Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Saturday, July 4, 2026

"Semiquincentennial"

Go-karts
Pizza
Pizza
Waiting for ice cream
Live music
Waiting for ice cream
Live music
Waiting with i
                      c
                         e

Anyone have a napkin?

Fireworks—
right overhead! 

                              c
                                r
                                  e America!

Friday, December 23, 2022

"It's Christmas At Last"

The weather outside is frightful,
but the fire is delightful

Jessica's here with her parents;
the tree is decked with presents

The Grinch is on the tube;
the Rackley boys are enthused

It's Christmas at last,
and we're having a blast!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

"Thankful in Missouri"

Wind chimes
A fire pit
And a four-year-old
Running around the pool

Sunday, May 8, 2016

"For Mom"

I did not have a choice
In who I got for mother,
But even if I did,
I would not choose another

She gets my silly jokes
Right away or soon thereaft’;
My heart sure loves to smile
When Dad or I make her laugh

She taught me all thro’ life,
Such as how to fold clean socks,
Drip castles at the beach,
And fresh undies for the doc

When snoozing in the morn,
Once or twice, but never thrice,
All others hear the beep;
Best get up before the ice

On tax and other such,
My knowledge is ‘most bereft,
But this I know for sure:
Debits always on the left

She loves her only boy
And she loves his three sons too
And that—love—is the
Most important thing to do

And so I hope you see,
When we honor all mothers,
I’m grateful and I’m glad,
And could not choose another

Thursday, March 31, 2016

"It Has Begun"

Let there be
Let them be gathered
Let them produce
And it was good

Let us make
And it was very good

Two certain trees
Surrounded by a garden
Two cherished ones
Parents of all men

Eve was tempted
Adam complicit
Nakedness known

The gate closed
God looked on,
Sorrowed, forlorn
"It has begun"

Let there be
Let her conceive
Let her choose
And she was good

Let him live
And he was very good

One certain tree
Not in a garden
One cherished one
Penance for all men

Christ was silent
Accusers complained
Righteousness sown

The nails pierced
God looked down,
Bleeding and scorned
"It is done"

Let them see
Let them be gathered
Let them rejoice
The news was good

Let him save
The news was very good

One certain stone
Rolled in a garden
One promised one
Presence to the end

Love is moving
Always comforting
Righteousness known

The Son rose
God looked 'round,
Veil's been torn
"It has begun"

Thursday, December 24, 2015

"Let It Rain"

Oh, the feelings inside are frightful
Up and down is not delightful
And since I’ve caused so much pain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

You haven’t shown signs of talking
Changed your number and now blocking
And since my eyes are not drained
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

When I finally fall asleep
How I’ll toss, turn thro’ the whole night
But if I ever find my dream
You will be back and all’s right


adapted from "Let It Snow"
Vaughn Monroe, 1945
RCA Records

Sunday, June 15, 2014

"Dadvice: Wisdom From A Beloved Wiseguy"

Think before you speak
Finish what you start
Everything in moderation
Even moderation
Embellish for the pleasure of the listener
Presentation is ninety percent
Kneel to propose
Timing is everything

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

"Streams"

Hidden in the words
My heart pours out
Everything I see
Is somehow part of me

The way I see it
The way I say it
Giving it all a reason
Changes with each season

Gray clouds overhead
Tilted earth beneath
Winter’s temp begs to fall
And pull me down
  Temptation’s call

Box of clean and of fresh
Another soiled by what passed through flesh
A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!
What the heck?
That’s what happens when pen just rolls

Heavy set and muscles flat
Need to lose that burdensome fat
New Year’s Day—do I resolve
Or trust in God my life to solve?

A waist is a terrible thing to mind
As in a tyrant, grumbling on high
Am I supposed to be fat?
Or can I shed that?

What’s the point, tipped in ink
That marks up paper as I think?
At least it’s not a broken pencil
You know? Pointless

My pen has a ball that rolls
God gave me a call that grows
With each passing hour
My stomach turns and milk sours

I have not met my dreams
They drag their wearied feet
Refusing to get up and run
Or is it me who thinks all is done?

Fourteen years since technical fear
Add a couple since the end year
And now we wait, still here
When are you coming, coming near?
We wait for you, your people dear
Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly near

Where’s the fruit?
Should I turn away from meat?
My belly cries “No!”
But I must wait for God’s “Go!”
Not my decision
  But Yours O God
Shall I, shall I?
Tell me, tell me

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

"A Sage's Christmas Wish"

Changing bulbs
On a ladder
Have to pee!
Need a bigger bladder

Grandson crying
What’s the matter?
Must now wee!
Wish I had a bigger bladder

Dramatic movie
Could get sadder
Missed that scene
Really need a bigger bladder

Better hurry
Just might splatter
Had to wee
Should’ve had a bigger bladder

Friday, July 5, 2013

"Fido's First Fourth"

My humans stayed home today
I still woke them in my cold-nose way
But they went back to sleep!
After Bacon, we stood by the street
I didn’t get to play—or sniff
I had to sit, stay—quite stiff
A long line of strangers
Smelled a lot but no dangers
They waved bandanas on sticks
(Should’ve played fetch for kicks)
Later, stood around Box That Burns
Smelled so good—drooled and yearned
Tasted one: not at all bad
Just wish they wouldn’t call them that
Finally played—at the park!!
Chased a ball, tried not to bark
Big Yellow Ball went away
(They call it “night”: end of day)
Thought we would leave soon
Instead, bright lights and big booms
My people liked—even howled!
(I whined and...wetted a towel)
Home at last, Boy gave me a treat
Curled up on my bed—time. to. sleep.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

"For Cardinals"

Wild garland on Christmas spruce
Flying reminders of new life soon
Red crests through winters long
Down the lane
Leading us in song

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

"Jesus Is Lord"

From straw-lined cave
To shattered grave
Jesus is Lord

From borrowed manger
To Emmaus stranger
Jesus is Lord

From virgin womb
To empty tomb
Jesus is Lord

From miraculous birth
To three days in the earth
Jesus is Lord

From light's first glory
To the end of His story
Jesus is Lord

From before creation
To after Revelation
Lord Jesus is

Sunday, December 11, 2011

"The Same As Ours"

In Bethlehem, in a manger one night,
Was born our Lord, a child with skin like snow;
No, no, no! He was dark, as black as night!
I have to ask: why do we argue so?
What color, do you think, were His new eyes?
They were probably a dark shade of brown,
But what’s it matter? He created skies!
This season, we honor that God came down
Let’s stop our fighting and our bickering;
He was not born for one color of skin
Celebrate Jesus Christ, our new born King!
And remember, later, He died for sin
 We must not forget—and His was a flood—
 What matters most: the color of His blood

Monday, December 5, 2011

"Shepherd's Treasure"

Sunny morning in old Bethlehem town
Young boy seeking fun and looking around
Under and around his uncle’s low bed
Young boy found a package wrapped all in red

He opened it with extra special care
Must be something ever so very rare
Inside, a curving thing with shape of horn
It was hollowed out, from a ram’s head shorn

On to adventure, the young boy exclaimed
He dashed out seeking fame or some new game
Carrying with him his newly found prize
Wanted his friends to know it with their eyes

For what is it designed, they dared to ask
Not too sure, perhaps some watering task
Down to the well they excitedly ran
Water flowing, they washed their dirty hands

And then they saw across the dusty street
The old innkeeper making sadly greet
A man and his new bride (and she with child)
In the inn’s stable they had to reside

Returning to his home, ran the young boy
Laughing with delight, he played with new toy
Shepherd saw the horn and he did know it
He then taught his nephew how to blow it

Boy rested, contented smile on his face
‘Twas not too long when brightness lit the place
Soon after—shepherds’ shouts and running steps
With the commotion, boy no longer slept

Leaping, awake and alert, from his bed
Shepherd’s nephew followed to inn’s cold shed
They all found man and bride smiling greatly
To them, the best thing to happen lately

And finally, at length, and now at last
Our young boy did make his new horn to blast
Put to lips, the shepherd’s horn has been blown
Sound blared, the meaning suddenly is known

Starry, cold night in old Bethlehem town
People gathered from near and all around
This newborn baby, a king to behold
Jesus, the Christ, just as prophets foretold

The Light of lights is born and now has shined
In these, our world’s very darkest of times
Shepherd and nephew have beheld the King
And ushered in His reign with trumpeting

Saturday, December 26, 2009

"'Twas The Morn After Christmas"

On the other side of a nine-paneled pane,
Leaveless trees shivering in the cold,
Branches stretching, reaching, aching for the sun

Within, sleep and slumber start to wane
Four generations celebrating the Birth
People stretching, reaching, waking—new day begun