HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

TO

POETS EVERYWHERE.

 

WISHING YOU PEACE, HEALTH, PROSPERITY

AND JOY IN ALL THAT COMES YOUR WAY.

Empty Seats - a poem by Bud Skinner

Empty Seats

No more candy or toys neath the tree.
 No more magic from Santa to me.
 As a child his arrival was pure thrill.
 Now an adult all I receive, the bills.

It's still a treat when loved ones gather.
Each CHRISTmas day a room of chatter.
 To watch the surprise as all gifts are shown.
 Some wondering how their desires were known.

Eating more food than you should handle.
 The tensile and the advent candles.
 The hugs and kisses neath the mistletoe.
 The relief, the sorrow as people go.

Not good, empty chairs, more than a few.
Of all the loved ones your life once knew.
 Memories brought back of Christmases past.
 Thoughts of the passing of time, oh so fast.

But this holiday is so much more,
 Than presents, trees and wreaths on your door.
 More than fam'ly, presents and food galore.
 It's about Mary and the babe she bore.

It's all about that night, over twenty centuries ago.
 When a baby in a feeding trough was lit by a stars glow.
 A God come to earth to give the ultimate gift.
 To later die on a cross so we could yet live.

So now, think once again of empty chairs.
 Not those in front of you, but those up there.
 All the vacant seats behind Heaven's door.
 Your Christmas in Heaven for evermore.

Bud Skinner

A Christmas Wish, a poem by Audrey Austin

A CHRISTMAS WISH

a poem by Audrey Austin

A time of love, a time for sharing

Let’s find new ways to light the path

While old traditions tried and true

Express how much we’re caring

For our family,

For our friends,

For people ‘round our hungry world.

 

A time of peace, a time for laughter

Let’s find new ways to share the love

While old relationships hold fast

We’ll open hearts, extend our reach

To neighbours near,

To friends afar, 

To those with whom we’ve yet to meet.

 

A time of joy, a time to remember

The holy birth of the blessed child

Who gave us the reason

To celebrate this season

A season of love, of caring, of sharing,

Love brightens the path of all who journey

Transforms the lives of all who are weary. 

Hold the light, share the light, be the light.

Merry Christmas!

(This poem is included in my poetry anthology

 titled "Poetry from A to Z"

 available on all Amazon sites.) 

Merry Christmas!  I wish you peace, health, prosperity,

and the joy of poetry shared.

 

Frozen In Time - a poem by Sarah Emily Cregan

 

Frozen in Time

From the heavens above
I fall to the earth
Perfect in every way 
I feel the crisp air
As I float along
Without any cares
From the heavens above
I fall to the earth
Searching for you
To share my beauty
I am yours truely
What seems like forever
Is not long enough
For when I land
On your warm skin
I melt away
This moment in time
Is just for you and I
From the heavens above.

Visit the poetry site of Sarah Emily Cregan,     http://allpoetry.com/Dragonshadow

 

November 11, 2014

Infinite Mercy by Eva Ruby Austin

                              

              As I rise from my bed each morning

                To begin the chores of the day

              I thank the Lord for His goodness

                 With my lips I silently pray,

             

              I pray that He'll guide my footsteps,

                 That I may not falter or fall;

              That I may be true and faithful

                  And loving to one and all.

             

               My God is One who will answer

                   With what is best for me.

               He knows the path that I follow,

                  And the pitfalls I cannot see.
 

               I'll trust Him for the future,

               I'll trust Him to endless day;

               For He in his infinite Mercy

                 Will pilot me all the way.

 

Eva Ruby Austin

In Memory of Mom by Eleanor Lambert - Bermuda

In Memory of Mom

It's hard to believe 24 years have gone by,
Since our precious Mom went to her home on high.

To be with her Saviour, she served and loved,
To the home prepared for her in Heaven above.

Since  Dad left before her, children grown and left home,
She found herself most of the time very much alone.

Her family phoned or visited as often as we could,
Even her eldest daughter had to fly and fly she would.

A joy to be with her, playing games or browsing stores,
And when all alone she wrote great poetry by the score.

Many things had happened since she was called away,
Lots of things to share with her had she been left to stay.

Every day at different times memories come our way,
Though absent she is missed, loved, dear, every day.

                 Written by Eleanor (Austin) Lambert


                          

A World Without Love - a poem by Rima N. Jaber

A World Without LOVE

I heard a story of a boy born without love,
His father gave all to his mother,

And she ran away taking it all,...
Leaving her children behind,

This young man was telling his story to his girlfriend
In a restaurant sitting behind me,

I wanted so much to see his face,
Thu I felt I can't face his sorrow and his pain,

They left and I couldn't stop thinking about how can this happen,
How can people get married only for money,

How can a mother leave her children alone,
And on their own,

Why money is all we want??
All we strive for, all we are living for??

Why are we so blind??
Selling our hearts and soul and leave everything behind??

For things which will vanish,
And things which have no value,

The real value is Love,
The real treasure is true feelings,

The real purpose of life is only love,
What we thrive for is only love,

What we live for is love,
If we can't give love to our surrounding,

Tell me why are we living??
Is it to accumulate more money??

Is it to steal others and hurt them??
Just for this stupid matter and say we gonna live better,

How can we be so shallow thinking
that matter can give us all??

How can we exchange love with soil??
How can we live with such a lie??

I tried to understand all my life this kind of people,
But could never understand they just made me disgusted,

The blindness and this killing sickness,
Made me pity them but their greed is making them cross all limits,

See our world is build on this kind of tragedies,
And it's spreading so quickly, don't know where it's going??

We have to wake up teach our children the value of love,
By giving it to them and showing them the truth,

The problem is all media and T.Vs lost all kind of morals,
And it's a hard task to rectify the image,

I believe in Love and nothing can change my heart,
Spreading it is the duty of every true heart,

And after all love will prevail,
No matter how it's hard now,

We're little candles born on this Earth
To kill the darkness and spread LOVE again..

Love you all
{{#OneLove}}
Rima N. Jaber

© August 29, 2014
~ ☼ ~

 

Just a thought POV - a poem by Cindy J. Smith

Just a thought!
POV

You can look at dark clouds
And count the rain drops
Or scan for the puddles
And do "Puddle hops"

You can look at morning
As the end of sweet dreams
Or see a beginning
Of all your hope schemes

You can look at heartbreak
As the end of all true love
Or gather the message
It's sending from above

You can look at your life
As a challenge, a test
Or an amusement park
And pick rides that are best

© Cindy J. Smith

CURSE - a poem by Cindy J. Smith

CURSE
A greater curse
I cannot find
Than to be lost
Within your mind

Reality is
Out of your reach
Cannot explain
With jumbled speech

Don't remember
What you have done
Or why it was
Ever begun

Family tries
But bridges burned
Frustration leads
To no concern

Locked in your mind
Through day and night
Life is not fun
But daily fight

You can't show love
Nor share your fears
Nor feel their hugs
Nor see their tears

Pray for the ones
Who cannot cope
For families
Who've lost all hope

© Cindy J. Smith

Happy Birthday In Heaven, Mom -- a poem by Eleanor Lambert

IN MEMORY OF OUR MOM’S 108^TH BIRTHDAY

Twenty four years ago
our dear Mother was laid to rest,

It seems like only yesterday
she was by our side, full of zest.

 

We have many memories
of the times we had together

She was always so full of life
no matter what the weather.

 
Mom would love to walk or ride a bus
to the stores even just to browse,
And walk around from store to store,
it seems for hours and hours.

I will never forget the many many times
we went to the C N E;

Always so much fun to go with her,
as she was always so full of glee.

 

Not one to spend a lot of money
but she loved her chewing gum,
And there was never a dull moment
when we were with “OUR MOM”

      

She would make us laugh
until we cried,

Oh,  the fun we had
just to be by her side.

     

Now we are all looking forward
to that great day,

When we will be with her again
in our Home far away.

     

I know that she is there
and is looking down on us,
And know that she is praying
that we will not miss THAT BUS.

 

She is hoping we will be ready
when our time comes to die,

So that we will be with all be together
with JESUS in our Home

                                          “ON HIGH”


 HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN

                                                 “MOM”

 

 

                 

                          

"Painting Life" - a poem by Cindy J. Smith

PAINTING LIFE

As you move on
From day to day
You paint your world
Along the way

Take a good look
At pallet please
Lots of choices
You will now see

Life is not just
Dull grey and black
Use your paintbrush
Put color back!

Violet, red
Yellow and blue too
Why don't you try
Using a few?


Cindy J. Smith

Silence - a poem by Vicki M. Taylor

A poem by Vicki Taylor

vmtwriter@vickimtaylor.com

 

 

We Have Come So Far - a poem by Marlon de Souza

We have come so far         

We are pagans
We are Christians
We are Muslims
We are Jews

We are believers
We are Buddhists
We are heretics
We are Hindus

We have good science
And good families too
Led by wise men
Killing more than a few

We are atheists
Philosophy fans
Destroying the Other
Because we can

We are modern
Parochial worms
Infecting our children
With our germs

We have taken
What’s not ours
Killing children
Gentle flowers

We talk progress
Great technology too
While we butcher
You and you.

There’s nothing left
To say or do
As long as you think
That they’re not you.

© 2014 Marlon de Souza. All rights reserved.

Marlon de Souza writes. Among his teachers are water bodies, Robert Louis Stevenson, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, e.e. cummings, Pete Seeger, His Royal Highness Wolfgang the First, Leonard Cohen, and his friend and dog-child, Jules. More of his work can be found on http://www.JustAnotherAveragePerson.com

The Hearth - a poem by Dayeton Larson

The Hearth (***)(Word~pictures)

I kneel before the old hearth
It’ black and cold
Yet the charred wood laying there
Is warm and dry – waiting for a spark...

It once was young new and rough~ unfinished...
But now its old, smooth and with many flames to tell of
Sparks flew merrily through up the dark and inviting chimney
So ready to receive them only to cast them farther upward
To a sparkling dark eternal sky that displayed them for all to see

As you gaze into the hearth – the charred wood still there
You notice some unburned wood poised deep beneath the char
It’s still fresh! – ready! – waiting for just one more spark
To ignite a flame of passion, of warmth, of light ~ of love anew
To send sparks of joy up through that dark chimney -
to a waiting sky above ~ once again....

Like bursting fireworks flowering lights of freedom
Bursting forth casting sparkles over all that are gifted to see it manifesting...
Embracing subtle falling snatches – remnants of love that spawned from
Unplanned passion ~ as the spark so craved from the one that stands before
The hearth........

Dayeton Larson July 15th.2014

The Waitress - a poem by Audrey Austin

THE WAITRESS 

Wet rag wipes the table

Serviettes  wrap the stainless

Smile glued at the corners

She pretends it is painless. 

It’s too hot; it’s too cold

It’s still raw; it is burned

The cook pays no mind

While the server is spurned. 

Shifts short; she is part-time

Reliant on tips

She swallows her tears

With a smile on the lips.

 

(This poem has been selected for publication as a runner-up in the Ontario Poetry Society's  Arborealis Competition).

 

The Machinist - a poem by Audrey Austin

THE MACHINIST

Plugs are useless

Ipod forbidden

The noise incessant

From morning to night. 

Sparks are flying

Burns best kept hidden

Nothing forgiven

Machine must not cease.

 

Dreams filled with

Holidays, beaches and palms

Ha! Rent paid and bus fares

With each payday’s alms.

The Secretary - a poem by Audrey Austin

THE SECRETARY 

At his urging

fingers fly creating

greedy demands. 

In need of purging

ramrod back in chair

she perseveres. 

Nine to five

day in, day out

she keeps the dream

alive.

 

The Support Worker - a poem by Audrey Austin

THE SUPPORT WORKER 

Heart filled with hope

She lifts the large body

And lathers the soap. 

Hands that are caring

Erase not the vomit 

From scrubs she is wearing. 

Eyes search for life

Still dancing

Slow rhythms of strife.

Happy Canada Day!

 

Happy Canada Day to family, friends and poets everywhere!

DUDLEY - a poem by Eleanor Lambert, Bermuda.

Our precious pet dog lived to a ripe old age
Because of the love and care his mistress gave.
He was a happy dog and just loved to bark
To welcome guests who came by daytime or dark.
He loved to have his picture taken and was always full of fun
He also loved to go for walks and to the lake for a good run.
He was very obedient, very well trained as any dog could be
These are reasons why we all loved him so our precious dog
                             
                                    DUDLEY

A poem of remembrance by Eleanor Lambert, Bermuda.

Her Sweet Kisses Stained with Tears - a poem by Dayeton Larson

Her Sweet Kisses Stained

with Tears

D.Larson Aug.12^th.2011

 

I wake up again, the night is far spent

She clutches to my body, in desperation – seemingly

Her kisses so emphatic, seeking reassurance

With intensity like none other

Her sweet kisses stained with tears

 

I tell her that I love her, once again from my heart

Then we hold each other so dearly and so very close

An eternal embrace that cannot be ever broke

With an intensity like none other

Her sweet kisses stained with tears

 

She sobs with such great passion, “I miss our kids and home”

With their voices calling out “Mom I’m home”

Yes - our children are all gone now, and we hold each other tenderly

With intensity like none other

Her sweet kisses stained with tears

 

I comfort her and reassure, our love just will not fail

We came this far, not looking back, We’ll go on forever more

Our children will fulfill their lives, and succeed where we have failed

But they’ll love us just as we loved them

With sweet kisses stained with tears.

 

A kiss - oh a kiss so pure, with a hug not ending,

True love that never ends, such a wondrous blessing

Such passion that never faded, such joy that still we share

 

With intensity like none other

Her sweet kisses stained with tears

With intensity like none other

Yes, I’ll kiss away her tears

Do You Remember? -- a poem by Dayeton Larson; Elliot Lake

Do You Remember?

 

Do you remember those times we've had together

When we laughed and we cried,  over that glass of fine wine

Do you remember when we hugged and encouraged each other

We shared our hurts and blessings too?

 

Life has been long and really ~ very good to us

We travelled, we stayed home, we spent time together

We sat in the back yard, savoring the odor of our BBQ

We tasted the steaks with fine wine through the evenings...

 

Are these days locked in your mind that seems closed to the outside?

You look so distant, but are you living them again?

You seem to look past me, but are you really seeing me

Back in the days of our youth, as we laughed at life and lived it's fullness?

 

Do sit in your chair and relive those days

Gazing off into the bright future you do see

May I still be there with you as you drift

Into your world of memories and  bliss!

 

Yes, do you remember our days together

So full of life, not caring for the  tomorrow that we can't control

You are blessed as you live that here and now

Locked in your mind that is soon to rest...

On Earth Same As In Heaven - a poem by Rima N. Jaber

On Earth same as in Heaven.

Some people think they own the world,
But in fact they don't even own their own decisions,
They are driven by the blind darkness,...
They forget their own identity, their own heart,
And go to walk in the dark,
 They hate the light and hate its holders,
They get hurt if you want to wake them up,
They will curse you and forever hate you,
They will crucify you,
Make you bleed till death then throw you,

Fighting our light isn't new,
Afraid from the glow of the truth is not new,
The dawn breaking the dark will struggle,
Angels of love will suffer,
God grace will give them power,
And love on Earth will prevail,
Despite of every deadly battle,
The mask will fall,
The hatred will eat itself with auto destruction,
The Kingdom of God is eternal
On Earth same as in Heaven.

Happy Blessed Sunday
Love you all
{{OneLove}}
Rima N. Jaber
© May 18, 2014

Happy Mom's Day :-)

Do You Know Trees? - a poem by Audrey Austin

Do You Know Trees?

From north, from south

To meet in the centre,

Feeling wanting.

Do you know trees?  he asked

And I feel less than I am.

We walk

And I want to look at him

In a way that he can’t look at me,

Protect myself

While I explore

His vulnerability.

I need a hug.

Words come easy to him

And I like the listening.

I like the sound

Of thoughts that don’t feel foreign.

I like the feel of words

That don’t stand alone,

That seek a friend

In their friendly tone.

Sitting on concrete

Feet on grass,

I want to ask, do you like me?

Can the answer to this

Be found in Newton’s Law?

Do I invite him upstairs?

What if he says yes?

What if he says no, I have to go?

What if?

Feeling the wine,

Drinking his words

Touching my heart,

He likes me.

Here’s to friendship.

I need a hug.

I want a hug.

I feel a hug.

I feel like feeling more

But instead I close the door

And now I wait,

Anticipate and wonder.

A Mother's Day Poem by Eleanor Lambert, Bermuda ..

 MOTHERS DAY
                     
It's Mother's Day a time to think of our Mother's,
A time to think of them and chat with one another.

It's hard to find words to say how wonderful they are,
I know that our Mom was truly the best by far.

Our sister Muriel was a wonderful Mother as well
Just a young woman but left a great story to tell.

Our Mom and our Sister were alike in so many ways
And we will miss them always for the rest of our days.

Yes, they have both gone to their eternal reward
To be with God their Saviour and their Lord.

                        Happy Mothers Day
                          Mom and Muriel
                              

A Tribute To Dudley by Eleanor Lambert

A Tribute to Dudley by Eleanor Lambert 


I knew a little dog, whose name was Dudley
He was so cute and also very bubbly,

Sad to say he took sick one day
And we all felt sadder than words could say.

We were so happy because he was on the mend
As bubbly as ever and still our best friend

However, the day came when Dudley took sick again
This time a lot more serious and a lot more pain!

 There was no more that the doctor could do
So we had to bid our little dog Dudley adieu.

He was missed so much by his mistress, you see
And so the void was filled with a beautiful dog named Ki.

Haiku on Spring Flowers by Patricia A. McGoldrick

Haiku on Spring Flowers by Patricia A. McGoldrick

 

purple hyacinths grow

midst perennial fragments

garden is reborn

 © 2014 Patricia A. McGoldrick

 

 

 

 

2014 BIO:

Patricia McGoldrick is a Kitchener, ON, writer. In her poems, stories and essays, she is inspired by the everyday. Patricia is a member of The Ontario Poetry Society and the League of Canadian Poets. Recently, published in the annual collaborative poem, I Hear the Wind Waiting, at leafpress.ca. Follow her on Twitter: @pamcgoldrick. Stop by her blogs at http://pm27.wordpress.com and http://pmpoetwriter.blogspot.ca/ 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing this one, Marleen

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a
     New York Hospital.

         SLOW DANCE

     Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
     Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

     Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
     Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

     You better slow down.
     Don't dance so fast.
     Time is short.
     The music won't last.

     Do you run through each day on the fly?
     When you ask, "How are you?"
     Do you hear the reply?

     When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
     with the next hundred chores running through your head?

     You'd better slow down
     Don't dance so fast.
     Time is short
     The music won't last.

     Ever told your child,
     We'll do it tomorrow?
     And in your haste,
     Not see his sorrow?

     Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
     Cause you never had time
     To call and say, 'Hi'

     You'd better slow down.
     Don't dance so fast.
     Time is short.
     The music won't last..



     When you run so fast to get somewhere,
     You miss half the fun of getting there.

     When you worry and hurry through your day,
     It is like an unopened gift....
     Thrown away.

     Life is not a race.
     Do take it slower
     Hear the music
     Before the song is over.

          
    

     

For The Lost Ones -- a poem by Kimberly Arnold

For The Lost Ones  Written by Kimberly Arnold, March 24, 2012

(After reading the book called, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay)

Taken from their homes in darkness, led away in faith and trust.

How could anyone have foretold, the senseless horror, the ugliness.

At the Velodrome in France, across sea and time so long ago.

There is a story that must be spoken, the truth cruel and unjust.

Vel d’Hiv, is a scar on our souls

Vel d’ Hiv, our humanity broken

Vel d’ Hiv, our legacy to remember

Vel d’ Hiv, our sorrow unspoken

“Spring Breeze” the nazi’s called the raids.

A “Spring Breeze”, that choked and burned

Innocent lives turned into chaos.

Suffering from hatred deeply learned.

Vel d’Hiv, is a scar on our souls

Vel d’ Hiv, our humanity broken

Vel d’ Hiv, our legacy to remember

Vel d’ Hiv, our sorrow unspoken

Turn a blind eye to the round-up

Close your ears to their painful cries

Neighbours feigning ignorance

While those trapped in the horror dome

Bore witness, as too many innocents died.

Vel d’Hiv, is a scar on our souls

Vel d’ Hiv, our humanity broken

Vel d’ Hiv, our legacy to remember

Vel d’ Hiv, our sorrow unspoken

Sixty years have come and gone

Their silence must not be forgotten

Stand with me to bare witness,

For the families that once lived

Pray for the lost children, forever angels they’ll remain

Four thousand voices strong will sing their haunting refrain

Vel d’Hiv is a scar on our souls

Vel d’ Hiv, our humanity broken

Vel d’ Hiv, our legacy to remember

Vel d’ Hiv, our sorrow unspoken