I wrote this in April of 1999. I wish I had writen down why I wrote it, but I didn't. It was before 9/11 or I would have thought I wrote this piece after the terrible tragedy that changed our nation forever. It is a very dark poem, but thought I would share it.

Those on high
mourning the strengths,
rejoicing the weaknesses
of secret unions.
Greedily filling one's soul
with liquid fire of spewing bile.
Blackened soot hidden
within hardened hearts,
filtering down
through maze-like bowels
of rising chimney's
suffocating the tailings of goodness.
Losing righteousness
entwined within
unforgiving brambles
hidden amongst
the sweet-smelling
Rose of Sharon.
Journeying toward the chasm!
Devouring evil
tantalizing the challenging
nature of the beast within man
where honor and respect
are ridiculed
for foolishly worshiping
those things which cannot be viewed.
Embarking upon a journey
of such magnitude,
Encompassing
the old and the young
the rich and the poor
the sick and the healthy
the ugly and the beautiful
Of body and soul.
Lingering on Judgment Day
In wonderment!
With bewilderment!
Of those things
Which have passed!
Which are now!
Which will be!

Written
March 17, 2003
A 48 hour time limit given to Saddam
to leave Iraq
by President Bush

Thoughts of Home

Sounds
of grief
hover
just above the
crimson soaked
ground.
Hear their cries.
Feel the ripple
of the wind
as it passes by,
gently caressing
the unsuspecting soldier.
Thoughts of home
are lost
in the
desert wind,
The grit
blinding,
covering all
in her path.
Desert creatures
slither silently
over the
drifting sand,
Shallow breaths
rhythmic beats
to the night sounds
among desert mounds
of nothingness.
Clanging
metal weapons
meant to destroy
those bound
to a belief
of eternity
with God,
through bloody
vengeance,
Never wavering
since the
beginning
of time.

My husband had two tours in Viet Nam in 1969 and again in 1971.

I was looking at the idea of getting involved in a war in Iraq from the stand point of the wives with small children who are having to say their tearful goodbyes to the person they love most upon this earth. I remember after I put our son to bed (he was a month old when my husband got his orders for the first tour), I would sit on the floor by our glass sliding doors and look at the stars in the dark sky. I remember tears rolling down my cheeks and missing him so much my heart would ache. I remember putting his favorite cologne on his pillow next to me, so it would help bring him closer to me in the dark of the night. I remember the wonderful young man I had married change so drastically after the second tour. I had hoped no one would have to go through that terrible pain again. That was the main reason I hated to see the war start. Even when a war ends, it still goes on for those who were there and for those who were left behind.

I'm feelin' kinda lonely
as I'm sittin' by myself
in this silent hallway
without anyone to help.

Students are in the classrooms
takin' some kind of test
tryin' to remember what they've learned
hopin' to do their very best.

I do some of my best writin'
on occasions such as today
I'm doin' some thinkin'
in a poetic sorta way.

A slammin' door just down the hall
footsteps approachin' slow
all haveta be real careful
walkin' on our tippy-toes.

Whisperin' words can be heard
by teachers behind closed doors
reassurin' all their students
they know the answers and so much more.

Just take your time
readin' the text
start with question one
then go onto the next.

Before you know it
you'll be all through
once again you'll breathe
and your brain will renew.

But in the meantime
I'm policin' the hall
my ears on alert
eyes starin' at the wall.

Days like today
aren't so bad
sittin' and creatin'
jottin' thoughts on a pad.

My pencil is gettin' shorter
fingers hurtin' a bit
thoughts are burstin' to wander
upon this hard chair I sit.

As I'm lookin'
all around
interestin' things
can be found.

Two water fountains
just to my right
three exit signs
are within my sight.

Numerous white paw prints
just across from me
on bright purple paper
we are the mighty Leopards you see.

Two restrooms nearby
they've become wondrous places
as I'm gettin' older
a lot of time is spent in those spaces.

I'm so glad I'm sittin' inside
not outside in the cold air
my poor friend drew the short straw
now the wind is tanglin' her hair.

Throughout these Texas years
I've been there many times
monitorin' the outside classrooms
writin' my poetic rhymes.

So I'm all set
as I sit in this hall
feelin' not so lonely
cuz I'm thinkin' of y'all.

Some are wonderin'
how I can work
among all these children
without goin' berserk.

I flash a big smile
my eyes sparkle with glee
then I ask a question,
"Are ya talkin' to me?"

Life without children
for me would be sad
I love them when they're good
I have patience when they're bad.

I have five of my own
plus two sisters, three brothers
numerous nephews and nieces
some are fathers some are mothers.

I've taught Bible classes
on and off for thirty years
we've laughed and we've cried
we've smiled through the tears.

We now have a granddaughter
the sweetest little girl alive
we are expecting two grandsons
in week three and then week five.

However we won't quite know
when these babies will appear
so now it's just a waitin' game
to meet our "Two Little Dears."

All is now quiet in this hall
although there has been some noise
the adults were the culprits
not the girls nor the boys.

Now you would think
it would be the other way
teachers and administrators
would know when not to play.

So now it's time
for the kids to eat lunch
I'm the recipient of smiles
from this appreciative bunch.

So now I must go
my poem is at an end
I'll be puttin' it on the Stream
sharin' it with my bloggin' friends!

All is quiet
within this place
out of breath
from my daily race.
My eyes are dry
with unshed tears
facing the night
laced with my fears.
Missing my children
lonely empty rooms
memories of their love
help chase away the gloom.
Sharing my feelings
has helped me a lot
while my own empty nest
is just what I've got.
Time has passed by
way too fast
so here I am now
far beyond my past.
New beginnings
are sometimes the best
they are God's way of putting
us through the life test.
We can only pray
that we will become strong
as we travel through life
among the rights and the wrongs.
For now I'm getting tired
with no more to be said
so I'll just say, "Goodnight!"
as I'm off to my bed.

She touches our hearts
in every way
as her blue eyes
sparkle with the joy of life.
Her long blond hair
in a ponytail
glistens in the light of day
matching her innocent smile.
Her laughter makes us warm
as our love grows
stronger and purer
this child of our child.
Tiny is her stature
delicate features
on a heart-shaped face
give us ripples of joy.
Our hearts seem to burst
with the love and joy
she gives us
her Grammy and Granddaddy.
This child of our child
is our past
our present
our future.
And so life goes on
families expanding
through love
honor and respect.
This child of our child
is so wise
for her four years
upon this earth.
She is kind and good
more precious
than the most
brilliant gem.
This child of our child
an extension
of who we are
who we will be.
Joy, love
goodness, kindness
the toucher of hearts
this child of our child.