FLIES
They feast upon things I will not mention
To make me ill is their one intention.
They tickle my nose while I'm sleeping
Across my plate I find them creeping.
Unwanted guests at picnic and parties
Just try to catch those elusive smarties.
Every time I spot a squatting fly
I grab a paper and swatting try.
Just a flick of the wrist with motion so swift
There'll be one dead fly when my weapon I lift.
To no one's surprise the fly has long flown
Another execution that I've blown.
Of all God's creatures in earth and sky
I often wonder why He made the fly.
SANTA ANA WINDS
Be they named for a city or Satan's own name
The havoc they reap is always the same.
Created by fair weather that lies Northeast
They reach our valleys like a raging beast.
Warmed by the desert as they race to the shore
We never quite know what trouble's in store.
Trees are leveled of the poor and wealthy
While the pall of smoke is far from healthy.
Brave souls who fight fires are put to the test
And prove to us all that they're the very best.
We search for an answer, a lesson to be learned
From the disrupted lives, the dreams that are burned.
Could it just be that through this malicious weather
God wants us to see we should all pull together?
TEARS
intrinsically
all tears are the same
they take the same trail
when secreted from the eye
down the cheek then
down to earth
unless interrupted by
cloth
tissue
senseless swipe of finger
let them flow
unhindered
for on their course they cleanse
the inner being
why then should they linger?
let them cool the dusty path
so more steps might be taken
and more tears shed
but
for a different reason
be it love
or
be it wrath.
CAN'T BARE TO WATCH
I can never sit nude and watch TV
For fear the actors can look out and see
So, I'll cover my bod
As planned by God
And hope they will do the same for me
LAMENT OF THE SCHOOL'S POET LAUREATE
I've dream up poems and typed out ditties
To give with blankets and knitted mitties.
But, such a ritual is quite a bother
For one who is not the unborn's father.
I've gushed over those about to retire
And bragged about some we'd no longer hire.
But rather than being a hypocrite
I'm telling you now, I'm ready to quit.
So, then...call no more on this tired bard,
But go out and purchase a Hallmark Card.
THE ONE ROOM SCHOOL
My mind goes back to an autumn cool
In the Land of Lincoln and a one room school.
Summer has past and the fields look dead
Southbound geese fill the skies overhead.
Squeaky the shoes recently bought in town
Hiding sore feet and their summer tan brown.
Stiff the new trousers unwashed as yet
While starched is the shirt and free from sweat.
Our teacher so pretty and married last June
Warmly greets each student so fears vanish soon.
Now it's great to see Ronnie, Sidney and Glen
Of much -matured Ruthie we ask, "Where's SHE been?"
Twenty young faces in grades one through eight
Sharing one room, an experience so great.
Years pass, memories fade is the general rule,
But never forgotten is the one room school.
THE WHISPERING STORM
(Psalm 107:23-31)
On mighty waters the merchants set sail
To witness God's works in a frightful gale.
Their courage melted as the waves grew high
Crying to God as they thought they would die.
Stilling the storm to a whisper did He
And glad were the hearts as God calmed the sea.,
Like merchant sailors in the days of old
We all sail on waters both fierce and cold.
A cry to the Lord and He'll calm the wave
For mighty is God and able to save.
PUSSY WILLOW KITTEN
Got a pussy willow kitten living down by the lake
I met her standin' there at the last clambake.
Her face is mighty pretty and she don't say much
While she has that skin that's soft to the touch.
(Chorus)
Pussy willow, pussy willow, pussy willow kitten
Pussy willow, pussy willow, tend to your knittin'
I got something to tell you and this is that:
Don't start a-purrin' with another cat!
TOKEN OF MY LOVE
Going to gather in a moonbeam and pluck me down a star
Wrap them up in fleecy clouds and send them off afar
To the one who's waiting for me upon a distant shore
As a token of my love that is hers for evermore.
Going to save up all the dew drops from every lovely rose
Seal them all in buttercups and with a kiss enclose
For the one who's waiting for me those many miles away
As a token of my love until I am home to stay.
Going to capture all the music from nature's wooden glen
Send it out on gentle breeze for her to hear again
And the one who is waiting for me will recognize the songs
As a token of my love which alone to her belongs.
HILLBILLY BRIDE
Building me cabin for a mountain gal
She's more than a friend and more than a pal
Weddin's coming off in early June
And that is why I sing this tune:
(Chorus)
Hurry with the rafter, hurry with the shingle
Aint got long to remain single
Brighten up the windows, fasten on the door
Patch any holes in the pinewood floor
For my honey, joy and pride
Building me a cabin for my hillbilly bride.
CITY LOVELY, CITY OLD
Waving palm trees bathed in sunshine
With mountains ringed around
City of the Angels
The sweetest place I've found.
From golden strands of desert
To the blue Pacific sea
In old L.A. I'm proud to stay
The only spot for me.
(Chorus)
City lovely, city old
Grandest town in the State of Gold
Love its people, love its ways
I'll remain here all my days.
THE NUCLEAR NEUROTIC
He's a nuclear neurotic and his troubles are not a few
For he worries 'bout the bomb more than others seem to do.
When a crowd runs helter skelter
He looks around for shelter
And visions mushroom clouds a-forming in the blue.
(Chorus)
Yes, a nuclear neurotic, the geiger counting kind
With a megaton of fallout worries on his mind.
CAL-TECH'S SEISMIC SWEETHEARTS
Here's to the Seismic Sweethearts, Lucy and Kate
Who quote the Richter, be it five, six or eight.
Though the freeways have folded and their houses a wreck
They still make their appearance at Old Cal Tech.
They answer questions in a backdrop of graphs
It's serious business without a moment for laughs.
With mikes in their faces the questions abound
But cautious the answers on the shaking ground.
Their knowledge is great and their patience is long
As each shock is noted, just where and how strong.
So, break our dishes and rattle our bones
We still have Hutton and we still have Jones.
HAVE BAGS, WILL TRAVEL
Now while preparing to fly to far off Philly
My wife's packing antics became downright silly.
Standing before a full length mirror
She'd ask advice of anyone near her
Does this blouse go with this or go with that
Should my heels be high or should they be flat?
Warned by her hostess that she travel light
She repacked each bag morning, noon and night.
Each item was chosen with scrupulous care
Constantly worried about the weather back there.
In view of her antics and packing ways
Thank God she's staying but eight short days.
TOO MUCH, TOO LATE
A young author began writing a book
And was surprised at the time that it took.
As his vision dimmed and his hair turned gray
He kept on writing by night and by day.
Then his plot was stolen by a Hollywood crook.
ESCAPE TO AND FROM WINTER
When Eastern weather becomes unkind
Then hordes of guests you will surely find
But do not despair
Head up to Big Bear
And enjoy the snow they left behind.
BEHIND AND BEYOND THE TEARS
9/11/01
From the friendly skies a tall building dies
And another not far behind.
For six thousand souls, the death knell now tolls
The result of an evil mind.
On the streets below the casualties grow
From among those who came to save
In the glass and steel in a scene unreal
Crush heroes in a mangled grave.
On Pentagon walls another plane falls
To extend the dastardly deed
In a hijacked plane, now hard to explain
Our nation continues to bleed
But with spirit strong, we will face the wrong
And continue in Freedom's Way
With faith in our God, like past journeys trod
We'll live to see a better day.
