Heavenly Father, hear my prayer
in this new year we still care
for peace and love and hope
give us the strength to cope

Give us the faith to trust in God
for each and every need
the fortitude to do what's right
and on His Spirit, feed

Heavenly Father, hear our voice
for a nation that is bleeding
physically and spiritually
it's not Your voice we're heeding

The world is chaos and confusion
they're calling evil good
they've done away with sin
not doing what they should

Heavenly Father, hear my plea
Your the hope of our salvation
we await Your son's return
to heal this broken nation.

When troubles occur, you laugh
why is that?
I take it is because you have all the answers
and I have to laugh myself
and because I love you Lord.

In the passages of time, your there
with sparling eyes and long red hair
we fell in love so easily it seemed
was it so real or was it just a dream?
For the first time in my life, I fell
from my empty room and cell
head over heels in love with you
into your  warm embrace, I flew.
In the memory of time, your there
but the passages of age is never fair
our love eroded by neglect
how sad, the memories reflect
Time is never kind to those apart
to those left with  a broken heart
bittersweet photos of a ugly end
things we couldn't fight off or defend.
In my mind's eye, your there
sparkling eyes and wind-blown hair
a sad reminder of the love we shared
when, once upon a time, we cared.

If your reading this, take heart
it's for you and you alone
for the poetry you write
that makes us sigh and groan;
that makes grin and smile
that inspires and enlightens
our each and every mile
that gives us cries of sorrow
that stirs our hearts to gladness,
that tugs at our emotions
that keeps us all from madness.
Ours is a special group
we honor one another
with tales of poetry
for our sister and our brother.
So, here's to you, the poet
may your poems sing loud and clear
may you never cease to write
causing tears and cheers!!

A little while with love and laughter
a little time with tears and smiles
some vivid haunting memories
takes us across the miles...

Walking through the sands of time
we face the coming seasons
some are meaningful and strong
some are without rhyme or reason...

A little while with family
a little while with friends
the life that we tread on
seems it will never end.

But then, it does surprise us
in varied, puzzled ways
the end becomes apparent
as we enter final days.

A little time with magic
a little time with joy
take the time to lengthen it
and more memories to employ.

In the east, the day is dawning
at  6 am, I'm still yawning
sipping my early cup of joe
I ponder, where it is, I'd like to go.
That's retirement, I guess
finally done with work, I now  can rest
no more punching timeclocks
no snarled traffic or roadblocks.
How do I spend my time, I ask myself
walking, reading, writing,
dusting off neglected shelves
loafing on the open porch
until I feel the sun begin to scorch.
Taking long, warm baths and showers
stopping to admire flowers
curling up with one good book
not much caring, how I look.
Eating foods that I love best
watching hair fade from my chest
doing things that give me pleasure
in whatever form or measure.
On my face is one big Smiley
as I live,  the life of Riley.

There is no snow, but
leaves have lost their hold
there is no frigid wind
but  the morning's bright and cold.
And so I ask myself...
do I really want to walk?
the urge to go is strong
but my body balks.
My  dog waits patiently
gives me a puzzled look
he ***** his head as if to ask
he knows me like a book.
For him I bend a little
he means the world to me
I picture him outside
loose and  running free.
And I cave in to canine wishes
to the love of my dog, I submit
he so easy to please
don't want him to throw a fit
and so I go.