Irish Blessing

Irish Blessing

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

Mustang Sally

Mustang Sally

Mustang Sally, guess you better slow your mustang down.
Mustang Sally, now baby, guess you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over town.
Oh! I guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground.

All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
One of these early mornings, I’m gonna be wiping those weeping eyes.

I bought you a brand new mustang 'bout nineteen sixty five
Now you come around signifying a woman, you won’t, you won’t let me ride.
Mustang Sally, now baby, guess you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over town.
Oh! I guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground.

All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
One of these early mornings, oh, I’m gonna be wiping those weeping eyes.

Wilson Pickett
(this version done by Joe Cocker)
 

The Old Misty Tree

The Old Misty Tree

The Old Misty Tree

The old misty tree stands all on her own
Watching and waiting, forever alone

Once she was young, just a century since
When children with joy, did laughter dispense

When lovers did meet with wine and embrace
Lay under her bows, shed shyness and lace

Yet now she has aged, grown hard and too cold
Seen far too much, with nothing to hold

Her limbs creek and rattle, her leaves flutter dry
Her trunk wide and gnarled, her heart full of sighs

Owls sit high upon her, in deepest of night
Birds nest in her crooks, red feathers a bright

Within her dank holes, squirrels snuggle sweet babes
Wild nature abounds in the cool of her shade

The years she has seen, the ages gone by
The sorrows she knows, the reasons she cries

She’s been there for many and seen them all die
She’s questioned and wondered and asked her God why

Why a tree must grow old, and stand through the years
When all else that sprouts must soon disappear

If only she could, she’d pass from this earth
Rest and then sleep while others are birthed

Yet stand she still must, till her time of release
When she too can find silence, darkness and peace

So know you know why, when you pass her by
Why her brown leaves weep misty, when the skies, they are dry

Tim Wilkinson & Wayne Wilks

The Shell

 

The Shell

One last walk along the beach before I say goodbye
The time here was a dream come true
A joy for mind and eye,

The waves, the air, the glorious sky
Renewal of my soul
At times I just would cry,

And as I strolled a shell unusual amongst the rest had caught my eye
So perfect in shape and color
Iridescent glints reflected in rainbow hues
Lavender, violet, golden yellow, orange and brilliant blue,
And as I turned it over catching the reflection of the sun,
It seemed to capture all the beauty and peace I had experienced,

The blazing sun, the immense white clouds, the countless stars,
The waves
All encased in this lovely shell within my hand
That the sand and water had made,
A memory held now forever captured in this shell,

The waves will forever be changing
The sky and clouds as well
But the colors and memories will forever remain
In this perfect shell.

Nancy Crossland

Snow Queen

Snow Queen

The Snow Queen’s dressed in a gown of white
A tiara of icicles, glistening bright
Shoes of crystal, wand of light
On this sparkling winter’s night.

Kimberly Dunn

Full Punxsutawney Moon

Full Punxsutawney Moon

Three days later, early, certainly
well before sunrise, after the graspers

and flashers have packed up and gone,
after the national news has had its say,

under a staring, starry, cut-glass sky
and a moon shivering its way toward

moonset, the groundhog steps warily out,
its snout in snow a foot or more deep.

Relieved, at last, of the press of local
press and the tyranny of network tourists

he lounges in the full moon’s light,
each icy whisker distinct, resplendent,

its shadow a mere matter of fact
on otherwise unbroken snow.

Ron. Lavalette

She No Longer Remembered

(I long to go back to the deep woods. The solitude, with only the company of the wildlife, beckons me.

Thank you, Doug, for this great write! )

She No Longer Remembered

She went to live among the trees
On the banks of a river wide
The wind was her music
The forest was her guide
She no longer remembered
Why she had cried

Douglas Evans

The Buck in the Snow

The Buck in the Snow

White sky, over the hemlocks bowed with snow,
Saw you not at the beginning of evening the antlered buck and his doe
Standing in the apple-orchard? I saw them. I saw them suddenly go,
Tails up, with long leaps lovely and slow,
Over the stone-wall into the wood of hemlocks bowed with snow.

Now he lies here, his wild blood scalding the snow.

How strange a thing is death, bringing to his knees, bringing to his antlers
The buck in the snow.
How strange a thing--a mile away by now, it may be,
Under the heavy hemlocks that as the moments pass
Shift their loads a little, letting fall a feather of snow--
Life, looking out attentive from the eyes of the doe.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

The Fab 50's

Rock Around The Clock

One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock, rock,
Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, rock,
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, rock,
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.

Put your glad rags on and join me, hon,
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one,
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

When the clock strikes two, three and four,
If the band slows down we'll yell for more,
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

When the chimes ring five, six and seven,
We'll be right in seventh heaven.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

When it's eight, nine, ten, eleven too,
I'll be goin' strong and so will you.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

When the clock strikes twelve, we'll cool off then,
Start a rockin' round the clock again.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

Bill Haley and His Comets

Man On The Street

Man on the Street

They looked away
He wasn't like they were,
They walked straight, were clear of skin
and neat,

They turned and whispered
Shook their heads,
He shouldn't be out among us
He should be off the street,

He shuffled along bent and twisted
With blotchy skin and tattered clothes,

He thought to himself
I shouldn't be out on the street,
The way I am;
But no one knows,

There was a time I stood straight as an oak,
Shaved smooth and clean,
The finest clothes and shoes I'd wear,
Before the times were lean,

Then all my treasures turned to dust,
My loved ones walked away,
Success and reputation gone
Hard times and illness filled my days,

I was like them who shun me,
Offended by the sight
What I've become,
A victim of my plight,

If only I could warn them,
If they'd listen to what I say,
But I know better
They'll have to find out their own way

Nancy Ellen Crossland

The Soothing Sea

The Soothing Sea

Let the soothing sea heal my heart
From a lost love that tore it apart
Let the setting sun heal my soul
From a long fall to a rocky shoal
Let the sailing star heal my mind
From a lie that had made me blind

Blue Pueblo

Happy New Year 2011!

My New Year's Resolution

I will not throw the cat out the window
Or put a frog in my sister's bed
I will not tie my brother's shoelaces together
Nor jump from the roof of Dad's shed
I shall remember my aunt's next birthday
And tidy my room once a week
I'll not moan at Mum's cooking (Ugh! fish fingers again!)
Nor give her any more of my cheek.
I will not pick my nose if I can help it
I shall fold up my clothes, comb my hair,
I will say please and thank you (even when I don't mean it)
And never spit or shout or even swear.
I shall write each day in my diary
Try my hardest to be helpful at school
I shall help old ladies cross roads (even if they don't want to)
And when others are rude I'll stay cool.
I'll go to bed with the owls and be up with the larks
And close every door behind me
I shall squeeze from the bottom of every toothpaste tube
And stay where trouble can't find me.
I shall start again, turn over a new leaf,
leave my bad old ways forever
shall I start them this year, or next year
shall I sometime, or .....?

Robert Fisher

Merry Christmas 2010!

 

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell rock

Video Here 

Fuego's Freedom

Fuego’s Freedom

If you could’ve sworn you’d seen a horse
Charging out of a flame
Or forming out of an autumn leaf
Maybe you’ve seen Fuego’s spirit
For he is a whinny into the moon at night
And a fiery, restless creature
Starved of freedom
His mortal self
Couldn’t live off fenced pasture
He is now a wild thing
Every October he scours the scape
For a place as remote and wild as his spirit
Fuego may pay you a visit
During his journey
For a loco sort of liberty
Will Fuego, a whinny into the moon at night
A restless spirit, an autumn leaf, a stray flame…
Find his long lost freedom…
In you?

by HorsesForever, age 10

Mirror Mirror

Mirror, Mirror, Bloody Fibber

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Can't you show me tall and slim?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Must I look so bloody grim?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
You're distorting my poor waist!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
And why the heck am I defaced?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Why have I a double chin?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
And what's the stupid, goofy grin?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Pointless asking ‘Who’s the fairest-?
More bloody likely, 'Who’s the queerest? ’
Now look, I paid a big bucks for thee,
So why can’t you be nice to me?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who’s the fairest of them all?
Me, you say? Ah, that's better -
Mirror, mirror, bloody fibber!

Copyright Mark R Slaughter 2009

A Poet's Cat

A Poet’s Cat

A poet's cat sedate and grave
As poet well could wish to have,
Was much addicted to inquire
For nooks, to which she might retire,
And where, secure as mouse in chink,
She might repose, or sit and think.
I know not where she caught the trick -
Nature perhaps had cast her
In such a mould philosophique
Or else she learn'd it of her master.

William Cowper

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

I’m Thankful for You

Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let’s be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I’m thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!

By Joanna Fuchs

Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon

The Canyon is 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of more than 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level. It is often claimed that Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. 

The largest, the Grand Canyon, is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 6,000 ft. deep.

It is located in Northern Texas 27 miles southeast of Amarillo. It’s a 2 hour drive from my home. I visited there 30 years ago when my parents took me to see the play “Texas”. The play takes place outdoors in the hills of the canyon during the summer months and is amazing to see. 

I’m hoping to make a return visit someday.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Palo Duro Canyon

    God with his infinite power, millions of years ago
    In some important hour carved the Palo Duro.
    He leveled the plains around it and capped it with a rim of stone...
    Most any child can bound it, creation, that's God's own.

    In the center he placed great rocks, and springs on the mountainside...
    Then flowers and ferns and flox, and stately shading trees abide...
    He placed meandering streamlets, flowing from side to side...
    And many side canyons and inlets, controlling torrents and tide.

    Vandals may attempt to destroy God's marvelous works, divine...
    But oh, let future peoples enjoy, Palo Duro's wondrous design...
    Was there ever before such beauty, such blending of tints and hue?
    To preserve it now is man's duty...
    May he to this trust be true.

    L. Gough
 

She Danced

She Danced

She danced to forget the loss of love
She danced to remember the passion of love
She danced to lose herself in rhythm
She danced to find herself in rhyme
She danced to dry her tears
She danced to face her fears
She danced until heart and soul were healed

Blue Pueblo

Salad is Incompatible with Life

Salad is Incompatible with Life

Yes, my waist is fifty inches -
Big for me because I'm short.
And yes, I like my cheddar cheese
When partnered with a vintage port.

Okay, okay, that double cream
Is always served with pud,
And cake and biscuits with my tea
Are just no bloody good

For my poor hardened arteries.
But see my point of view,
Please dear wifey if you please -
A Salad makes me spew!

I'd rather eat a bowl of air
Than crunch away on greens;
Drink water from the toilet bowl
Or nibble on my jeans!

But salad! Are you there?
You know it makes me snappy -
So let me fill my face with grub,
Stay fat, and die young happy!

Copyright Mark R Slaughter 2009