clouds of fantasy, drifting on and on serenely,

endless in space - hearing soft fluttering whispers

of the night, whisperings of love, of happiness and peace.

Beautiful longings - crystalizing into life's sublime ultimatum

soaring on, ever on, drinking, sipping, toxifying

nectar held out to me, beckoning, tantalizingly real.

Last Night I Died!

ADVERSITY

There came into life one day

A grave perplexity

O'ershadowing my every hour

With deep anxiety.

Then reason came and calmy said:
"Such grieving should not be

This care will seem a little thing

In life's entirety."

Thus reason spoke and I gave heed

Now vexing thoughts to me

Are viewed as a somber thread

In life's rich tapestry.

_____________________________

(Paula, I hope you read this poem, I wrote it for you)

OLD LOVE AND NEW

First love is young love

Is hope and zest

But old love

Is tried love

And tried love

Oh, tried love is best.

Young love is always

Is likened as

Of gold

But love that is

Tried love

Is always new

Tho' old.

But tried love

Is dear love

Is true love

That stands the test

Of time

And tried love

This is a love sublime

In face of all

Divine!

TREE SYMPHONY

Trees, dancing in the breeze, thrill me

Trees, silent, still and tall, move me

Trees, charming at dawn, greet me

Trees, vibrant at night, rest me

Trees, scatt'ring sunbeams, inspire me

Trees, gleaming in the moonlight, sing to me

Trees, adorned with crystal raindrops, mystify me

Trees, robed in spotless snow, purify me

Trees, attracting merry birds, delight me

Trees, whisp'ring heart to heart, teach me

Trees, stirring in springtime, awaken me

Trees, aglow in autumn, enrich me

Trees, breathing out life-giving essence, reach me

Trees, revealing the Infinite, exalt me!

DISCOVERY

Ah!

Here it comes again

Giggling

Effervescent ...

It begins in the lowest levels of my belly

Creeps up to engulf my heart

Lightens my head ...

It makes me dizzy

Laughter bubbles about inside my mouth

Tickling my teeth ...

Dancing on my tongue

Bursting out!

See how it brightens the sun ...

Clears the skies

Softens the rain

Everyone smiles ...

"She's in love" they whisper

And I hear

Am I?

I am ... oh, yes

I

Am ...

I love the person

Who is

Me!

MY SON

When he was born I looked at him and thought:

What a precious little one.

I looked at him again and said: Is this

My son?

When he was three I looked at him and thought:

His troubles have just begun.

Look at him pucker his baby lips. How can I say:

No, son!

When he was five he started to school

His strong little legs in a run.

I saw him stumble and bump his nose. I cried:

O, son!

When he was seventeen he finished high school

With the highest of honors won.

I looked at him and proudly said: This is

My son!

O, world of turmoil

With your race for the young to run,

I beg you: Please be careful what you do with

MY SON!

I MAY ALWAYS

I may always have

Tomorrow to walk

In the rain but I would

Rather do it now.

I may always have

Tomorrow to sit

On a rock and look

At the rushing water

Of a mountain stream

But I would rather

Do it now.

I may always have

Tomorrow to watch

A crackling fire in

The fireplace but

I would rather do it now.

I may always have

Tomorrow to say

"I love you" but

I would rather

Tell you now!

I WISH YOU HONESTY

For you I have a simple wish
Not unkind or otherwise
Just a wish for your entire life...

I wish you honesty.
Honesty for you between your
Own heart and mind
And also the hearts and minds of others...

I'll wish that you believe what
You hear yourself say
And trust that others will do the same ...

For you, your acts will admonish
Your thoughts
If what you say is really what
You feel ...

In years to pass I shall remember
My honesty to you and yours to me
I shall wonder if you were honest
With me ...

If I take long in deciding
I shall add together what it cost me
Honesty is free but priceless
So what we shared is beyond
Human value to me ...

If in your own mind you believe
You were honest with me
We shall part as friends
If not
I wish you honesty!

Band of colors -

Cover a mountain

Rainbow

MY HOSTESS

Day opened wide her silver gates for me
And sent a golden sunbeam for my guide ...

She tossed a bluebird into bluer skies ...

And poured a song in grass along my side.

Day sprinkled flowers on the meadow's green

Like jewels lying on a velvet spread ...

And hung ripe apples on the swaying trees ...

Then turned the sunset skies to flamimg red.

Day proved to be a friend to me, indeed

She took the sadness my heart had known ...

Then gave me loveliness in place of tears ...

And brushed her laughing lips against my own.