Father’s Day Oath • Be A Man

Tags

Fatherhood, Love, Poem, Poet, Poetry

As my father has taught me, I would like to pass on some of the rules to follow as a man that will earn you respect, loyalty, and happiness. Happy Father’s Day!

I. Anger, sadness, fear and humility are private moments. Keep them private.

II. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

III. Stand by your friends.

IV. Love should be the first and last emotion of your day.

V. It’s okay to sit on the end of a log when you don’t know the way.

VI. God comes first. Always. Everytime.

VII. Learn to trust. Learn to trust yourself first.

VIII. Dare to achieve, but accept failure as the shadow to success.

IX. Don’t try to “earn” love or friendships. Be true to yourself and love and friendships will find you.

X. Fairness applies to ALL persons, not just to the persons you do like or do not like.

XI. Do not delight in the misfortunes of others. Sympathize in their loss.

XII. Do not show contempt at the fortunes of others. Celebrate their joy.

XIII. Share from your surplus. But when you see someone in need, share from what you have.

XIV. Help the downtrodden, it may be you someday.

XV. Pray at all occasions, but pray just to talk to God.

XVI. You are responsible for your happiness. You owe it to yourself to do things that you will enjoy

XVII. You are responsible for your sadness. Do not hold it back nor hold it in. Find a private place, experience the sadness for the moment. Then move on.

XVIII. The one who loves you will turn to you for strength. The greatest strength is admitting fear and then doing it anyways.

XIX. Don’t fear passion, express it.

XX. Hope, courage, joy, and leadership are public moments. Share with your
friends and colleagues.

XXI. Save the most tender moments for the most tender moments.

XXII. Accept that you do not know everything, be willing to learn something new each day.

XXIII. With age comes wisdom. To wisdom is due respect. Respect your elders is an honor of their wisdom. Use it. Their experience was paid for as preciously as your own.

XXIV. Don’t wait until tomorrow. If you think of something that needs done or said do it today! Fill your day with everything you can think of until you are exhausted. Then smile at all you have accomplished.

XXV. Never make a promise lightly. Your word is the most valuable asset. Guard it as though it is.

City-Styled Country Heart

Tags

commitment, Love, Poem

Had my fill of the ladies who all thought I was crazy but we never had debated what I wanted from them
Although lovers soft and sweet could be an incredible treat that couldn’t make me complete, I was not other men
So I started a thinking… and in a blur she was a winking…and I put down my drink and figured I’d play.
Never once did her eyes break from mine, and they told me “get on over here, I think you’re just fine” through a crowded bar’s dance floor I found my way

Blue jeans halter country smile lawd I didn’t even know such a vision could exist.
Hazel eyed lady driving me crazy, in an instant I was smitten and I was falling much too fast.
Couldn’t get my words out all the while my soul shouted “love her squeeze her man you know you need her!”as I just stood there and smiled.
Taking my hand as though we had someplace urgent to go she led me me to the dance floor and we danced there a while.

but the slow dancing lady who was driving me crazy didn’t feel like a stranger, no sir, something more.
As she melted into me, we danced so naturally, it’s as though our feet had done this a thousand times before.
and so I bent down just to kiss her, and my eager mouth just missed her mouth and gently kissed her cheek.
And I tasted a tear and asked her, what the hell was the matter and she gave me her answer and it made my knees week.

I live in the city and the boys think I’m pretty but there’s nobody there who makes me feel like you do.
I think I’m falling too fast, but it’s like you came from my past, I know this all sounds foolish but I swear it’s all true.
Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving, and even if you don’t believe me, I think this is really love and I can’t face being apart.
So hold me all the closer, let me be your lover, and even for just one night love my city styled country heart.

Like a bullet going through me, this lady somehow knew me, and I never had a chance and I joined her in that cry.
And while others stared and watched us, we didn’t put up no fuss, and danced that evening away but it happened in the blink of an eye.
I headed to her hotel, and put that angel’s body through hell and we took each other places that we didn’t know existed.
In the morning when the sun rose We both knew how these things go and she dressed and got her things and in the doorway we kissed.

I live in the city and the boys think I’m pretty but there’s nobody there who makes me feel like you do.
I think I’m falling too fast, but it’s like you came from my past, I know this all sounds foolish but I swear it’s all true.
Now it’s morning I’ll be leaving, and even if you don’t believe me, I think this is really love and I can’t face being apart.
So hold me all the closer, let me be your lover, and thank you for our one night from my city styled country heart.

Then she turned and I finally saw her, this Gucci toting long hair brunette beauty I had searched for my entire life.
And something roared up deep inside me, I needed her beside me and I raced into the hallway and begged her to be my wife.
She stood there for an instant, then her knees grew weak and we spent the next hour kissing hugging on the floor in that hotel.
And she finally got round to it, told me “Boy, why yes. I’ll do it” , so I picked her up and carried her seven blocks to the chapel.

I live in the city and the boys think I’m pretty but there’s nobody there who makes me feel like you do.
I think I’m falling too fast, but it’s like you came from my past, I know this all sounds foolish but I swear it’s all true.
Now we’re married, I’m not leaving, and even if you don’t believe me, I think this is really love and I can’t face being apart.
So hold me all the closer, let me be your lover, and thank you for asking for my hand, you get my city styled country heart.

It’s now so many years later, and I have never found life greater, it went from black and white to color in everything that she does.
Do we argue? Oh hell yes, we do. But in the end I know her heart’s true, and we always kiss goodnight, it’s her rule and I don’t fuss.
And we find new ways to love each other, She’s my best friend, she’s my lover, she’s the world’s best conversation. And she’s mine and let’s me know it.
In the end the search is over, found my partner found my lover, and for each thing on my bucket list, she still keeps convincing me to do it. .

Now we both live in the city and the boys still thinks she’s pretty but there’s nobody there who makes her feel like I do.
We fell in love awfully fast, but it’s like we shared each other’s past, and we know this all sounds foolish but we swear that it’s all true.
Now we’re married, she’s not leaving, and even if you don’t believe me, we know this is really love and we can’t face being apart.
So each night we hug each other closer, we are equals, friends and lovers, she’s my gem-gal, I’m her bad boy , but we share one city styled country heart.

Busy Signal

Tags

Beloved Sons, Dad, Poem

It would only take a moment
Of your time, dear sons of mine.
To pick up that phone and tell your dad
Hello Dad, I am fine.

But you always seem too busy,
And sometimes you’re just not there.
Your mother says you’ve got no time
My fears say you just don’t care.

It may be I’m not forgiven and
The history you’ve read
Left me wanting for most virtues,
Hell, your grandma even wants me dead.

But it would only take a moment
Of your time, dear sons of mine.
To pick up the phone and tell your father
Hello Dad, I am fine.

Yes the days grow out of hours, and the months grow out of days
And I listen for that phone to ring, and I practice what I’ll say.
But your mother makes excuses, you have friends and “after schools”
And I’m punished in this silence though I’ve not broken a rule.

It would only take a moment
For me to share the doctor’s news
That I’m dying of this cancer, and there’s nothing he can do.
And that seems to be contagious, nothing I try works as well
Hope the phone works up in heaven, there’s so much I have to tell.

It would only have taken one moment
But you had none left to spare for me
Seems it all went to your mom and friends
Or you didn’t want to spend time with me.

Yes after all the excuses, I am gone and you are here
I’m in heaven in His Presence and I’m given to His Care.
And there was so much left to tell you, but I never got that chance.
No matter how many can’s I sent to you, seems you always found one more I can’ts.

So Hard to Write

Tags

Poem, Poet, Poetry

It’s Hard to Right

It’s hard to write when things are right,
when emotions are not wrapped up tight.
When I am calm and life is full.
It’s hard to right when things are cool.

It’s hard to burst apart in words,
when songbirds and laughter are all I’ve heard.
when a warm kiss awaits my return home.
It’s hard to right when I do not feel alone.

It’s hard to reach down deep inside
As smiles replace the tears I’ve cried.
When everything seems to be going my way.
It’s hard to write nothing to say

It’s hard to right the many wrongs
we mask in lyrics to our songs
or weave among the poem’s verse.
It’s hard to right things that could get worse.

My Soul’s Unrest

Tags

Poem, Wisdom

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think happiness is lost to me and I hope someday to find it.
I form emotions from the TV strings that jerk my heart around.
Though it’s a quiet room I write this in, I’m hearing every sound.

We were born to this planet naked, but we are shamed to wearing clothes.
We believe we are personally the best there is, and want no part of those.
We talk about inequality, but we want everything for ourselves.
And collecting all the world’s luxuries, we place them on our shelf.

We each only need a little bit, but we gather more and more.
And point to the power of the government to make us share all with the poor.
We love to tell other’s what to do what we would oppose ourselves.
And collecting all the world’s luxuries, we place them on our shelf.

Have we each made a single difference, or is #letsfixthis our sole contribution.
Have we blamed the government for that, when we are the real solution.
Have we become too bothered by the community where we live?
Has gathering more and more evolved to where we have nothing left to give?

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
But should we barter freedom, what will be our next excuse?
We treat precious life so casually, and then squander it away.
Believing we need rulers to fix our world and let us play all day.

Trash upon the ground over there, do you bend to pick it up?
Don’t worry who had tossed it there. Too many blame enough.
If you see a homeless person, have you stopped to lend a hand?
Or does the thought of you as homeless force you to take a tougher stand?

We all have fears and hopes and loves, and this is my soul’s unrest.
We are so focused on what all others do, we never do our best.
In a land of “see me love me praise me!”, we all believe a fix is near.
so few of us roll up our sleeves, far too few I fear.

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think the world’s hope is getting far away, and I’ll be happy if we find it.
We need each other to fix this world, but we’d rather hate and keep our space.
Love is what is needed most, but it’s not the right time or place.

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think happiness is lost to me and I hope someday to find it.
We’ve created space division distrust, so we can have our space.
Love would cure our souls’ unrest, but it’s not the right time or place.

That Day Never Came

Tags

commitment, Love, loyalty, Poem, Wisdom

Emailed my son the other day, wondering how was life
Did he meet a gorgeous lady yet and was she now his wife?
But the moment was so poorly timed, he asked me to refrain.
He’ll get back to me when he has free time but that day never came.

Amidst the gorgeous sunsets and the mountains tall and proud
I share a lakeside log home with my wife… far from the bustling crowds
it’s so beautiful and magical here, I think my children might feel the same
So I invited them to visit me, but that day never came.

There were many reasons given, and they all make perfect sense
I hear that time is oh so precious and many come to their defense.
I would like to make some memories before the life I love is gone,
But I’m not exactly a priority, I fear that day might never come.

If you have someone who’s special, if you have someone you adore.
Or even if that someone is a person you should see a little more.
Don’t delay until tomorrow, grab a cab, a bus, a plane.
Don’t be thinking about the things that might have been because that day never came.

If You Stay Away

Tags

Poem, Poetry

If you stay away, you’ll never leave,
It’s simply something I cannot believe
As long as you are far away
My heart says you’re coming home to stay.

If you never board that flight for home,
I will never feel so quite alone,
As when you say “goodbye, I’m gone”
If you never board that flight for home.

If you never come back home to me,
your won’t see my faults so easily,
and slice my soul with eyes that don’t see
that your hurtful claims are killing me.

If you stay away and enjoy the time
I’ll have my peace and enjoy mine
and pretend that everything’s still fine
If you stay away and enjoy the time.

If you extend your trip a little more,
perhaps you’ll forget who you left me for,
and you’ll want to walk back through that door,
if you extend your trip a little more.

If you stay away, but you’re coming back
to confirm all the things you think I lack
And to tell me you want so much more
that’s what your coming back to me for.

And words texted oh so tenderly,
become words spoken so angrily,
and things you say and where you go
tell me less than what I thought I’d know.

Eventually you’ll say goodbye,
Without a tear inside I’ll cry
and feel the romantic me inside just die,
Eventually you’ll say goodbye.

If you stay away, you’ll never leave,
It’s simply something I can’t believe
As long as you stay far away
My romantic me lives another day.

 

To Alaska

Tags

A moment, Alaska, Lonely Man, Poem, Wisdom

To Alaska

To Alaska seven years ago is where I planned to go,
despite the remoteness of the life, despite the ice and snow,
My world was grey and dull and I was looking for a change
the trip gave me the chance to do a rearrange.

As I flew across the azure skies, I saw the mountains white.
Despite the 70s I left that day, the snow lay deep and bright.
It paid no heed to temperatures, it simply was, that’s all.
The first time I met Alaska, old man winter placed a call.

My first months were alone there, but in Alaska everyone’s alone.
The temperature is a constant threat, and where you sleep is home.
Pay attention to your neighbor, if they need help it’s what you do.
and ask for no compensation, for the next time it could be you.

Share your banquet freely, let others taste you wares.
Life isn’t always even, give to others because you care.
Share warm clothes because it’s cold there, but you don’t need to share the sun.
It shines for nearly the entire day, enough for everyone.

I learned that life is precious there. I learned to just look up and smile.
The mountains stood in silent vigilance, while I rested there awhile.
I learned to smile at others and then I learned to lend a hand.
Surviving demanded I do so, if you were there you’d understand.

Still my nights grew cold and lonely, despite the shining of that sun.
I knew to complete the promise, I must risk finding “the one”.
I invited and I entertained, but not finding love would last.
I almost surrendered to a hermit’s life when i gave love one more cast.

She was stunning, a true beauty, and independant as much as me.
She convinced me she didn’t “need” me but she would share my company.
I was tongue tied, and dumbfounded. This lady was more than I could want.
But it was her humor and her kindness that made me call off my hunt.

Should I marry or shouldn’t I was a question of the day.
But if we didn’t tie a knot, would she get away?
That really didn’t matter, and that alone gave me fascination.
But I’m a provider and she needed that. So we did for financial obligation.

I have since then never looked back once, i found a way to trust again.
It was a single lady who undid all those women.
it was her ruby smile on a bright yellow day that colored my world once more.
And gave me reason to place my pen to poem,
and love her all the more.

Alaska will always be a part of me, the warmth within my soul
the laughter at the end of days, when my body slowly cools,
Alaska has been my rebirth, I have been born young again.
I lost my way, and though by chance, I am once more a man.

Dedications

Tags

friendship, Getting older, gratitude, Lonely Man, Love, Poem, Poet, Poetry

DEDICATIONS

Friend of mine forever, like roots into the earth,

Brings me this world virtues, fill me with self worth

Steadfast as a compass, through each of my life’s storms,

And inviting as a fireplace, where I can still grow warm

-M-

Gone away and back again, a voice so sugar sweet,

Contemplating all that might occur if we should ever meet

A doer smiler holder climber, yet room enough for two

Eyes that capture the depth of night when they gaze back at you

-J-

Like leaves upon the fallish breeze, she flitters to and fro,

And where she’ll rest her head at night, only random knows

Collector of the finest arts, the eye for what looks good,

But embossing every plaster wall, does not change you to wood.

-A-

Deceiver of irresistible force, the immovable object wins

Attractor of the married men, a chance to start again,

Self devoting every second , no matter what the cost,

But when the bill comes, I hope you can pay. Just see all that you’ve lost.

Denyer of the contribution, that any stone was cast,

From the moment I beheld you, I was sure that gaze would last,

For every kiss I gave you, you were waiting for the day,

That you could hold your truer love, so you pitched my soul away.

-K-

A ship passing close on a festive night, and just sails away,

But the smile was a golden one, I hoped that you might stay

So young naïve, confused and stressed, but no time for a pause,

Partying because you dislike your life, but that is the very cause.

-J/C-

Furnace maker, Men’s heart breaker, pure lover of life,

Is chasing you more thrilling than holding you as wife?

You build in me such courage, strength, enough to face each day.

But like a dream in waking morn, when I look you go away.

-D-

Full faith builder, hope shaper wielder, a devout prayer to Above

And belief in hope and finding that inside me still lie love

Pie baker maker of tomorrow, to watch me fly away

And though it broke your heart in two, your life still is in PA

-V-

A friend and more knocked on my door, not content to let life pass

And held me when I stood alone, and forced my hand to grasp

At hopes and dreams released it seems love found me after all

And in the dead of winter my heart answered loves “last call”
-T-

I’ve grown the home no more alone you emerged from every dream

And proved that your reality is worth far more it seems

Hazel eyes the light of skies the heavens pour forth from you.

and captivate me and bring me back to trust to love so true.

Dream sharing always caring self reliant mover shaker

Piercing gaze, I stand amazed, dramatic giver seldom taker.

Alyeska lover no one stands above her you still the waters of my soul.

and in that calm, the light shines on. I look forward to growing old.

Why Bother With Genetics?

Tags

Beloved Sons, commitment, Divorced Father, Fatherhood, Love, Poem, Poet, Poetry

Why Bother With Genetics?

Why bother with genetics, why determine that should be,
that which makes me your father and makes you a son to me?
Why bother with fidelity, why bother with the shame?
Why place your loving mother in a place of so much blame?

I have held you as an infant, I have given you my name,
I have entrusted my hopes and dreams in you and I hoped you’d do the same
We have walked into a forest, we have picnicked among trees.
At no time were our chromosomes required to share a breeze.

I have helped you with homework assignments,
I have lead your cub scout troop.
I have baked your favorite birthday cake,
not for your genes, but simply for you.

I am not burdened with loving you, my son, I am not challenged at the thought.
I am not torn between a “should or shouldn’t”, I willingly give you all I’ve got.
Perhaps the facts are just illusion, and not really what should be.
But you’ve been my son all your life, and that is my entire reality.

Why bother with genetics, why determine that should be,
that which makes me your father and makes you a son to me?
I would love you no matter what now.  I will just watch me go.
You are my son regardless of flesh and blood. And that’s all I need to know.