I'm not really sure

what I want to write,

Something uplifting

or something not quite!

I get like this sometimes

too tired to even think,

Feeling yet not feeling

teetering on the brink!

The older I get

the more my mind asks,

What is my purpose?

What are my tasks?

Why am I here?

What should I do?

Am I here for a reason?

For me or for you?

I have done a lot of things

within my life span,

Touched as many lives

as I have lent a helping hand.

I love my husband and children

and have so many friends,

What a true blessing

to take to an earthly end.

Yet I'm still here

after all these years,

So much laughter

so many tears.

I feel I'm just getting started

as I take a much needed rest,

What God has in mind for me

will be His faithful test.

People are the answer

showing an endless love,

Knowing what their needs are

with the help from our Father above.

There is too much hate
infesting God's world
Killing and destroying
without even a thought
Of who they are hurting
or what they are doing
Just letting their hatred
rule their entire existence.
Who would have thought
that one human being
Could actually do
something so horrendous
To a fellow
human being
Spreading hatred like a virus
among those who profess GOD.

WHERE IS THE LOVE?
Hate will soon consume God's world
Until there will be no earthly place
that can offer a safe haven
For all who call
this world their home
Until our GOD cries out,
"This is not what I intended!"
WHERE IS THE LOVE?

"I Gotcha!"

"My real name is SATAN

but my worldly name is

TERRORIST!"

THIS IS DEDICATED TO THOSE

WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED

ONES THROUGH THE HATRED

OF THOSE WHO HAVE EMBRACED

TERRORISM!

So many things
So little time
Need to take control
Need to create a rhyme.

First things first
Last things last
Concentrating on the present
Forgetting the past.

Making a list
Checking it twice
Remembering where I put it
Would be quite nice.

With a hop, skip and jump
My brain is moving fast
Trying to catch up
Might be in the past.

From here to there
Over plains and hills
Trying to remember
Some childhood thrills.

Chicken soup for the old
Would be a good thing
Help pull us off of the couch
Dancing to the tune of the Swing.

Whoa, hold up there
What could I be thinking?
It must be thought induced
Because I haven't been drinking!

I'm not that old
I feel like sixteen inside
Forget about the wrinkles
Removing them I have tried.

So what's the big deal
Of maturing in age?
I'm just mighty glad
I'm alive at this stage.

My rhyme took a twist
Got a little carried away
But that's not a problem
On this beautiful sunny day.

So here I am sitting
On the sidewalk at school
I'm a monitor for the TAKS test
Making sure everyone follows the rules.

I'm glad of the cooling breeze
To stave off the hot
Umm, this really isn't too bad
Believe it or not!

Yes. I get paid for this
For doing my own thing
Not such a bad deal
On this pleasant day in Spring.

Well I could go on
And on and on and on
It could get quite boring
Or I could sing you a song.

Lah dee dah, lah dee dah
Okay, so I can't carry a tune
You have to admit I tried
I hope lunch is real soon!

Okay now, I'm tapping my foot
And getting a little twitchy
Now I have an unreachable spot
On my back that is quite itchy.

The sun is rising making the shade move
Good thing my chair has wheels
I just keep moving where I must
Uh oh, I hear some children's squeals.

Not a good thing on this testing day
Not a good thing at all
Everyone is supposed to be quiet
Outside and down the hall.

I think I need to stretch my legs
My bottom is losing some feeling
I'm twitching and I'm itching
And now my senses are reeling?

Oh good it's almost time for lunch
My veggies sound good to me
Oh yes, I'm watching what I eat
So there'll be a lot less of me to see.

That was quick and quite tasty
Saving my apple for dessert
Oh how I love this continuing breeze
It's helping me stay alert.

However now that my tummy is full
My twitching and itching have ceased
I'm afraid that my morning energy
Is now lazy and soon will decrease.

Ho hum, ho hum again ho hum
I don't think I'd make a good lazy type
I'm so used to going and blowing
At this rate I would become a gripe.

The third graders are back in their classrooms
Finishing up with their TAKS testing
Uh oh, my eyelids are getting heavy
They want to do some serious resting.

Good thing I have some ice water
To splash all over my face
It wouldn't look too professional
Me sleeping in my monitoring place.

I think I better stand right up
Interrupting this testing day rhyme
I'll just pace back and forth
Allowing myself some exercising time.

Well I didn't get to walk too long
The first graders are coming from lunch
I better go and help quiet them down
They are quite a talkative bunch.

It's quiet again but oh me, oh my
I'm doing some serious yawning
As the sun is straight up in the sky
The afternoon is just now dawning.

The kids are finished where I was
So now I'm in the hall by our door
I can't go into our room right now
Inside is still just one more.

Oh now the door is opening
The students are finished at last
So now I can finally finish this rhyme
Soon making it a Blast from the past.

Peering down from my
majestic loft
Laughter of the children
is carried upon the wind
Gently caressing
my twisted limbs
Settling in the curvature
of my springtime leaves
The school playground
has been my home
Since I was the height
of the children below
Who now try to embrace
my magnificent trunk
Yet their youthful arms
cannot stretch around
my battle-scarred foundation
I have been an overseer
for many, many years
So many in fact
I have lost count
Of the rising of the sun
and the glorious colors
Of the inevitable sunsets
above my umbrella of leaves
It's a miracle I exist
for in my youth
My delicate roots
felt the step
Of each sneaker-clad foot
my stem-like trunk
Bent with each tiny hand
Clasped around it
yet I would miraculously
Bow but not break
growing stronger each year
Destined to survive
because I knew one day
I could make a difference
to someone in this world
And each trying moment
just made me more determined
That I had worth
and the love of the children
Who I watch over every year
giving them shade and comfort
As they gaze up to view
my feathered visitors
Marvel at my glorious
fall headdress
Even enjoy the look
of my winter barren branches
I love my home
the school playground
Because this is where I belong
giving comfort and friendship
To all who stand upon
my deep-rooted life

This is the true story of Abigail, our school playground tree we have watched grow and mature for all of these years. She is a dear friend to all of us.

I'm thinking of entering a couple of my poems in this contest. There is an entrance fee. Thought maybe some of you might be interested in it so here is the website:

http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/annual/75th/#entry