Walking forward
Looking back
Reflections of the past
Heeding lessons learned
Along the way
Help create our paths
Memories are
The building blocks
Of how we view the world
Treated with
Respect and love
The mind becomes a pearl
Tiny little fingers
Wrapped up in daddy’s hand
A bond is just beginning
That only they will understand
Someday he’ll grip a baseball
Or throw the winning touchdown
Or maybe paint a masterpiece
That soon is world renown!
Will those fingers play guitar
Or dance on piano keys
Or step up to a golf tee
And swing a club with ease
Whatever he chooses to do in life
His dad will be cheering him on
Offering the utmost support and love
The father phenomenon
And one day he will be the one
To hold the hand of the next generation
When the circle of life comes around once again
He will continue the family tradition
Since America's beginnings
Deep loyalty has kept her free
Much is owed to the many
Who have shown such bravery
Semper Fi, Semper Fortis
Always faithful, always strong
Semper Paratus, always ready
And willing to right the wrong
Uno ab alto
One from on high
Leave no one behind
Though danger is nigh
All have one goal
To serve and defend
And do what is needed
To the absolute end
Of whatever they face
No matter how dire
The job will be done
Before they retire
Those who've worn a uniform
Should never be forgotten
And should always be respected
Especially those who have fallen
Countless lives have been lost
So many more could live
There's no perceptible limit
To what they are willing to give
Unmasked
At last!
Free to roam
Outside of my home!
Biking and
Smiling
Escaping
And playing
The city
Behind me
Exploring
And restoring
For what life will bring next
Standing innocently in the sun
Just before the day is done
In the childhood joy of summertime
One pure moment in his lifetime
Is captured in a silhouette
In the beauty of nature’s habitat
Few times in life are so sublime
After the years of nursery rhymes
So let him feel this kind of peace
Enjoying the splendor of God’s masterpiece
And may the colors fill his soul
With brilliance and light as life unfolds
Sometimes you may wonder
What is it that I see...
What if what you’re looking at
Simply cannot be!
Your mind may not interpret
What your eyes bring into focus
And then you start to wonder
Is this some kind of hocus pocus?
But when you look much closer
And ignore your first summation
You might see something different
And thus see the realization
When my mom went to heaven
And my dad shortly after
There were so many months
Without any laughter
Given no time to heal
My grandmothers followed
Within only two years
My family was hollowed
I made my first comeback
Having a little girl
Now I had three children
And my life began to whirl
For the next twenty years
Our family thrived
Even adding a child
To our blessed tribe
But once again tragedy
Pierced everyone’s hearts
God called my husband home
And my life fell apart
My soul spiraled down
To an indescribable depth
Tears flowed like a river
With this heartbreaking death
My children lost their father
And I couldn’t tell them why
For that was my biggest question
As we all said our goodbyes
It took many years
To start a new life
I tried to move on
Though I still felt the knife
Slowly and sorely
I emerged from the slaughter
Struggling each day
To hold my head above water
Then to my amazement
My heart opened up again
So the second comeback in my life
Had a chance to begin
I never thought it possible
To find love a second time
But life has its surprises
And I’m thankful this was mine
As morning bursts forth
With its glory and grandeur
Delivered from darkness
The sun is our savior
It’s radiance brings hope
As it’s rays warm our souls
It provides us the energy
To reach our life’s goals
Making it’s journey
Across the vast sky
Our minds become brighter
As the day glides by
Upon dusk we are ready
For a well deserved rest
We relax in its beauty
As the sun gently sets
Afloat on the ocean
Til dipping out of sight
It leaves the sky ablaze
As it bids us good night
Artists have wings
As their imaginations soar
Bringing visions to the canvas
Through their brush the colors pour
From abstracts to portraits
And sculptures to drawing
They know in their heart
That this is their calling