The Cardinal Pair
The cardinal pair, each fall they came
To Grandma’s feeder stand —
Out the window where she sat lame
All winter were at hand.
I never knew the dreams she had:
Her tongue the stroke did stay;
But spirit soared, her eyes grew glad
When crimson flew her way.
And then one day their wings grew cold
For she had gone away;
No longer did the feeder hold
The seed which friendship lays.
Scout of Scouts (to Dad)
Within our times there lived a law
that guided boys as they grew tall;
it had twelve points – twelve ways to live,
twelve ways to serve, twelve ways to give.
To those who took that oath when young
and passed it down through son to son,
let’s pledge anew to live that way,
even in, yes, these PC days.
This honors one who lived them out:
Dad – Great Grandpa now – a Scout of Scouts.
Let’s say them now, without a tear,
and let these laws extend their years …
A Scout is
trustworthy,
loyal,
helpful,
friendly,
courteous,
kind,
obedient,
cheerful,
thrifty,
brave,
clean,
and reverent.
And it’s sure —
this Anniversary is possible
because to each you’ve been true.
Retirement: A Mixed Blessing
Oh for the days when I punched the clock
as I sit in my chair and only rock.
All of the troubles and cares of a day
somehow were solved when I got paid.
Granted working is a whole lot of work
especially when the boss is a ….
But all in all, the blessings of labor
made me a rather better neighbor,
able to give and help those in need
and be satisfied and in word and in deed.
Oh for the days when I punched the clock
as I sit in my chair and only rock.
All That a Mother Could Be (to Mom)
You’re more than a mother to me …
a voice of calm when all’s astir,
a place of rest when life’s a bur,
a touch of class, of taste, of style —
Your sense for flair does span the miles …
You’re more than a mother to me.
You’re Grandma to my four dear ones
who never feel that something’s done
until they’ve shared it with my Mom …
You’re more than a mother to me.
You’re a Mother-in-law to my dear wife,
a model of the kind of life
where helpmates stand beside their man …
You’re more than a mother to me.
Your love is marked by sacrifice
you’ve made to raise a family;
and on this Anniversary Day,
we’re here to show our love.
We love you Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma –
You’re all that a mother could me.
Mothers
Life and joy and sorrow and pain
are all within a mother’s domain.
She knows much more of what’s underneath
than any father you’ll ever meet.
Happy Mother’s day!
Graduation
To finish a program and receive a degree
comes with diplomas – a new pedigree.
But the license obtained is one to now start
a lifetime of learning propelled by the heart.
Lasting Labor
The work of our hands
and the labor of our minds
are worth far more
than a diamond-laden mine.
And when everything is done,
the labor that will last
is the miracle of life
to another gently passed.