Death of a Hero - 2010

I had idols growing up as most boys do. I dreamed of playing baseball like Mickey Mantle or maybe even being President someday but family heroes were few and far between. I had a relative that was in the Air Force, a military officer. What boy is not mesmerized by seeing a man in a uniform with ribbons and shining brass? I held him higher than I should have and lately have come to understand once again that heroes are human too. They have their frailties and weak spots, as did this one. My sadness is not in revering him as much as I did but not understanding that there really are no heroes only people who look like them.

Death of a Hero

Childhood days are spent in wonder

As we grow along each day

And heroes pull our world asunder

As we travel on the way.

Heroes are the glue that makes us

Dream and hope for bigger things

But when they die by lies, mistrust

Pain lasts longer than the sting.

My hero was a military man

He stood so straight and tall

But underneath his kindly gaze

He cast a frightening pall.

A family man was he to all

Who saw, admired as he went

Into our lives he came to call

Into his family, came to rent.

For anger caused him to display

A justice harsh and somewhat scary

And children feared in great dismay

And wept at loveless acts that varied.

He meted justice harsh and swift

Loveless all within his plan

Laid waste to all touched by his “gift”

The thunder rained from his right hand.

A childlike look has now been changed

But to the right it seems

My thoughts and praise now rearranged

The ceasing of my childlike dream.

A hero’s death is most times sadness

To gather to my in most being

But reverence not to one so callous

The pain now know was in the seeing.

For to his pain he knows no glory

But ill repute of harms he casts

His death a welcome end of story

His death erases from my past.

A Sisterhood of Two - 2010

This was written with two sisters in mind, one born normally and the other with greater physical challenges in her life. It could be written for any brothers and sisters where one is so much more blessed physically than the other. Sometimes we get lost within the framework of our life and fail to see our own blessings in regards to another's misfortune. Call it pity, whatever, we need to continue to count our blessings and hold up those who are less fortunate that many times are holding us up silently with their love.

A Sisterhood of Two

Not many years ago it seems

Two girls were born with endless dreams

And to them held a candle bright

To shine forever through their night.

One came small and tiny fair

With eyes so blue and dark brown hair

The other came with love unmeasured

Both to them their parent’s pleasure.

One was given gifts and more

Than one could want to have in store

The other not as much for sure

And not the kind that could endure.

For daily life is hard to plead

When given less than what we need

And to the other sun shone bright

On endless days of moonlit nights.

For one had all she ever needed

And to the other so not heeded

That one should leave and other stay

The leader path’s that led away.

And as she walked into the future

One to lead and one to nurture

For in the follower was given

Something greater than in heaven.

For to them both a bond they share

Of love and honor, love filled care

But more than that to them imbued

A sister’s love a love for two.

Brotherhood - 2010

Dedicated to Skip West on his 61st birthday. His continued friendship, love and support have enriched the memories of my life.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood is so much more

Than time well spent in yonder days

It is a bond we keep in store

As we meander through our days.

It brings us memories of yore

When times were simple to us still

But as we age we find them more

The pattern that is God’s own will.

For we have seen life at it best

Tasted every day its glory

We’ve seen the sadness, our behest

Every day has shown its story.

But through it all we stayed the course

And held to us our boyhood bond

For we are brothers, no remorse

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

So wishes to you on this day

Take them with you as you go

Our bond is solid; let it stay

God’s will has ever made it so.

I Remember

In memory of Earl Stueve my best friend in grade school. I have so many memories of Earl and his love for insects and animals. He was a small but mighty person and he was my best friend during those years. Even though our lives have taken us different directions I will always remember those times and what his friendship meant to me. Rest in Peace, my good friend.

I Remember

I remember days when we

Were small and bounced on daddy’s knee

And then we went to school one day

And learned a different way to play.

I remember school friends when

We played and learned the meaning then

Of friendship, play and memories made

That last until this very day.

For friendship need not be a day

Or time when all we do or say

The feelings that we showed back then

When we were young and still best friends.

I will remember, always kept

Within my heart like when we met

On school ground swing set soaring high

Into that endless blue filled sky.

For you are now within that sky

No longer here, no longer nigh

But in my heart you’re memory so

Like when we played so long ago.

Honor Guard - 2009

Today I will serve on my first honor guard for VFW Post 12034 and this poem is not only to honor the veteran today but all of those who have gone on before. I am honored to serve.

Honor Guard

Today I’ll stand next to your grave
An honor to be told
I’ll never know the service gave
By you in days of old.

But today I’ll stand and honor you
I’ll never know the cost
You gave to us, you gave your due
The time to you was lost.

The time with family, kids and wife
While serving far to our great cause
The days and hours of your life
Today I’ll stop and give you pause.

To give you one more moment’s time
To honor you with humble heart
And raise salute and not opine
A Brother still and not to part.

Rest well my brother, service done
Your time with us is now time past
But know your service to us won
A service that to us will last.

For my granddaughter, Maddie, on her 11th birthday.

For My Maddie

As you grow from young girl now
And see the future to unfold
Be not afraid but know somehow
Your presence here is to be bold.

For you are here to serve a purpose
To guide, assist along life’s way
Deep to yourself and not the surface
Have truth in all you do and say.

For life is but a blessing rendered
When you live a life well met
Of family, home and hearth most tender
A life well lived with no regret.

So choose your friends and be most able
To serve your fellow man with care
And worry not for your own table
A life of love and care most fair.

So grow my child and feel the rapture
And live so happy here to dwell
Let life be warm and in it capture
Life’s essence for you still to tell.

Thank You - 2009

For all those that have served this great country from its inception to today, Thank you for your sacrifice and call to duty. What you do is special to all of us and we honor you and carry you everyday in our hearts and minds.

Thank You

Thank you for the years you’ve spent
In times of silent loneliness
In hell that gave you great torment
When time was spent in such distress.

You spent your time in quiet pose
Eyes alert into the night
And watched the wall for unknown foes
And waited for a need to fight.

You prayed for calm and knew the fear
That soon might be a time of fright
You sat and watched and lent an ear
In silence listened to the night.

For those on watch are never resting
When they guard our peaceful homes
And when the time of greater testing
Brings to them a time unknown.

For heroes know the price they pay
When they’re called into that moment
When called upon into the fray
They sit and watch the battle foment.

Until they rise and forward go
With no regard as to their being
But go and fight against the foe
That finally is within their seeing.

For warriors are not born, but made
When times is asked for them to spend
And so they go not unafraid
Our freedom’s peril, they must defend.

Thank you from our heart’s recesses
For you have given us your all
To each brave soul He surely blesses
Our thanks will ever be our call.