THE SOUND OF THOUGHT

By

William R. Smith

© William R. Smith 1970

Published By

William R. Smith

8049 Camberley Drive

Powell, TN 37849-4218

(865) 947-9671

Table of Contents TIME 6

MEMORIES 7

SUBCONSCIOUS 8

THE VAULTED BAYS 9

THOUGHTFULNESS 10

SOUL SEARCH 11

LIFE 12

THE MIRACLE OF LIGHT 13

SONGS OF NATURE 13

DON'T TOUCH 14

NIGHT'S STILLEST HOUR 15

VAIN PRIDE 16

THE EDGE OF SLEEP 17

A RARE FLOWER 19

LOVE UNGRATIFIED 20

TO A FRIEND 21

TEMPER 22

LIFE’S CUP 23

MEMORY'S EDGE 24

MA FILLE 25

THE AIMLESS 26

SOMEONE IN MIND 27

THE WHAT'S-IT 28

SO GROWS THE ROSE 29

MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB 30

BRINGING UP THE REAR 31

POPPER-SNAPPERS 32

THE TWAIN 33

ONE FRIEND AMONG THE FEW 34

HONEY BEE 35

AN AWKWARD MOMENT 36

HEAVEN'S GIFT 37

THE WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE 39

Table of Contents, Continued

REMORSE 40

REVERIES 41

A FRIEND 42

IN YOUR HANDS 43

JUNGLE NIGHT 43

DAWN 44

THE EARTH BELOW 45

LIFE’S PICTURES 45

SPRING 46

TOURBILLION 47

WHO COULD? 47

EACH A DIFFERENT THING 48

IN SEARCH OF A MEMORY 49

TRUTH 50

I COME YOUR WAY NO MORE 51

FROWNING 51

REFLECTION 52

DREAMER 53

THE WRONG WRONG 54

REMEMBERING 55

LEARNING 56

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 57

TIME

Time's restless hands are on the move Each moment of the day, And every second that we live They're stealing life away.

So make the most of what you have And live in such a way, That when they've stolen all you have There'll be no need to say–

Too much of this instead of that, Too many things undone, Too many bones of good intent Lie bleaching in the sun,

Too many beauties unadmired, Too many joys to bring, Too many notes of discontent In every song we sing,

Too much compassion still in store, Too many thrills unknown, Too many pities yet unused Save on ourselves alone.

For when in time the hand that turns Has ceased to turn for you, The many things you've left undone Are things you'll never do.

MEMORIES

Into the silent yesteryear Flow the youthful days of all Where in the ageless hands of time They pale on mem'ry's fading wall.

For time adds steps to every stair Life's tired feet have yet to climb And with the burdens each must bear We tend to leave our pasts behind.

But pleasant things are without weight And to passing days they bring The fuel for dimming fires of hope That light the way to higher things.

Our troubled cares we leave behind Or bury them deep within To let their colors slowly leach As though in fact they'd never been.

But some are sketched in dyes so fast They weather all acts of time And remaining there remind us Of the need to keep our lives sublime.

SUBCONSCIOUS

There's a creature alive within us Deep in the dungeon of thought, That shapes with relentless, cunning hands, The mettle of which we're wrought,

And brings us to task for odd pursuits Which violate the code That's born of the swirling, bitter dust Along life's twisted road.

It matters not what route we choose Or how well we chart the way To avoid the barren, rocky straits Beyond the peaceful bay,

Where on old ocean's bearded wake In sight of a coveted goal, There's many a dauntless ship brought short By this master of our soul.

It's an awesome shock to many a man Whose dreams are thus denied, To see the worthless, shattered ruins And feel the smitten pride,

That comes from the acts of this silent one So few ever know exists, As he swings life's keel to his chosen line And sets their plans amiss.

We think we command with a singular voice That wells from the conscious zone, But we fail to regard with deserved respect This voice from the mind's unknown.

THE VAULTED BAYS

My interludes Of solitude Compel the mind to stray In loneliness To each recess Of regions far away,

Where fleeting forms Betray the norms, And seldom mirth displays The awesome spell On all who dwell Within its vaulted hays,

For often still Within the will Is born the need to know The fate of all Who meet the call That beckons each to go,

To search for rest And happiness So near the journey's end, Beyond the strife Of mortal life, Beyond the clutch of men,

Where in the halls Of somber walls There tread with noiseless feet The teeming mass Of ages past, Their mundane tasks complete.

THOUGHTFULNESS

We all at times have felt the need To brighten someone's day, and setting prudence to the side Let impulse lead the way.

Because we reckon not by worth But worthiness of deed, We go our happy way in search Of that to fill a need,

And as we make our final choice, Of this belated thing We fail to give sufficient thought Two problems it may bring;

For many think of thoughtfulness Is tied hidden string And fitting not the norms they know Must host some evil thing;

Then when we look in retrospect At smiles they've turned around We wonder how from thoughtfulness They form an angry frown.

If understanding were a rose And friendship were its vine Should not we find the two of them Together every time?

They say the wise let each mistake Show them a better way But if my back must face a friend Then fool I plan to stay.

SOUL SEARCH

I had a dream the other night, A very strange affair, For all of those that I've disliked were somehow gathered there.

Why do you thus intrude my sleep I blurted out at last, Four strange it was for me to see These faces from the past.

And then there stood among the group A man so tall and fair, With pleasant face and smiling eyes And very humble air.

He raised a hand above our heads As silence filled each sound, And voiced aloud with measured words This narrative profound:

"You've thought us mean, uncouth, and bold And often called us names. You've said our faults were never yours 'Twas always us you blamed. We suffer not your feet of clay Nor have we else to hide, In truth the faults lie not with us But in your selfish pride."

LIFE

Life speaks a voice of gladness To those who treat her well, And to each day Along the way She tends her magic spell.

As a mother would for her children, A simple story tell, She calls us near, That we may hear Of Heaven, death, and hell.

She cautions us with kindly words From wisdom’s hook of gold, That for our sake We often take The time to search our soul.

Except for God man has no judge; How seldom this we heed, And hurl our darts At faithful hearts So pure in thought and deed.

Why do we thus contrive to he Those things which we abhor And oft' decry Our brother’s sty, White we our own ignore?'

While in our search for happiness Let each man reckon thus: We are content To the extent We let life smite on us.

THE MIRACLE OF LIGHT

D e e p w i t h i n t h i s h u m b l e h e a r t W a s o n c e a v a s t d o m a i n , C o m p l e t e l y f i l l e d w i t h n o t h i n g n e s s , n o t h i n g n e s s , a n d p a i n .

A n d t h e n o n e d a y t h e r e c a m e a l i g h t W i t h r a y s s o w a r m a n d b r i g h t , I t m a d e t h e b l a c k o f n o t h i n g n e s s A h a r m l e s s p a r t o f n i g h t .

A n d w h e n t h e p a i n s t o o d t h u s a l o n e T o f a c e t h e s e a r c h i n g l i g h t , I t f a d e d i n t o n o t h i n g n e s s , T h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f n i g h t .

A n d t h u s a h e a r t t h a t ' s o f t e n k n o w n T h e s o l i t u d e o f n i g h t , I s f i l l e d w i t h w a r m t h a n d c h e e r f u l n e s s , T h e c h e e r f u l n e s s o f l i g h t .

SONGS OF NATURE

I w e n t d o w n t o t h e b r o o k o n e d a y T o w a t c h i t f l o w i n g b y , A n d s t a y e d a w h i l e t h a t I m i g h t h e a r T h e r e d , r e d r o b i n ’ s c r y .

A s n a t u r e t u n e d h e r s y m p h o n y T o p l a y t h e s o n g s o f s p r i n g , I s a w a b a b y s p a r r o w B e n e a t h i t s m o t h e r ' s w i n g .

A n d t h e n t h e l o n e l y w h i p p o o r w i l l A n d a t i m i d l i t t l e d o v e , J o i n e d v o i c e s w i t h t h e w h i s p e r i n g w i n d T o s i n g t h e s o n g s w e l o v e .

DON'T TOUCH

I've read the sign upon your back That says "Please Do Not Touch," But then I guess I must confess, It hasn't changed me much.

In fact I'm glad you have it there To keep the wolves away, Then when I find You're on my mind, I'll know that you can stay.

And if a tear should cloud your eye I'll dry it with a smile And touch your lips with fingertips That linger for awhile.

Then in the azure of your eyes I'll watch the twinkles play And in a while There'll be a smile, To shame my cares away.

My nights will hold a place for you That none will ever know, And every day I'll hear you say, The things that thrill me so.

For me, you see, a little sign Could never change a scheme; To have your charms And loving arms, I only need to dream.

NIGHT'S STILLEST HOUR

W h e n n i g h t h a s b r o u g h t i t s s t i l l e s t h o u r T o n u m b t h e m i n d w i t h s l e e p , T h e s t i l t e d v o i c e o f w a k e f u l n e s s D e n i e s t h e r e s t I s e e k .

A n d a s t h e w o r l d a b o u t m e l i e s I n d e e p n o c t u r n a l b l i s s , I h e a r t h e c a l l f r o m y o n d e r s i d e O f l i f e ' s u n l i k e l i n e s s .

I n t o t h i s l a n d o f l a s s i t u d e W h e r e w i s h i n g m a k e s i t s o , I t a k e t h e s e e d o f e a c h d e s i r e M y d a y s h a v e c o m e t o k n o w .

I t a s t e t h e l i p s o f l o v e l i n e s s , I h e a r a w h i s p e r e d s m i l e , A n d h o l d t h e h a n d s I d a r e n o t t o u c h E x c e p t . a c r o s s t h e s e m i l e s .

I s e n s e t h e s o f t n e s s o f t h e f o r m , ' T i l n o w f r o m m e w i t h h e l d , A n d t h a n k t h e f a t e s f o r h a v i n g p u t A n a n g e l i n m y h e l l .

I h e a r t h e v o i c e t h a t b r i n g s m e j o y , I s e e t h e s o u l l a i d b a r e , A n d p r i d e t h a t o n l y I ' m a l l o w e d T o s e e t h e b e a u t y t h e r e .

T h e n f r o m t h e s e e y e s w h i c h w o r l d s h a v e p a s s e d T h e r e f a l l s a t i n y t e a r , I n m e m ' r y o f t h e . l o n e l y y e a r s I ’ v e f a i l e d t o f i n d y o u h e r e .

L i k e a l l o f u s w h o p a s s t h i s w a y , I , t o o , t h e d u s t m u s t s h a r e , B u t o n m y l i p s w i l l b e t h e k i s s A n a n g e l l e f t m e t h e r e .

VAIN PRIDE

M i g h t y m i s t r e s s , s o d e m a n d i n g , Y o u w h o w i l l n o t b e d e n i e d , P a r e n t o f o u r g r i e f a n d t o r t u r e , H o w w e l o a t h e y o u , v a u n t e d p r i d e .

Y o u w h o g u a r d a s i c k e n e d e g o A s y o u t e n d t h e i n s e c u r e , S e t t i n g m a n a g a i n s t h i s n e i g h b o r , Y o u w h o f e i g n a m a g i c c u r e ,

F a l s e y o u a r e a n d e v e r s h a l l b e , P e a c e c a n n o t b e h a d y o u r w a y , Q u i t u s n o w , b e g o n e f o r e v e r , L e t u s e a c h o u r f r i e n d s d i s m a y ,

A s w e r i s e a b o v e y o u r e v i l , F a c i n g a l l w h o c o m e o u r w a y , I n t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e ' r e h u m a n , A n d a t t i m e s a r e f o r c e d t o s a y ,

M a n a l o n e i s n e v e r p e r f e c t , M u c h d e s p i t e h i s n e e d t o b e , A n d a s i m a g e o f h i s b r o t h e r , M u s t h e n e e d b e u n l i k e h e ?

C a n w e n o t b e a s w e a r e , I n a w a y t h a t a l l m a y k n o w , W h e r e w e ' v e b e e n w i t h e v e r y e r r o r , O t h e r m e n h a v e y e t t o g o .

THE EDGE OF SLEEP

O n e d g e o f s l e e p a t n i g h t I s e e k T h e m e a n i n g o f e a c h d a y , I n n e t h e r l a n d s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s W h e r e a g i l e v o i c e s , s a y –

W h a t h a v e I d o n e ? W h a t s h a l l I d o ? W h y h a v e I c o m e t h i s w a y ? W h a t w o u l d I f i n d i f I w e r e t h e r e ? W o u l d I b e a s k e d t o s t a y ?

T o f i l l a n e e d w o u l d b e i n d e e d A t h i n g o f b e a u t y r a r e , T o h a v e y o u n e a r , t o s e e y o u s m i l e , T o k n o w y o u r e v e r y c a r e ,

T o h e a r e a c h t h o u g h t t h e d a y h a s b r o u g h t , T o s e e a t o n c e a g a i n , B e n e a t h t h e s h e l l w e e a c h e r e c t T h a t h i d e s t h e g e m w i t h i n ,

N o l u s t f u l t h o u g h t o r v a u n t e d p r i d e W i t h f a l s e a n d h o l l o w r i n g , N o t a r n i s h e d r u l e s o r t a t t e r e d c o d e s O r o t h e r w o r t h l e s s t h i n g ,

T o m a r t h e s p e l l o r s p i r i t q u e l l , T o h a m p e r o r t o b i n d , B u t f r e e t o t a k e a n d f r e e t o g i v e A n d l a s t i n g m e m ’ r i e s f i n d .

N o c h a r t e d w a y m u s t w e o b e y , N o t w i s t e d r o u t e t o g o , N o s e l f i s h t h o u g h t o r f a l s e p r e t e n s e O r s h a m e f u l n e s s t o k n o w ,

S o d r o p t h e v e i l , t h a t t r u t h a s s a i l s , M a k e k n o w n y o u r e v e r y t h o u g h t , S p e a k o u t y o u h e a r t t h a t I m a y k n o w W h a t e v e r f a t e h a t h w r o u g h t - .

M a k e h a r e t h e f l e s h , r e m o v e t h e b l i n d , C a s t o f f t h e l a s t d e c e i t ; B e p r o u d i f e v e r y o u c a n f i n d T h e n a k e d s o u l r e p l e t e .

C a n t i m e c o n f u t e t h e a b s o l u t e , O r c h a n g e t h e i n n e r m a n , T o b r i n g c o n t e n t f o r d a y s i l l s p e n t , O r h a l t t h e m e a g e r s p a n ?

M u s t w e d e n y , a n d f a l s i f y , T h e m e t t l e o f w h i c h w e ' r e c a s t , T h a t d r i v e s u s o n w i t h e t e r n a l f o r c e T o w a i t i n g a r m s a t l a s t ;

T o q u e n c h t h e f i r e o f o u r d e s i r e A n d t u m u l t u o u s d e m o n s s t i l l , T o f i n d t h e p e a c e t h a t c o m e s a t l a s t W h e n n a t u r e ' s c u p i s f i l l e d ?

W h e n l i f e i s d o n e , t h e b a t t l e ' s w o n , W i l l y o u b e f o r c e d t o s a y , " I h a d t h e c h a n c e , I p a s s e d i t b y , M y n e e d s I f a i l e d t o w e i g h ? "

O r w h e n a t l a s t t h e y e a r s a r e p a s t A n d d a r k e n e d v o i c e s c a l l , W h e n g r a y n e s s f i l l s e a c h h o u r o f d a y A n d s h a d o w s s l o w l y f a l l ,

W i l l y o u s t a n d t a l l , t o f a c e t h e m a l t , H o l d h i g h l i f e ' s c u p a n d c r y , T o l e t t h e m k n o w b e f o r e y o u g o , T h a t y o u h a v e d r u n k i t d r y ?

A RARE FLOWER

A m o n g t h e b a r r e n f i e l d s o f m a n T h e r e s t a n d s i n s o l e m n g r a c e A f l o w e r b o r n t o b e a d m i r e d E r e o t h e r s t a k e i t s g l a c e .

W i t h h e a d h e l d h i g h o n s t e m s o f p r i d e A n d r o o t s i n l i f e ’ s o w n s o d , W i t h p e t a l s h u e d i n t i n t s o f d a w n , E a c h b y t h e h a n d o f G o d ,

A w o r k o f a r t b y a n y r u l e , T h u s m a n i s o f t c o n s u m e d B y w h a t h e f e e l s w h e n h e i s n e a r T h i s e v e r l o v e l y b l o o m .

O h f o o t I b e i f I a l l o w T h i s b l o o m t o b l u s h w i t h t i m e , A n d h a n g i t s h e a d a s a l l t h i n g s m u s t , B e f o r e I m a k e i t m i n e ,

F o r l i f e i s b u t a g r a i n o f s a n d U p o n t h e b e a c h o f t i m e , A n d j o y p r o v i d e s t h e m a g i c r a y W i t h w h i c h t o m a k e i t s h i n e .

LOVE UNGRATIFIED

W i t h i n e m o t i o n ’ s s w i r l i n g d e p t h s , W h e r e r e a s o n ' s h a n d s a r e t i e d , A r e c o u c h e d t h e e m b e r s a n d t h e p a i n O f l o v e u n g r a t i f i e d .

A n d w h e n t o p a s s i o n ' s h e a l t h w e b r i n g T h e f u e l s t h a t l o v e i n s p i r e , T h e e m b e r s f r o m t h e i r d e p t h s a r o u s e A n a l l c o n s u m i n g f i r e

A g n a w i n g f a i l e d b y e v e r y s t r o k e T h e g r e a t s o f a r t h a v e t r i e d , W h e n f i l l i n g c a n v a s w i t h a l i f e W h e r e l o v e h a s b e e n d e n i e d

A n d w h e n w i t h w a l l s o f m a k e - b e l i e v e W e t r y t o s t e m t h e t i d e , T h a t g r i p s t h e g r o i n a n d t e a r s t h e h e a r t W i t h l o v e u n s a t i s f i e d ,

W e l e a r n t h e p r i c e w e p a y t o l i v e W i t h i n a s e n s e l e s s n o r m , W h e r e r u l e s n e g a t e a t e v e r y t u r n , E m o t i o n s o v e r t f o r m ,

F o r l i f e t h a t ’ s l i v e d i n l o v e l e s s n e s s , D e s p i t e w h a t a l l m a y s a y , W i l l s h o w b e n e a t h t h e l i g h t o f t r u t h , A s l i f e t h a t ’ s t h r o w n a w a y .

TO A FRIEND

I f I w e r e g r a n t e d w h a t I w i s h I ' d a s k f o r w a y s t o s h o w T h e h a p p i n e s s t h a t l i e s b e y o n d T h e l i v i n g h e l l y o u k n o w .

I ' d s h o w t h e r a i n b o w s m e a n t f o r y o u T h e c l o u d s o f g r i e f n o w h i d e , T h a t w a i t t o s h i n e w h e n i n y o u r l i f e T h e c l o u d s a r e p u s h e d a s i d e .

I ’ d s h o w a t y k e t e n a n n u m s t a l l W i t h e y e s o f h e a v e n ' s b l u e , F o r w h o m a m o t h e r ’ s g e n t l e t o u c h C a n c o m e f r o m o n l y y o u .

I ' d h a v e y o u h e a r h e r f r i g h t e n e d v o i c e A n d s e e h e r t r e m b l i n g h a n d , I f s h e w e r e l e f t t o w a l k a l o n e T h i s u n f o r g i v i n g l a n d .

I ’ d l e t y o u s e e i n s i d e h e r h e a r t T h e l o v e t h a t w e l l s f o r y o u T h a t ' s o f t e n h i d d e n b y t h e t h i n g s A c h i l d i s p r o n e t o d o .

I ’ d f i n d a w a y t o c a s t d e s p a i r I n t o t h e m i l l i n g t h r o n g , A n d f i l l y o u r t r o u b l e d e m p t i n e s s W i t h l a u g h t e r , s m i l e s , a n d s o n g .

I ’ d p o l i s h e v e r y c o m i n g d a y T o b r i g h t e n i t a b i t , A n d t h e n I ’ d s t e a l y o u r t r o u b l e d t h o u g h t s A n d r o b y o u r n e e d t o s i t .

A n d f r o m l e t h a r g i c b u d s o f l i f e I ' d g r o w a m i g h t y t r e e ; A t r i b u t e t o y o u r w o r t h i n e s s , F o r a l l t h e w o r l d t o s e e .

TEMPER

W e s e l d o m k n o w t h e h a r m w e d o , N o r c a n w e s e e m t o s e e T h e a w f u l p r i c e w e e a c h m u s t p a y F o r t e m p e r ’ s l u x u r y .

S o m e t h i n k i t c o m e s w i t h t h e m a t b i r t h ' C a u s e n a t u r e p u t i t t h e r e , S t i l l o t h e r s c l a i m t h a t w e s h o u l d b l a m e T h e c o l o r o f t h e i r h a i r .

I t ' s n o t g o o d t a s t e t o b l a m e o n G o d W h a t H e d i d n o t i n t e n d , N o r s h o u l d w e f i r e o l d n a t u r e ’ s i r e A b o u t h e r c o l o r t r e n d .

T h e t r u t h l i e s n o t i n G o d o r f a t e , O r p o o r o l d n a t u r e ’ s p l a n , F o r i t ’ s w i t h a n g e r w e p r o t e c t T h e e g o o f t h e m a n .

I f d e e p i n s i d e w e k n o w w e ’ r e n o t , W h a t w o r d s h a v e s e e m e d t o s a y , W e ’ d r e a s o n m o r e a n d a n g e r l e s s W i t h f r i e n d s a l o n g t h e w a y .

B u t m o s t o f u s a r e s o i n v o l v e d W i t h w h a t o u r b r o t h e r s s e e , W i t h a n g r y w o r d s w e p o l i s h p r i d e F a r m o r e t h a n i t n e e d b e .

B y t h i s w e h o p e t o k e e p o u r p l a c e A m o n g t h e c o m m o n h e r d , B u t f a i l t o s e e w e a l i e n a t e W i t h e v e r y a n g r y w o r d .

A n d s o w e p u t o u r s e l v e s b e y o n d T h e t h i n g s w e h a v e i n m i n d , F o r e v e r y o n e s o o n c o m e s t o s h u n A h u m a n p o r c u p i n e .

LIFE’S CUP

S o m e g o t h e i r w a y F r o m d a y t o d a y , L i f e ' s c u p a t f i n g e r t i p s , B u t c h o o s e t o h i d e T h e i r t h i r s t i n p r i d e A n d n e v e r w e t t h e i r l i p s .

S t i l l o t h e r s m a k e A g r a v e m i s t a k e I n m u c h a d i f f e r e n t w a y ; T h e y d r i n k t h e i r c u p W i t h b o t t o m s u p T i l l l i f e i s d r a i n e d a w a y .

S o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n T h e s e t w o e x t r e m e s A n e t h e r l a n d m u s t l i e W h e r e o n e c a n s u p L i f e ' s p r e c i o u s c u p A n d s t i l l n o t d r i n k i t d r y .

S o w h e n y o u f e e l T h e n e e d i s r e a l B e n o t a f r a i d t o t r y ; J u s t w e t y o u r l i p s W i t h g u a r d e d s i p s F o r l i f e i s p a s s i n g b y .

A t t e n d y o u r n e e d s W i t h e q u a l d e e d s , C o m i n g n o t i n s o r r o w , T o f i n d a t l a s t E a c h d a y n o w p a s t W a s o n c e a b r i g h t t o m o r r o w .

H o l d h i g h y o u r c u p A n d h a v e a s u p , Y o u ’ l l c o m e t h i s w a y n o m o r e , A n d y o u m a y f i n d A p e a c e o f m i n d Y o u ’ v e n e v e r k n o w n b e f o r e .

MEMORY'S EDGE

A h a u n t i n g v o i c e f r o m m e m ' r y ' s e d g e D i s q u i e t s m y t r o u b l e d e a r W i t h v i b r a n t t o n e s f r o m y e s t e r d a y s T h a t I o n c e h e l d s o d e a r ,

A n d a s I l i s t e n t o t h e p a s t R e c a l l e d b y l i p s f r o m t h e n , I s e n s e t h e s t i r r i n g o f a b e a s t S o l o n g a s l e e p w i t h i n ,

B u t h i n d s i g h t ’ s v i s i o n n e v e r b l u r s W h e n c a l l e d u p o n t o t e s t T h e t r u t h t h a t h i d e s i n e a c h e v e n t T h e p a s t h a s l a i d t o r e s t ,

F o r u n l i k e b e a u t y , t r u t h i s n o t T h a t w h i c h t o e y e i t b r i n g s , A n d u n l i k e g u i l e ’ s m e n d a c i t y T r u t h h a s n o h o l l o w r i n g ,

A n d t h u s i t i s w h e n l i f e h a s l e f t T h e d i e t h a t g i v e s i t s h a p e I t b e a r s a p e r m a n e n c e o f f o r m F r o m w h i c h t h e r e ' s n o e s c a p e .

S o w i t h t h e m a n y ' c o u l d h a v e b e e n s ' S t i l l l o u d u p o n m y e a r , I w a i t f o r t i m e ’ s u n f a i l i n g n e s s T o d i m t h e v o i c e I h e a r ,

F o r w i t h t h e r e s t l e s s n e s s o f t i d e s T i m e t u m b l e s o n a n d o n T o f i l l t h e v a s t e t e r n i t i e s T h a t f o r m t h e g r e a t u n k n o w n .

MA FILLE

Come close to me my little one, Hold high your head and smile. Forget the tears And empty years, If only for a while.

These gentle hands could never harm The tender heart they hold, Nor could they press A false caress Against your locks of gold.

Your dimpled cheeks, your ready smile, And eyes of azure blue, Expressive lips And finger tips– That's how I'll think of you.

A curl of hair, a twinkling eye, And even now it seems, You'll always be Each day with me If only in my dreams.

I cry aloud that all may hear, Although we're now apart, Somehow you’ll know I love you so– Just listen with your heart.

THE AIMLESS

Endlessly plodding with purpose naught Down the pathways of life's brief span In search of that which will matter not, In dire need of a master plan

Many are drifting on life's wild sea At the mercy of angry storms Wheels untended and compass astray With their sails unmended and worn.

Battered about by the winds of fate As swirling and twisting, they blow, Driving their prey within easy reach Of the perilous reefs below.

Seldom we heed the purpose of man Or the realm of which he's a part, Or the good that lies so proud beneath The shell that guards an angry heart.

With narcissistic pride we oft descend To the dark of our own small sty, And with clouded eyes refuse to see And deafened ears the truth deny.

Sad is the plight of misguided man Who seeks the impossible goal Of being part of the common herd While aloof, remorseful, and cold.

In him who holds this enduring truth Abides a mystic dignity That reflects an inner peace profound For great are those who humble be.

SOMEONE IN MIND

I know someday you’re sure to find I'm wandering through your mind, So hasten not to bid me go, I've come for but a time.

And if you give it just a thought You're sure to realize That no one else can see me there Behind your laughing eyes.

So quell the fear that what you do Is known by others, too, For everything I've come to know Is known alone by you.

So when you search for sleep at night Be not dismayed to find, That while engaged in pleasant thought I’ve crept into your mind.

'Cause when I find the door ajar That leads into your thoughts, There’s every chance I'll walk right in To see what they have brought.

You know not why I come your way, 'Tis not for you to care, But you will find I cannot stay Unless I'm welcome there.

THE WHAT'S-IT

I've got a little what’s-it I'm saving gust for you, But when I think about it I guess you've got one, too.

This poses such a problem I'm not sure what to do, 'Cause you won’t need my what's-it If you have got one, too.

So I guess I’ll look around In hopes that I can find Someone that has a what's-it That’s not the same as mine.

But when I mull it over I'm sure I have a clue Of why my little what's-it Would maybe interest you.

Although you've got a what's-it That must be very fine, I'm pretty sure your what's-it Is not the same as mine,

And if there is a difference, Then things will work out fine, You let me have your what’s-it And I’ll let you have mine.

SO GROWS THE ROSE

One day along my lonely way I came upon a Rose, That summed at once the loveliness Of everything that grows;

And all around the world was bright And filled with rare perfumes For who could else but envy me This all consuming bloom.

So there with pride I took my fill Of this enamored thing 4s though some fate intended me The pleasures it would bring.

But what falls soft upon the ear And pleases sight so much Can prove a different thing indeed For those who dare to touch.

Beneath its ever seeming charm Where pleasure rs dreams are born I learned at once to my dismay Each Rose must have a thorn.

So wiser now and lonely more My smiles are more in vain For having learned that beauty blooms Upon a thorn of pain.

MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB

If our lives seem lacking direction And we’ve far less axes to grind, And the rungs of the ladder above us Seem more than we're willing to climb,

If you think that we're shy of ambition Or age has unsteadied our hand, ’Cause we measure the worth of mundane things By value beyond your command,

Waste not of your pity on likes of us 'Tis on you whom it should be spread, For while you're struggling up mountain peaks We view your toils from far ahead,

'Cause we’ve climbed every, mountain before us And swum every ocean in sight. We've matched the challenge of life's every day And conquered the shadows of night.

So if whetting toils on the dreams of youth By the best of the rules you know, Remember while judging the likes of us – We’ve long since been where you must go.

BRINGING UP THE REAR

L o n g h a n d l e s w i t h f l a p s w e r e m u c h i n s t y l e W h e n R o s e w a s a b u d d i n g y o u n g l a s s B u t b u t t o n s w e r e s c a r c e a n d h e r s h a d n o n e T o h o l d t h e f l a p o v e r h e r p a s t .

' T w a s i n s u c h a s t a t e o f d i s a r r a y T h a t t h e s o u n d o f a c h i c k e n ' s s c r e a m S e t R o s e a n d g u n o n a d e a d - h e a t r u n T o c h e c k o u t h e r o m e l e t m a c h i n e .

A t t h e c h i c k e n h o u s e s h e d r e w a b e a d O n a w e a s e l w i t h f o o d i n m i n d W h e n R o v e r , t h e d o g t h a t f o l l o w e d h e r C a m e u p t o o u r R o s e f r o m b e h i n d .

N o w R o v e r w a s s u c h a p l a y f u l d o g A n d s o l o v e d h i s b a r e - b o t t o m e d R o s e T h a t h e c o c k e d h i s h e a d a n d s m i l e d o u t l o u d A s h e g a v e h e r h i s b e s t c o l d n o s e .

S h e l e t o u t a y e l l a n d f i r e d t h e g u n I n a s w e e p i n g m o t i o n o f f r i g h t T h a t g a v e t h e w h o l e r o o s t a b u c k s h o t b a t h A n d k i l l e d e v e r y c h i c k e n i n s i g h t .

A n d ’ t i l t h i s g o o d d a y o u r R a m b l i n ' R o s e I s t h e s h y e s t f l o w e r t h a t g r o w s A n d m a k e s t r a c k s f a s t w h e n e v e r h e r p a s t I s a p p r o a c h e d b y a c o l d , c o l d n o s e .

POPPER-SNAPPERS

T h e y s a y h e r p o p p e r - s n a p p e r s B e a t a l l y o u ’ v e e v e r s e e n , A n d t h a t ’ s s a y i n ’ q u i t e a m o u t h f u l I f y o u k n o w w h a t I m e a n !

T h a t ’ s w h y i t b l i n k e d m y t i l t l i g h t W h e n s h e s a i d I c o u l d p l a y W i t h b o t h h e r p o p p e r - s n a p p e r s J u s t a n y t i m e o f d a y .

S o n o w m y n i g h t s a r e w a k e f u l A n d f i l l e d w i t h l o v e l y s o u n d s O f c h a r m i n g p o p p e r s s n a p p i n g A n d o t h e r m e s s i n ’ - r o u n d .

’ C a u s e b o t h m y e y e s g l a z e o v e r M y s e a m s a l l c o m e u n g l u e d A n d b o t h m y l i v e r s q u i v e r W h e n s n a p p e r s a r e p u r s u e d .

T h i n g s l i k e t h e s e w i l l w a r p y o u r g o u r d A n d m e l t y o u r b u b b l e g u m B l o w r i n g s o f s m o k e f r o m b o t h y o u r e a r s A n d m a k e y o u r g i z z a r d s n u m b .

B u t n o w I ’ m s a d a n d w i s e r A n d s m a r t e n o u g h t o s e e H o w b o t h h e r p o p p e r - s n a p p e r s S o f a s c i n a t e d m e —

' C a u s e t h o s e c o n f u s e d t h e q u i c k e s t A r e s h e l t e r e d c o u n t r y b o y s W h o f i n d t h a t p o p p e r - s n a p p e r s A r e c h i l d r e n ’ s j u m p i n g t o y s .

THE TWAIN

I s i t n o t w i s e t o r e a l i z e T h a t T i m e w o u l d h a v e y o u s e e , T h e t r u s t y o u p l a c e i s e v e r s a f e W h y w a s t e y o u r p r i d e o n m e ?

W h e n s o c i a l g r a c e d e m a n d s a f a c e U n l i k e t h e o n e y o u ' v e k n o w n , Y o u r f l a w l e s s g u i s e f o r o t h e r s ' e y e s M u s t n o t b e c o m e y o u r o w n .

I k n o w f u l l w e l l w h a t b e a u t y d w e l l s B e n e a t h t h e v e i l y o u w e a r , A n d p o n d e r w h y y o u r s e a r c h i n g e y e H a s f a i l e d i t s p r e s e n c e t h e r e .

D e f e n d w i t h p r i d e t h a t w h i c h y o u h i d e I t m e r i t s f a r m o r e c a r e , A n d i f i t w i n a s t e a d f a s t f r i e n d , D i s c a r d t h e m a s k y o u w e a r ;

F o r i f i n d e e d , d e s p i t e t h e n e e d , Y o u f a i l t o k e e p a p a r t , T h a t w h i c h i s s h o w n a n d t h a t u n k n o w n , S m a l l j o y w i l l w a r m y o u r h e a r t .

W h e n w e w o u l d b e w h a t o t h e r s s e e , I n s t e a d o f w h a t w e a r e , T h e p r i c e w e p a y w i l l f a r o u t w e i g h A l l o t h e r g a i n s b y f a r .

J u s t k e e p i n m i n d t h a t w h a t t h e y f i n d F u l f i l l s m o r e s d e c r e e , A n d k n o w t h a t w h e n y o u f a c e t h i s f r i e n d , Y o u r p r i d e w i l l w a s t e o n m e !

ONE FRIEND AMONG THE FEW

S o m e d a y w h e n l i f e ' s a t a n g l e d w e b S e e m e d b e n t t o h a v e y o u r a l l , A n d t h o s e w h o m a k e y o u r p r e s e n t w o r l d A r e m o s t b e y o n d r e c a l l ,

Y o u n e e d n o t f e a r t h a t I ' l l f o r g e t W h a t c a m e m y w a y w i t h y o u , F o r i n m y w o r l d y o u ' l l s t i l l r e m a i n O n e f r i e n d a m o n g t h e f e w .

T h o u g h m a n y w o r l d s m a y p a s s m y e y e s A n d o t h e r s t o u c h m y h e a r t , T h e f o n d e s t t h o u g h t s w i l l g o w i t h y o u , T h e l e s s e r o n e s d e p a r t ;

F o r t i m e t h a t d i m s t h e b r i g h t e s t t h i n g s M u s t f a i l e a c h t r i a l a n e w , T h a t t a k e s f r o m m e y o u r m e m o r y O n e f r i e n d a m o n g t h e f e w .

T h r o u g h w h a t r e m a i n s o f l i f e f o r m e Y o u ’ l l a l w a y s s h a r e s o m e p a r t , S e c u r e a n d a l l a l o n e w i t h i n Y o u r c o r n e r o f m y h e a r t .

F o r e k n o w i n g t h i s g o y o u i n p e a c e , A n d w h e n l i f e ' s t r i a l s a c c r u e , Y o u ' l l n e v e r h a v e b e y o n d y o u r c a l l O n e f r i e n d a m o n g t h e f e w .

HONEY BEE

F o r e v e r y f l o w e r p u t o n e a r t h T h e y m a d e a t l e a s t o n e b e e T o t a s t e t h e n e c t a r o f i t s b l o o m A s e v e r y o n e c a n s e e .

I t d o e s n ’ t m a t t e r t h a t t h e b l o o m H a s i n t e r e s t i n t h e b e e , T h e b e e h a s i n t e r e s t i n t h e b l o o m A n d t h a t ’ s h o w t h e y m a d e m e .

I t ’ s v e r y t r u e I h a v e n o w i n g s , O r n o n e t h a t y o u c a n s e e , B u t e v e r y t i m e I s e e y o u r b l o o m I k n o w t h a t I ’ m a b e e .

S o i f y o u r h o n e y d o o r ’ s a f a r A n d I ’ m a - b u z z i n g ’ r o u n d , Y o u ’ l l k n o w t h a t I h a v e c o m e t o t a s t e T h e h o n e y I h a v e f o u n d .

S o i f y o u ’ d k e e p y o u r h o n e y s a f e F r o m t h i s o l d h o n e y b e e , Y o u ’ d b e t t e r l o c k t h e d o o r t o n i g h t A n d t h r o w a w a y t h e k e y .

B u t e v e n i f y o u l o c k t h e d o o r T h e r e ’ s o n e t h i n g y o u s h o u l d k n o w , T h e y g a v e a k e y t o e v e r y b e e T o f i t t h e h o n e y d o o r .

S o i f y o u ’ d l i k e y o u r h o n e y s a f e A n d c i r c u m v e n t t h i s t h i n g , Y o u ’ d b e t t e r s a c k t h e s t u f f a w a y A n d p u l l t h e p u c k e r s t r i n g .

AN AWKWARD MOMENT

S o m e h o w I t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e f u n T o b l e w m y l i t t l e b r a i n , W i t h a j i n g l e o n a s u b j e c t T h a t s o m e o n e e l s e h a d n a m e d .

I ' d r e a d t h e s e b o o k s a b o u t t h e g i r l s T h a t s a i d t h e y ’ r e p r e t t y s m a r t s A n d t h o u g h t t h a t I s h o u l d s e a r c h o n e o u t T o h e l p m e g e t a s t a r t s

S o w h e n I s a w t h e f l o w i n g h a i r I t b r o u g h t m e t o a s t o p ; I k n e w i t h a d t o b e ' l a f e m m e ' ' C a u s e h i p p i e s h a v e n o t o p s .

I a s k e d i f s h e c o u l d s o m e h o w s p a r e A m i n u t e o f h e r t i m e , T o h e l p m e w i t h t h i s l i t t l e t h i n g T h a t I h a d o n m y m i n d .

A l t h o u g h I d o n ’ t k n o w w h y s h e s h o u l d , S h e l o o k e d w i t h g r e a t s u r p r i s e , F o r a g l i m m e r o f t h e m e a n i n g B e h i n d m y b e a d y e y e s .

T h e s h o c k t h a t f i l t e r e d t h r o u g h h e r s m i l e S o o n m a d e i t p l a i n t o s e e , A q u e s t i o n o f m o r a l i t y W a s b e i n g b l a m e d o n m e .

" Y o u k n o w I n e v e r t o u c h s u c h t h i n g s , B e s i d e s I ' m n o t . a c r o o k , A n d w i t h t h i s s h e l t e r e d l i f e o f m i n e I ’ d n o t k n o w w h e r e t o l o o k ,

S o i f y o u ' l l o n l y t h i n k a w h i l e I ' m s u r e y o u ’ l l h e l p m e o u t . I ' m s e a r c h i n g n o t f o r w h a t y o u t h i n k J u s t w h a t t o w r i t e a b o u t . "

HEAVEN'S GIFT

T h e r e o n c e w a s a g a r d e n i n H e a v e n W h e r e t h e t o u c h o f a m a s t e r h a n d H a d f a s h i o n e d a f t o w e r m o r e l o v e l y T h a n e v e r i m a g i n e d b y m a n .

I t s p e t a l s w e r e t i n t e d w i t h p i g m e n t s F r o m t h e h u e s o f a n a r c t i c d a w n D i s t i l l e d w i t h t h e s m i t e o f a n a n g e l A n d t h e t o n e s o f a s p a r r o w ' s s o n g .

A b l o o m w i t h t h e f r a g r a n c e o f s p r i n g t i m e A n d a t e x t u r e t h a t s h a m e d t h e c l o u d s W i t h t h e t r u t h o f u n b o r r o w e d b e a u t y B e n e a t h a n e t h e r e a l s h r o u d .

L i k e t h e f i r e o f a d a n c i n g d i a m o n d W h e n t h e r a y s o f a b r i g h t m o o n ' s l i g h t E n t w i n e d i n h e r g a r l a n d o f s t a r d u s t S h e l i g h t e d t h e h e a v e n s a t n i g h t .

S o t h e y n a m e d h e r t h e G o d d e s s o f M o o n , A n d t h e n b y a s p e c i a l d e c r e e T h e y e n d o w e d h e r w i t h e n d l e s s r a p p o r t F o r t h e h e a r t s o f m o r t a l s l i k e m e .

I n H e a v e n h e r f a m e w a s a l e g e n d , A n d m a n y a n a n g e l h a d s i g h e d A t t h e s i g h t o f h e r e n d l e s s b e a u t y . A y e , m a n y a n a n g e l h a d c r i e d ,

T h e n o n c e w h e n t h e h e a v e n s w e r e c l o u d l e s s A n a n g e l l o o k e d o v e r t h e m o o n A n d n o t i c e d t h e e a r t h t h e r e b e l o w h e r W h e r e s e e d s o f d e s p a i r w e r e i n b l o o m .

N o w t h e e a r t h w a s s o d i s e n c h a n t i n g I t s c a r p e t s o f a d e d a n d b l a n d , S h e v o w e d s h e b r i n g i t a b e a u t y W i t h t h e w a v e o f h e r d a i n t y h a n d .

So she went a lone to the garden Where then wi th a f l i ck o f he r hand She l oo sened the shack l e s o f thunder As a tuba fo r Heaven’ s band .

From hammered go ld o f a s e t t ing sun And s i l v er f rom many a c l oud She f ash i oned a ca rr iage re sp l endent For the j ourney tha t she'd avowed .

And when she'd p la ced the goddess ins ide And turned heaven's candl e s up br ight They f l ashed down to e ar th f rom heaven' s ga te On r ibbon o f s i l ve r l igh t .

Then look ing down a t the l ove ly b l oom And touching a wand t o her head She drew upon wi sdom’s boundl es s s t or e But a moment be f or e she sa id -

"Hence f or th you wi l l go a s a woman Down the pathways where none have be en And the charm o f your end le ss b eauty Wi l l enrapture the heart s o f men~

So f ea r not the warp o r woof o f man For i t ’ s part o f a mast er p l an That g ive s them a yearning deep ins ide For the t ouch o f a woman's hand .”

So the goddess now wa lks among us And the beauty that ' s he rs a l one Has enhanced the e ar th wi th a sp l endor That ’ s b e f i t t ing an ange l ’ s home.

THE WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE

When I was a lad and stilt in my teens I knew there was nothing as good as ice cream, Then one happy day I tilted my poise While learning that girls are not made like hoys.

At first I was shocked and filled with surprise, I blushed and I stammered and tried to disguise That I had more fun than a child with his toys While learning that girls are not made like hoys.

I soon learned so much I won as a prize A charming young mate with baby blue eyes, And we’ve filled the house with, children and noise While learning that girls are not made like boys.

With each passing year I’ve sharpened my sights By giving up ice cream most every night 3 And each time I did I murmured with joy While learning that girls are not made like boys.

I’m sure that someday I’ll crave more ice cream When life's turned me out to pastures of green, But I’ll not forget how much I enjoyed While learning that girls are not made like boys.

Now I have a son who’s well in his teens Who may well have lost his taste for ice cream, ’Cause just like his dad, the thing he enjoys Is learning that girls are not made like boys.

REMORSE

I f I h ave l o ve d an d l ov ed no t we l l M ay Hea ve n he ar th i s v o w: I g ave t he o n ly h ear t I ha d , S he has i t wi th he r no w .

I g ave t o he r my o n ly l i f e , T h us h ave I l i v ed i n v a i n , F or a l l t ha t I h ave had t o g iv e Ha s on l y b ro ug ht me pa in .

F or o ne t o l o ve i s no t e no ug h , B o t h he ar t s m us t f e e l t h e s ame ; F or o ne t o g ive i s no t e no ug h , A n d o n ly l e ad s t o sham e .

W he n we j o in ed h an ds a c ros s t he mi l e s S o ma ny y ear s a go , I f o u nd a pe a ce d ow n de ep i ns i de , I t h ou gh t I ’ d n ev er kn o w.

Ho w f o o l i s h i s t he mi nd o f ma n W he n l ov e he f a i l s t o sh o w; Ho w sa d f o r h im t he d ay t ha t h e M ust s i t an d w at ch h e r g o .

W hat was a ma n i s no w a s he l l Wi th ho pe a nd f a i th a l l go ne ; W hat was a l i f e i s now a he l l , Wi th n i gh t s s o b l a c k a n d l on g .

I b o w my h ead i n h umbl e pra ye r A n d a s k t ha t s he may s e e , A s I w as mea nt f o r he r a l o ne , S o sh e w as mea nt f o r me .

REVERIES

I f e e l y o u r t o u c h a n d l i n g e r m u c h W i t h d r e a m s o f t h i n g s t o b e , T h e n h o l d y o u n e a r a n d w h i s p e r d e a r , H o w m u c h y o u m e a n t o m e .

M a y H e a v e n b l e s s w i t h t e n d e r n e s s T h e p l a c e I h o l d f o r y o u , A n d l e t y o u s e e w i t h u n v e i l e d e y e T h e r o u t e I m u s t p u r s u e .

E a c h d a y a b o u n d s w i t h t h o u g h t s p r o f o u n d A s m e m o r i e s l i n g e r n e a r ; E a c h n i g h t I r e s t a g a i n s t y o u r b r e a s t , Y o u r f l e e t i n g v o i c e I h e a r .

T h e t i m e i s n e a r , o u r d e e d i s c l e a r , W h y m u s t w e l i n g e r o n ? W h y m u s t w e w a i t a n o t h e r d a y U n t i l t h e s p e l l i s g o n e ?

T o b e a g a i n a s w e w e r e t h e n , T o f e e l t h e s a m e o n c e m o r e , T o h a v e a n d h o l d w i t h t e n d e r n e s s , T o k n o w y o u a s b e f o r e ,

H o w c a n I g o u n t i l I k n o w W h a t j o y I m a y h a v e m i s s e d ? W h y m u s t w e s a y , s o m e o t h e r d a y , W e ’ l l s e a l i t w i t h a k i s s ?

S o t e l l m e d e a r w h i l e w e a r e n e a r , W h a t w i l l y o u r a n s w e r b e ? W i l l y o u f o r e g o a l l t e n d e r n e s s T i l l y o u h a v e g o n e f r o m m e ?

A FRIEND

I t ’ s t r u e t h e r e i s n o S a n t a C l a u s , I n f a c t t h e r e ' s n e v e r b e e n , B u t y o u w i l l f i n d , W h e n i n a b i n d , T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g l i k e a f r i e n d .

A f r i e n d i s o n e w h o c a r e s f o r y o u E a c h s t e p a l o n g t h e w a y , A n d w e i g h s h i s d e e d s A g a i n s t y o u r n e e d s , D e s p i t e w h a t y o u m a y s a y .

A f r i e n d w i l l k n o w y o u r g u a r d e d t h o u g h t s , H e ’ l l s e n s e y o u r e v e r y c a r e ; H e ’ l l s e e i n s i d e T h e t h i n g s y o u h i d e L e s t o t h e r s s e e t h e m t h e r e .

S o w h e n b y c h a n c e y o u f i n d a f r i e n d , B e t h a n k f u l f o r t h e d a y , A n d g u a r d w i t h c a r e T h e f e e l i n g s t h e r e – T o o f e w w i l l c o m e y o u r w a y .

IN YOUR HANDS

If all the that I have known, Down life's uncertain way, Were somehow turned to gleaming gold, You'd he a brighter ray.

Your loving arms and tender lips, Your heart of purest gold, Your ready smile and charming way, Are pleasures yet untold.

You bring a meaning to each day That long has been denied, And with a warmth and gentleness You soothe a wounded pride.

To Heaven's gate I raise this plea, That something in your soul Will make you tend with due regard The life your hands now hold.

JUNGLE NIGHT

Eerie shadows steal about us, Night is fal ling everywhere, Elves of darkness take their places As they gather 'round to stare.

Howls and shrieks will break the silence, Phantom wings wil l beat the sky, Beady eyes will watch each other As the day begins to die.

Little ones will wait in silence, As their elders stalk around, Preying, one upon .the other In their darkened hunting ground.

Then with dawning of the morrow Birds will voice in song again So many happy litt le tunes, Few will know where death has been.

DAWN

When dawn's great hand has clutched the sky And torn the night away, The proudest star must hide in shame Be fore the orb o f day , And a l l the creatures there be low Wil l soon thei r torpor s tay , For in i ts womb o f gleaming go ld , Dawn br ings an infant day .

And those with mounta ins yet to c l imb And ear th ly seeds unsown, Wil l meet the cadence o f the task Li f e ho lds f or them alone , But those whom t ime i s passing by , Whose seeds were l ong s ince sown, Wil l f l inch not f rom the i r f ina l need To meet the great unknown.

So dawn br ings each a d i f f erent thing– In part man shapes h is own– For i f the world breaks s tep with him, ’Twas he who walked a lone; And he who comes to reckon thus , The t ruth must sure ly know: I f yes terday, he knew today, Would be a br ight tomorrow.

THE EARTH BELOW

G r ee n a r e th e va l l ey s th a t d i v id e t he h i l l s ' A nd n ur s e th e s t r eams t ha t f l e w L i k e e n d l e s s thr ea ds o f s i l v e r w h i t e I n the f ab r i c o f e a r t h b e l ow .

A c an va s o f c o l o r s by a ma s t e r ha nd Wi th b ea ut y o f en d l e s s pro fu s i o n ; B e yo nd th e de s c r ip t iv e po w ers o f ma n , T h i s c ha l l en ge o f na tu re ' s a l l us i on .

A n d abo ve i t a l l a bow l o f b l ue He l d h i gh by a n u ns e e n ha n d , F l e ck ed wi t h t he b r i gh t o f d i am on d d us t , A no b l e sh i e l d f o r o ur b e l ov ed l a nd .

LIFE’S PICTURES

To each is given a fragment of time, A palette, a brush, and a will, And upon the canvas of life we paint Our days with immeasurable skill.

Each stroke of the brush is a deed now done, A deed we can never erase; Each color we choose is a fadeless one, Remaining forever in place.

No one can question the pigments we use 4s tines from our brushes surge, But our mettle will show to our fellowman As forms from the shadows emerge.

So give to each stroke the best that you have,

Choose all of your pigments with care,

And you’ll not be ashamed for others to see

All the scenes you have painted there.

SPRING

T o d a y I h e a r d a r o b i n c r y T h a t s p r i n g i s o n i t s w a y , T o b a t h e t h e m e a d o w s b r o w n e d b y s n o w , W i t h s u n s h i n e e v e r y d a y .

S o o n t h e g e n t l e w i n d s t h a t b l o w W i l l p a i n t a l l n a t u r e " g r e e n , A n d h a v e t h e f l o w e r s l i f t t h e i r h e a d s T o f a c e a w o r l d u n s e e n .

B e e s w i l l f l y a n d l o v e r s s i g h A s s o n g b i r d s f i l l t h e a i r , A n d C u p i d ’ s d a r t s w i l t c a p t u r e h e a r t s , W h e n s p r i n g i s e v e r y w h e r e .

’ T i s n a t u r e ' s t i m e t o l e a v e h e r b e d W h e r e l o n g s h e ’ s b e e n a t r e s t , A n d c l o t h e h e r s e l f i n b r i g h t a r r a y T o l o o k h e r v e r y b e s t .

S o w h e n y o u h e a r a r o b i n ' s c r y , B e f i r s t t o t u r n a n e a r – T h e c o l d , c o l d w i n t e r ’ s g o n e a t l a s t , A n o t h e r s p r i n g i s h e r e .

TOURBILLION

S o m e t i m e s I s i t a n d w o n d e r w h y T h e y c a l l m e ’ T o u r b i l l i o n . ’ I t i s n ’ t m e t h a t ’ s w h i r l i n g b y , I t ’ s j u s t t h e w o r l d I ' m o n ,

A n d i f t h e f a t e s t h a t t u r n i t ' r o u n d , C o u l d i n t h e i r w i s d o m s e e , H o w m u c h m y l i f e i s u p s i d e d o w n , T h e y ’ d s t o p i t j u s t f o r m e .

S o i f b y c h a n c e i t e v e r s l o w s I t s c r a z y w h i r l i n g p a c e , I m a y g e t o f f ’ c a u s e H e a v e n k n o w s I h a t e t h i s d i z z y r a c e .

B u t i f t h e y s l o w i t d o w n f o r m e I s t i l l m a y n o t s u r v i v e , ’ C a u s e t h e r e ' s n o w a y t h a t I c a n s e e , T o l e a v e t h i s w o r l d a l i v e .

WHO COULD?

I f I c o u l d I w o u l d , I f y o u c o u l d I w o u l d , I f y o u c o u l d I c o u l d , I f y o u w o u l d I w o u l d , I f y o u c o u l d b u t w o u l d n ' t I w o u l d b u t c o u l d n ’ t , I f y o u w o u l d b u t c o u l d n ’ t I c o u l d b u t w o u l d n ' t , I f w e s h o u l d a n d c o u l d , w e w o u l d , I f w e s h o u l d a n d c o u l d n ’ t , w e w o u l d n ’ t , I f w e s h o u l d a n d w o u l d h u t c o u l d n ’ t , O r c o u l d a n d w o u l d b u t s h o u l d n ’ t , I ’ m s u r e w e w o u l d n ’ t . — W o u l d w e ? M y J u l i e ! W h a t a m e s s !

EACH A DIFFERENT THING

W h e n d a y h a s f a d e d I n t o n i g h t A n d b i r d s h a v e s t i l l e d t h e i r s o n g , I f e e l a n e w T h e n e e d f o r y o u T h a t I h a v e k n o w n s o t o n g .

I t o n g t o h e a p t h e c h o i r o f l i f e T h a t s i n g s w h e n y o u a p e n e a r , A n d k n o w t h e t e a r s O f a n g r y y e a r s A r e s o o n t o d i s a p p e a r –

T o l e a r n t h e a n g e l ' s s o n g I h e a p I s b u t y o u r m u t e d s i g h , A n d s e e t h e s t a r T h a t f r o m a f a r S t i l l t w i n k l e s i n y o u r e y e –

T o h e a r y o u r s o f t f a m i l i a r v o i c e , T o f e e l y o u r g e n t l e t o u c h , T o s e e y o u s m i l e I f b u t a w h i l e W o u l d m e a n s o v e r y m u c h .

H o w c a n I t h u s b e s o c o n t e n t ? W h a t w i l l t o m o r r o w b r i n g ? I t l i k e t o d a y M u s t f l y a w a y O n t i m e ' s u n t i r i n g w i n g .

F o r w h e n t h e d a y l i g h t f l o o d s t h e d a r k A n d b i r d s b e g i n t o s i n g , W i l l w h a t I h a v e A n d w h a t I h a d B e e a c h a d i f f e r e n t t h i n g .

IN SEARCH OF A MEMORY

W h i l e w a l k i n g d o w n t h e b a c k r o a d s T h r o u g h t h e m e m ' r i e s o f m y m i n d I c h a n c e d u p o n a p i c t u r e T h a t h a d l o n g b e e n l o s t i n t i m e .

A s c e n e o f g r e a t e l a t i o n W h e r e t h e m y s t i c h a n d o f l o v e H a d h e l d t h e q u i l l t h a t d r e w i t W i t h t h e s t a r d u s t f r o m a b o v e .

A n d a s I l o o k e d i t o v e r T h r o u g h t h e d i m n e s s o f t h e p a s t , I r e a l i z e d t h e c o l o r s W e r e o f p i g m e n t s s t r o n g a n d f a s t .

A n d t h e n I l o o k e d b e s i d e m e A t a s c e n e f r o m y e s t e r d a y , A n d f e l t a p a n g o f s o r r o w A s I w a t c h e d i t f a d e a w a y .

S o n o w I s e a r c h a b o u t m e I n t h e h o p e I ’ l l f i n d a q u i l t , A n d a n i n k o f e v e r y c o l o r F o r t h e c a n v a s I m u s t f i l l .

Y e s I h a v e t h e u r g e t o d r a w , W i t h a s t r o k e t h a t ' s l i g h t a n d f r e e , A s c e n e t o l a s t f o r e v e r O n a p a g e o f m e m o r y .

TRUTH

H o w o f t ' w e l o o k b e h i n d a s m i l e A n d f a i l i n f a c t t o s e e T h e g u a r d e d t h o u g h t s t h a t l i e b e n e a t h T h e i r v e i l o f d i g n i t y .

H o w o f t ’ w e c r a v e a s i m p l e t o u c h A n d i n i t f a i l t o f i n d , T h e u r g e t h a t m a d e u s w a n t i t t h e r e W a s h i d d e n i n o u r m i n d .

H o w o f t ' w e p u s h o u r n e e d s a s i d e B e f o r e t h e y g o t o o f a r T o w a r d s h o w i n g u s t h a t w e a r e n o t W h a t w e w o u l d t h i n k w e a r e .

W h e r e v e r c r e d e n c e s h o w s t h e w a y , W i t h b u t a f l e e t i n g g l o w , W e f i n d t h a t t r u t h i s s e l d o m n e a r T h e t h i n g s t h a t w e l e t s h o w .

I s t h i s b e c a u s e w e ' v e f o o l e d o u r s e l v e s A n d r e a l l y n e v e r k n o w n U n t i l u n g u a r d e d m o m e n t s w h e n O u r i n n e r t h o u g h t s h a v e s h o w n ?

T h e n w h e n i n t i m e w e m e d i t a t e A b o u t t h e s e u n l o c k e d d o o r s , M u s t w e a b s c o n d t o h a b i t a t e T h e s h a c k l e s o f o u r m o r e s ?

I COME YOUR WAY NO MORE

You've asked my name and what I want And why I've come your way, So I’ll be brief and to the point In what I have to say.

Friend is the name I’m mostly called By those who've come to know, That friend's the name of every seed I've ever tried to sow.

My needs are nil, my wants are less, And all my schemes today Lie in the mind of those who doubt, When kindness leads the way.

So when as friend I come your way, In failure as before, It is in sadness that I turn To come your way no more.

FROWNING

I h o p e y o u s o o n g e t b e t t e r A n d w e a r y o u r o t h e r f a c e , ' C a u s e t h a t o n e y o u ' r e a - w e a r i n g I s c l o u d i n g u p t h e p l a c e .

O f a l l t h e t h i n g s a r o u n d u s T h a t w e n e e d l e s s t h a n m o r e , I t r s l e s s o f w h a t y o u ’ r e w e a r i n g A n d m o r e o f w h a t y o u w o r e .

S o w e a r t h e o n e t h a t ' s p l e a s a n t T h e w a y y o u a l w a y s d o , T h e n w h e n y o u s e e a m i r r o r S o m e o n e w i l l s m i l e a t y o u .

REFLECTION

I s a w t he da rk nes s f l e e t he d a wn , T h e s u ns h in e k i s s t he d e w, A n d w hi l e t he n ig ht g av e b i r t h t o da y I g ave a t ho ug ht t o yo u .

I t h ou gh t o f ho w th e g en t l e r a in T h a t pe rm ea t e s th e s k y , M ust b e t he t e a r s o f l o ne l in e s s Y o ur s i s t e r a n ge l s c ry ; F or i f t h e go od nes s in yo ur h ear t W ere s omeh o w t ur ned t o go l d , No k i n gdom 's w ea l t h c o u ld e ve r mat c h T h e t r ea su re s y ou wou ld h o ld .

I t h ou gh t o f a l l t h e l o ne l y o nes W ho' s l i v e s a r e mo re w or t h w hi l e B e ca us e t he i r t r o ub l ed hea r t s h ave k no w n T h e s u ns h in e o f yo ur smi l e .

S o he r e a t d a wn o f i n f a nt d ay W hi l e a l l i s s t i l l bu t t ho ug ht , A c on s c i e n ce t e s t s a w o r th i ne s s F or t ha t wh i c h l i f e ha s b ro ug ht ; B u t t he n the ha nds th a t tu rn t he wor l d R a ve sh ap ed u s f o r th e t a s k Of b r i ng in g t o e a c h d ay we f a c e W hat eve r i t m ay a s k ;

S o th ou gh I b e a bu sh o f t ho rn O n w hi ch a b e aut y gr o ws I ’ l l s t a nd wi t h pr i de w h i l e a rb or - l i k e I h o ld a l o f t t h e r o s e .

DREAMER

From smiling lips there came a sigh That echoed through my mind; From gentle hands there came a touch That stayed the march of time,

And from your lovely blue touched eyes There came a warming tight To shame the beauty of a star In heaven's cloudless night;

And then there came a flowing breeze That mingled with your hair To brush aside the dust of stars That nature left you there.

What angel's wings have brought you here3 I thought in mute surprise As I pondered how a halo Could be so well disguised.

How warm it made this aching heart, If only for awhile, To know the peace of those who fee1 The sunshine of your smile;

But when I saw you disappear Into the coming tight, It saddened me to realize I'd dreamed most alt the night.

THE WRONG WRONG

When one has alt that fate allows But walks alone each day, Are we not wrong when judge we must, His troubled, wanton way?

Who knows what smile and gentleness Has reached across his day, To touch his life with tenderness And push the clouds away?

Who knows what hand unseen by us Has dried away his tears, And coaxed a pleasing melody From strings untuned by years?

Someday we, too, may live a life Devoid of all that's dear, Someday we, too, may crave someone And want to have them near.

So when if ever there's a time A wrong you must pursue, I wonder if the wrongs he did Will be so wrong for you?

REMEMBERING

S o m e d a y w h e n y o u a r e a l l a l o n e W i t h n o t h i n g m u c h t o d o , A t h o u g h t o r t w o m a y w a n d e r h a c k T o p l e a s u r e s y o u o n c e k n e w .

W h i l e m u s i n g t h u s i n q u i e t r e p o s e l o v e r l i p s a g a i n m a y p a r t T o t a s t e a n e w t h o s e s e l d o m w o r d s A w i l l i n g n e s s c a n s t a r t .

T h e n y o u m a y w a n t a l o v i n g a r m , O r w i t h a m u t e d s i g h , R e c a l l a g a i n t h e e a g e r n e s s I n s o m e u n h a l t e r e d e y e .

F o r s c e n e s w e c o u c h i n m e m o r y F r o m e a c h s u b c o n s c i o u s q u e s t C a n f e i g n w i t h a w k w a r d g e n t l e n e s s A b a b e u p o n t h e b r e a s t .

B u t s h o u l d t h e m i n d t u r n i n r e b u k e I t s c h a r a c t e r w i l l k n e l l , F o r s a k i n g e l s e t o f i r m l y s t a t e , " I k n o w y o u n o t t h a t w e l l . "

B u t r e t r o s p e c t i s q u i c k t o t e a c h , E a c h t r u s t t h a t ' s b e e n w e l l p l a c e d I s w o r t h a m y r i a d o f d o u b t s A n d a l l t h e i r s a v i n g g r a c e .

" ' T w a s b u t a n i m p u l s e , " s o m e w o u l d s a y , B y w h i c h t o s u r e l y s h o w A n i g n o r a n c e o f h i d d e n n e e d T h e y e a c h w o u l d l o a t h e t o k n o w .

W h e n y o u p u r s u e y o u r m e m o r i e s B e m i n d f u l ' f r o m t h e s t a r t , W e o f t ’ e r e c t a b o l d f a c a d e T o h i d e a w a n t i n g h e a r t .

LEARNING

I ' v e h e a r d t h e c r y o f a s t i l l s m a l l v o i c e , A n d I ' v e f e l t t h e h a n d s o f f a t e , A n d c o n q u e r e d t h e f e a r s O f p a s s i n g y e a r s , B u t I ' v e t e a m e d s o m u c h t o o l a t e .

I ' v e k n o w n t h e j o y s o f a w o m a n ' s l o v e , A n d I ' v e f e l t h e r t h o r n s o f h a t e ; I ’ v e p o n d e r e d t h e t h e m e s O f s e l f i s h d r e a m s , B u t I ' v e l e a r n e d s o m u c h t o o l a t e .

I ’ v e t r i e d t h e f r u i t o f l i f e ' s t w i s t i n g r o a d T o t h e f o o t o f h e l l ' s o w n g a t e , A n d b u r n e d w i t h t h e f i r e s O f m y d e s i r e s , B u t I ' v e t e a m e d s o m u c h t o o l a t e .

N o w i n t h e h a n d s o f f a t e ' s l a d y f a i r I ’ m t o r t u r e d t h a t I m u s t w a i t , ' T i l l h e r s m i t e s m y w a y A r e b u t t o s a y , W h a t I ’ v e t e a m e d i s n o t t o o l a t e .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

At age 14, the a u t h o r d e c i d e d to become a watchmaker and hitchhiked to Memphis each Saturday during school years to visit watchmakers there and to learn from them.

On graduation from high school, he worked in a 10-man shop repairing watches for Sears. He volunteered for the Air Corp at age 20 and served in the Pacific area. There General MacArthur awarded him a Legion of Merit for his aircraft instrument work.

Following a degree in mechanical engineering, he worked for 35 years at the Oak Ridge, TN Atomic Energy Plants.

Retired for the past 26 years, he has designed and built skeleton clocks and written books so others could build them. To date, he has published 15 books and five 2-hour clockmaking workshop DVDs.

Mr. Smith is a ham radio operator, W4PAL, has owned two airplanes a number of motorcycles, spent many years repairing CB equipment, has written songs, has been taught Medical Hypnosis published 5 books of poetry, holds 5 gold medals for handmade clocks in international competition, has taught others both watchmaking and clockmaking. See his Web site at www.wrsmithclocks.com. He has designed and built what is likely the world’s smallest telegraph speed key and the world’s smallest telegraph straight key as well as a number of other unusual speed keys.

He and his wife live in Powell, TN, a small town that sits on the north city limit of Knoxville, TN. During the year of his 90th birthday, Mr. Smith completed his sixth book of poetry and started his 16th book.