Silent Proclamation

Ol’ Miss Barred Owl flew near the header

Watching the log truck, but keeping an eye on the skidder

Her big eyes full of wonder, as she landed on her perch

A bending, yet still living, Robert Frost kind of birch

She watched John back the log truck into the header with care

As I approached with the skidder she just flew away from there

But I hooted as she silently flew away with grace

Suddenly landing, turning around and looking into my face

Black deep were the eyes that looked at me and stared

No blink, no wink, we both knew we cared

A logger and an owl looking into each other’s soul

God did make us both, I guess that makes us sister and bro

I listened to the owl as she spoke with her eyes

“loving one another not materialism should be the prize

In Gods eye we are all equal and today is the day

To start putting it into practice,” then the owl flew away

Tinmouth's Bells

Long before my time, folks toiled by the hour.

Putting the big bell in the old church tower.

It rang through the years leaving it’s mark on the trees,

In the far end of the valley it could be heard on the breeze.

Down in the Channel, standing by the water,

A deer would stop and listen, so would fox and otter.

High on Tinmouth Mountain and old bear walks along,

Stopping every Sunday morning to listen to the song.

It touches all the critters and their spirits within,

If only for that moment, they all felt akin.

Now folks are all different on the outside of the skin,

But God says we’re all the same somewhere deep within.

In a small town like Tinmouth your neighbor’s your friend,

And most folk are looking for a chance to pitch in.

When the Old Bell rang on Sunday and people started to pray

Rouleau’s old donkey would sure enough start to bray.

Some went to church when the Old Bell sand it’s song,

Others stayed home or couldn’t come along.

It rang happy after weddings and everyone wished them well,

They sang and danced at the sound of the bell.

It rang a sad note when someone passes away,

We all stopped to listen and in our hearts we each would pray.

Now a bell is a symbol, it has no mind of it’s own,

It just sits there quiet if we leave it along.

So let this new bell ring and sound out with force,

The animals all know it, the trees told them of corse.

Let this bell bring us together in the things that we do,

Helping at the firehouse of building onto the school.

This bell’s sound is pure when it rings from the tower,

Let our bell’s ring from within with caring each hour.

So when we hear the bell ring, turn to your neighbor and say,

“Been meaning to tell you, ‘Have a nice day’!

Naked

To be naked . . .

what a wonderful refreshing feeling.

Free to the breeze . . .

Unashamed at ease for the peeling

To bad they can’t be

To be content deep within ourselves

for the winter

Sap drawn down . . .

So our limbs wont splinter

Hope they are

Our plan all made

For the soft warm rain

Buds on our branches

Sap in our veins

They will sigh

Endless green

Covering the view

Al working together

Yet each in their own pew

They will glance

We have been painting all summer

Kept it hidden by the green

To wear the most beautiful colors

The eyes have ever seen

They will stare

Oh . . . to strip them all off

The wind helps us undress

To look forward to another year

We know we have been blessed

Pray they have been.

Is It Worth Preserving ?

Think of all the wonderful and beautiful things that make us glad.

If they were taken away, changed or destroyed, we’d be sad.

The fresh air, sweet smell of blossoms in the Spring when they are all new,

The birds, the songs, or the quiet on the Channel in a canoe

The old farm in the valley, the farm family on the hill

Neighbor helping neighbor or strangers, knowing they always will

A peaceful place for our children, and theirs

A place for the deer, bobcat, and an old friend the bear

Things will not stay the same, they will be gone, it will be too late

Unless more of us are willing to step up to the plate

Our freedoms, our rights, the blessings that abound

All are worth preserving, they are that special crown

Compromise, understanding, tolerance, a stronger desire for peace

With love, forgiveness, and charity, hate and war will have to cease

Yes, we must give up something but it may be easier than it might seem

Give up greed, envy, taking more then we need, we are still left with the cream

So let’s look at different cultures, religions, people, and places

Do our best to restore and preserve the good, so all can have smiling faces 

Sand Thoughts

Timeless work of the mighty seas has made countless tiny friends like me

We cover the shore all around the lands,

Lie side by side though not really holding hands

We can lie for thousands of years in one place,

Or me moved back and forth with each rhythm and grace

Sometimes great storms with high winds and raging seas

Will move us for miles with the greatest of ease

We have been grains of sand for billions of years

Seen the most beautiful sunsets, the last dinosaur’s tears

 Some things we have seen make an uplifting score,

Feeling Jesus’ feet walk the Galilean shore

We have seen the shooting volcanoes and raging men’s war

Then we are told that there’s something more

Lying flat with our form uniquely mild

Come the imaginative mind of a child

In a couple of hours these tiny strong hands

Mold us into great castles instead of just grains of sand

Maybe life is that way when we think our days are flat,

To mold new castles and never look back

Yes, the sea comes each night and takes the castles away,

But that gives us an opportunity to build better ones this day

One castle a day shows gratitude for our care,

Find someone who hasn’t built one, show then God’s love is fair