Games

Next to the compost pile
a hole or burrow or tunnel.
What furry creature resides there?
Quite possibly there's a pair.

This something only comes out at night
after I've retired for bug bites
chase me inside early each night
before the sunset becomes twilight.

It eats to its heart's content
from the compost's content
fortunately not realizing
fresh vegetation grew in the garden.

My neighbor told me it was a woodchuck.
Another name for a ground hog.  Just my luck.
I need to come up with a plan quick
to scare off this varmint, to outwit.

This woodchuck
did not chuck
any wood
that I know of.

He did, however, chuck
many, many rocks
that were wedged in the burrow
with his nose and head somehow.

For every morning those rocks
were again up on top.
He had come to chow down
sometime before dawn.

Last evening's parings
he thought were for sharing.
Content he was
with peach skin fuzz.

Rather a woodchuck or a ground hog, I do not know.
I do know I'm thankful he has left town, though.
Hopefully he became
tired of playing the game...

of my wedging rocks in the burrow
then his emptying the tunnel
with its nose.
I suppose.

Woodchucks,
do not knock,
they tend to invite themselves.
Gardeners might cry 'help'
for lettuce and pecs and corn and beans
are no longer seen in rows of green.

Ground hogs
don't jog
but can be seen
in fields of green
where into their tunnel
they quickly burrow
after eating
from gardens.

* * * * *

Oh the joys of gardening!
Everyday something needs tending.
Oh the joys of aging!
Everyday something's aching.

Dedicated gardeners won't let a few aches
keep them from their morning-to-evening date
with what's waiting out behind the garden gate
for every morning new surprises await.

Wonderment is found so don't be late
for everyday miracles await.
The miracle of food upon your plate.
Awe over the assortment God did create.

Amazement over delicate flower blooms.
Everyday a rainbow of new blooms perfume.
There's much in one's garden to see and admire.
To talk about, gardeners never seem to tire.

And tomorrow they will be back again
to finish yesterday's chores in the garden.
A gardener's work is never, ever done
rather the gardener be man or woman.

Here's some words of wisdom direct from Solomon.
I think he spent some time working under the sun.
Isn't that what gardeners do -
work under the sun after the dew
has dried upon the grass
for there's always another task
that awaits.
Don't be late.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Ecclesiastes 3:18-19

Ecclesiastes 8:15

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Shadow

Airborne birds
overhead soar.
Flying high,
waving bye bye.

Down below
the ground shows
a shadow now seen
for a second, it seems.

This shadow provides shade,
as relief is made.
A shelter from the heat.
A welcome relief.

This darkened shadow etched
contains two wings outstretched
reminiscent of
the God of love...

for the Bible speaks of this word picture
teaching us that God's promises endure
throughout the generations
across each and every nation.

Those two wings outstretched
propel the birds, yet
emulate our Father's arms
where we are safe from all that harms.

Next time you see a bird soaring in the sky
look for its  shadow on the ground by and by
then think of the shelter, the refuge found in God's outstretched arms
encircling you, providing protection from what alarms.

* * * * *

Picture Christ's outstretched arms on the cross.
His arms outstretched in an embrace.
An embrace encompassing all of mankind
filled with sacrificial love for your life and mine.

Then take time to reflect
on God's promises etched
in these word pictures
found in Scripture.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 17:8

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men find refuge
in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
Psalm 57:1

Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 63:7

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

He will cover you with his feathers
and under his wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4

It will be shelter and shade from the heat of the day,
and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Isaiah 4:6

The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them,
and care for her young under the shadow of her wings.
Isaiah 34:15

...covered you with shadow of my hand...
Isaiah 51:16

...as a hen gather her chicks under her wings...
Matthew 23:37

Men will hear of your great name and
your mighty hand and your outstretched arm.
I Kings 8:42

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His loves endures forever.
Psalm 136:12

With my great power and outstretched arm
I made the earth and its people
and the animals that are on it.
Jeremiah 27:5

Ah, Sovereign Lord,
you have made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17

Sum & Substance

The largest of my hostas is aptly labeled Sum & Substance
which describes my life's gardening experience, in essence.

Using my parent's experience (sum & substance) through illustration,
and now wishing as a kid I had paid more attention,
equals about the whole (sum & substance) total of what I know,
then fitting what I know (sum & substance) into poetry somehow.
The sum of my experience might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Observing the elements (sum & substance) of weather,
pertaining to gardening is rather
an unique experience (sum & substance) having lasting value.
Something passed on through generations - now there's some (sum) value.
The sum of all my observing might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Learning from many (sum) gardening magazines and books (substance),
I seem to have a large quantity (sum & substance), take a look,
adds yearly information (sum & substance) to what I know -
amounting to brain matter (sum & substance)...I have been told.
At times, the sum of my learning might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Collecting found materials (sum & substance) in my yard
become objects of worth (sum & substance).  I'm not too proud,
to recycle other people's discards (sum & substance), for instance,
into something of recycled value having sum and substance.
The sum of my diverse collecting might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

* * * * *

One's experiences makes us who we now are.
Either optimism or pessimism we bear.
If we tend to be pessimistic,
we can learn to be optimistic.
One simple way is to
count our blessings anew.

Observing one's own surroundings
is one way to count our blessings
for when God created the world
He had us in His mind, we're told.
God created our world with beauty
so our hearts would be filled with beauty.

All of life we're learning something new.
Everyday we learn or see something new.
Every time we read our Bible there's something new
for us to ponder and wonder about anew.
Commit yourself to reading the Bible
for God's promises will always enable.

Be careful what you end up collecting in this life.
If you collect the world's garbage you'll be full of strife.
One bit of the world's garbage is "oh my god"
which is so defaming to the one true God.
Eradicate that phrase completely from your house
and start a campaign in your family to douse.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,
for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless
who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7

September Photos

Thorns

Bad things do happen to good people
for we all go through trials and troubles.

Everyone everywhere bears
heavy heartaches and deep cares.
Everyone everywhere wears
intense sadness mixed with tears.
Ofttimes heartaches are not fair.
Sometimes sadness lasts for years.
Ofttimes it's all we wear.
Sometimes life just isn't fair.

Life is often filled with strife.
It seems nothing turns out right.
There's no relief in sight.
Finances are tight.
Perhaps you had a fight.
You cannot see the light.
There's no longer delight.
When will life be all right?

Every lovely rose bears a thorn
as a rainbow follows a storm.
So next time you're forlorn,
heartsick, weary, and worn,
remember after the storm
one day comes a bright new morn.
The rose with thorns adorned
reminds us of life - it's norm.

Every thorn in life wears a rose
Beauty from ashes, I suppose.
Verse for many poets' prose
or so the saying goes.
You need not be old to know,
Just smell a rose with your nose.
The thorns will prick and goad.
We forget the lovely rose.

A lesson from the thorns
perhaps will now be born.
Look beyond the storm
to a bright new morn
where joy adorns
those who are worn.
Beauty from ashes born
out of all of our thorns.

Don't forget the rose
in front of your nose.
Look beyond the lows.
Don't dwell on the woes.
A lovely rose knows
one life's journey goes
from story to pose.
Lovely it grows.

If it weren't for thorns, there would be no roses.
Beauty from ashes.  That said, this poem closes.

* * * * *

Are you focused on your thorns
instead of on your roses?
I know I tend to be,
unfortunately.
A new attitude needs to be formed
instead of focusing on the loses.
I'll find a new attitude is free.
I just need to open my heart to see...

how God has daily and faithfully
provided for and protected me
and that the thorns were sent to prove to me
that God has His best in store for me.

My writing is taking my thorns
in the form of my life's storms
and showing me that God had a good purpose and plan
that hopefully will encourage generations.

In God's time He will bring to pass
His good purpose and plan at last.
In the meantime God is maturing me
to be the person God wants me to be.

...to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...
Isaiah 61:3

Be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:23-24

Scamper

Raking outside in the autumn sunshine
thump thump thump was heard across the roof line.
Then a rustle in the tree's leaves.
A branch dipped rustling the leaves.
Down one tree branch then across another,
scampering from one tree to another.

My dog's long tail went thump thump thump
at the bottom of the tree trunk.
Was she thinking, "come play please,
mom's too busy raking leaves".
Scampering from one maple tree to another,
Goldie followed her new friend while nuts it gathered.

Here it comes back again - up the fence post onto the tree,
scampering across the branch, rustling the remaining leaves.
From one tree to another
overhead jumps then scamper
across the roof line thump, thump, thump.
In its mouth a round hickory nut.

Preparing for winter
with the fruits of summer.
Busy everyday
for toil does pay
for men and women, boys and girls,
and for furry scampering squirrels.

* * * * *

How come watching squirrels at works seems like having fun?
How come working isn't always a lot of fun?
The Bible tells us to be happy while we work
and to always find satisfaction in our work.
This is so important the Bible tells us more than once.
Read about it in the book of Ecclesiastes.

There is nothing better for men
than to be happy and do good while they live.
That everyone may eat and drink,
and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

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Green Grass

Green, green
my yard is green.
Green is my yard
filled up with - weeds!
vs green grass.
How crass!

Spring does bring yellow dandelions -
in every garden, I'm not lying.
There are more dandelions than grass.
Yellow dandelions grow in mass.

Creeping charley grows all over.
To remove, I'll need a dozer.
There's more creeping charley than grass.
It smells when you walk on it.  It's mashed.

Thistles are a gift from a neighbor,
coming my way in windy weather.
There's more thistles than grass.
When it pricks you, you sass.

Two types of plantain grow in the summer.
On a tall spike head, their seed does scatter.
There's more plantains than there is grass.
The lawnmower will mow it down - crash!

Though it's reported to make a good ground cover,
yarrow, though not wanted, is growing all over.
There's more yarrow in the lawn than grass.
I don't think it makes the lawn look posh.

Sowed every year is new grass seed
in order to combat the weeds.
Now in the flower garden you'll find grass -
growing much faster than the dash.  Alas!

* * * * *

When you mow
do you mow
weeds that grow fast
or fresh green grass?

The Bible talks about green grass as temporary.
One day flourishing, the next day snuffed out - transitory.
Here today, gone tomorrow.
To some causing sorrow.

In comparison, God's love is just the opposite.
God's love is from everlasting.  It will never quit.
God's love is always, always unconditional.
You don't earn it.  It's readily available.

Love that's not based on what you have done
but because of Who He is - the One,
the Only true God, Everlasting,
Almighty, Holy, faithful, forgiving.

As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children -
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
Psalm 103:15-18

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