Welcome to Stories by Claudia Lee and Friends
Note from author:
BEASTS has received some wonderful reviews from those who have read BEASTS, and I am forever grateful to those readers for taking the time to tell others.
When BEASTS was originally written in 1989, my attempt was not to make it a book with sexual overtones, but rather to show the mind set behind a man whose brain was being distorted by the animal within himself, the alpha dog...wolf...and the idea of domination that we see within the alpha canines. I wanted it to read as more than just a chew 'em up horror piece, but have a little piece of the antagonist's point of view to give him as much life and character as the protagonist and thus be a character that could be related to just as much as the good guy. This time, a history of the idea behind Sister Moon and the shape shifting will be played up more. I hope to have it out soon, but even before that I have to fulfill a promise I made to my grandson and get the work out that he has laid the plans for and we are almost finished with our first book in what he wants to be a series of books. So, keep your eyes out for the rewriting of BEASTS I am now calling SISTER MOON and a series book we hope to call GALACTIC GOOF-OFF with the first short story tentatively called HOWL MICHIGAN. Since C. Lee Finkle is related to the horror (or as my publisher calls it thriller) books, with my grandson I am using Claudia Lee.
I have several pokers in the fire at this time. My favorite project in the making is the writing of a series book...books...with my oldest grandson. His first adventure is in the finishing stages, just a little fixing here and there and the second one is about to begin. We plan on having 2 adventures per book and will submit it to my publisher soon. Keep an eye out for our work written for adolescent readers, we hope to bring to life the misadventures of a boy as he tries to uncover and discover the mysteries of life. When every creak of the stairs makes you jumpy, your heart beat faster. Each shadow looks ominous and you begin to believe even your own family have been taken over by some nefarious force and you are the only one who can make the world right again. Be brave! Don't be afraid of the dark...scary things lurk in the daylight as well.
Another pet project I am working on will be about the idea of contact and visitations of other beings or intelligence. It is written not from the point of view of a contactee, but rather from the visitor's view point. I plan on calling it THE CHRONICLES OF EL. You've read how humans who feel they are in contact with off world beings feel about contact, now read about how the visitors look at the events.
C. Lee Finkle
Publish America
My contract is ending with Publish America for my book BEASTS. I do not plan on renewing this book's contract as I am rewriting it in a more indepth version that will be more suitable for all readers. BEASTS has been a fun piece of work for me, but its new version SISTER MOON will give my readers a look farther back into history about the beginning of the worship of Sister Moon and how the shape shifters came about.
But for now, for a very short period, you can step into the world of sacred rites, shape-shifting and horror! See what happens when young, twin Havasupai brothers discover the Old Ones ways and the dark side of Creation, Sister Moon. There is a beast inside all of us. What beast resides within you?
The story begins in the present with the murder of two transients, the subsequent investigation and the discovery by detectives that there is a serial killer on the loose. During the introduction of Ezra and Eli GreyWolf; the antagonists, the story flashes back to their youth in the early 1940s and their days served in World War II.
I want to thank everyone who has purchased my book, and a double thanks to those who have gone into Publish America and Amazon.com and given reviews of the book. I appreciate your support and kind words.
Read the reviews that others have given BEASTS Amazon Reviews
Want to do comparative shopping for BEASTS and other books? Just follow this link
www.FetchBook.Info: New & Used Books
Find the lowest price -
Scan 90 book stores, 40,000 sellers, in a click.
C. Lee Finkle is the author of published short stories; DRIVEN, published in Yellow Sticky Notes Magazine in 1999; as well as online at: DRIVEN
NINTH HOUR OF ANY SUNDAY NIGHT, published at Story House online, and her interview with prolific author Arthur Myers;(sadly, Arthur Myers passed away April 8, 2006...his talents and charm are greatly missed!) published in Yellow Sticky Notes Magazine in 2000; and won an honorable mention award with Writer’s Digest Magazine in 1991.
Her fields of writing interests are varied, with emphasis on horror and sci-fi. She intends to expand to fantasy as well as mystery writing.
“I believe when possible, a writer should be able to bring their style to life in many subjects, not stereotyping themselves into just one niche. There is nothing wrong with specializing in one genre, we all have to do what we do best, but I feel it helps us to keep from getting tunnel vision if we spread our writing wings and try a little of everything we can.”
JUST A LITTLE DITTY
JUST A LITTLE DITTY
...
Email obfuscator and encoder
Contact me:
I have built some pages for writers to showcase their work. If you have a short story or novel that you would like readers to view for feedback, contact me at: Claudia Lee
Mark your subject line as work for Stories Website.
Thanks!
Written by my dear friend, Sandy Nichols.
You can see Sandy's latest work at: NIGHT SEARCH
You'll want to read every page of it. Outstanding and riveting work and facinating subject.
Sandy says:
I wrote the below during the presidential campaign of 2004. Pass it around if you like it.
Spring of Freedom
by
Sandy Nichols
Over two hundred years ago our nation was conceived and blessed by an Almighty Creator who bestowed upon us a most precious gift..."Freedom." To be able to understand the true meaning and nature of freedom, one must look at freedom as the lifeblood of our nation. This lifeblood of freedom is like a spring of pure water from which all things are nourished so that all things may grow. In receiving and accepting this gift we took on the awesome responsibility of protecting this "Spring of Freedom" so that we could share with others the sweet taste of the water that the spring offers. But there are many people today who believe that because we freely drink from the refreshing waters today, that we will be able to drink from it tomorrow. History has proven time and time again and throughout the ages that to retain freedom, one must be willing to fight for freedom on a continuous basis. This is never more apparent than the age we live in today. We must not let those who wish us harm to poison the "Spring of Freedom." The "Spring of Freedom" is the very essence of who we are as a people, who we are as a nation. Without the "Spring of Freedom," the whole world thirsts.
Sandy Nichols
There had been more about President Bush to this essay, however now we are entering a new era of Presidential elections and changes being made. I won't say who I think should be President as I am not a political person, however I sincerely hope that the changes we seek do not dry up the Spring of Freedom that Sandy wrote about in the piece above. Whatever move the American people make,let us hope it is a move forward and onward and in the spirit of our forefathers as righteous and honest people. Let us hope that we do not become or have not become the overbearing people other countries see in us. Sometimes situations make a nation that has become the leader for others take steps that are unfavorable by others, however those others did not take the effort or the initiative to be the ones to make those moves to try to bring some kind of organization for a people in need. Sometimes being the ones willing to move ahead and charge into danger and ridicule is the unpopular position to be in, but someone has to make that move.
Claudia Lee
An essay written by Dusty Reed Soul Wind
An article by Ruth Fisher on CFS The Silent Scream
Ruth is also the author of a well written, well thought out and exciting novel BULL BY THE HORNS.
Read about the late Art Myers and what he had to say about his work.
In 1964 my mother passed away at the ripe old age of 38 years. August 17, 2005, my older brother died, and in sifting through family photos and notes I had come across a poem my mother wrote to him long ago. I post it here in their memory.
LITTLE MAN
by Violet Finkle
Little man you're getting tired;
you've had quite a day.
It's time you closed your pretty eyes;
and put your toys away.
Your laughter filled the house today;
it made the rafters ring.
And when you're near the sun shines through;
and I hear angels sing.
the end
And here is one she jotted down but never named:
Oh for the life of a little child;
a life that is carefree and gay.
Not a worrying thought to trouble you.
All you do is play.
ECHOES OF A WHISPER
by C. Lee Finkle
It was a somber moment;
yet filled with joy.
He sat next to me in church;
such a fine young boy.
We listened as the Pastor spoke of glory to God;
the parish sat and quietly they did nod.
The sweet child smiled up at me and felt my face;
the Pastor continued to talk about Holy Grace.
In a whisper not so silent the boy spoke to me;
his words echoed for all to hear who sat in the sanctuary.
"Nana...your chins feel rubbery!"
ENDLESS JOURNEY
by C. Lee Finkle
We have always walked together through the passages of time;
strolling the avenues of life, your hand in mine.
Your soul has touched my Spirit with everlasting love;
gently whispering forever in your sweet melodic strains.
Hearts strung together in a great festoon of lives;
blossoming in unison as we spring from here to there.
Will you recognize me in another time and place?
Spirit never goes away,
it just changes its face.
BABIES
by C. Lee Finkle
“Where do babies come from?” the 5 year old asked as he climbed onto my lap, slipping his little arm around my neck.
“They are gifts from God” I replied, rubbing noses with him “Eskimo” style.
“Was I a gift too?”
“Of course you are!” We squeezed each other for the length of a giggle.
“But Nana, my baby brother is not a gift” he huffed as he folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe we should return him” deep thought was apparent in his sparkling hazel eyes.
“Heavens no!” I laughed. “These gifts are more precious than diamonds or gold.”
“Even him?”
“Oh yes, all babies, Dear One.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek, and I held him tight, reflecting on the years and the babies that had rested on my lap. The little ones who had asked those same questions and hugged me tight.
With my hand I brushed his hair back from his eyes.
The 2-year-old burst into the room, arms flailing, all excited. “Broke!” he yells. “Me broke you car.” Out the door again he zooms, pieces of Hot Wheel trailing behind.
“Nana, if we can't send him back, do you suppose we could maybe just rewrap him for a few hours?”
A SIOUX PRAYER
O' GREAT SPIRIT
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your
strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy--myself.
Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
MEMORIAL A page dedicated to the memory of two dear loved ones of mine.
The following poem is by Liz Bitemore. You can read two short stories by Liz at: THE CYLINDER
and INDIGESTION
You can contact Liz at:Bitey
WHY I LOVE RESTON
When it's any time in Reston,
And the gentle breezes blow,
The exhaust fumes hit your nostrils
And turn to black the snow.
You can tell when you're in Reston
'cause the traffic never moves,
And the road crews are kept busy
Just patching up the grooves.
The weather here is wonderful,
So I guess I'll stay for good,
For I never could leave Reston.
Stuck in traffic trunk to hood!
Another poem by Bitey
September Risin'
By Bitey
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a windy summer mornin';
I can feel the chill of autumn in the haze of August's early
darkened skies;
In the rumble of the thunder I can hear the lost ones' angry,
soulful cries;
And I know September's risin' from the ashes where the season softly
lies.
It's September, filled with sorrow,
A September not forgotten,
It's an autumn filled with heavy-hearted dread.
Not today, and not tomorrow,
Will the agony begotten
Of the ashes of the countless lying dead
Be unavenged by those remembering
The fire of hate that turned the ashes red.
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a season full of fury;
In the broken-hearted gazes in the eyes of countless wounded I see
pain;
As the dusty ashes swirl around the circle where the rose is softly
lain,
There's a promise that September's ashes soon will lie where
promises remain.
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a hallowed autumn
mornin';
I can see the consecrated ground where innocence and happiness have
died.
They have taken down the towers, but no matter how their hatred may
have tried,
In September's early risin' they can never hope to take away our
pride.
In 1997 I created my first website. On it I had placed something called "Things of Interest" I had gotten these tidbits of interesting facts from books. Now I find these exact things I had placed on the site coming around the Internet via e-mails. I guess that says people are interested in such knowledge. So, here they are, back by popular demand.
My current project: I am a contributing author in all three volumes.
As an American I love my country, and yes, I believe in my government, but these 3 volumes are a must read!! You don't have to feel Anti-American to believe that some things are not an open policy in this country. It is not going against the grain of American freedom to feel that there is more to what we are being told about UFOs, cover-ups, and secret societies.
As a thinking American, you have the right to question the offered information...but are the cover-ups for our own collective good, or are they covering some high profile backsides with deceptions designed to keep the public in the dark?
Perhaps what we think we are seeing isn't what is truly going on.
We all must realize that in order to keep our country safe and protected there will be a certain amount of secrets kept by our government. We have to live with that to remain free, however are some of those secrets more than just military inventions? Could they be governmental contact with other lifeforms? Are Bob Lazar and others telling the truth about alien technology that has been developed and used by our government? If so, are the denials and cover-ups part of a program designed to keep our country safe and protect its citizens?
Read these 3 informative volumes written to enlighten and intrigue you...then you decide what is going on.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS BLOCKBUSTER COMPENDIUM OF HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE; AT:
Also visit our website 
"THE UNIVERSAL SEDUCTION Piercing the Veils of Deception "FOR SALE! A major book of the 21st Century!
THE UNIVERSAL SEDUCTION IS A UNIQUE, SENSATIONAL EXPOSE, A CHRONICLE THAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE ANNALS OF TIME AS ONE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A VAST AWAKENING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
From 40+ different worldwide authors writing under the collective name of Angelico Tapestra, some of the major themes contained in this first volume are: New World Order - Secret Shadow Govt.- Mind Control- FEMA -UFOS/ETS/Abductees - Covert Black Budget Operations - Whistle blowers - Martyrs - Alternate Science/Realities Pseudo Sciences - Time Travel - Earth Origins - /Body/Mind/Spirit- Psychic Awareness -Loss of Privacy - Out of Body Experiences - Guardian Angels-
It's a "MUST HAVE", a COLLECTOR'S ITEM that you will guard with your life! The most comprehensive 600 pages ever---all wrapped up in a tidy 7 X 10 package.
Get all 3 and be well informed!
BEASTS has received some wonderful reviews from those who have read BEASTS, and I am forever grateful to those readers for taking the time to tell others.
When BEASTS was originally written in 1989, my attempt was not to make it a book with sexual overtones, but rather to show the mind set behind a man whose brain was being distorted by the animal within himself, the alpha dog...wolf...and the idea of domination that we see within the alpha canines. I wanted it to read as more than just a chew 'em up horror piece, but have a little piece of the antagonist's point of view to give him as much life and character as the protagonist and thus be a character that could be related to just as much as the good guy. This time, a history of the idea behind Sister Moon and the shape shifting will be played up more. I hope to have it out soon, but even before that I have to fulfill a promise I made to my grandson and get the work out that he has laid the plans for and we are almost finished with our first book in what he wants to be a series of books. So, keep your eyes out for the rewriting of BEASTS I am now calling SISTER MOON and a series book we hope to call GALACTIC GOOF-OFF with the first short story tentatively called HOWL MICHIGAN. Since C. Lee Finkle is related to the horror (or as my publisher calls it thriller) books, with my grandson I am using Claudia Lee.
I have several pokers in the fire at this time. My favorite project in the making is the writing of a series book...books...with my oldest grandson. His first adventure is in the finishing stages, just a little fixing here and there and the second one is about to begin. We plan on having 2 adventures per book and will submit it to my publisher soon. Keep an eye out for our work written for adolescent readers, we hope to bring to life the misadventures of a boy as he tries to uncover and discover the mysteries of life. When every creak of the stairs makes you jumpy, your heart beat faster. Each shadow looks ominous and you begin to believe even your own family have been taken over by some nefarious force and you are the only one who can make the world right again. Be brave! Don't be afraid of the dark...scary things lurk in the daylight as well.
Another pet project I am working on will be about the idea of contact and visitations of other beings or intelligence. It is written not from the point of view of a contactee, but rather from the visitor's view point. I plan on calling it THE CHRONICLES OF EL. You've read how humans who feel they are in contact with off world beings feel about contact, now read about how the visitors look at the events.
C. Lee Finkle
My contract is ending with Publish America for my book BEASTS. I do not plan on renewing this book's contract as I am rewriting it in a more indepth version that will be more suitable for all readers. BEASTS has been a fun piece of work for me, but its new version SISTER MOON will give my readers a look farther back into history about the beginning of the worship of Sister Moon and how the shape shifters came about.
But for now, for a very short period, you can step into the world of sacred rites, shape-shifting and horror! See what happens when young, twin Havasupai brothers discover the Old Ones ways and the dark side of Creation, Sister Moon. There is a beast inside all of us. What beast resides within you?
The story begins in the present with the murder of two transients, the subsequent investigation and the discovery by detectives that there is a serial killer on the loose. During the introduction of Ezra and Eli GreyWolf; the antagonists, the story flashes back to their youth in the early 1940s and their days served in World War II.
I want to thank everyone who has purchased my book, and a double thanks to those who have gone into Publish America and Amazon.com and given reviews of the book. I appreciate your support and kind words.
Read the reviews that others have given BEASTS Amazon Reviews
Want to do comparative shopping for BEASTS and other books? Just follow this link
www.FetchBook.Info: New & Used Books
C. Lee Finkle is the author of published short stories; DRIVEN, published in Yellow Sticky Notes Magazine in 1999; as well as online at: DRIVEN
NINTH HOUR OF ANY SUNDAY NIGHT, published at Story House online, and her interview with prolific author Arthur Myers;(sadly, Arthur Myers passed away April 8, 2006...his talents and charm are greatly missed!) published in Yellow Sticky Notes Magazine in 2000; and won an honorable mention award with Writer’s Digest Magazine in 1991.
Her fields of writing interests are varied, with emphasis on horror and sci-fi. She intends to expand to fantasy as well as mystery writing.
“I believe when possible, a writer should be able to bring their style to life in many subjects, not stereotyping themselves into just one niche. There is nothing wrong with specializing in one genre, we all have to do what we do best, but I feel it helps us to keep from getting tunnel vision if we spread our writing wings and try a little of everything we can.”
Mark your subject line as work for Stories Website.
Thanks!
Written by my dear friend, Sandy Nichols.
You can see Sandy's latest work at: NIGHT SEARCH
Spring of Freedom
Over two hundred years ago our nation was conceived and blessed by an Almighty Creator who bestowed upon us a most precious gift..."Freedom." To be able to understand the true meaning and nature of freedom, one must look at freedom as the lifeblood of our nation. This lifeblood of freedom is like a spring of pure water from which all things are nourished so that all things may grow. In receiving and accepting this gift we took on the awesome responsibility of protecting this "Spring of Freedom" so that we could share with others the sweet taste of the water that the spring offers. But there are many people today who believe that because we freely drink from the refreshing waters today, that we will be able to drink from it tomorrow. History has proven time and time again and throughout the ages that to retain freedom, one must be willing to fight for freedom on a continuous basis. This is never more apparent than the age we live in today. We must not let those who wish us harm to poison the "Spring of Freedom." The "Spring of Freedom" is the very essence of who we are as a people, who we are as a nation. Without the "Spring of Freedom," the whole world thirsts.
Sandy Nichols
There had been more about President Bush to this essay, however now we are entering a new era of Presidential elections and changes being made. I won't say who I think should be President as I am not a political person, however I sincerely hope that the changes we seek do not dry up the Spring of Freedom that Sandy wrote about in the piece above. Whatever move the American people make,let us hope it is a move forward and onward and in the spirit of our forefathers as righteous and honest people. Let us hope that we do not become or have not become the overbearing people other countries see in us. Sometimes situations make a nation that has become the leader for others take steps that are unfavorable by others, however those others did not take the effort or the initiative to be the ones to make those moves to try to bring some kind of organization for a people in need. Sometimes being the ones willing to move ahead and charge into danger and ridicule is the unpopular position to be in, but someone has to make that move.
Claudia Lee
An essay written by Dusty Reed Soul Wind
An article by Ruth Fisher on CFS The Silent Scream
Ruth is also the author of a well written, well thought out and exciting novel BULL BY THE HORNS.
LITTLE MAN
by Violet Finkle
Little man you're getting tired;
the end
And here is one she jotted down but never named:
Oh for the life of a little child;
by C. Lee Finkle
He sat next to me in church;
We listened as the Pastor spoke of glory to God;
The sweet child smiled up at me and felt my face;
In a whisper not so silent the boy spoke to me;
"Nana...your chins feel rubbery!"
by C. Lee Finkle
“They are gifts from God” I replied, rubbing noses with him “Eskimo” style.
“Was I a gift too?”
“Of course you are!” We squeezed each other for the length of a giggle.
“But Nana, my baby brother is not a gift” he huffed as he folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe we should return him” deep thought was apparent in his sparkling hazel eyes.
“Heavens no!” I laughed. “These gifts are more precious than diamonds or gold.”
“Even him?”
“Oh yes, all babies, Dear One.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek, and I held him tight, reflecting on the years and the babies that had rested on my lap. The little ones who had asked those same questions and hugged me tight.
With my hand I brushed his hair back from his eyes.
The 2-year-old burst into the room, arms flailing, all excited. “Broke!” he yells. “Me broke you car.” Out the door again he zooms, pieces of Hot Wheel trailing behind.
“Nana, if we can't send him back, do you suppose we could maybe just rewrap him for a few hours?”
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your
strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy--myself.
Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
MEMORIAL A page dedicated to the memory of two dear loved ones of mine.
The following poem is by Liz Bitemore. You can read two short stories by Liz at: THE CYLINDER
and INDIGESTION
You can contact Liz at:Bitey
Another poem by Bitey
September Risin'
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a windy summer mornin';
It's September, filled with sorrow,
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a season full of fury;
I can feel September risin' from the ashes of a hallowed autumn
In 1997 I created my first website. On it I had placed something called "Things of Interest" I had gotten these tidbits of interesting facts from books. Now I find these exact things I had placed on the site coming around the Internet via e-mails. I guess that says people are interested in such knowledge. So, here they are, back by popular demand.
As an American I love my country, and yes, I believe in my government, but these 3 volumes are a must read!! You don't have to feel Anti-American to believe that some things are not an open policy in this country. It is not going against the grain of American freedom to feel that there is more to what we are being told about UFOs, cover-ups, and secret societies.
As a thinking American, you have the right to question the offered information...but are the cover-ups for our own collective good, or are they covering some high profile backsides with deceptions designed to keep the public in the dark?
Perhaps what we think we are seeing isn't what is truly going on.
We all must realize that in order to keep our country safe and protected there will be a certain amount of secrets kept by our government. We have to live with that to remain free, however are some of those secrets more than just military inventions? Could they be governmental contact with other lifeforms? Are Bob Lazar and others telling the truth about alien technology that has been developed and used by our government? If so, are the denials and cover-ups part of a program designed to keep our country safe and protect its citizens?
Read these 3 informative volumes written to enlighten and intrigue you...then you decide what is going on.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS BLOCKBUSTER COMPENDIUM OF HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE; AT:
Also visit our website
"THE UNIVERSAL SEDUCTION Piercing the Veils of Deception "FOR SALE! A major book of the 21st Century!
THE UNIVERSAL SEDUCTION IS A UNIQUE, SENSATIONAL EXPOSE, A CHRONICLE THAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE ANNALS OF TIME AS ONE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A VAST AWAKENING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
From 40+ different worldwide authors writing under the collective name of Angelico Tapestra, some of the major themes contained in this first volume are: New World Order - Secret Shadow Govt.- Mind Control- FEMA -UFOS/ETS/Abductees - Covert Black Budget Operations - Whistle blowers - Martyrs - Alternate Science/Realities Pseudo Sciences - Time Travel - Earth Origins - /Body/Mind/Spirit- Psychic Awareness -Loss of Privacy - Out of Body Experiences - Guardian Angels-
It's a "MUST HAVE", a COLLECTOR'S ITEM that you will guard with your life! The most comprehensive 600 pages ever---all wrapped up in a tidy 7 X 10 package.
Get all 3 and be well informed!
Find the lowest price -
Scan 90 book stores, 40,000 sellers, in a click.
Contact me:
You'll want to read every page of it. Outstanding and riveting work and facinating subject.
Sandy says:
I wrote the below during the presidential campaign of 2004. Pass it around if you like it.
by
Sandy Nichols
In 1964 my mother passed away at the ripe old age of 38 years. August 17, 2005, my older brother died, and in sifting through family photos and notes I had come across a poem my mother wrote to him long ago. I post it here in their memory.
you've had quite a day.
It's time you closed your pretty eyes;
and put your toys away.
Your laughter filled the house today;
it made the rafters ring.
And when you're near the sun shines through;
and I hear angels sing.
a life that is carefree and gay.
Not a worrying thought to trouble you.
All you do is play.
yet filled with joy.
such a fine young boy.
the parish sat and quietly they did nod.
the Pastor continued to talk about Holy Grace.
his words echoed for all to hear who sat in the sanctuary.
strolling the avenues of life, your hand in mine.
Your soul has touched my Spirit with everlasting love;
gently whispering forever in your sweet melodic strains.
Hearts strung together in a great festoon of lives;
blossoming in unison as we spring from here to there.
Will you recognize me in another time and place?
Spirit never goes away,
it just changes its face.
And the gentle breezes blow,
The exhaust fumes hit your nostrils
And turn to black the snow.
You can tell when you're in Reston
'cause the traffic never moves,
And the road crews are kept busy
Just patching up the grooves.
The weather here is wonderful,
So I guess I'll stay for good,
For I never could leave Reston.
Stuck in traffic trunk to hood!
By Bitey
I can feel the chill of autumn in the haze of August's early
darkened skies;
In the rumble of the thunder I can hear the lost ones' angry,
soulful cries;
And I know September's risin' from the ashes where the season softly
lies.
A September not forgotten,
It's an autumn filled with heavy-hearted dread.
Not today, and not tomorrow,
Will the agony begotten
Of the ashes of the countless lying dead
Be unavenged by those remembering
The fire of hate that turned the ashes red.
In the broken-hearted gazes in the eyes of countless wounded I see
pain;
As the dusty ashes swirl around the circle where the rose is softly
lain,
There's a promise that September's ashes soon will lie where
promises remain.
mornin';
I can see the consecrated ground where innocence and happiness have
died.
They have taken down the towers, but no matter how their hatred may
have tried,
In September's early risin' they can never hope to take away our
pride.
My current project: I am a contributing author in all three volumes.