Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Cancel my subscription.

 




"Why do you wish to cancel?"

the Indian gentleman queried,

but I was far too wearied

to tell a man who didn't care,

so far away in folding chair,

so said: "To build a chancel."


Our best days are ahead of us, not behind us.

 



Look ahead, and hope to gain

all the Lord for us doth deign.

Bitter as today may be,

tomorrow's possibility

holds miracles like clouds hold rain.




Monday, January 4, 2021

The welfare of my soul

 




Though I clothe myself in satin

and feed richly on risole,

what's the use of fancy living

that neglects my needy soul?

Feasting on the scriptures whole

will my spirit instead fatten!



Sunday, January 3, 2021

A winter bird

 


A winter bird with stiffened wings

that found its flight too full of stings.

Pinioned in some bushes handy,

looking like a Spanish grandee.

With Spring, perhaps, surprising thaws

will help both he and I feel dandy.



Remember when we were in Calipers?

 



Remember when we were in Calipers,

and you wore a Fleischmann's Yeast ring?

Your Aqua Net hair made so many stare,

while Folgers around us did sing!


And then there was Wahpeton Station,

where we drank our Gallo in bliss;

the Glidden sprang up like some frisky pup --

we ran, but the Beech-Nut did miss.


The Felbish was never so Hamline,

the Bicycle Cards never blew

all over the decks like handfuls of Chex

when we drove down Route 42.


The Hostess and Clorox have faded.

Crayola and Culligan too.

But Dr. Scholl's patch can never detach

that London Fog that we once knew!



You'll come back to me

 



You'll come back to me;

or I'll come back to you.

Wouldn't it be nice

if such things would come true?

But you left long ago

and I've moved on since then;

the bitter tides insist --

'There is no where or when.'

The words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

 



The words of Jesus Christ secure

us from all folly and allure

that otherwise sends us adrift

and makes of life but dull short shrift.

Heed his words today to be

caught up in full felicity.

Saturday, January 2, 2021

My son had a blanket

 




My son had a blanket he carried about.

All color dragged out of it finally.

It was his totem and breechclout.


It was more real to him than Amy and I.

I took it away once to punish him.

He lay down like roadkill to cry.


But I thought pity should not my duty cloy.

I was very wrong -- but he won't hear me now

when I say "Forgive me, my dear little boy."

Incorrect traditions.

 




Examine ev'ry custom that you follow willy-nilly;
some are beneficial but how many are just silly?
Superstitious dogma or attraction to sly fraud
still keep so many people from quite understanding God.

Friday, January 1, 2021

Having been favored above every other nation.

 



The favor of the Lord is great,

but those who do procrastinate

and let in lazy slipshod ways

will find that laxness never pays.

Their former glory will depart,

to leave behind a crippled heart.