Poem 16

*A Birthday Poem For My Friend

by Gordon Duquette

Today must be your birthday because the sun is shinning bright  The clouds that are usually hiding it are now nowhere in sight The birds are singing joyfully as they go happily on their way It's as if Mother Nature herself knew this was a very special day The day before was gloomy and the weather was pretty bad But on this day it all went away and now I don’t feel so sad My sadness was replaced with happiness that wasn't there before Your birthday does this every year so I hope you'll have many more**

Poem 17

***

Father by Jennifer S. Williams

When I scratched my knee, Or if I bumped my head,. When I was afraid of the dark, Or that thing under my bed, When I cried in the night, Or even in the day,. You were there for me, To make it all okay. You tickled my feet, And laughed at all my jokes. You taught me to believe, In having high hopes. You are my father You did what you had to do. But more than a father You are my friend too. You made everything good, That was once bad. I just want you to know I love you Dad.

Poem 18

With Gratitude

© Kris Barry

I have a special friend A friend you are indeed Who leads me to the Lord With just a planted seed. It comes in darkest winter When iciness abounds Planted in my heart For God to stir around. He mixes it with love And covers it with grace To help me rise another day To see my Savior’s face. The spring it comes first gently And then it picks up speed To show me that my Savior lives And of my greatest need.

Poem 19

Blink

by  Stephanie L. Tomberlin

It seems I had a dream last night that I was five years old.  I was taken back to my home town before my house was sold.  As I lay there lost within a dream, sleeping in my bed,  Memories of younger days circled in my head.  I walked along a narrow trail not knowing of its end.  Then suddenly between the trees stood my life long friend.  Still as I was dreaming I watched from day to day.  I never left my best friend's side or lost a moments play.  I watched as we grew older; how quickly time had passed.  All those years behind us had come and gone so fast.  Then in my dream I saw him there, standing in the crowd.  His graduation day had come; I'd never been so proud.  When he walked into the gym that day all dressed in cap and gown;  I watched and faked a smile while my world turned upside-down.  I realized then this was no dream and I couldn't help but think,  of all those years that passed us by when all I did was blink.

Poem 20

THERE are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance.

It is a river, this language, Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course Changing its way to the ocean.

It is mountain effluvia Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing.

Languages die like rivers.

Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought Between your teeth and lips speaking Now and today Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now.