Holidays to Remember | Dad's Harvest of Memories

Next-Door Valentine

I heard the evening train go by,

Its lonesome whistle blowing.

I wished that I could be on board

Ties cut, and I were going

To some adventure far away,

Perhaps t strange, new lands

To feed some inner restlessness

And occupy my hands.

That was before the girl next door

And before the honeyed vines

Wrapped us as one on her porch swing

Where moonbeams would dance and shine.

Her eyes could rival all the stars

What was the need to roam?

For everything the heart could wish

Was right here close at home.

Oh, how sweet to be together
When Thanksgiving Day is here;
Kinfolk come and cousins gather
Filling every nook with cheer;
When the turkey has been roasting
Since before the dawn of day
And the dinner time is scheduled
Many slow-paced hours away.
Older cousins carry dishes
As excitement builds and grows,
Everybody, even youngsters,
To the very minute knows
When the call will come to dinner
And they’ll line up, hushed, to stand
As Father asks a blessing
On the goodness of the land,
Blessing on the home’s provider,
And the gentle one whose art
Served such a sumptuous banquet
From the goodness of her heart.

Published Autumn Ideals 1967

Voice of Youth

How beautiful it is to hear
The voices of the young,
And let our hearts be lifted by
The melody they have sung.

The dawn of spring is filled with song
Of birds, and breeze, and rain.
Have you not been quickened
By their lilting springtime strains?

But in this complex world of ours,
There is not anything
As stirring as the voice of youth
Who worship Him and sing.

Ideals Easter 1968

Mother’s Day

What little girl is this
Who lifts her veil to kiss
The handsome groom?
Why do we gather here
And drop a silver tear
In this candlelit room?
Is it that we must know
Our little girl will go?
Her blossoming
Will not be ours alone
The golden sun that shone
And made us sing
Joins us to bless
Her happiness,
Like a warm and gentle flame,
She’s no less ours now, we know,
Yet time that life bestows
In days ahead will never be the same.

Ideals Mothers Day 2004

New Year

Get your star broom from its peg
On the milky way;
Sweep the rainbow corner where
The tree was moved away.

Bangles, beads and shining strings,
Memories with each one,
Love and fellowship and gifts,
Sweet with Christmas fun.

Sweep it gaily through the door
On to drifted snow;
Brighten up your winter scene
And before you know,

As you scatter cheer about,
Splashing everything,
Crocus heads will pop from beds
And wrap your heart with spring!

Published in Ideals Best Loved Poems 1976

Living Valentines

To see a couple hand in hand,
Considerate and sweet,
Lost in a glow that’s all its own,
Makes hearts pick up a beat.

What matters if the wind may blow
And bring the winter’s chill?

Or if snow drifts the country lanes,
Ice sparkles on the skills?

No frozen earth or icy stream
Can be too deep and wide
Or bring a gloom into a room
If hearts are warm inside.

Published in the Ideal Valentine issue 2007

Little Red Valentine

Do you recall our one-room school
When we were full of fun?

And February fourteenth came,
And studying was done?

With squeaking shoes and sidewise glance,
Each walked the center aisle
And dropped his red heart in a box…
I was too scared to smile.

A pretty girl would lift the lid
And loudly call the names,

While others sat and hardly breathed
Until their own turns came.

I count the many years since then
And better things I know
Have blessed me; yet, they’re not so dear
As red hearts long ago.

Ideals Valentine issue 1984

Discoveries

Little grandson, not quite two,
Easter morn is here.

You’re bundled up to search for eggs,
wearing bunny ears.

Round the red azalea bushes,
glorious with bloom–
springtime’s generous beauty,
Nature’s generous beauty,
nature’s outdoor room–
I’ll watch as you discover “nests,”
squealing with surprise.

What is half so precious as
a baby’s laughing eyes?

Easter Ideals Published 2015

Anniversary

Take a minute
On this day
To look back
Along the way.

How much joy
You both have known,
Loving hearts are not alone.

Work to do
And plan together,
True love sees
No stormy weather.

Joy and happiness
And peace…

May they every
Year increase.