it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality.
But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions
know what it means to want to escape
from these things."
- T.S. Eliot
The Road Not Taken by: Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
and sorry I could not travel both
and be one traveler long I stood
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other as just as fair
and having perhaps the better claim,
because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
in leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh! I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted I I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
Nothing Gold Can Stay by: Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold. Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief.
So dawn goes down to day, Nothing gold can stay.
Dreams (author unknown)
When you find a dream inside your heart don't ever let it go.
For dreams are the tiny seeds from which tomorrows grow.
If You're Ever Going To Love Me (author unknown)
If you're ever going to love me, love me now while I can know.
All the sweet and tender feelings which from real affection flow.
Love me now while I am living; do not wait until I'm gone
and then chisel it in marble - warm love words on ice-cold stone.
If you've dear sweet thoughts about me why not whisper them to me?
Don't you know 'twould make me happy and as glad as glad can be?
If you wait till I am sleeping, ne'er to waken here again,
there'll be walls of earth between us and I couldn't hear you then.
If you knew someone was thirsting for a drop of water sweet,
would you be slow to bring it? Would you step with laggard feet?
There are tender hearts all around us who are thirsting for our love;
why with-hold from them what nature makes them crave all else above?
I won't need your kind caresses when the grass grows o'er my face;
I won't crave your love or kisses in my last low resting place.
So, then, if you love me any, if it's but a little bit,
let me know while I am living;
I can own and treasure it.
Past Imperfect (author unknown)
Though the past tense of ring can sometimes be ringed,
the past tense of sing cand never be singed.
If I give this much thought I'll become unhinged.
The past tense of bring must always be brought.
The past tense of spring then certainly ought to be sprought but it's sprang.
So, the past tense of swing should be swang but it's swung.
So, the past tense of hang should be hung but it's hanged
(in the last extremity).
Why this should be so, I'll be hanged if I know.
I just know I'm uptight and past tense.
Misty (author unknown)
My name is Misty. I am but three.
My eyes are swolen. I cannot see.
I must now be loved for I am punished with cagarette burns.
I must do right. I can't do wrong or else I'm locked up all day long.
When I awake I'm all alone.
The house is dark. My folks aren't home.
I'm really just an expensive joke.
No more, no less that speed or coke.
Be quiet now! I hear a car.
My dad is back from Charlie's Bar.
I hear him curse. My name he calls.
I squeeze myself against the wall,
on my bed. It's too late;
his face is twisted into hate.
I feel the pain again and again.
Oh dear God, please let it end.
My name is Misty. I am but three.
Last night my father murdered me...
If there's one thing I hate it's the on-going saga of child abuse.
Please help protect our children. They are our tomorrow.
Todays Youth --> Tomorrow's Leaders.
Check out the ribbons page.
Twas The Night Before Christmas by a Marine stationed in
Okinawa, Japan
Twas the night before Christmas;
he lived all alone
in a one-bedroom house
made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney
with presents to give
and to see just who
in this house did live.
I looked all about
a strange sight did I see.
No tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle,
just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures
of far distant lands.
With medals and badges;
awards of all kinds.
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different.
It was dark and dreary.
I found the home of a soldier,
once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping;
silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor
in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle.
The room in such disorder.
Not how I pictured
a United States soldier.
Was this the hero
of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
the floor for a bed.
I realized the families
that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world
the children would play,
and grown-ups would celebrate
a bright Christmas day,
each month of the year because of the soldiers
like the one lying here.
I couldn't help but wonder
how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve,
in a land far from home.
The very thought
brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees
and started to cry.
The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry.
This life is my choice."
"I fight for freedom.
I don't ask for more.
My life is my God,
my country, my corps."
The soldier rolled over
and drifted to sleep.
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours,
so silent, so still
and we both shivered
from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave
on that cold, dark night
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure,
whispered "Carry on, Santa.
It's Christmas Day
and all is secure."
One look at my watch
and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend
and to all a good night."
I Know Something Good About You (author unknown)
Wouldn't this old world be better,
if the folks we met would say,
I know something good about you,
and then treat us just that way.
Wouldn't it be fine and dandy,
if each hand clasp warm and true,
carried with it this assurance,
I know something good about you.
Wouldn't things here be more pleasant,
if the good that's in us all,
were the only things about us
people bothered to recall!
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
if we'd praise the good we see!
For there's such a lot of goodness
in the worst of you and me.
Wouldn't it be nice to practice
this fine way of thinking too;
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you!
Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, 1927
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and rememver what peace
there may be in silence. As far as possible be on good terms with all
persons. Speak your truth quickly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in you own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons
strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not fiegn affection. Neither be
cynical about love; for in the face of all axidity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears
are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome
discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the
universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams;
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Twas The Night Before Jesus Came by Bethany Farms
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house,
not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
in hopes that Jesus would not come there
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash!
Tore open the shutters ann threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray;
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus returning just as he said!
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in his hand
was written the name of every saved man.
When He said, "It's not here"
my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love;
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound,
while all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready that night.
In the words of this poem the message is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
we'll find that the Bible was true after all.
Love You More Than 'Love' by Susan Polis Shutz
It is impossible to capture in words the feelings I have for you.
They are the strongest feelings that I have ever had about anything yet,
when I try to write them to you, the words do not even begin to
touch the depths of my feelings. And though I cannot
explain the essence of the phenomenal feelings,
I can tell you what I feel like when I am with you.
When I am with you it is as if I were a fird flying freely in the clear blue
sky. When I am with you it is as if I were a flower opening up my petals of
life. When I am with you it is as if I were the waves of the ocean
crashing strongly against the shore. When I am with you
it is as if I were the rainbow after the storm proudly showing
my colors. When I am with you it is as if everything that is beautiful
surrounds us. This is just a very small part of how wonderful I feel
when I am with you.
Maybe the word 'love' was invented to explain the deep, all-encompassing
feelings that I have for you but somehow it is not strong enough.
But since it is the best word that there is, let me tell
you a thousand times that I love you more than 'love.'
I Promise That I Will Love You by Susan Polis Schutz
I cannot promise you that I will not change.
I cannot promise you that I will not have many different moods.
I cannot promise you that I will not hurt your feelings.
I cannot promise you that I will not be erratic.
I cannot promise you that I will always be strong.
I cannot promise you that my faults will not show.
But -
I do promise you that I will always be supportive of you.
I do promise you that I will share all my thoughts and feelings with you.
I do promise you that I will give you freedom to be yourself.
I do promise you that I will understand everything that you do.
I do promise you that I will be completely honest with you.
I do promise you that I will laugh and cry with you.
I do promise you that I will help you acheive all you your goals.
But -
most of all I do promise that I will love you.
I give you a smile and a prayer; A song and a dream.
Love, happiness, peace, and contentment.
My hand in yours; Our fingers intertwined forever and beyond.
All this I give you when I give you my love;
And you have that...
by JOY for that someone special that's filled my heart with so much
happiness and love.
For the poems written by Robert Frost, you can read them at
www.robertfrost.com. For the ones written by Susan Polis Schutz, you can
find them at www.susanpolisschutz.com. If anyone happens
to know who the authors are of the ones who don't have authors
beside them, I would love to know so I could give the credit for their work.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Background made especially for me by Katrina