Mothers’ Day Differences

My mother raised  her children in a stable, fun, and loving home.

The TV and print ads about Mothers’ Day feature smiling mothers with adoring families.

Of course, there are other maternal situations that are not so heart-warming.

Not all mothers are good mothers who deserve praise and recognition.

Not all good mothers are appreciated.

Today can be an emotionally painful one for some women.

Some wanted to be mothers but are not.

Some regret  having children they mistreated or abandoned.

Some are mourning children who died before them.

Some are good mothers whose children ignore them, even today.

Some are missing mothers who are deceased.

If you have been blessed with a loving mother, show her some love.

 

 

 

Thoughts and Prayers

Lily was a lady at church,

She was blind.

Her husband, Brian, held her arm

As they walked together

To the pew where they sat holding hands.

Many people, when something sad occurs,

Say that their “thoughts and prayers” are with you,

Which is a nice thing to say

Or to write in a Hallmark card,

And most probably mean it

But none more than Lily

Who was a prayer warrior.

When she said she was praying

You better believe it,

And God knew it too,

As she was one of his frequent fliers,

Visiting with Him every day.

In a powerful way,

Four Eagles

I’ve got poetry in me
Sometimes
Sometimes, like after a foot of snow,
Followed by sub-zero temperatures,
Requires me to walk to the barn
And I want to describe what I see
And how I feel.
At such a time, like today,
Frost forms on my mustache
From breathing cold air
And the breath of the horses is visible
For the same reason.
I like the smell of the hay in the barn.
I like the smell of the horses’ coats of hair
And their breaths of alfalfa.
Coming back inside
The house welcomes me
With warmth and the beauty of flames
Visible through the glass front
Of the wood-burning stove.
Today, my lovely wife had soup cooking
Which smelled better than alfalfa even.
Then she showed me the photo she took
Of four eagles in the same tree.
Don’t you wish you were here?

 

Learning From Horses

Babe, Misty, Tony, Flicka, Domino, Gypsy, Duke, Lightning, Star, Mitzy, Honey, Ben, Smokey, Sweet Pea, Basko, Dillon, Dusty, Cody, Sasi, Velvet, Holly, Scamp, Woody and many others

Are all teachers of mine.

They taught me patience and assertiveness,

They taught me communication and psychology.

They taught me the joy of partnership.

And the thrill of horse and rider doing what neither could do alone.

Equine Companionship

Walked out in the pasture

To clear my mind

To enjoy God’s outdoors

Walking alone through the grass

When I heard the hoof beats.

Two geldings ran up to me

Inquiring about my presence

And whether I needed friends.

I did need their acceptance

And their comfort.

They each sniffed my hands

And my hair, letting me pet them

Even hugging their necks.

It feels good to know they care.

One can have a relationship

With horses as well as dogs.

Town Tour

Small Wyoming town with no sidewalks nor stoplights

A three story mansion across the street from a mobile home

Propane tanks rather than gas lines from public utilities

A horse and two mules in one backyard

With a view of the tavern

One paved street

300 people

200 dogs

No zoning

Plenty of free parking

 

 

Unmeasured Decisions

Instead of taking measure of all options

In order to carefully decide

One might let things happen

Without deciding

Without even choosing to not decide

And live with the unintended, unforeseen consequences

With regret.

Or get lucky.

Which also is not within one’s control.

Unless you are God.

Which you are not.

Nor am I.

 

War of the Winds Again

The flames fascinate,

Bringing comfort

As I contemplate,

Staring at the fire.

                           Winds rudely attack

                           My reverie,
By a chilly draft
Tresspassing inside.

Noisy blowing cold,

Unrelenting,

Being too bold

Invading our home.

                              Logs and chinking

                               And metal roof

                               Try protecting

                                 Us from this weather.

Some windows rattle.

Walls are shaking.

It’s a battle,

Testing our shelter.

                                   Like evil v. good,

                                   Hostile forces

                                   War with the wood

                                    In our fiery stove.

Burning wood’s heat

Challenges wind

As they compete

On temperature.

                                  The brave cabin

                                   Resists the force

                                   As we stay in —

                                    Safe from blowing rage.

 With loud gales outside,

My wife hugs me,

Snuggling by my side.

I don’t mind the wind.

Throw Away the Key

My wife sent me this for the new year.  I think it is excellent and want to share it.

Throw Away the Key

I’ve shut the door on Yesterday,
Its sorrows and mistakes;
I’ve locked within its gloomy walls
Past failures and heartaches.
And now I throw the key away
To seek another room,
And furnish it with hope and smiles,
And every springtime bloom.
No thought shall enter this abode
That has a hint of pain,
And every malice and distrust
Shall never therein reign.
I’ll shut the door on Yesterday,
And throw the key away—-
Tomorrow holds no doubt for me,
Since I have found Today.

Author Unknown

Winning Miss Texas

This bears repeating….

Shootin' the Breeze

This is a poem that was first published in The Fence Post magazine several years ago.   Karen, aka Sugar, my wife, was the Miss USA pageant beauty queen, but I like to say that I won Miss Texas

WINNING MISS TEXAS

Beauty on the outside

Is not the only kind.

There also is an inside

With heart and soul and mind.

 

Miss Texas won the looks event

And deserved it for obvious reasons,

But my vote today is really meant

For a beauty that’s even more pleasin’.

 

My Miss Texas wins another class,

One judged on inner quality.

She has more than just a nice ass.

Her heart is willing to love me.

 

I love her loving heart so much!

I admire her talents, I do!

There’s more than looks, there’s also touch

And I’m glad to say she can cook too!

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