Pictures

I've taken many pictures 

Of things that caught my eye

To freeze in time a moment 

Or help remember why. 

But it's interesting I've missed so much by living day to day

In work and in myself I've always lost my way,

And missed the Truth thats there to see in even little things. 

A picture of my daughter's smile

And the honesty and the joy it brings. 

A picture taken of myself 

Just tells me of my age 

As time keeps ticking on

My days turn one more page

And things I try to keep in mind

And keep from my forgetting 

Just seem to take more time 

and I truly fear regretting 

Not being there for you at times

To give you things you need;

To help you up and talk with you and all the other things I do.  

So I take pictures to freeze in time and capture what I see

So when I hold them in my hand 

I see you loving me. 

Old Age and Treachery

"Old age and treachery 

Will always overcome

Youth and inexperience"

That's what my Dad would say 

To me over and over again

With a triumphant tone

As if to give a warning 

And make me aware that

Defeat was my rite of passage 

To manhood. 

To lose was to learn I learned 

At least from his view. 

So I didn't want to lose 

And I began to embrace treachery, and yes old age 

As much as I could at my young age though I wasn't treacherous 

And I wasn't old. 

But I'm not so young anymore. 

My Appointed Time

I came at my appointed time

And was your loving friend

The sickness though I claimed as mine

And held it till the end.

The time I spent right here with you

through all these loving years

Was very comforting and good

You loved me and I loved you too

And yet you understood

That I knew I had done my work

And it was time to go

And you don't need to worry now

Because I really know

That I can smile and leave the pain

Finally this time

And I know I have served you well

at my appointed time.

Say It

When we met I watched your mouth to make out every word

You said many things to me, and everything I heard

Your eyes contained a few more things that speaking didn't say

And I heard you loud and clear

And understood you anyway

We talked about the starry night

I held for you the door

I offered you my coat and then you turned to me once more

You told me that you loved me

And then looked me in the eye

I told you that I loved you too

You said, "Do you ever wonder why?"

I hadn't really thought that much about her many reasons

Her mood is unpredictable and changes with the seasons

She said, "I know you have to work real hard and would rather just be kissing.  

Or doing something more than that and often end up wishing.  

But you can hear my many words and I'll say that what I may,

You know what I really mean regardless what I say."

Orion and Scorpio

I look up to the Winter sky and there I see a friend

Who's been there looking down on me and will be to my end

He holds his sword and keeps at bay the biting winter cold

Though I have seen him many years he never will grow old

I look up to the Summer sky and there I see a friend

Who's been there looking down on me and will be to my end

Who shows his claws and curls his tail as if to give me warning

That life is short and to give thanks

For each and every morning.

Broken

I have stood on mountain tops

Been through most valleys low

Have crossed all oceans blue

And yet I still don't know

Where love goes on to

Still makes me wonder so

A heart may tend to wander much

Though no man is an island

Spent days to try to figure as much

But could not compute a sum

Of how much I have learned to date

Then tried to forget it all with rum

There's one thing that I know for sure

It may be worth but a token

No heart can ever love as much

As a heart that has been broken.

My Wife

I pause to put to words
It's difficult to say
Wishing more revealed
Though it's always on display
A force that fills the air
With sweetness and perfume
No one is not aware
When she is in the room

Longer

I really need arms that are longer
A little more flexible
And a whole lot stronger
As more time goes by
Where ever you go on to
I'd reach out to grab you
And not let time fly

I really need legs that are longer
A little bit faster
And a whole lot more tall
From above I would watch
And keep up with you too
And try to remember
All the great things you do

I really need hair that is longer
A little bit thicker
And not turning grey
As if I were younger
And rewind today
I'd like to start over
And watch from the start
My beautiful daughter
The joy of my heart

The Canoe

She pulled on her chinstrap
Her helmet was snug
The river was calm
She stepped on a bug
They gave her a paddle
It was wooden and tall
She knocked a little boy over the head and made him bawl
Stay out of my path she thought
Cause this thing weighs a lot
Into her canoe she jumped with another girl
She said last time she did this it made her hurl
Off the bank she pushed and the boat shook
You take your side I'll take mine
Vomit girl gave a worried look
On down the river they paddled
She was having a blast and just couldn't be rattled
Ain't this how the Indians did it?
I bet they had fun too.
The rapids are fast but I'm not scared.
I love my canoe!

Good Morning To You

Good morning to you
I hope your day is great
You've got lots to do
You don't want to be late
You could climb a tree
Or jump in a puddle
Your time is free
Ashlyn Suttle
You should eat a good brunch
The fruit is real good
but there is little time to munch
You should nap if you could
The camp is real pretty
Your friends think you're witty
They take pictures all the time
You smile and pose
And sometimes you crinkle your nose
Your Mom and Dad miss you
And truly love you so
We asked Lulu about you but she just said No
Have fun at camp my dear
In your thoughts keep us near
We wait for your return one day
But until then in our hearts you will stay

Love Dad

The Pool

Today I went down to the pool
I looked up and what did I see
A bar hung by two ropes
Swinging as high as a tree
Sally jumped right up on there
And swung real high through the air
Rashonda looked at me
I said heck no I'm not going up there
I heard about what happened to Reggie
He came up with a wedgie.
I wasn't even wet not even one drop
Until Betty landed a belly flop
Caroline said i could fly through the air
I said I just didnt care
Johnny said I must be a wuss.
Uh oh.....
Sally, Rashonda, Betty, and Caroline
Knew that Johnny just crossed a line
All stood by the pool with their mouths agape
While Johnny made futile attempt at escape
While high on the platform i towered
Above little Johnny I peered down and glowered
Without hesitation I lept forward and free
I'll teach you to name call me!
It seemed suddenly i was high and free
How was I swinging by one knee?
The whole pool stopped cold to look up and stare
Where Johnny wound up I was not aware
Way up in the air I realized to be
A double pirouette by a wuss like me.