This poem was published by the National Library of Poetryand wonHonorable Mention THE FUTURE I gaze down with pride at my newborn son, I can hold him in the palms of my hands. I know I am sitting here, holding the future In this precious little ungrown man. I look at his face, tiny and red, His small hands now hold the key, I see all the promise, and all the dreams, Of all the great things yet to be. I'm filled with a love that knows no bounds, I'm filled with an awe of this one. I know I must hold him close while I can, For too soon he will be on his own. The teaching, the molding, the nurturing now, Will guide him to what he is to be. I hold a responsibility bigger than life, For the future is all up to me. Written about the birth of my sonas published in the National Library of PoetryandSparrowgrass Poetry Forum FINALLY SHE KNOWS I look at my child, bursting with love and pride As she gazes down at her newborn baby. I think to myself, "Finally she knows, The love I always felt for her." I look at my child, who feels great pride And a tugging at her heart, watching her baby Take its first faltering steps. And I think to myself, "Finally she knows the pride I felt for her." I look at my child. She is proud, happy and crying, Already missing her child who walks down the aisle To wed and move on. And I think to myself, "Finally she knows. I loved her enough to let her go." I look at my child, as she struggles with growing older, Marveling at the accomplishments of her children As they grow. And I think to myself with wonder And surprise, "Finally we know. She is me." Written about my 2 daughters, as published by The National Library of Poetry and Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum This next poem is about the thoughts that kept me going when the going got REALLY tough! Its the first poem I wrote. LIFE'S HECTIC PACE I run through my life at a frantic pace. Going nowhere but in there to race. I run through this life each day by day, Not knowing where to go, not knowing the way. I keep running along mid the tears and the strife, Not knowing quite why but after all this is life. Somewhere out there is a goal that I chase, Not knowing quite what, I quicken my pace. Each day it's the same, I put on my dress. I run till I'm weary and winded by stress. I pray, "Give me strength, please show me the way!" I do it because this just might be the day. I run on and on, looking here, looking there, Not knowing the reasons or if it is fair. Each day anew, the race starts again, But only because...I know I can win! As published in The National Library of Poetry and Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum This poem is about one of the painfully harsh times in my life. It details how the abused can always get away (one way or the other...), but the abuser can NEVER get away from themselves for even one moment of peace. LOVE(?) RAGE Big, rough hands Doubled into fists, Fists that beat against my soul, Pounding my sore, tired flesh, Beating at my dreams, Pounding as I scream. What did I do that was so wrong? I only wanted to love you, Did that get in your way? I look into your eyes, The eyes I thought were perfect, They are filled with uncontrollable rage, Hating everything, Beating me, Taking away your pain through mine, I no longer know you, I no longer want to, Please let me live, I pray! I smile. Though bruised and sobbing, I still have myself. You could not take that away. It rises upward through my pain, Angering you all the more. Though wracked by pain, My soul is still my friend. You cannot quell my dreams, My spirit, my will, myself. I win, and know you never can. I live for yet another day. Published by The National Library of Poetry, Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum and Iliad Press Father, guide us safely through each day, Watch carefully o'er us on our way. If you should see us start to slide, Stay thee near us, by our side. Amen Okay, now to lighten things up a bit. A DAY AT THE BEACH A sun-filled morning spawning a day that's aglow, Glistening white sands forming whipped meringue peaks, Sea waves rising to wave a cheery "Hello," And pelicans fishing, using only their beaks, A warming sea breeze caressing sun-reddened skin, The gaiety of laughter wafting on air, A carefree abandon swirling merrily within, Seaweed looking like unkempt beach hair. The squeak of footsteps on hot sifted sands, Splashing and playing in a choppy green sea, Sea gulls screeching like an ill-tuned band, A wonderful childishness rising in me. Bath houses on piers, looking like spiders to me, Lying on dunes of reflective white sand, Combing for sea shells at the edge of the sea, A day at the beach, going barefoot, is grand! Published in The National Library of PoetrySparrowgrass Poetry Forum, Iliad Press andThe Sunday Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA These next two were written simply for my own enjoyment. "Keeper," My Friend My "Keeper" is simply, a cow to some, She's huge!..and all black and white. A Holstein she is, but certainly not dumb, And to me, a joyful delight! At times she actually acts just like a cow, But oft times, she'd much rather play. And her favorite thing (other than chow!) Is to be scratched and petted all day. Her eyes are so big, all soft and dark, Her lashes are quite long and thick. Whenever she sees me out in the yard, She uses them on me, but quick! She stands by the gate, as if looking to see, If I would but come scratch her neck. I look at those eyes, while she's mooing to me, And finally I think, "What the heck!" She lives out of doors, in the heat and the cold, And in all kinds of inclement weather. She has the most wonderful and loving of souls, I'm ever so glad we're together! She and I know each other so well, I can read her just like a book. For when she's inclined to get the best of someone, I can always tell by her look. She walks over to them, all unconcerned, Then turns and gives me "the look." I know in a moment, they will have learned, That she won't let them off of the hook! She's really a big cow, a huge massive frame, And white paints a heart on her head. But down on the inside, in spite of her games, Beats a heart of pure gold instead. She loves me to hug her, and scratch her big chin, She'll raise up her head for it, see? She may be a cow to you and to them, But she's really a sweetheart to me! "The Birth" The cattle were restless one cold, clear night, The heifer was well on her "way." I checked to see if she was alright, And could see her calf on the way. She paced and she panted, she was up and down, She was miserable, plain as day. The cattle would watch her, and walk all around, They knew that this wasn't play! I drove the heifer into the barn, I wanted her safe and all warm. The cattle circled all 'round the barn, To make sure she came to no harm. I waited and sweated and worried in vain, What would I do if she fell? Did she really feel such horrible pain? I so wanted things to go well! I soon saw the calf's tiny head appear, My excitement knew no bounds, But then to my horror and my great fear, The heifer fell to the ground! She went all limp, I thought she was dead! I was scared I had lost her, you see? I hurried to pull on the baby's head, At least, I could save the baby. I cleaned and dried the baby all 'round She was a heifer, healthy and well. I looked to the mom, spread on the ground, Who suddenly jumped up where she fell. She rushed to the calf, nudging her tight, And things were fine once again. I realized at once what had happened that night, "Mom" had just fainted with pain! I knew in my heart, that I had done right, The mama and baby were great! It had been for us all a frightening fight, And I'd never forget this birth date! I wrote this next one protesting how people seem not to care any longer. "The Change Begins With You" As children, our outlook is clean as a slate, We start out with dreams, we know nothing of hate. As we grow and we learn, we start being aware, That it's not as it seems in the world 'out there.' We watch and we learn how to mentally adjust, How to play the same game, how to cheat, how to cuss. We know that to survive, that's the way it must be, So we change and adopt the same mentality. One day we look back on a much simpler youth, We wonder what happened, and what is the truth? With eyes open wide, and with shock and despair, We now realize, we've become part of 'out there.' Okay, we're going to lighten it up again with the next two! "What's Missing In Old Age" We come to celebrate today, The passing of our youth. Though we're not old in any way, We're aging and that's the truth! To all who listened, you once said, "I once was in my prime. Now I'm standing right here instead Thinking of younger times." "I wish I'd listened," you went on (to anyone who would listen), "I wish I'd known then, as I do now, Of all that I'd be missin'!" Another good 'oldie.' "Ode To Old Age" Do you ever feel you're getting old, And your hair is receding, getting light? Well, just hang in there, don't give up! (Not without at least a fight!) When you try to move, do your bones creak more? Has your gait slowed to a crawl? Is your eyesight dim, your joints all sore? Well, don't just sit right down and bawl! Does your constitution waiver now, And your resolve has gone for good? Has your digestion started slowing down, Have you gone to softer food? Does everything seem to move faster now, Except perhaps your own knees? Well, don't give up, there's always hope! Here comes the A.A.R.P.! Click on underlined words to go to: MY HOME PAGE "The Great Rescue" "My Photo Album" Photos from 'A Previous Life' "A Little About Me" "My LOUISIANA Page" "North Carolina" The South "Southern Women" "Cat Tales" "Pet Commandments" "Half-Wit, Half-Wisdom" "Recipes...Cajun and Otherwise" "Favorite Links and Awards" "Awards, Too!" "More Awards" "Webrings" Thank you, thank you, thank you to "Judi's Doodlings" for the beautiful graphics on this page. Please visit her website. Just click on the icon below. Thanks to 'The Midi Farm" for the music. Click on icon to visit their site. This page hosted by: Click here to get your own Free Home Page
I look at his face, tiny and red, His small hands now hold the key, I see all the promise, and all the dreams, Of all the great things yet to be.
I'm filled with a love that knows no bounds, I'm filled with an awe of this one. I know I must hold him close while I can, For too soon he will be on his own.
The teaching, the molding, the nurturing now, Will guide him to what he is to be. I hold a responsibility bigger than life, For the future is all up to me.
I look at my child, who feels great pride And a tugging at her heart, watching her baby Take its first faltering steps. And I think to myself, "Finally she knows the pride I felt for her."
I look at my child. She is proud, happy and crying, Already missing her child who walks down the aisle To wed and move on. And I think to myself, "Finally she knows. I loved her enough to let her go."
I look at my child, as she struggles with growing older, Marveling at the accomplishments of her children As they grow. And I think to myself with wonder And surprise, "Finally we know. She is me."
I keep running along mid the tears and the strife, Not knowing quite why but after all this is life. Somewhere out there is a goal that I chase, Not knowing quite what, I quicken my pace.
Each day it's the same, I put on my dress. I run till I'm weary and winded by stress. I pray, "Give me strength, please show me the way!" I do it because this just might be the day.
I run on and on, looking here, looking there, Not knowing the reasons or if it is fair. Each day anew, the race starts again, But only because...I know I can win!
I look into your eyes, The eyes I thought were perfect, They are filled with uncontrollable rage, Hating everything, Beating me, Taking away your pain through mine, I no longer know you, I no longer want to, Please let me live, I pray!
I smile. Though bruised and sobbing, I still have myself. You could not take that away. It rises upward through my pain, Angering you all the more. Though wracked by pain, My soul is still my friend. You cannot quell my dreams, My spirit, my will, myself. I win, and know you never can. I live for yet another day.
A warming sea breeze caressing sun-reddened skin, The gaiety of laughter wafting on air, A carefree abandon swirling merrily within, Seaweed looking like unkempt beach hair.
The squeak of footsteps on hot sifted sands, Splashing and playing in a choppy green sea, Sea gulls screeching like an ill-tuned band, A wonderful childishness rising in me.
Bath houses on piers, looking like spiders to me, Lying on dunes of reflective white sand, Combing for sea shells at the edge of the sea, A day at the beach, going barefoot, is grand!
At times she actually acts just like a cow, But oft times, she'd much rather play. And her favorite thing (other than chow!) Is to be scratched and petted all day.
Her eyes are so big, all soft and dark, Her lashes are quite long and thick. Whenever she sees me out in the yard, She uses them on me, but quick!
She stands by the gate, as if looking to see, If I would but come scratch her neck. I look at those eyes, while she's mooing to me, And finally I think, "What the heck!"
She lives out of doors, in the heat and the cold, And in all kinds of inclement weather. She has the most wonderful and loving of souls, I'm ever so glad we're together!
She and I know each other so well, I can read her just like a book. For when she's inclined to get the best of someone, I can always tell by her look.
She walks over to them, all unconcerned, Then turns and gives me "the look." I know in a moment, they will have learned, That she won't let them off of the hook!
She's really a big cow, a huge massive frame, And white paints a heart on her head. But down on the inside, in spite of her games, Beats a heart of pure gold instead.
She loves me to hug her, and scratch her big chin, She'll raise up her head for it, see? She may be a cow to you and to them, But she's really a sweetheart to me!
She paced and she panted, she was up and down, She was miserable, plain as day. The cattle would watch her, and walk all around, They knew that this wasn't play!
I drove the heifer into the barn, I wanted her safe and all warm. The cattle circled all 'round the barn, To make sure she came to no harm.
I waited and sweated and worried in vain, What would I do if she fell? Did she really feel such horrible pain? I so wanted things to go well!
I soon saw the calf's tiny head appear, My excitement knew no bounds, But then to my horror and my great fear, The heifer fell to the ground!
She went all limp, I thought she was dead! I was scared I had lost her, you see? I hurried to pull on the baby's head, At least, I could save the baby.
I cleaned and dried the baby all 'round She was a heifer, healthy and well. I looked to the mom, spread on the ground, Who suddenly jumped up where she fell.
She rushed to the calf, nudging her tight, And things were fine once again. I realized at once what had happened that night, "Mom" had just fainted with pain!
I knew in my heart, that I had done right, The mama and baby were great! It had been for us all a frightening fight, And I'd never forget this birth date!
We watch and we learn how to mentally adjust, How to play the same game, how to cheat, how to cuss. We know that to survive, that's the way it must be, So we change and adopt the same mentality.
One day we look back on a much simpler youth, We wonder what happened, and what is the truth? With eyes open wide, and with shock and despair, We now realize, we've become part of 'out there.'
To all who listened, you once said, "I once was in my prime. Now I'm standing right here instead Thinking of younger times."
"I wish I'd listened," you went on (to anyone who would listen), "I wish I'd known then, as I do now, Of all that I'd be missin'!"
When you try to move, do your bones creak more? Has your gait slowed to a crawl? Is your eyesight dim, your joints all sore? Well, don't just sit right down and bawl!
Does your constitution waiver now, And your resolve has gone for good? Has your digestion started slowing down, Have you gone to softer food?
Does everything seem to move faster now, Except perhaps your own knees? Well, don't give up, there's always hope! Here comes the A.A.R.P.!
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