Heave

Heave

When winter comes and there's a freeze

there's something else that it will leave.

This something will have you rolling up your sleeves,

using your back muscles – sometimes under the trees.

It's best to work on a day when there's a breeze

for if you sweat a lot you'll become quite peeved.

You'll find this something under the dirt weaved

for when there was a freeze, this something heaved.

You'll need a shovel and perhaps the hoe

when you go out this day to dig a hole

or maybe attempt a row

with seeds you want to sow.

Sometimes the going is slow.

Never go with barefoot toes.

Sometimes down on your knees you'll go

as you dig around with the hoe.

When digging a hole

or marking a row

you'll find stones and rocks heaved

from winter's long, cold, hard freeze.

Though it seems like stones and rocks grow

and multiply each year to our woe

these buried treasures please

as stone walls and paths please.

There is a rhythm, a flow,

to this chore - it does flow.

In the above rhyme it's sowed.

Did you find it? Do you know?

It's: Heave, Ho!

Funny? No?

* * * * *

Many shovels and trowels end up broken

from yearly digging out rocks and stones.

Many lives end up broken

from wrong words that were spoken.

Words will either build up or tear down.

If words tear down, there will be frowns

and a heart that is forlorn

despite how much one has grown.

If words build up, they will encourage for a lifetime

as these kind words will be recalled time after time.

Take note: Think

before you speak.

When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

An anxious heart weighs a man down,

but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 12:25

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

A word aptly spoken

is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 25:11

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

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For those of you who sweat a lot and need to replenish salt to prevent weakness, 

a nephew gave me this recipe for a natural gaterade/electrolyte:

Heat honey, salt, and water.  Add lemon.  Refrigerate.

I guesstimate about a tablespoon of honey, a sprinkle of salt 

and more than a cup of water with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

I freeze fresh lemon juice in an ice cube tray.

Each cube is 1 Tablespoon.