Read the list of “hypocrites” below and respond whether or not you think that family values was/is a “SMOKE SCREEN” to win favor and votes

POPULAR SCANDALS

1.Senator Larry Craig, recently pleaded guilty to lued homosexual acts in an Airport. He still defiantly claims that he is not gay.

2.Mark Foley, had phone sex and indecent conversations with male pages.

3.George W. Bush, Republican president, accused in a criminal complaint and lawsuit of raping Margie Schoedinger, who later committed suicide. Accused by Tammy Phillips, a former stripper quoted in the National Enquirer in 2000 saying she had an affair with Bush that had ended in 1999

4.Senator David Vitter (R-La) who ran a hard-core platform on traditional family values, name was found on a Madams list. He told his constituents that it was a “private issue” and to leave him alone.

5.Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican governor, had sex with a 16 year old when he was 28.

6.Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman, currently a conservative talk show host. Resigned his congressional seat abruptly to spend more time with his family, amidst allegations of an affair. His intern, Lori Klausutis, was soon after found dead in his office. The medical examiner, who had his license revoked in Missouri for falsifying information in an autopsy report, and suspended in Florida for six years, ruled the case an accident, after giving conflicting information about her injuries. He said he lied about them because “The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury.”

7.John E. Peterson, Congressman (R-Pa), accused of sexual harassment and creation of a hostile work environment by six women. Peterson has refused to admit a crime, saying only “I may have been an excessive hugger.”

8.Henry Hyde, Judge who oversaw Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, prominent opponent of reproductive rights, who had an extramarital affair with a woman who was married and had three children, during the course of which she and her husband were divorced.

9.Newt Gingrich, married three times. Gingrich campaign worker Anne Manning admitted that she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. Informed one wife he was filing for divorce while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments

10.Richard A. Dasen Sr., Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, convicted of sexual abuse of children, promotion of prostitution and several counts of solicitation, enough to add up to a sentence of 126 years in prison

Conservative Personalities and Figure Scandals

1.Paul Crouch Televangelist, Former President of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Paid $425,000 in hush money in an attempt to cover up a gay affair.
2.Ted Haggard, popular conservative pastor who advised Bush on Family Values issues was outed by a male prostitute who also alleged that he gave Haggard drugs.
3.Rush Limbaugh, triple-divorcee
4.Bill O’Reilly Right-wing conservative talk show host on Fox News, sued for sexual harassment by his producer.
5.Dr. Laura Schlessinger, right wing conservative radio host. Promotes family values, estranged from her mother, opposes birth control, has had her tubes tied, espouses saving oneself for marriage, admits to having had sex before she was married, opposes adultery, has committed adultery while she was married, and has slept with a married man, opposes divorce, is divorced and remarried, has posed for nude photos which are available online.

There are many, many, many more. I know that I am going to be accused of being repub-coserv-basher. I am not, I know the democrats have just as many scandals if not more. However, I think that the whole PLATFORM OF CONSERVATIVE FAMILY VALUES IS A DISINGENIOUS strategy to rally votes and to swing elections. THIS LIST DEMONSTRATES THE FACT THAT NO ONE PRACTICES WHAT THEY PREACH!!!
I also believe that we are all human and everyone makes mistakes, but it is VERY HYPOCRITICAL to impose ideas that these “cultural-icons” don’t keep!
(((What are your thoughts???)))))))

Read the list of “hypocrites” below and respond whether or not you think that family values was/is a “SMOKE SCREEN” to win favor and votes

POPULAR SCANDALS

1.Senator Larry Craig, recently pleaded guilty to lued homosexual acts in an Airport. He still defiantly claims that he is not gay.

2.Mark Foley, had phone sex and indecent conversations with male pages.

3.George W. Bush, Republican president, accused in a criminal complaint and lawsuit of raping Margie Schoedinger, who later committed suicide. Accused by Tammy Phillips, a former stripper quoted in the National Enquirer in 2000 saying she had an affair with Bush that had ended in 1999

4.Senator David Vitter (R-La) who ran a hard-core platform on traditional family values, name was found on a Madams list. He told his constituents that it was a “private issue” and to leave him alone.

5.Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican governor, had sex with a 16 year old when he was 28.

6.Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman, currently a conservative talk show host. Resigned his congressional seat abruptly to spend more time with his family, amidst allegations of an affair. His intern, Lori Klausutis, was soon after found dead in his office. The medical examiner, who had his license revoked in Missouri for falsifying information in an autopsy report, and suspended in Florida for six years, ruled the case an accident, after giving conflicting information about her injuries. He said he lied about them because “The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury.”

7.John E. Peterson, Congressman (R-Pa), accused of sexual harassment and creation of a hostile work environment by six women. Peterson has refused to admit a crime, saying only “I may have been an excessive hugger.”

8.Henry Hyde, Judge who oversaw Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, prominent opponent of reproductive rights, who had an extramarital affair with a woman who was married and had three children, during the course of which she and her husband were divorced.

9.Newt Gingrich, married three times. Gingrich campaign worker Anne Manning admitted that she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. Informed one wife he was filing for divorce while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments

10.Richard A. Dasen Sr., Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, convicted of sexual abuse of children, promotion of prostitution and several counts of solicitation, enough to add up to a sentence of 126 years in prison

Conservative Personalities and Figure Scandals

1.Paul Crouch Televangelist, Former President of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Paid $425,000 in hush money in an attempt to cover up a gay affair.
2.Ted Haggard, popular conservative pastor who advised Bush on Family Values issues was outed by a male prostitute who also alleged that he gave Haggard drugs.
3.Rush Limbaugh, triple-divorcee
4.Bill O’Reilly Right-wing conservative talk show host on Fox News, sued for sexual harassment by his producer.
5.Dr. Laura Schlessinger, right wing conservative radio host. Promotes family values, estranged from her mother, opposes birth control, has had her tubes tied, espouses saving oneself for marriage, admits to having had sex before she was married, opposes adultery, has committed adultery while she was married, and has slept with a married man, opposes divorce, is divorced and remarried, has posed for nude photos which are available online.

There are many, many, many more. I know that I am going to be accused of being repub-coserv-basher. I am not, I know the democrats have just as many scandals if not more. However, I think that the whole PLATFORM OF CONSERVATIVE FAMILY VALUES IS A DISINGENIOUS strategy to rally votes and to swing elections. THIS LIST DEMONSTRATES THE FACT THAT NO ONE PRACTICES WHAT THEY PREACH!!!
I also believe that we are all human and everyone makes mistakes, but it is VERY HYPOCRITICAL to impose ideas that these “cultural-icons” don’t keep!
(((What are your thoughts???)))))))

Read the list of “hypocrites” below and respond whether or not you think that family values was/is a “SMOKE SCREEN” to win favor and votes

POPULAR SCANDALS

1.Senator Larry Craig, recently pleaded guilty to lued homosexual acts in an Airport. He still defiantly claims that he is not gay.

2.Mark Foley, had phone sex and indecent conversations with male pages.

3.George W. Bush, Republican president, accused in a criminal complaint and lawsuit of raping Margie Schoedinger, who later committed suicide. Accused by Tammy Phillips, a former stripper quoted in the National Enquirer in 2000 saying she had an affair with Bush that had ended in 1999

4.Senator David Vitter (R-La) who ran a hard-core platform on traditional family values, name was found on a Madams list. He told his constituents that it was a “private issue” and to leave him alone.

5.Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican governor, had sex with a 16 year old when he was 28.

6.Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman, currently a conservative talk show host. Resigned his congressional seat abruptly to spend more time with his family, amidst allegations of an affair. His intern, Lori Klausutis, was soon after found dead in his office. The medical examiner, who had his license revoked in Missouri for falsifying information in an autopsy report, and suspended in Florida for six years, ruled the case an accident, after giving conflicting information about her injuries. He said he lied about them because “The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury.”

7.John E. Peterson, Congressman (R-Pa), accused of sexual harassment and creation of a hostile work environment by six women. Peterson has refused to admit a crime, saying only “I may have been an excessive hugger.”

8.Henry Hyde, Judge who oversaw Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, prominent opponent of reproductive rights, who had an extramarital affair with a woman who was married and had three children, during the course of which she and her husband were divorced.

9.Newt Gingrich, married three times. Gingrich campaign worker Anne Manning admitted that she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. Informed one wife he was filing for divorce while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments

10.Richard A. Dasen Sr., Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, convicted of sexual abuse of children, promotion of prostitution and several counts of solicitation, enough to add up to a sentence of 126 years in prison

Conservative Personalities and Figure Scandals

1.Paul Crouch Televangelist, Former President of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Paid $425,000 in hush money in an attempt to cover up a gay affair.
2.Ted Haggard, popular conservative pastor who advised Bush on Family Values issues was outed by a male prostitute who also alleged that he gave Haggard drugs.
3.Rush Limbaugh, triple-divorcee
4.Bill O’Reilly Right-wing conservative talk show host on Fox News, sued for sexual harassment by his producer.
5.Dr. Laura Schlessinger, right wing conservative radio host. Promotes family values, estranged from her mother, opposes birth control, has had her tubes tied, espouses saving oneself for marriage, admits to having had sex before she was married, opposes adultery, has committed adultery while she was married, and has slept with a married man, opposes divorce, is divorced and remarried, has posed for nude photos which are available online.

There are many, many, many more. I know that I am going to be accused of being repub-coserv-basher. I am not, I know the democrats have just as many scandals if not more. However, I think that the whole PLATFORM OF CONSERVATIVE FAMILY VALUES IS A DISINGENIOUS strategy to rally votes and to swing elections. THIS LIST DEMONSTRATES THE FACT THAT NO ONE PRACTICES WHAT THEY PREACH!!!
I also believe that we are all human and everyone makes mistakes, but it is VERY HYPOCRITICAL to impose ideas that these “cultural-icons” don’t keep!
(((What are your thoughts???)))))))

His now Step daughter, her husband, their daughter. Also his step son all moved into the house. None of them have jobs and dont pay board, food or utilities. The deal was that they needed help and would stay there while they looked for work, unfortunately noone is doing that. My friend leaves for work shortly before 9am and noone is out of bed. He also suspects light drug use in the house from the step daughters husband.

He’s discussed the situation with his wife and got nowhere. Money is getting tight and he’s contemplating divorce.

I’m not familiar with Georgia law. Does he have a legal foothold to stand on to either get the people out of his house or seperate from his wife or is he probably screwed?

Daughters Malia and Sasha are Radiance and Rosebud.

Vice-President-elect Joe Biden was given the name Celtic and his wife Jill is Capri.

My guess:
George: Idiot
Laura: I’m-with-stupid
Barbara: Inebriated
Jenna: Intoxicated

The illegal alien drunk driver who caused all this had been arrested 5 times previous for DWI and was deported twice only to come back and cause this terrible tragedy of an American family. Why was this allowed to happen?

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=5334

This is a “sore subject” with many family members and spouses, so please let me explain further:

I am a recovering alcoholic (sober 5 years). Before that, I put my family through “heck” (that’s not the word I want to use, but there’s this “community guidelines” thing Yahoo has…).

I am lucky to still have my family and life. Period.

I am a strong believer in the 12 step method and AA.

I was just wondering if there is anyone who would want something “positive” to help you or your family.

AA and counseling deal with the addiction.

What I can offer (ok: my wife has a lot to contribute as well…), is the same advice I’ve learned over the years about the other part: getting your life back.

A lot of “AA’ers” tell you: “Your life won’t be the same – get used to it.”

There’s some truth to that: there are marriage breakups AFTER the spouse gets sober: the person changes.

I am very thankful to MANY people who helped me change… for the better! Not “get used to it”, but “get over it.” Back into a better life than it was before. Links to their work, teachings and advice, all on one site, would have benefited me. Perhaps I can “give back” to just maybe help someone else.

Or, is there just so much “junk” out there on the web, no one would see or care?

His son has an undiagnosed speech disability. Could my bro be the carrier of Aspergers, or is this simply depression/anxiety or alcoholism?

It’s bad, and I’m worried about his 2 young children. He doesn’t think he has a problem.
Thx.
It’s new behavior. He was always socially immature, inappropriate jokes, overly loud talking, etc. Things he should have matured out of. His youngest child is high-needs, and this has added stress to their marriage. Maybe it is alcoholism. You have to practice to drink as much as he did on Thanksgiving — about 3+ bottles of wine.

Arana said his client, who has since pleaded guilty to the DWI charge, had been living in Austin with his wife and two children and working in construction.

His client, he said, is not a criminal.

“These are tough cases because there are families involved,” Arana said.

“The only difference is he was born on one side and we were born on the other side,” he said.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/federal-judge-questions-immigration-prosecutions-216667.html

Bonus:

1. Dick Cheny’s third DWi
2. Whatever earned George W. Bush a one year sentence of community service in Houston.
3. Neil Bush fined for his “ethical disability” taxpayers cost 1 billion dollars, Cost to Bush $0.
As a matter of fact, this info is from www.toostupidtobepresident.com Of course you Bush lovers would denounce anything that belittles your favorite moron.
Fisha; check out some of these sophmoric responses from the “Bushies”
Also, Dick Cheney drinking alcohol, going hunting with his Republican pal, and shooting him in the face.
Squizzle Squerk, You just don’t want to see the truth, do you?

1) Ted helped raise money for the IRA, to make bombs and buy guns, to kill innocent English men, women and children.
2) Ted led a selfish life of adultery, alcoholism and hard drug usage- what a role model!
3) Ted as a father- all his kids are rehab screw-ups, what a Dad!
4) Ted was a great husband, drove his wife Joan into alcoholism, cheated on her to shame Bill Clinton.
5) Ted’s legislation ensured high school students got higher wages, handicapping American business to compete with other countries.
6) Ted has embraced every enemy of the USA and sided with terrorists and communists, to go down in history as the father of socialism in the USA.
7) Classy guy, Teddy, let a woman drown and then bullied the local law and bullied the girl’s family, to never serve a day in jail for felony manslaughter, DUI and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
8) Scholar- was expelled twice for cheating in college.

One accomplishment, Teddy has stunned the world, both his supporters and his opponents can not dispute- Teddy has now gone over 6 months without a drink!

Should we change St Patrick’s Day, to St Teddy’s Day?
red solidarity- are you saying the IRA was justified murdering innocent men, women and children with bombs and shootings? terrorism is OK?

Or

A cantidate who divorced his first wife and admits to chasing his second wife around on the night he met her, before his divorce was final and the running mate who has a pregnant high schooler and a husband with a DWI?

Family Guy follows the life and exploits of Peter Griffin, an idiotic family man flanked by his intelligent and loving wife, Lois. The couple have two children – Chris (an overweight, mentally challenged teenage boy), Meg (a neurotic teenage girl with low self-esteem), and Stewie (a super-intelligent infant who believes his mother is his enemy). Together, the Griffins live with their human-like dog, Brian, in suburban Quahog, Rhode Island…

The Family Guy (Season 3) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “The Thin White Line” in which Brian takes his therapist’s advice and decides not to be so self-centered and to help others. Brian’s new attitude leads to his employment as a drug-sniffing K-9 for the Quahog police force. But while on the job, Brian becomes addicted to cocaine, and while in rehab, he discovers that the Griffin family (and Peter in particular) are a bad influence on his life… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include “And the Wiener is…” in which Peter joins a gun club, and “Mr. Saturday Knight” in which Peter decides to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a knight with the traveling Renaissance Fair…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Family Guy (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 29 (The Thin White Line) Air Date: 07-11-2001

Episode 30 (Brian Does Hollywood) Air Date: 07-18-2001

Episode 31 (Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington) Air Date: 07-25-2001

Episode 32 (One If By Clam, Two If By Sea) Air Date: 08-01-2001

Episode 33 (And the Wiener is…) Air Date: 08-08-2001

Episode 34 (Death Lives) Air Date: 08-15-2001

Episode 35 (Lethal Weapons) Air Date: 08-22-2001

Episode 36 (The Kiss Seen Around the World) Air Date: 08-29-2001

Episode 37 (Mr. Saturday Knight) Air Date: 09-05-2001

Episode 38 (A Fish Out of Water) Air Date: 09-19-2001

Episode 39 (Emission Impossible) Air Date: 11-08-2001

Episode 40 (To Love and Die in Dixie) Air Date: 11-15-2001

Episode 41 (Screwed the Pooch) Air Date: 11-29-2001

Episode 42 (Peter Griffin: Husband, Father… Brother?) Air Date: 12-06-2001

Episode 43 (Ready, Willing, and Disabled) Air Date: 12-20-2001

Episode 44 (A Very Special Family Guy Freakin’ Christmas) Air Date: 12-21-2001

Episode 45 (Brian Wallows and Peter’s Swallows) Air Date: 01-17-2002

Episode 46 (From Method to Madness) Air Date: 01-24-2002

Episode 47 (Stuck Together, Torn Apart) Air Date: 01-31-2002

Episode 48 (Road to Europe) Air Date: 02-07-2002

Episode 49 (Family Guy Viewer Mail #1) Air Date: 02-14-2002

Episode 50 (When You Wish Upon a Weinstein) Air Date: 12-10-2004

His mother put him in a foster home as her alcoholic ways and prostitution could not afford to provide for Charles. When Charles ran back to her from the home she rejected him and threw him out on the streets. This was a turning point in Charles’s life. He started to steal and at 19 years of age car thefts kept him in and out of jail for a while. He was very intelligent and sharp and psychiatrists judged that he possessed a high I.Q. Once out of jail he married 17-year-old Rosalie Jean Willis in 1955, and wished to move to California and start a new life. But it was not to be. He stole a car soon after marriage and was arrested. On giving birth to a son, Willis ran away with a truck driver.

With personal life in shambles law enforcement agencies tried to rehabilitate him. Psychiatrists said Manson showed marked degree of rejection, instability and psychic trauma. He was unpredictable and showed signs of assaultive tendencies. In spite of his age he was criminally sophisticated. In 1960 he was arrested again for soliciting prostitution and got a jail term of 10 years. Here he met Alvin Karpis the famous bank robber from whom he learned music and to play the guitar. He wanted to become a famous musician like Beatles. Had that happened, crime rate in America could have been considerably reduced. While in prison or on probation, he had stolen cars, pimped inmates, raped another inmate and forged federal checks. By the age of 33 he had spent more than half his life in prison.

Charles Manson had a ‘family’ of hippies made up of like minded people like him. He was bisexual and his women worshipped him. All these girls had sexual relations with him. He told them that “they belong to themselves and not to him”. One of the girls Susan Atkins said that she would do anything for Charles. She killed Actress Sharon Tate and said that ‘it was the most exciting sexual experience of her life’. The gruesome killings chilled and paralyzed America in 1969. The Manson Family was responsible for several murders, known collectively as the Tate-LaBianca murders. The motive behind the murders was that he was rejected by the music industry and wanted revenge. So he asked some members of his family to go to the house of record producer Terry Melcher and kill whoever was on the premises. They entered the compound of Roland Polanski, the famous Hollywood Director and his wife Sharon Tate who was eight months pregnant. Before entering the house they first shot dead Steve Parent, an 18 year old who was the friend of the gardener because he had seen the intruders while getting into his car. Frykowski and Folger, who were staying in the house until Polanski’s return from London, were able to escape from the living room but succumbed in the lawn. Frykowski was stabbed fifty-one times, shot twice, and pistol-whipped over a dozen times. This was allegedly inspired by the Beatles song “Piggies”. Folger was stabbed 28 times by Krenwinkel after being tackled on the lawn.

Inside the house intruders asked if anyone had money, and, in replying that she did, Abigail Folger, heiress to the Folgers Coffee Company, was led to her bedroom to empty her purse. She was led back to the living room where the four occupants of the house were tied together. Jay Sebring, a noted hairstylist and friend of the Polańskis was visiting, and when he attempted to defend Tate, he was shot by Watson, who then kicked him several times in the face.Tate, eight months pregnant, begged for the life of her unborn child and was rebuffed by Atkins, who coldly replied, “Look bitch, I have no mercy for you” before stabbing the actress sixteen times.

The killing of wealthy super market executive and his wife, the La Bianca couple, is another cold blooded murder by Charles Manson and his ‘family’. On this occasion Manson himself went along to show his accomplices how to perform the ‘act’. He tied the couples and then instructed Watson, Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten to stab them. Watson killed Mr. La Bianca while the girls stabbed his wife even after she died. They carved out the word ‘WAR’ upon her chest and left the fork embedded in her body. With her blood on a piece of paper the words ‘rise’ and ‘death to pigs’ were written. On the wall was ‘Healter Skelter’ misspelled from the Beatles song Helter Skelter. Manson also killed high school music teacher Gary Hinman because he apparently owed him some money.

Manson is now languishing in jail in California and probably for the rest of his life. He is known to shock people especially when in media glare. He is eligible for parole in 2007.

By Carlos Cabezas López

Tom Zart’s 87 Poems of Love
Family & Faith

LIKE A LILY AMONG THE THORNS

Until it’s dawn and the shadows flee
I will hold you close and ponder
Our life together past and present

And may our future be blessed by wonder.

RELATIONSHIPS

One of the most rewarding things, each of us can do

Is the acknowledgment of others and their fears.

To promote their happiness and sense of worth

By our love, concern, laughter and tears.

Staying eager to display are willingness

To recognize our support from others.

Where would we be without the people we love

Friends, mom, dad, grandparents, sisters and brothers.

We treasure our relationships and pray to maintain them

As they give us our passion and purpose in life.

Cherishing our family, our faith, our country

Our honor, our husband or wife.

A SCORNFUL WOMAN & A SELFISH MAN

A scornful woman can rip you apart

Destroy your libido and harden your heart.

They shout their list of your every flaw

Declaring you’re lucky you get it at all.

A selfish man can become even worse

When they lie, cheat, beat, steal and curse.

Always demanding to stay king of the castle

As they force their partner to suffer their hassle.

A happy woman thrives on love, faith, family and friends,

A worthy man provides, protects and defends.

Say “No” to Satan and cast him out

Say “Yes” to Jesus and become his scout.

MY HOPE TO FIND LOVE

So here I am, like many times before
All alone with my face to the moon.
Down on knees praying God
For someone who will love me and soon!

The smallest deed done is better than intention
When you wish to receive wisdom from above.
No matter what happens, I refuse to give up
My hope to discover the magic of love.

The better the reason for my existence
The better the life I will live.
Searching for someone who will share their love
By their joy when it’s their turn to give.

My hope to find love has somewhat diminished
Though my need for romance still remains.
Sometimes I feel like Sampson himself
Broken hearted and shackled to chains.

THE GREATEST LESSON ONE CAN LEARN

The greatest lesson one can learn
Is how when loved, to love in return.

Joined together through night and day
Equally yoked in work and play.

Remaining true both body and soul
Never loosing our common goal.

Sharing each other the best we can
Before we are but bits of sand.

Mutual love is beyond compare
Serving one another in the life we share.

Without compassion humans lose
Simply by the path they choose.

Love is a miracle from God to man
How some deny it I can’t understand.

WINGS of HEAVEN

It’s a wonderful situation
To be in love with you.
All my thoughts have changed
Because of everything you do.

I lack the desire for others
No yearning for their love or favor.
All I wish is a life with you
Till it’s time to greet our Savior.

I was afraid I would never find love
Leaving no stone unturned.
I had to suffer through stupidity
To grow from all I learned.

Life is too short to remain a fool
Who doesn’t see blessings handed down.
From now to judgment I will love you
Till the wings of heaven whisper their sound.

SO DEAR TO MY HEART

So dear to my heart are my loved ones at home
As I toss and I turn in my bunk all alone.
Everyday I see death, hate and corruption
Combat is God’s proof of man’s malfunction

For family, comrades and myself I pray
To my love with this poem I wish to convey.
I knew I loved you though never how much
Till by war, I’m forced beyond your touch.

Where violence thrives, there’s the stench of death
With the taste of fear on every breath.
Who shall prevail, who shall die?
As the sadistic kill beneath God’s sky.

Baghdad has become man’s highway to hell
Where the hearts of darkness are alive and well
I count each day till it’s time to come home
And be with my love and never alone.

Love You
Your Marine

MARRIAGE SEX AND ROMANCE

Some other time, I’m not in the mood
Why cant we just cuddle and watch TV?
When couples drift into the celibate zone
It’s not long till someone will flee.

Sexual fulfillment helps preserve love,
Parenthood, marriage and self-esteem.
Those who maintain it avoid saying no
To be blessed by its pleasure and gleam.

While dating we tend to be more romantic
Putting forth the best of our charms.
Sharing dinners, long walks and lustful weekends
As we spend more time in each others arms.

How many times have you said “not tonight”
Exposing your happy home to harm?
Today’s crushing deadlines leave little time for love
Leaving partners with sorrow, sadness and alarm.

So share one another with red wine and time
Dial your own number and leave the phone off the hook.
Enjoy some romance, sex and laughter
Improving your mood and the way you look.

MOTHERS

There’s no greater power on earth
Than the love we get from our mothers.
They feel our fears within themselves
Far more than sisters or brothers.

As seasons pass; in time we learn
We can’t always rely on others.
No mater what our mistakes may be
We know we can run to our mothers.

Mothers have great big aprons
To hide from the world our flaws.
They kiss and scold when we do wrong
Teaching compliance of laws.

From birth to death mothers lead
Our angels of kindness from above.
They give us more than anyone else
Preaching the importance of love.

Moms are certainly God’s gift to earth
So if you still have one, let it be known.
You can’t imagine your life without her
While the seed of your future is sown.

DON’T  FORSAKE  ME ?

Don’t forsake our love my darling
On this night before our wedding day.
I know your ex is crying to get back
But that’s just the price he’ll have to pay.

Good guys provide for their families
Tell the truth, pay bills and remain true.
Bad guys procrastinate, chase women and party
Then blame their shortcomings, on “you”.

I will love you only and tend to your needs
Never to lie, steal or cheat.
Giving all I have to share and prosper
And when wrong I will accept defeat.

Your happiness is my inspiration
For when I please you, you please me.
I wish to father our children and give them love
And be the best husband a man can be.

MY FAVORITE POET

My favorite poet is God above
Who gives Earth its rhythm and rhyme.
Not pied pipers of misguided souls
Who promote distrust, hatred and crime.

Poetry is nature serenading in song
The peaceful roar of the oceans waves.
The wind through the trees and over the hills
And the flowers in the fields by the graves.

The sound of rain as it waters the thirsty
The songs of children at play in the park.
The far off rumble of trains or thunder
As they pass through the night in the dark.

The joy of our babies first words and steps
The passion of life with its heroes and clowns.
The on going struggle to survive our sins
As we proliferate in hamlets and towns.

My favorite poet is our Father of love
Who was first to know us before birth.
His poetry prolongs every thing we love
As His deliverance gives life its worth.

I WHO HAVE NO ONE

I who have no one, no one at all
Envy others as in love they fall.
Sleepless nights, with inward burning
Feeling hopeless, tossing and turning.

Lord please forgive the fool I’ve been
Hiding from goodness in the shadows of sin.
I humbly pray to heaven in space
For one more chance to regain my grace.

I’ve lived my years indulging myself
Leaving decency and principle on the shelf.
Now that your light shines on my face
I pray for forgiveness in shame and disgrace.

All I ask is your life mate for me
And I pledge to become all I can be.
A soul without love is empty and void
No wonder so many become destroyed.

Outside my window there’s the thunder of rain
And the haunting sound of a far away train.
I feel your presence as I silently cry
For someone to love before I die.

JESUS IS A FISHERMAN

Jesus is a fisherman
Who saves the souls of man.
Dead or alive He leads the faithful
To the streams of promise land.

He sees us when we’re happy
He hears us when we’re glad.
He whispers words of hope to us
When we face something sad.

As wicked thoughts control the mind
Evil deeds control the heart.
Jesus is who we turn to
When from sins we must depart.

Jesus is a fisherman
Who baits His hook with love.
Casting His line in your direction
From the banks of heaven above.

LOVE CONSUMES ALL

Love consumes all physical functions
Hearing, taste, touch, thought and smell.
It can heal, destroy, weaken or bond
Those caught in its presence and spell.

May I be remembered by tears of love
When my hands lay across my chest.
Displayed for view to say goodbye
To my family, friends and the rest.

Until it’s time for my final farewell
I will serve whom I love even more.
These words of passion inhabit my heart
Conveying my need for all, I adore.

PASSION AND LOVE

Samson so loved Delilah
He ended up grinding grain.
Anthony so loved Cleopatra
He lost all and was slain.

David so loved Bathsheba
He drifted from God’s command.
The way I feel makes it easy
To imagine and understand.

You‘re the inspiration of my day
And the delight of my night.
The joy we share as we conceive
Makes everything feel just right.

Thank heaven for passion and love
Blessings from God to man.
Without them we’re mere creatures
Subsisting like ants in the sand.

TO BE BLESSED BY LOVE

Darkness submits to the brightness of day
For all rich, famous or peasant.
God gives us love as a tool of endurance
For what is glorious, painful or unpleasant.

He gives us friends that mean so much
Though His greatest gift is fathers and mothers.
From them we learn the guidance we need
Or from grandparents, sisters and brothers.

How rewarding it is to share our concerns
Of the burdens that trouble man’s soul.
With words of love, passion and faith
With happiness and purpose our goal.

To be blessed by love elevates life
Projecting a radiance of grace to our face.
Like the heavenly bodies that illuminate the night
As we voyage through the vastness of space.

THE JOY I FEEL

The joy I feel within my heart
Has overcome my void.
No more foolish, selfish acts
Risking love to be destroyed.

You’re the rainbow of my day
And the tiger of my night.
Your style of loving me
Leaves no reason to fuss or fight.

Happiness shuns the selfish
Who fail God’s test of time.
Contentment comes as a gift
To hearts of the thoughtful and kind.

I obtain my daily need
As I awake to find you near.
The love we share celebrates life
As we laugh or cry with tear.

Through out each day, there are moments,
I find I need you even more.
You’re the radiance of my life
Who I worship, serve and adore.

I LOVE BEING LOVED BY YOU

My life overflows with happiness
As my favorite dreams come true.
My days and nights are magical
Because of everything you do.

You stand by me as troubles occur
And listen to my worries and fears.
You share my burdens and my joys
With faith, compassion and tears.

God’s gift to man is someone to love
Which can be both splendid and rare.
Throughout life there’s nothing better
Then those who will love us and care.

There’s the past, present, future, and beyond
Which will test our measure by what we say and do
Too many overlook the thrill of now
But not I, “for I love being loved by you.”

WE’LL ALL REUNITE IN TIME

Fame, wealth, prestige, and wild women
For too long were my passions of life.
One day I found sweet liberation
When God gave my heart to my wife.

33 years we loved one another
Sharing all we possessed and more.
Last year she passed in the middle of night
Never to shadow our door.

I’m sure in rapture, she awaits
For me to arrive in heaven divine.
I’ll miss our children and grandkids too
But we’ll all reunite in time.

THE LAST GOODBYE

I’m on my way to greet my Master
And shake His hand when I die.
I’m on my way to john sweet Jesus
In His mansion beyond on high.

I’m on my way to escape man’s woes
Where the faithful rise to tell their story.
Following the path of love and compliance.
Guided by God’s magnificence and glory.

As I journey to and from all I love
It hurts to say my absolute goodbye.
I’m on my way to divine fulfillment
But for those left behind, “I cry.”

The Last Goodbye

MOMS

Millions of dewdrops greet the dawn
As hungry of bees buzz the clover
Dazzling butterflies flutter about
As moms give love the world over.

Lessons learned at our mother’s knee
Last a lifetime till we grow older.
Popping up when troubles accrue
Like a whispering angel on our shoulder.

Gods gives us friends that mean so much
Children, fathers, sisters and brothers
Though far, far above all the rest,
No one loves us more than our mothers.

In and out of friendships, jobs and partners
Our mothers always remain our evening star.
Those who where born to a selfish mom
Make the rest us realize how lucky we are.

How great life is to have a good mom
Who reads what we feel but can’t say.
Nothing means as much, as her tender touch
And for all who are without one, “we pray.”

SHOULD TOMORROW START WITHOUT ME ?

Should tomorrow start without me
Remember I love you
Looking down from up above
Seeing everything you do.

If I become a casualty
I pray you will love again
Whom ever makes you happy
I’ll consider my friend.

Should tomorrow start without me
Remind our boys, God loves all who care
And when life seems too harsh and cruel
With “Him” they must share their prayer.

I have proven I’m not a coward
Who breaks and runs to survive
Always fearing death will kiss me
As the streets of Baghdad I drive.

Should tomorrow start without me
Be proud I choose to serve
Our faith and our patriotism
Earn the freedom we deserve.

I miss home more than ever
It breaks my heart to stay away
I can’t help but want to hold you
And whisper what I say.

PASSION

Passion is any strong feeling or thought
Of love, hate, fear, anger and grief.
The emotional joy of sexual desire
Sometimes the suffering of saint or thief.

The cruelty of man nailing Christ to the cross
His treatment subsequent to the last supper.
Continuing conflict with endless war
Make it seem we’re prone to suffer.

All must carry their own cross in life
While they struggle to survive the day.
Passion reveals how much we desire
As we race toward our outcome and pray.

WHO?

Who wrote the tune the songbird sings?
Who made the diamonds we wear on rings?

Who caused the snow and rain to fall?
Who made spring, winter, summer and fall?

Who gave man a woman to love?
Who made the clouds and sky above?

Who lights the stars and moon in the night?
Who makes heaven and beyond so bright?

Who gives us babies we follow till death?
Who made us able to speak with our breath?

Who gives us heroes willing to die?
Who made the tears we shed as we cry.

Who shows us hope and guides our way?
The same one who loves us night and day.

SATISFACTION

Too many people never know satisfaction
For their goals for happiness are placed too high.
Most of us complain about what we can’t have
When we’re not bedfast or in the grave, we lie.

No one finds satisfaction from serving themselves
Contentment takes place, by our unselfish concern.
The more we repent and regret our wrongs
The more we are able to retain what we learn.

So tally your blessings and be thankful for life
And remember there are those who wish, they were you.
Satisfaction and love are what mere mortal’s pray for
Though the lucky among us, who feel both, are few.

LOVE & HATE

Unselfish concerns are the footstones of love
Though far too many still waste time on hate.
Real happiness happens to the lucky in life
Who’ve bonded to others with love as their fate.

Malice, disfavor and ill will complicate life
To where our days resemble frustration’s hell.
The warm rush of love can turn things around
Enabling the sleepless to again rest well.

Tender love and affection generate fondness
Where hatreds repugnance eats body and soul.
Friendship, attachment, good will and charity
Are the mother’s milk of life, when love’s our goal.

So recognize hate for what it truly is
And reject it when it whispers in your ear.
For the power of love is the only way
To avoid corruption, resentment and fear.

MY TRUE LOVE

Lord, have mercy on my soul
For all the wrong I’ve done
When I was young and foolish
And searching for some fun.

My daddy told me, son
You reap what you sow
Everything I’ve learned the hard way
Are the only things I know.

I searched all the honky tonks
And every bar in town
The right woman for me to love
I had not yet found.

My mother always said
Why not look at church
There’s where you’ll find
The right one to end your search.

So, here I am singing a song
To the music of a choir
Next to me is my true love
Who sets my heart on fire.

I can see her left hand
And there’s my wedding ring
She catches me peeking at her
With every line we sing.

A man and wife are equally yoked
In everything they do;
That’s why I celebrate
God saving me for you!

CHRISTMAS

Husbands with ladders hang lights on their home
As all who have no one feel sad and alone.
The churches are full of the faithful that sing
For the birth of our Lord, is a spiritual thing.

The sound of Christmas sweetly fills the air
While frantic shoppers hustle from here to there.
The windows of storefronts at this time of year
Reflect all their wonders as Christmas draws near.

Little ones stand looking with their nose pressed to glass
As model trains on display come speeding past.
The path to Santa is lined with girls and boys
With a list in their heart of their favorite toys.

The stores shelves are crammed with dolls that crawl or walk
Games, cars, trucks, planes and stuffed toys that sing or talk.
The miracle of Christmas comes once a year
When all that we love seems more precious and dear.

THE SEED of LOVE

A kindly woman can make a sad man sing
With her love and affection winter seems like spring.
Of all the pleasures in life given to a man
There’s nothing beats the touch of a woman’s soft hand.

God saw Adam alone on Eden’s floor
Then decided to give him Eve’s love and much more.
So take what you need from she chosen for you
Then rid thyself of others and to her be true.

The Lord planted love within mankind’s heart
Though things can grow sour when from Him we depart.
Love and hate are but two sides of life’s golden coin
So be ready for both no matter whom you join.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

To tell you the truth, it still hurts to share;
Even though with him your heart is not there.
I’ve tried hard to think what brought this about
For we’re not the type who enjoy sneaking out.

Your husband, my wife, were into themselves.
Like old Christmas toys, they placed us on our shelves.
Somehow we managed to take ourselves down
And found one another while out on the town.

You gave me your number for reasons well known
And now you weep as you drive home alone.
It’s hard to make love when the romance is dead
It causes confusion in your heart and your head.

There’s a battle inside as your mind and heart fight
While you lie by the wrong one in the middle of the night.
We now know the meaning to the words of that song
That it hurts to love someone and to the wrong one belong.

HOLLYWOOD WOMAN

Hollywood woman, I’m in love with you
Though you’re always on your own stage.
Some days you love me and some days you don’t
No wonder I’m in such a rage.

You baited your hook
Then threw me a line
And like a big crayfish
I thought you were mine.

But you have that fever
To fish other streams
And you’ll be the cause
Of many men’s dreams.

For other men have loved you
And other men have cried.
Every last one of them
Has felt you inside.

Before long you’ll grow old
And your looks shall fade
And all you’ll have left
Is your video parade.

Those who once loved you
Will be dead or gone
And you’ll lie alone
In silence till dawn.

A MAN’S BEST FRIEND

A man’s best friend is still his faithful dog
Who anxiously awaits his return home.
Where would man be without his canine love
When his human mates have left him alone.

If a man was as good as his dog thinks
He’d be more famous than a football star.
It’s too bad our wives don’t feel the same way
I guess its because they know how we are.

Man has no fear of his dog’s love for life
Though it’s usually man who buries his pet.
It matters not be they large or small
What animal has loved man more, as yet?

GETTING OVER HER

I thought we’d raise our only child
And feed him with a spoon
But, his mother loves another
And they’re on a honeymoon.

All my friends say I must stop
Loving her, of course
So I drove my Ford to a honky tonk
Still lonely from divorce.

From out of my chair, I must get up
And ask someone to dance
For, if I plan to get over her
I know I’ll need romance.

The dance floor is almost full
Of country kings and queens.
I feel a pair of eyes
Just checking out my jeans.

I can see a smiling face
I’m almost at a run
For I know if I dance
I’m going to have some fun.

She stands up from her table
And reaches for my hand
Then I lead the both of us
Right up in front of the band.

Somebody turned the spotlight
Toward the dance floor ball.
She is so beautiful
I’m afraid I might fall.

Here I go, a-gambling
A gambling with my heart
For when I love a woman
It always hurts to part.

BODY HEAT 1O5

We drank several glasses of champagne
In the living room of her house.
Around 9:30 that evening
I found myself in her blouse.

I fondled and kissed her so gently
Like the soft footsteps of a mouse.
To my surprise, she opened her eyes
And said, “look, we’re not going to play house.”

I right away replaced her clothing
And buttoned her blouse once more.
There was no doubt of my defeat
As I lay there upon the floor.

She said, “tell the truth, are you angry?”
I answered, by far I was not
“It’s more important what you think of me
Than what I may not have got.”

She wiped away a tear from both eyes
And said, “you’re my kind of man.”
At that point, she did arise
And to me she held out her hand

She led me away like a blind man
Who had somehow lost his cane.
When we reached her bedroom door
I thought I’d gone insane.

Before long, we found ourselves naked
As she held me in her palm.
Can you dare imagine, my friend
How hard it was for me to stay calm?

We touched all the forbidden places
As our body heats reached 105
If love’s relief had not been achieved
I doubt if we’d still be alive.

WITHOUT LOVE

Life is simply a circus
With too many fools on the stage.
There ‘s greed, fear and indifference
As many hearts suffer from rage.

Divorce is like a bad book
Where the heroes get killed off to soon.
When we reach the point the light goes out
Then we’ll stand up and leave the room.

Without love we become such fools
In a desert which has gone all dry.
When the one we love ignores us
There’s nothing to do but cry.

The worst curse that one can endure
Are those who just wish to take.
When all we give is our own love
To find out we’ve made a mistake.

Of all the prizes life may bring
To be loved is by far the best.
That’s why so many search for it
For without love, what good is the rest?

THAT OLD COVERED BRIDGE

We returned to that old covered bridge
Where as sweethearts we used to go.
To kiss, hug, and squeeze in the shadows
While beneath us the water would flow.

Up under its wood roof of shingles
Is where we took refuge from the rains.
Carved in some boards within that old bridge
Side by side you’ll still find our names.

Our memories of our past childhood
Are a gift from God for us to keep.
Like that picture you once gave me
Which I peaked at before I could sleep.

We find ourselves back at that old bridge
Only now, with our kids to catch fish.
We pray someday that they’ll find love
And come here with someone, just to wish.

SOME MEN PRAY

Some men pry to marry the woman they love
Where my prayers can’t help but somewhat vary
As I humbly pray to heaven above
That I am loved by the woman I marry.

The essence of love is its spiritual fire
And there’s nothing more sought after on earth.
Man’s only escape is his own flight
But what, without love would his life be worth.

Love can be man’s worst pain or best pleasure
A dangerous gamble he must take in life.
For he who falls in love with the wrong woman
Shall find all he’s worked for belongs to his wife.

THE COAL MINER

Coal mines in my daddy’s day
Were dug with strong hands and back.
They got larger and deeper
As the lungs of the miners turned black.

Cave-ins, fires and explosions
Were my father’s daily fear.
But what choice has a man
When the wolf of hunger is near.

With three small kids and a wife
There were five stomachs to fill.
As we lived in poverty
In our shack below a hill.

I feel his blood within me
As the years of my life pass by
I’m proud that dad dug King Cole
For a miner so am I.

Life to me is but a rose
Though it’s thorns can make me cry.
And like my dad before me
To my Lord I will not lie.

In cold earth someday I’ll sleep
With a shinny stone above.
Carved in it, shall be the words
I have known the joy of love.

ADAM THE LONELY

Adam, the lonely was chased from God’s land
When Eve picked that apple with her foolish hand.
Delilah, the evil, cut a champion’s hair off
When Samson; the strong man’s heart became soft.

David the shepherd, a king among men
Was teased by Bathsheba and driven to sin.
A man needs a woman to build up his pride
To bolster his ego and to lay by his side.

Life mates are a treasure and difficult to find
I feel like a blind man who’s lost in a mine.
Lord, I’m a sad soul with no hand to hold
Searching for someone who’ll love me when I’m old.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Our house is big, though our family’s small
The phone’s off the hook, cause we don ‘t want a call.
I need you darling more than anything
For your sweet kisses make a sad man sing.

I can feel life’s clock as it pounds away
While the moon says hello to the dying day.
I pray to partake every sight and sound
While I still enjoy the right side of the ground.

Nothing beats the love of a willing mate.
So little time for fun before it’s too late.
The Lord made you for me and me alone
And not for others that you might have known.

LOVER’S TOAST

Come to me with just your love
And I will pledge you mine.
Feel my lips and share my glass
And we shall sip red wine.

You’re the red rose of my day
And the lily of my night.
Nothing is so grand in life
As when you seize me tight.

Love’s uncertain future is
Where mankind’s torments dwell
With both it’s pain and pleasure
Our lust is alive and well.

DADS AT WAR

Where would I be without you dad
My hero of night and day?
I’m so glad you love my mother
And take time for us to pray.

The last time we played baseball
You reached for me with your hand.
I looked at you, then made a wish
That I might be just half the man.

I love my father of earth,
And I love my Father of heaven.
It’s a lot for me to love, you know
For I’m only eleven.

Mom and I sure miss you
Since you left to defend our flag.
When others ask, where is your dad
I can’t help but boast and brag.

MOMMA

Oh, I love my momma
She’s the reason I’m alive.
Her total love for me
Has made her struggle and strive.

Jesus had a momma
Who bore Him in a cave.
She couldn’t help but love Him
From His birth to the grave.

Should I hang on the highest hill
My momma would be there.
I know her love would follow me
My Angel of despair.

Her hair is now all silver
As I hold her fingers, worn.
Oh, God, bless this wrinkled brow
From whose body I was born.

LETTERS

We were just the best of friends
I knew him all my life.
I’m sure that he, towards the end
Found out I love his wife.

He drove his car right off a cliff
And crashed into the sea.
I know it was no accident
For a skillful driver was he.

He must have found our letters
Of love that shouldn’t be.
He’s the type to harm himself
Instead of killing me.

As I looked in his wife’s eyes
She sadly said to me,
Instead of us, he killed himself
Because of lovers, such as we.

Lord, have mercy on our souls
For her husband, my friend, has died!
No one else may ever know
But God how much we’ve lied.

HONEYMOON CRUISE

The gulls have gone long ago
As we sail a peaceful sea.
The skies are blue, soft and kind
Where else would we wish to be.

Late at night, as we embrace
In front of a reggae band.
You kiss me, and then you whisper
I want to be alone with my man.

A little after midnight
We both slip away.
In such of some time
For the games lovers play.

Alone in our cabin
Your skin is so soft.
I’m just that angel
Who fell from aloft.

After twenty-five years
Of our love has gone
It’s a honeymoon cruise
We find ourselves on.

May the Lord show mercy
On any of those
Who have never been loved
Or ever been chose.

MY LOVE of LIFE

Wise men learn more from watching fools
Than fools do from watching wise men.
I should know for I’ve been both
I can ‘t believe how lucky I’ve been.

Everyday as I speak out
With verse I come alive.
My lust for life shall be fulfilled
As another day I survive.

I take the clay of every day
And mold it to my fashion.
All I need is my true love
Whose heart flows free with passion.

I thank the Lord who watches us
For blessings which are mine;
That I’m festive, fit and free
To love my wife who’s sweeter than wine.

LITTLE BABY

Little baby, I love you
For you are a part of me
Each and every inch you’ll grow
I want to be there to see.

Someday you’ll chase fireflies
Who ride the breath of the winds.
Someday you’ll be all grown up
And out on the town with friends.

You have your daddy ‘s freckles;
You’ve got your mommy’s eyes.
I pray to God every day
You’ll survive all of life’s lies.

Little babies shoot up fast
As they need to stretch and grow.
They do such things as children do
In a world they’ve yet to know.

Someday you will understand
How your parents feel inside
Someday you’ll have your babies
And raise them with great pride.

Of all the gifts that life may bring
A sweet baby is still the best
Your mom and I shall love you
Till the day we’re laid to rest.

ONE MAN’S PRAYER

Where are the women who need a good man?
Where are the women with love in their hand?

Where are the children who played on the lawn?
Where are the children when mom and dad are gone?

What about the marriage that began with smiles?
What about the marriage that ended in trials?

What about the future of all involved?
What about the problems that must be solved?

Answer these questions that tear at my heart.
Answer these questions that keep us apart.

WHAT LOVE MEANS TO ME

I know now for sure what love means to me
It’s a chance to be needed and to give happily.
For I’ve felt what it’s like to be sad and alone
And wish for that someone I could call my own.

It’s just like young Adam when he lost his rib bone
God gave him Eve, so he wouldn’t sleep alone.
When a man loves a woman, there’s many lessons he’ll learn
As she respects him, her favors he’ll earn.

One thing for certain, when your thoughts are for real
As you hug and you kiss, you love how you feel.
Some live a lifetime just a step from love
You are that person who gave me my shove.

The world has both givers and those on the take
Life can be bad if your love’s a mistake.
I can’t help realize how lucky I’ve been
For you are my wife, but best of all, my friend.

I WON’T BE THERE

It‘s true; I’ve been living with a looser
And it’s been going on too long
I’ve prayed for the courage and, now I have it
To sing you your farewell song.

I won’t be there in the morning when you need me!
I won’t be there when you call on the phone!
I won’t be there in the bed beside you
As you lay by yourself alone!

Too many times at night I’ve cried
Wondering why you won’t just come home
Staring at the clock on the wall
As I lie half awake by the phone.

For so long it was enough that I loved you
Though now my heart needs more.
So, I’ve packed up my bags and my pictures
And I’m on my way out the door.

WHEN YOU LOVE A MEAN WOMAN

When you love a mean woman it hurts down deep
In the middle of the night when you find you can’t sleep.
I remember those times we kissed in the park
Covered by moonbeams and stars in the dark.

You told me you loved me and would never run away
Though now, there’s another with whom you play.
Somebody tell me what I’m doing wrong
Somebody show me before I’ve waited too long.

Other women I’ve met, they remind me of you
It makes me afraid of what they might do.
But life without love isn’t living at all
Everyone needs someone who waits for their call.

I thirst for a woman who will love me again
One who needs both a husband and friend.
Dear Lord, I pray for my angel of love
So I may fly high on the wings of a dove.

SHE’S MY BUDDY

Adam and Eve lay beneath the stars.
I wonder if their love was as strong as ours?
Darling, I love you, I’m not afraid to say
Our love just grows with each passing day.

I was afraid our love would grow cold
That’s what I’ve always by others been told.
I’m glad they were wrong, so I sing this song
For you are the woman to whom I belong.

Without your concern I have nothing at all
There’s no one to help me should I take a fall.
I need your love it builds up my pride
Bolsters my ego and stands by my side.

Many men still search for someone like you
Case to find a good woman isn’t easy to do
Lord, I thank you for the love of my life
For she is my buddy as well as my wife.

OUR MOTHER’S LOVE

Our mother’s love like a candle
Burns brightly upon the shelf.
As she lights the way for all others
Never thinking of herself.

Seven little kids in a farmhouse
By my moms hard work survived.
Through her love and faith in Jesus
We learned how to struggle and strive.

The lilacs still bloom by the window
Where our mom would quilt and sew.
In the winter she’d sing by the fire
To the tunes she thought we should know.

Our father labored at a quarry
In the dust of the earth every day.
He worked so hard for his money
For the bills our family must pay.

Little sister came down with pneumonia
And almost died in bed.
Our momma lie sick beside her
Putting cool rags on her head.

We were sure glad to see daddy’s face
As he drove up our driveway
He ran up and into the house
Then knelt by their bed to pray.

Oh, Lord, please save my family
From the fever that burns within
For we have always loved Jesus
And will serve Him till our end.

Our mother and sister survived
But daddy, he died long ago.
When it’s our time for heaven
We’ll see many that we know.

TILL THE END of TIME

I feel like Samson pushing the stone
For I gave into love and now I’m alone.
Betrayed by a woman, I gambled and lost
And now I suffer what disloyalty cost.

Samson was blinded by the blade of a knife
After his capture by the love of his life.
Imprisoned forever and forced to grind grain
To spectator laughter, the whip and the chain.

The same so am I, a victim of chain
For I’ve too many memories of you in my brain.
Together my darling from a window we shall peer
It will be from heaven both faraway and near.

The heirlooms of tomorrow the woman and the man
Waiting for our ashes to sift through the sand.
I will  love you always, till the end of time
Now and then dreaming of when you were mine.

SAD DAD IN JAIL

They put me in prison for the deed I’ve done
I killed the drunk driver who crippled you, son.
Your mother, my wife, she died in the wreck
That’s the reason I broke that man’s neck.

His dad was a rich man, who pulled lots of strings
So well connected he could do many things.
I live in this hellhole with all sorts of men;
I’m sure glad most like me and call me their friend.

The food here is so awful, I’ve lost many pounds
I’d rather feast on the vittles the guards toss the hounds.
At night we play cards and you don’t dare cheat
For if you get caught, you’ll be stomped on by feet.

Most inmates fashion some sort of knife
To help out their odds in a fight for their life
I took me a padlock and snapped it on a chain
Then hid it in my pant-leg to keep from being slain.

I get to see you on our family day
The worst part about it, is when you cry as you play.
Many times you question, “Dad, when can you leave?”
As the tears from your eyes drop to my sleeve.

Our visit is now over as they wheel you away
I whisper, “I love you” and you see what I say.
It’s time to go back to my one-room, shared cell
And try to write a song about a sad dad in jail.

SOLDIER IN THE RAIN

I’m just a soldier who stands in the rain
My memories of home are what keep me sane.
Back home is a land of milk and honey
Ruled by lust and love of money.

But, what can I say, when I serve her true
For I volunteered to see this war through.
Now, that I’m here, it’s hard to believe
We’re just the victims of those who deceive.

As darkness falls on the rice fields of Nam
Scared men with rifles walk the shadows of the calm.
It’s thousands of miles to the steps of my church
With its stained glass, steeples and lost souls who search.

Off in the distance I see an arc light
Bombs being dropped on children at night.
I’ve seen that evil they call the “yellow rain”
And how life withers when it’s sprayed by a plane.

All of my buddies have been taken away
No more touch football will they ever play.
Zipped in their body bags for the long trip home
Are some of the bravest, I’ve ever known.

War is a hell, devised by man
There’s death in the sea, the sky and the land.
Lord, I can’t help but wish I were home
Back with my love, whom I hope is alone?

WE WISH YOU WERE HOME

I remember that fair in September
As we waited for a Ferris wheel ride
Just as you reached for my fingers
I felt how I loved you inside.

The next thing I knew we were airborne
Above all the eyes of the crowd
Surrounded by rainbows of neon
As the moon popped from behind a cloud.

You asked, “daddy, do you love me”
I answered I couldn’t live without you.
Then you reached up and tugged on my collar
As we flew in that chair painted blue.

Now you are grown and gone
And have marched away to war.
As I’m writing this letter
I yearn for your knock at our door.

I got out some rags and the wax
And gave your old Ford a rubdown.
I went for a ride of remembrance
While its mufflers made your favorite sound

I drove by the park to ponder
Those ball games we loved to play.
I can ‘t help but worry and wonder
If you’ll ever come home to stay.

Your girlfriend still teaches school
We see her every seventh day.
There’s no doubt who she thinks of
When she folds her hands to pray.

Your mother still talks to your picture
As she works at her sewing machine.
I hope my son you realize
How much to us you mean.

PLEASURE SEEKERS

That road of pleasure seeking
Has so many deep pitfalls
And all the while we walk on it
In the distance the devil calls.

Some folks drink those bubbly spirits
Or smoke that tall green weed
Anything to dull their conscience
As they sow their wild oat seed.

I’ve been no angel in my life
Though I fell from a righteous shelf
When I took those risky chances
And tried both, many times, myself.

Now I’m tired of being foolish.
So I sing my songs at church
With one eye on my hymnbook
And the other free to search.

If you’re yearning to love someone
Let’s get together and seek no more
Kiss and fondle by the fire
And push pillows across the floor.

For we need love, health and money
And may we live to enjoy them all
Before we ‘re old and in our autumn
And our leaves begin to fall.

THE FIRST ONE TO LOVE ME

The first one to love me was you; Lord
And nothing can take that away.
My soul is refreshed by living water
While my heart flows with love each day.

I thank you for the love of my family
And I thank you for the love of my life.
I thank you for all of the blessings
You give to each husband and wife.

Your glory rides high on the sunsets
Your voice is the thunder of rain.
I thank you for all of the heavens
And Jesus who came to be slain.

I feel when your eyes are upon me
As you listen to my humble cry
You’ve redeemed the soul of your servant
To dwell in your mansion on high.

I’ll claim each and every promise
From the Lord of the earth and sky.
I’m so glad I’m free from my bondage
Of the grave where my body shall lie.

I thank you for parting the darkness
And guiding my footsteps each day.
I thank you for being my shepherd
You’ve walked with me all the way.

I know your armor protects me
From the devil in search of his feast.
And all who are lost without you
Shall dwell in hell with the beast!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Christmas is coming and I’m all alone
With no one to snuggle at night.
My wineglass is empty to help dull the desire
To kiss you by soft candlelight.

A rare pearl of value, you don ‘t leave alone
Or someone will steal them from you.
After they’ve gone and flown far away
It’s hard to know just what to do.

I’m watching my neighbors hang lights on their tree
With tinsel and striped candy cane.
I took you for granted and didn’t hug enough
And now I must suffer my pain.

Lord, I’m so lonely; I wish I could die
Then be born to relive again.
I realize the value of someone to love
And the danger of my selfish sin.

There’s a ring on my phone and a knock at the door
Which do I dare go for?
If neither is you, I’ll break down and cry
And again pound my fist on the floor.

I run down the hall and the doorknob turns
As the swirling snow rides on the wind.
There, in my doorway, it’s the face I love
Such a beautiful present to send.

Now, I am happy and dancing around
With a permanent smile on my face.
As children are singing their Christmas love songs
And the world is a wonderful place.

PATHWAYS

Lord, I’m so lonely, I thirst everyday
In search of the love I need
like a man in prison with no warmth at night
A slave who seeks to be freed.

For I need a woman who will heal my heart
So my life won ‘t seem so wrong.
I’ll lie down beside her and gamble again
Then sing of our love in a song.

Remember, young Adam, your first favorite born
Who slept in your garden alone.
You took form his body and transformed some flesh
Then gave him a woman unknown.

Whichever the pathway I should choose to take
I realize that there will be brambles.
For the man who has visions everyday of his life
Will always be the same who gambles.

Now, to heaven I pray, for my treasure of life
After searching the deserts in vain.
I’m tired of mirages from fool-hearted women
Please give me someone who’s sane.

May her eyes be turquoise with cheeks like peaches
Ripe and ready to risk.
Soon they’ll turn rosy when she sneaks a peek
To the tingle of where I kiss.

Though I will love her, I shall never follow.
Nor will I ever lead.
I’ll walk beside her and share all I have
For the children who spring from seed.

If we should argue about foolish things
I ‘d rather be loved than right.
Then when I lie down at the end of my day
I’ll sleep with a smile at night.

ENCHANTED

Over any man who feels lost without love
God gives women divine powers.
They can break our hearts or deflate our ego
And cause us to buy diamonds and flowers.

They have compelled kings and presidents to beg
Wild singles to commit to change their way.
Loving us with pleasures problematic to replace
With flashbacks of their passion night and day.

Women mother our babies who we love till death
For us to raise, protect and provide for.
They contribute revenue, affection and direction
With love, companionship and more.

They insist we never abuse or disgrace them
Cheat, lie or take their love for granted.
Which helps us to become more than we are
In love and totally enchanted.

WHISPERS

The one thing I’ve learned about happiness
It will never last pretending you’re not you.
Somehow, someway the truth will arise
And all that you hide will show through.

Sooner or later, one way or another
Something in your life seems wrong.
You go to bed unhappy and awake the same
Repeating life’s mistakes too long.

One day, to yourself, you begin to question
Is this who I am and wish to be
How will I choose to live the rest of my life
Till the angel of death comes for me?

Most people wish to be at peace with God
Oneself, and those we love.
Frequently taking a look at our past
Praying for guidance from above.

Thank heaven for the whispers from the heart
Which remind us that evil has it’s voice too.
It’s always a battle amid right and wrong
As we ponder and perform what we do.

LIFE

Life’s a book written through
Where the pages are the years.
There’s good, evil, false, and true
With laughter, sweat, and tears.

Our days are songs composed by God
As we set them to music with pleasure.
His cup of life is for us to drink
Though, He, decides the measure.

Hurried and worried, dawn till dusk
There’s no time for a curtain call.
We burn our candles from both ends
And we’re lucky to be alive at all.

Cards are shuffled and hands are dealt
For all to place their bets.
Youthful blunders, adulthood struggles
And old age, with its regrets.

It matters not, how long we live
But more, how well we play our part.
For the road to heaven is always near
As long as there’s truth in our heart.

EYES OF LOVE

A mind may see a thousand eyes
Though the heart yearns for two
When the eyes we love have up and gone
To the arms of someone new.

Eyes that twinkle, I distrust
For they are the distant stars.
Eyes in love have a steady glow
Like Venus, the Moon or Mars.

Eyes of love, like planets at night
Use borrowed light to shine.
Eyes are the living lenses
To the camera of our mind.

Eyes tend to believe themselves
Like the blind love of mothers.
Eyes speak without words
To the hearts and souls of others.

LOVE

No rope or cable can hold so tight
What love can do with twine.
No kiss can taste so bittersweet
As the one which captures our mind.

The first sign of love is the last of wisdom
As eager hearts fulfill desire.
Love is just a staple of life
Though heaven sparks the fire.

Heaven knows no rage like love
Once to hatred it has turned.
How wise are we who are such fools
Who forget the lessons we’ve learned.

Love, indeed, descends from heaven
Like a shooting star across the sky.
Love sometimes stirs the dust,
Till tears fall free from the eye.

God must love people in love
Or he wouldn’t make so many.
Those who claim it’s a mental disease
Have never been loved by any.

Love is stronger than life itself
And jealousy more cruel than the grave.
Men and women have loved one another
Since they spent their nights in a cave.

When the hands of love
Touch the strings of souls
There’ll be babies on the way.
That’s the basic rules of life
No matter what games we play.

Like the flowers in the fields
We shed our shields
To be warmed by the sun.
We live our lives the best we can
Till death catches us on the run.

MY WILD ROSE

You ‘re the full moon of my nights
And the sunshine of my day.
Like a queen upon her throne
You rule what I do and say.

It’s God who makes us beautiful
And the Devil who makes us mean.
It all depends on whom we follow
Which way our lives shall lean.

With one foot in the future
And one foot in the past
Let us try to live our days
As though each was our last.

You’re the wild rose of my life
My flower of desire.
Made by God for me alone
Out of earth, stars and fire.

MY WIFE

You’re the bone of my bones
Who I love for my wife.
The flesh of my flesh
And my partner in life.

For me to have and to hold
For better or for worse.
To love and to cherish
Though we might fight and curse.

Be I richer or poorer
Till death makes us part
I will give you great portions
Of my soul and my heart.

Heaven won’t be heaven
If I don ‘t see you there
May the first to go
Be me, is my prayer.

FAMILIES

The first stage of a family group
Begins with husband and wife.
Shelters are rented, bought or built
As they yearn for more from life.

Families are found throughout the world
In bone clusters buried in caves
Where ancient people lived and loved
‘Till death placed them in their graves.

Humans still have that need to group
As a family to survive
They love and care for each other
In the world in which they strive.

Families are a nation’s crown jewels
Far more than a golden coin.
Members find love and sympathy
From the groups they’ve chosen to join.

TEARS

Tears are the raindrops of the soul
And there’s one for all who die.
They are the silent words of grief
As they fall free from the eye.

The shortest verse in the Bible
Is the one where Jesus wept
So, if you hold back tears, “shed them”
When your pains too harsh to accept.

Tears are lovelier than a smile
When they come from those you love.
As they seek relief from sadness
When you’re summoned from above.

Tears are a love-mates humble gift
When it’s time to say goodbye
Though the eyes are wet and swollen
With time and patience they dry.

LOVE & ELECTRICITY

Love and electricity are a lot alike
For we never seem to miss them till their gone.
We need both, every day of our life
And even more so between twilight and dawn.

Love resembles a self-consuming amber
A static current of both pain and pleasure.
It can warm our bed and lighten the darkness
And for most who don ‘t have it, it’s a treasure.

We can turn it on or we can turn it off
Depending on whatever we’re forced to do.
It may shock us, please us, thrill us, or hurt us
Though once without it, we can’t wait to renew.

THE SEED OF LOVE

A kindly woman can make a sad man sing
With her love and affection winter seems like spring.
Of all the pleasures in life given to a man
There’s nothing beats the touch of a woman’s soft hand.

God saw Adam alone on Eden’s floor
Then decided to give him Eve’s love and much more.
So take what you need from she chosen for you
Then rid thyself of others and to her be true.

The Lord planted love within mankind’s heart
Though things can grow sour when from Him we depart.
Love and hate are but two sides of life’s golden coin
So be ready for both no matter whom you join.

FORGIVE ME

Forgive me, forgive me
And I’ll kiss your tears away.
You’re the first thing and the last
I think of every day

Let bygones be bygones
And be willing to forgive.
And I will love you only
Every moment I live.

I love you and I need you
It’s a fact and not a lie
So if you plan to punish me
Say anything, but good bye.

PARTING

The truest words, which portray my love
I speak to you from within m

“Acne is one of the lowly diseases it never endangers but often ruins life”

Stephen Rothman

Along with the old wife’s tales that everyone has heard there are some medically known causes of acne. The biggest culprit is the body’s production of hormones, resulting in production of oils.

Acne is most active in children when they reach the age of puberty. It seems to affect both sexes about equally. However, extreme cases are usually in males. There is an androgen-stimulated enlargement of the sebaceous glands. The skin becomes almost greasy with the increase production of sebaceous material. Basically the body just has not learned to regulate hormone production. With the increase in hormone production comes an increase in the body’s production of oil; this is especially noticeably on the face, and sometimes the back, neck, arms and chest. With the increase production of oil outpouring there is a good chance of the pores becoming blocked. This results in inflammation of the surrounding area, (swelling, redness, and pain.) When this happens there is a natural tendency for a bacterial build-up, usually this is Staphylococcus albus, and to a greater extent Corynebacterium acnes. These account for lipolysis of sebum which in turn frees fatty acids that cause inflammation. With the bacterial invasion the body’s natural defenses come into play. It sends in its fighters, the white blood cells to try and destroy the offending problem. The white blood cell expenditures will temporarily lower the body’s immune system, and causing your body to produce more waste, a lot of which is exuded through the pores of your skin.

Exact causes of acne are unknown; there are a lot of theories and some facts. Diet may or may not play a role. One item seems to stand out. Inheritance, if both parents have acne then it is ten times more likely that their children will have acne.

Some hormonal causes other than puberty can include:

Pregnancy

Birth control pills

Menstruation

Some Acne Treatments

Prescription Medications

Creams and Gels

Facial Masks

Topical Treatments

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Laser Treatment this is especially useful with cystic acne where there is a large amount of scaring

Soaps

Benzyl Peroxide

Accutane which is thought to shrink the pores of the skin

A well balanced diet will certainly help clear up or prevent acne

Good soaps (and medicated soaps) will help keep the skin clean

Home Remedies these include:

Althea

Balm mint

Coltsfoot

Horsetail

Sage

Wild thyme

Yarrow

There are a few things that almost all agree on in the treatment of acne. Use a good soap to help keep the skin clean, eat a balanced diet and get adequate rest. These will help in maintaining good health, which in turn will help control your body.

These blemishes can often cause people to avoid social situations and, in extreme cases, can lead to feelings of depression. Because of acne a teen may be pushed out of his/her social standing. Their grades may drop; they may start having problems in school. They become more self conscious. In many cases’ depression and/or rebellion can set in. This can be a time when a great kid can become involved with gangs, because the gang will accept them without ridicule. Many teens have looked in the wrong places for acceptance. This can and sometimes does lead to drugs and or gang activity. A gang will accept almost anyone.

Tom Zart’s 87 Poems of Love
Family & Faith

LIKE A LILY AMONG THE THORNS

Until it’s dawn and the shadows flee
I will hold you close and ponder
Our life together past and present

And may our future be blessed by wonder.

RELATIONSHIPS

One of the most rewarding things, each of us can do

Is the acknowledgment of others and their fears.

To promote their happiness and sense of worth

By our love, concern, laughter and tears.

Staying eager to display are willingness

To recognize our support from others.

Where would we be without the people we love

Friends, mom, dad, grandparents, sisters and brothers.

We treasure our relationships and pray to maintain them

As they give us our passion and purpose in life.

Cherishing our family, our faith, our country

Our honor, our husband or wife.

A SCORNFUL WOMAN & A SELFISH MAN

A scornful woman can rip you apart

Destroy your libido and harden your heart.

They shout their list of your every flaw

Declaring you’re lucky you get it at all.

A selfish man can become even worse

When they lie, cheat, beat, steal and curse.

Always demanding to stay king of the castle

As they force their partner to suffer their hassle.

A happy woman thrives on love, faith, family and friends,

A worthy man provides, protects and defends.

Say “No” to Satan and cast him out

Say “Yes” to Jesus and become his scout.

MY HOPE TO FIND LOVE

So here I am, like many times before
All alone with my face to the moon.
Down on knees praying God
For someone who will love me and soon!

The smallest deed done is better than intention
When you wish to receive wisdom from above.
No matter what happens, I refuse to give up
My hope to discover the magic of love.

The better the reason for my existence
The better the life I will live.
Searching for someone who will share their love
By their joy when it’s their turn to give.

My hope to find love has somewhat diminished
Though my need for romance still remains.
Sometimes I feel like Sampson himself
Broken hearted and shackled to chains.

THE GREATEST LESSON ONE CAN LEARN

The greatest lesson one can learn
Is how when loved, to love in return.

Joined together through night and day
Equally yoked in work and play.

Remaining true both body and soul
Never loosing our common goal.

Sharing each other the best we can
Before we are but bits of sand.

Mutual love is beyond compare
Serving one another in the life we share.

Without compassion humans lose
Simply by the path they choose.

Love is a miracle from God to man
How some deny it I can’t understand.

WINGS of HEAVEN

It’s a wonderful situation
To be in love with you.
All my thoughts have changed
Because of everything you do.

I lack the desire for others
No yearning for their love or favor.
All I wish is a life with you
Till it’s time to greet our Savior.

I was afraid I would never find love
Leaving no stone unturned.
I had to suffer through stupidity
To grow from all I learned.

Life is too short to remain a fool
Who doesn’t see blessings handed down.
From now to judgment I will love you
Till the wings of heaven whisper their sound.

SO DEAR TO MY HEART

So dear to my heart are my loved ones at home
As I toss and I turn in my bunk all alone.
Everyday I see death, hate and corruption
Combat is God’s proof of man’s malfunction

For family, comrades and myself I pray
To my love with this poem I wish to convey.
I knew I loved you though never how much
Till by war, I’m forced beyond your touch.

Where violence thrives, there’s the stench of death
With the taste of fear on every breath.
Who shall prevail, who shall die?
As the sadistic kill beneath God’s sky.

Baghdad has become man’s highway to hell
Where the hearts of darkness are alive and well
I count each day till it’s time to come home
And be with my love and never alone.

Love You
Your Marine

MARRIAGE SEX AND ROMANCE

Some other time, I’m not in the mood
Why cant we just cuddle and watch TV?
When couples drift into the celibate zone
It’s not long till someone will flee.

Sexual fulfillment helps preserve love,
Parenthood, marriage and self-esteem.
Those who maintain it avoid saying no
To be blessed by its pleasure and gleam.

While dating we tend to be more romantic
Putting forth the best of our charms.
Sharing dinners, long walks and lustful weekends
As we spend more time in each others arms.

How many times have you said “not tonight”
Exposing your happy home to harm?
Today’s crushing deadlines leave little time for love
Leaving partners with sorrow, sadness and alarm.

So share one another with red wine and time
Dial your own number and leave the phone off the hook.
Enjoy some romance, sex and laughter
Improving your mood and the way you look.

MOTHERS

There’s no greater power on earth
Than the love we get from our mothers.
They feel our fears within themselves
Far more than sisters or brothers.

As seasons pass; in time we learn
We can’t always rely on others.
No mater what our mistakes may be
We know we can run to our mothers.

Mothers have great big aprons
To hide from the world our flaws.
They kiss and scold when we do wrong
Teaching compliance of laws.

From birth to death mothers lead
Our angels of kindness from above.
They give us more than anyone else
Preaching the importance of love.

Moms are certainly God’s gift to earth
So if you still have one, let it be known.
You can’t imagine your life without her
While the seed of your future is sown.

DON’T  FORSAKE  ME ?

Don’t forsake our love my darling
On this night before our wedding day.
I know your ex is crying to get back
But that’s just the price he’ll have to pay.

Good guys provide for their families
Tell the truth, pay bills and remain true.
Bad guys procrastinate, chase women and party
Then blame their shortcomings, on “you”.

I will love you only and tend to your needs
Never to lie, steal or cheat.
Giving all I have to share and prosper
And when wrong I will accept defeat.

Your happiness is my inspiration
For when I please you, you please me.
I wish to father our children and give them love
And be the best husband a man can be.

MY FAVORITE POET

My favorite poet is God above
Who gives Earth its rhythm and rhyme.
Not pied pipers of misguided souls
Who promote distrust, hatred and crime.

Poetry is nature serenading in song
The peaceful roar of the oceans waves.
The wind through the trees and over the hills
And the flowers in the fields by the graves.

The sound of rain as it waters the thirsty
The songs of children at play in the park.
The far off rumble of trains or thunder
As they pass through the night in the dark.

The joy of our babies first words and steps
The passion of life with its heroes and clowns.
The on going struggle to survive our sins
As we proliferate in hamlets and towns.

My favorite poet is our Father of love
Who was first to know us before birth.
His poetry prolongs every thing we love
As His deliverance gives life its worth.

I WHO HAVE NO ONE

I who have no one, no one at all
Envy others as in love they fall.
Sleepless nights, with inward burning
Feeling hopeless, tossing and turning.

Lord please forgive the fool I’ve been
Hiding from goodness in the shadows of sin.
I humbly pray to heaven in space
For one more chance to regain my grace.

I’ve lived my years indulging myself
Leaving decency and principle on the shelf.
Now that your light shines on my face
I pray for forgiveness in shame and disgrace.

All I ask is your life mate for me
And I pledge to become all I can be.
A soul without love is empty and void
No wonder so many become destroyed.

Outside my window there’s the thunder of rain
And the haunting sound of a far away train.
I feel your presence as I silently cry
For someone to love before I die.

JESUS IS A FISHERMAN

Jesus is a fisherman
Who saves the souls of man.
Dead or alive He leads the faithful
To the streams of promise land.

He sees us when we’re happy
He hears us when we’re glad.
He whispers words of hope to us
When we face something sad.

As wicked thoughts control the mind
Evil deeds control the heart.
Jesus is who we turn to
When from sins we must depart.

Jesus is a fisherman
Who baits His hook with love.
Casting His line in your direction
From the banks of heaven above.

LOVE CONSUMES ALL

Love consumes all physical functions
Hearing, taste, touch, thought and smell.
It can heal, destroy, weaken or bond
Those caught in its presence and spell.

May I be remembered by tears of love
When my hands lay across my chest.
Displayed for view to say goodbye
To my family, friends and the rest.

Until it’s time for my final farewell
I will serve whom I love even more.
These words of passion inhabit my heart
Conveying my need for all, I adore.

PASSION AND LOVE

Samson so loved Delilah
He ended up grinding grain.
Anthony so loved Cleopatra
He lost all and was slain.

David so loved Bathsheba
He drifted from God’s command.
The way I feel makes it easy
To imagine and understand.

You‘re the inspiration of my day
And the delight of my night.
The joy we share as we conceive
Makes everything feel just right.

Thank heaven for passion and love
Blessings from God to man.
Without them we’re mere creatures
Subsisting like ants in the sand.

TO BE BLESSED BY LOVE

Darkness submits to the brightness of day
For all rich, famous or peasant.
God gives us love as a tool of endurance
For what is glorious, painful or unpleasant.

He gives us friends that mean so much
Though His greatest gift is fathers and mothers.
From them we learn the guidance we need
Or from grandparents, sisters and brothers.

How rewarding it is to share our concerns
Of the burdens that trouble man’s soul.
With words of love, passion and faith
With happiness and purpose our goal.

To be blessed by love elevates life
Projecting a radiance of grace to our face.
Like the heavenly bodies that illuminate the night
As we voyage through the vastness of space.

THE JOY I FEEL

The joy I feel within my heart
Has overcome my void.
No more foolish, selfish acts
Risking love to be destroyed.

You’re the rainbow of my day
And the tiger of my night.
Your style of loving me
Leaves no reason to fuss or fight.

Happiness shuns the selfish
Who fail God’s test of time.
Contentment comes as a gift
To hearts of the thoughtful and kind.

I obtain my daily need
As I awake to find you near.
The love we share celebrates life
As we laugh or cry with tear.

Through out each day, there are moments,
I find I need you even more.
You’re the radiance of my life
Who I worship, serve and adore.

I LOVE BEING LOVED BY YOU

My life overflows with happiness
As my favorite dreams come true.
My days and nights are magical
Because of everything you do.

You stand by me as troubles occur
And listen to my worries and fears.
You share my burdens and my joys
With faith, compassion and tears.

God’s gift to man is someone to love
Which can be both splendid and rare.
Throughout life there’s nothing better
Then those who will love us and care.

There’s the past, present, future, and beyond
Which will test our measure by what we say and do
Too many overlook the thrill of now
But not I, “for I love being loved by you.”

WE’LL ALL REUNITE IN TIME

Fame, wealth, prestige, and wild women
For too long were my passions of life.
One day I found sweet liberation
When God gave my heart to my wife.

33 years we loved one another
Sharing all we possessed and more.
Last year she passed in the middle of night
Never to shadow our door.

I’m sure in rapture, she awaits
For me to arrive in heaven divine.
I’ll miss our children and grandkids too
But we’ll all reunite in time.

THE LAST GOODBYE

I’m on my way to greet my Master
And shake His hand when I die.
I’m on my way to john sweet Jesus
In His mansion beyond on high.

I’m on my way to escape man’s woes
Where the faithful rise to tell their story.
Following the path of love and compliance.
Guided by God’s magnificence and glory.

As I journey to and from all I love
It hurts to say my absolute goodbye.
I’m on my way to divine fulfillment
But for those left behind, “I cry.”

The Last Goodbye

MOMS

Millions of dewdrops greet the dawn
As hungry of bees buzz the clover
Dazzling butterflies flutter about
As moms give love the world over.

Lessons learned at our mother’s knee
Last a lifetime till we grow older.
Popping up when troubles accrue
Like a whispering angel on our shoulder.

Gods gives us friends that mean so much
Children, fathers, sisters and brothers
Though far, far above all the rest,
No one loves us more than our mothers.

In and out of friendships, jobs and partners
Our mothers always remain our evening star.
Those who where born to a selfish mom
Make the rest us realize how lucky we are.

How great life is to have a good mom
Who reads what we feel but can’t say.
Nothing means as much, as her tender touch
And for all who are without one, “we pray.”

SHOULD TOMORROW START WITHOUT ME ?

Should tomorrow start without me
Remember I love you
Looking down from up above
Seeing everything you do.

If I become a casualty
I pray you will love again
Whom ever makes you happy
I’ll consider my friend.

Should tomorrow start without me
Remind our boys, God loves all who care
And when life seems too harsh and cruel
With “Him” they must share their prayer.

I have proven I’m not a coward
Who breaks and runs to survive
Always fearing death will kiss me
As the streets of Baghdad I drive.

Should tomorrow start without me
Be proud I choose to serve
Our faith and our patriotism
Earn the freedom we deserve.

I miss home more than ever
It breaks my heart to stay away
I can’t help but want to hold you
And whisper what I say.

PASSION

Passion is any strong feeling or thought
Of love, hate, fear, anger and grief.
The emotional joy of sexual desire
Sometimes the suffering of saint or thief.

The cruelty of man nailing Christ to the cross
His treatment subsequent to the last supper.
Continuing conflict with endless war
Make it seem we’re prone to suffer.

All must carry their own cross in life
While they struggle to survive the day.
Passion reveals how much we desire
As we race toward our outcome and pray.

WHO?

Who wrote the tune the songbird sings?
Who made the diamonds we wear on rings?

Who caused the snow and rain to fall?
Who made spring, winter, summer and fall?

Who gave man a woman to love?
Who made the clouds and sky above?

Who lights the stars and moon in the night?
Who makes heaven and beyond so bright?

Who gives us babies we follow till death?
Who made us able to speak with our breath?

Who gives us heroes willing to die?
Who made the tears we shed as we cry.

Who shows us hope and guides our way?
The same one who loves us night and day.

SATISFACTION

Too many people never know satisfaction
For their goals for happiness are placed too high.
Most of us complain about what we can’t have
When we’re not bedfast or in the grave, we lie.

No one finds satisfaction from serving themselves
Contentment takes place, by our unselfish concern.
The more we repent and regret our wrongs
The more we are able to retain what we learn.

So tally your blessings and be thankful for life
And remember there are those who wish, they were you.
Satisfaction and love are what mere mortal’s pray for
Though the lucky among us, who feel both, are few.

LOVE & HATE

Unselfish concerns are the footstones of love
Though far too many still waste time on hate.
Real happiness happens to the lucky in life
Who’ve bonded to others with love as their fate.

Malice, disfavor and ill will complicate life
To where our days resemble frustration’s hell.
The warm rush of love can turn things around
Enabling the sleepless to again rest well.

Tender love and affection generate fondness
Where hatreds repugnance eats body and soul.
Friendship, attachment, good will and charity
Are the mother’s milk of life, when love’s our goal.

So recognize hate for what it truly is
And reject it when it whispers in your ear.
For the power of love is the only way
To avoid corruption, resentment and fear.

MY TRUE LOVE

Lord, have mercy on my soul
For all the wrong I’ve done
When I was young and foolish
And searching for some fun.

My daddy told me, son
You reap what you sow
Everything I’ve learned the hard way
Are the only things I know.

I searched all the honky tonks
And every bar in town
The right woman for me to love
I had not yet found.

My mother always said
Why not look at church
There’s where you’ll find
The right one to end your search.

So, here I am singing a song
To the music of a choir
Next to me is my true love
Who sets my heart on fire.

I can see her left hand
And there’s my wedding ring
She catches me peeking at her
With every line we sing.

A man and wife are equally yoked
In everything they do;
That’s why I celebrate
God saving me for you!

CHRISTMAS

Husbands with ladders hang lights on their home
As all who have no one feel sad and alone.
The churches are full of the faithful that sing
For the birth of our Lord, is a spiritual thing.

The sound of Christmas sweetly fills the air
While frantic shoppers hustle from here to there.
The windows of storefronts at this time of year
Reflect all their wonders as Christmas draws near.

Little ones stand looking with their nose pressed to glass
As model trains on display come speeding past.
The path to Santa is lined with girls and boys
With a list in their heart of their favorite toys.

The stores shelves are crammed with dolls that crawl or walk
Games, cars, trucks, planes and stuffed toys that sing or talk.
The miracle of Christmas comes once a year
When all that we love seems more precious and dear.

THE SEED of LOVE

A kindly woman can make a sad man sing
With her love and affection winter seems like spring.
Of all the pleasures in life given to a man
There’s nothing beats the touch of a woman’s soft hand.

God saw Adam alone on Eden’s floor
Then decided to give him Eve’s love and much more.
So take what you need from she chosen for you
Then rid thyself of others and to her be true.

The Lord planted love within mankind’s heart
Though things can grow sour when from Him we depart.
Love and hate are but two sides of life’s golden coin
So be ready for both no matter whom you join.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

To tell you the truth, it still hurts to share;
Even though with him your heart is not there.
I’ve tried hard to think what brought this about
For we’re not the type who enjoy sneaking out.

Your husband, my wife, were into themselves.
Like old Christmas toys, they placed us on our shelves.
Somehow we managed to take ourselves down
And found one another while out on the town.

You gave me your number for reasons well known
And now you weep as you drive home alone.
It’s hard to make love when the romance is dead
It causes confusion in your heart and your head.

There’s a battle inside as your mind and heart fight
While you lie by the wrong one in the middle of the night.
We now know the meaning to the words of that song
That it hurts to love someone and to the wrong one belong.

HOLLYWOOD WOMAN

Hollywood woman, I’m in love with you
Though you’re always on your own stage.
Some days you love me and some days you don’t
No wonder I’m in such a rage.

You baited your hook
Then threw me a line
And like a big crayfish
I thought you were mine.

But you have that fever
To fish other streams
And you’ll be the cause
Of many men’s dreams.

For other men have loved you
And other men have cried.
Every last one of them
Has felt you inside.

Before long you’ll grow old
And your looks shall fade
And all you’ll have left
Is your video parade.

Those who once loved you
Will be dead or gone
And you’ll lie alone
In silence till dawn.

A MAN’S BEST FRIEND

A man’s best friend is still his faithful dog
Who anxiously awaits his return home.
Where would man be without his canine love
When his human mates have left him alone.

If a man was as good as his dog thinks
He’d be more famous than a football star.
It’s too bad our wives don’t feel the same way
I guess its because they know how we are.

Man has no fear of his dog’s love for life
Though it’s usually man who buries his pet.
It matters not be they large or small
What animal has loved man more, as yet?

GETTING OVER HER

I thought we’d raise our only child
And feed him with a spoon
But, his mother loves another
And they’re on a honeymoon.

All my friends say I must stop
Loving her, of course
So I drove my Ford to a honky tonk
Still lonely from divorce.

From out of my chair, I must get up
And ask someone to dance
For, if I plan to get over her
I know I’ll need romance.

The dance floor is almost full
Of country kings and queens.
I feel a pair of eyes
Just checking out my jeans.

I can see a smiling face
I’m almost at a run
For I know if I dance
I’m going to have some fun.

She stands up from her table
And reaches for my hand
Then I lead the both of us
Right up in front of the band.

Somebody turned the spotlight
Toward the dance floor ball.
She is so beautiful
I’m afraid I might fall.

Here I go, a-gambling
A gambling with my heart
For when I love a woman
It always hurts to part.

BODY HEAT 1O5

We drank several glasses of champagne
In the living room of her house.
Around 9:30 that evening
I found myself in her blouse.

I fondled and kissed her so gently
Like the soft footsteps of a mouse.
To my surprise, she opened her eyes
And said, “look, we’re not going to play house.”

I right away replaced her clothing
And buttoned her blouse once more.
There was no doubt of my defeat
As I lay there upon the floor.

She said, “tell the truth, are you angry?”
I answered, by far I was not
“It’s more important what you think of me
Than what I may not have got.”

She wiped away a tear from both eyes
And said, “you’re my kind of man.”
At that point, she did arise
And to me she held out her hand

She led me away like a blind man
Who had somehow lost his cane.
When we reached her bedroom door
I thought I’d gone insane.

Before long, we found ourselves naked
As she held me in her palm.
Can you dare imagine, my friend
How hard it was for me to stay calm?

We touched all the forbidden places
As our body heats reached 105
If love’s relief had not been achieved
I doubt if we’d still be alive.

WITHOUT LOVE

Life is simply a circus
With too many fools on the stage.
There ‘s greed, fear and indifference
As many hearts suffer from rage.

Divorce is like a bad book
Where the heroes get killed off to soon.
When we reach the point the light goes out
Then we’ll stand up and leave the room.

Without love we become such fools
In a desert which has gone all dry.
When the one we love ignores us
There’s nothing to do but cry.

The worst curse that one can endure
Are those who just wish to take.
When all we give is our own love
To find out we’ve made a mistake.

Of all the prizes life may bring
To be loved is by far the best.
That’s why so many search for it
For without love, what good is the rest?

THAT OLD COVERED BRIDGE

We returned to that old covered bridge
Where as sweethearts we used to go.
To kiss, hug, and squeeze in the shadows
While beneath us the water would flow.

Up under its wood roof of shingles
Is where we took refuge from the rains.
Carved in some boards within that old bridge
Side by side you’ll still find our names.

Our memories of our past childhood
Are a gift from God for us to keep.
Like that picture you once gave me
Which I peaked at before I could sleep.

We find ourselves back at that old bridge
Only now, with our kids to catch fish.
We pray someday that they’ll find love
And come here with someone, just to wish.

SOME MEN PRAY

Some men pry to marry the woman they love
Where my prayers can’t help but somewhat vary
As I humbly pray to heaven above
That I am loved by the woman I marry.

The essence of love is its spiritual fire
And there’s nothing more sought after on earth.
Man’s only escape is his own flight
But what, without love would his life be worth.

Love can be man’s worst pain or best pleasure
A dangerous gamble he must take in life.
For he who falls in love with the wrong woman
Shall find all he’s worked for belongs to his wife.

THE COAL MINER

Coal mines in my daddy’s day
Were dug with strong hands and back.
They got larger and deeper
As the lungs of the miners turned black.

Cave-ins, fires and explosions
Were my father’s daily fear.
But what choice has a man
When the wolf of hunger is near.

With three small kids and a wife
There were five stomachs to fill.
As we lived in poverty
In our shack below a hill.

I feel his blood within me
As the years of my life pass by
I’m proud that dad dug King Cole
For a miner so am I.

Life to me is but a rose
Though it’s thorns can make me cry.
And like my dad before me
To my Lord I will not lie.

In cold earth someday I’ll sleep
With a shinny stone above.
Carved in it, shall be the words
I have known the joy of love.

ADAM THE LONELY

Adam, the lonely was chased from God’s land
When Eve picked that apple with her foolish hand.
Delilah, the evil, cut a champion’s hair off
When Samson; the strong man’s heart became soft.

David the shepherd, a king among men
Was teased by Bathsheba and driven to sin.
A man needs a woman to build up his pride
To bolster his ego and to lay by his side.

Life mates are a treasure and difficult to find
I feel like a blind man who’s lost in a mine.
Lord, I’m a sad soul with no hand to hold
Searching for someone who’ll love me when I’m old.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Our house is big, though our family’s small
The phone’s off the hook, cause we don ‘t want a call.
I need you darling more than anything
For your sweet kisses make a sad man sing.

I can feel life’s clock as it pounds away
While the moon says hello to the dying day.
I pray to partake every sight and sound
While I still enjoy the right side of the ground.

Nothing beats the love of a willing mate.
So little time for fun before it’s too late.
The Lord made you for me and me alone
And not for others that you might have known.

LOVER’S TOAST

Come to me with just your love
And I will pledge you mine.
Feel my lips and share my glass
And we shall sip red wine.

You’re the red rose of my day
And the lily of my night.
Nothing is so grand in life
As when you seize me tight.

Love’s uncertain future is
Where mankind’s torments dwell
With both it’s pain and pleasure
Our lust is alive and well.

DADS AT WAR

Where would I be without you dad
My hero of night and day?
I’m so glad you love my mother
And take time for us to pray.

The last time we played baseball
You reached for me with your hand.
I looked at you, then made a wish
That I might be just half the man.

I love my father of earth,
And I love my Father of heaven.
It’s a lot for me to love, you know
For I’m only eleven.

Mom and I sure miss you
Since you left to defend our flag.
When others ask, where is your dad
I can’t help but boast and brag.

MOMMA

Oh, I love my momma
She’s the reason I’m alive.
Her total love for me
Has made her struggle and strive.

Jesus had a momma
Who bore Him in a cave.
She couldn’t help but love Him
From His birth to the grave.

Should I hang on the highest hill
My momma would be there.
I know her love would follow me
My Angel of despair.

Her hair is now all silver
As I hold her fingers, worn.
Oh, God, bless this wrinkled brow
From whose body I was born.

LETTERS

We were just the best of friends
I knew him all my life.
I’m sure that he, towards the end
Found out I love his wife.

He drove his car right off a cliff
And crashed into the sea.
I know it was no accident
For a skillful driver was he.

He must have found our letters
Of love that shouldn’t be.
He’s the type to harm himself
Instead of killing me.

As I looked in his wife’s eyes
She sadly said to me,
Instead of us, he killed himself
Because of lovers, such as we.

Lord, have mercy on our souls
For her husband, my friend, has died!
No one else may ever know
But God how much we’ve lied.

HONEYMOON CRUISE

The gulls have gone long ago
As we sail a peaceful sea.
The skies are blue, soft and kind
Where else would we wish to be.

Late at night, as we embrace
In front of a reggae band.
You kiss me, and then you whisper
I want to be alone with my man.

A little after midnight
We both slip away.
In such of some time
For the games lovers play.

Alone in our cabin
Your skin is so soft.
I’m just that angel
Who fell from aloft.

After twenty-five years
Of our love has gone
It’s a honeymoon cruise
We find ourselves on.

May the Lord show mercy
On any of those
Who have never been loved
Or ever been chose.

MY LOVE of LIFE

Wise men learn more from watching fools
Than fools do from watching wise men.
I should know for I’ve been both
I can ‘t believe how lucky I’ve been.

Everyday as I speak out
With verse I come alive.
My lust for life shall be fulfilled
As another day I survive.

I take the clay of every day
And mold it to my fashion.
All I need is my true love
Whose heart flows free with passion.

I thank the Lord who watches us
For blessings which are mine;
That I’m festive, fit and free
To love my wife who’s sweeter than wine.

LITTLE BABY

Little baby, I love you
For you are a part of me
Each and every inch you’ll grow
I want to be there to see.

Someday you’ll chase fireflies
Who ride the breath of the winds.
Someday you’ll be all grown up
And out on the town with friends.

You have your daddy ‘s freckles;
You’ve got your mommy’s eyes.
I pray to God every day
You’ll survive all of life’s lies.

Little babies shoot up fast
As they need to stretch and grow.
They do such things as children do
In a world they’ve yet to know.

Someday you will understand
How your parents feel inside
Someday you’ll have your babies
And raise them with great pride.

Of all the gifts that life may bring
A sweet baby is still the best
Your mom and I shall love you
Till the day we’re laid to rest.

ONE MAN’S PRAYER

Where are the women who need a good man?
Where are the women with love in their hand?

Where are the children who played on the lawn?
Where are the children when mom and dad are gone?

What about the marriage that began with smiles?
What about the marriage that ended in trials?

What about the future of all involved?
What about the problems that must be solved?

Answer these questions that tear at my heart.
Answer these questions that keep us apart.

WHAT LOVE MEANS TO ME

I know now for sure what love means to me
It’s a chance to be needed and to give happily.
For I’ve felt what it’s like to be sad and alone
And wish for that someone I could call my own.

It’s just like young Adam when he lost his rib bone
God gave him Eve, so he wouldn’t sleep alone.
When a man loves a woman, there’s many lessons he’ll learn
As she respects him, her favors he’ll earn.

One thing for certain, when your thoughts are for real
As you hug and you kiss, you love how you feel.
Some live a lifetime just a step from love
You are that person who gave me my shove.

The world has both givers and those on the take
Life can be bad if your love’s a mistake.
I can’t help realize how lucky I’ve been
For you are my wife, but best of all, my friend.

I WON’T BE THERE

It‘s true; I’ve been living with a looser
And it’s been going on too long
I’ve prayed for the courage and, now I have it
To sing you your farewell song.

I won’t be there in the morning when you need me!
I won’t be there when you call on the phone!
I won’t be there in the bed beside you
As you lay by yourself alone!

Too many times at night I’ve cried
Wondering why you won’t just come home
Staring at the clock on the wall
As I lie half awake by the phone.

For so long it was enough that I loved you
Though now my heart needs more.
So, I’ve packed up my bags and my pictures
And I’m on my way out the door.

WHEN YOU LOVE A MEAN WOMAN

When you love a mean woman it hurts down deep
In the middle of the night when you find you can’t sleep.
I remember those times we kissed in the park
Covered by moonbeams and stars in the dark.

You told me you loved me and would never run away
Though now, there’s another with whom you play.
Somebody tell me what I’m doing wrong
Somebody show me before I’ve waited too long.

Other women I’ve met, they remind me of you
It makes me afraid of what they might do.
But life without love isn’t living at all
Everyone needs someone who waits for their call.

I thirst for a woman who will love me again
One who needs both a husband and friend.
Dear Lord, I pray for my angel of love
So I may fly high on the wings of a dove.

SHE’S MY BUDDY

Adam and Eve lay beneath the stars.
I wonder if their love was as strong as ours?
Darling, I love you, I’m not afraid to say
Our love just grows with each passing day.

I was afraid our love would grow cold
That’s what I’ve always by others been told.
I’m glad they were wrong, so I sing this song
For you are the woman to whom I belong.

Without your concern I have nothing at all
There’s no one to help me should I take a fall.
I need your love it builds up my pride
Bolsters my ego and stands by my side.

Many men still search for someone like you
Case to find a good woman isn’t easy to do
Lord, I thank you for the love of my life
For she is my buddy as well as my wife.

OUR MOTHER’S LOVE

Our mother’s love like a candle
Burns brightly upon the shelf.
As she lights the way for all others
Never thinking of herself.

Seven little kids in a farmhouse
By my moms hard work survived.
Through her love and faith in Jesus
We learned how to struggle and strive.

The lilacs still bloom by the window
Where our mom would quilt and sew.
In the winter she’d sing by the fire
To the tunes she thought we should know.

Our father labored at a quarry
In the dust of the earth every day.
He worked so hard for his money
For the bills our family must pay.

Little sister came down with pneumonia
And almost died in bed.
Our momma lie sick beside her
Putting cool rags on her head.

We were sure glad to see daddy’s face
As he drove up our driveway
He ran up and into the house
Then knelt by their bed to pray.

Oh, Lord, please save my family
From the fever that burns within
For we have always loved Jesus
And will serve Him till our end.

Our mother and sister survived
But daddy, he died long ago.
When it’s our time for heaven
We’ll see many that we know.

TILL THE END of TIME

I feel like Samson pushing the stone
For I gave into love and now I’m alone.
Betrayed by a woman, I gambled and lost
And now I suffer what disloyalty cost.

Samson was blinded by the blade of a knife
After his capture by the love of his life.
Imprisoned forever and forced to grind grain
To spectator laughter, the whip and the chain.

The same so am I, a victim of chain
For I’ve too many memories of you in my brain.
Together my darling from a window we shall peer
It will be from heaven both faraway and near.

The heirlooms of tomorrow the woman and the man
Waiting for our ashes to sift through the sand.
I will  love you always, till the end of time
Now and then dreaming of when you were mine.

SAD DAD IN JAIL

They put me in prison for the deed I’ve done
I killed the drunk driver who crippled you, son.
Your mother, my wife, she died in the wreck
That’s the reason I broke that man’s neck.

His dad was a rich man, who pulled lots of strings
So well connected he could do many things.
I live in this hellhole with all sorts of men;
I’m sure glad most like me and call me their friend.

The food here is so awful, I’ve lost many pounds
I’d rather feast on the vittles the guards toss the hounds.
At night we play cards and you don’t dare cheat
For if you get caught, you’ll be stomped on by feet.

Most inmates fashion some sort of knife
To help out their odds in a fight for their life
I took me a padlock and snapped it on a chain
Then hid it in my pant-leg to keep from being slain.

I get to see you on our family day
The worst part about it, is when you cry as you play.
Many times you question, “Dad, when can you leave?”
As the tears from your eyes drop to my sleeve.

Our visit is now over as they wheel you away
I whisper, “I love you” and you see what I say.
It’s time to go back to my one-room, shared cell
And try to write a song about a sad dad in jail.

SOLDIER IN THE RAIN

I’m just a soldier who stands in the rain
My memories of home are what keep me sane.
Back home is a land of milk and honey
Ruled by lust and love of money.

But, what can I say, when I serve her true
For I volunteered to see this war through.
Now, that I’m here, it’s hard to believe
We’re just the victims of those who deceive.

As darkness falls on the rice fields of Nam
Scared men with rifles walk the shadows of the calm.
It’s thousands of miles to the steps of my church
With its stained glass, steeples and lost souls who search.

Off in the distance I see an arc light
Bombs being dropped on children at night.
I’ve seen that evil they call the “yellow rain”
And how life withers when it’s sprayed by a plane.

All of my buddies have been taken away
No more touch football will they ever play.
Zipped in their body bags for the long trip home
Are some of the bravest, I’ve ever known.

War is a hell, devised by man
There’s death in the sea, the sky and the land.
Lord, I can’t help but wish I were home
Back with my love, whom I hope is alone?

WE WISH YOU WERE HOME

I remember that fair in September
As we waited for a Ferris wheel ride
Just as you reached for my fingers
I felt how I loved you inside.

The next thing I knew we were airborne
Above all the eyes of the crowd
Surrounded by rainbows of neon
As the moon popped from behind a cloud.

You asked, “daddy, do you love me”
I answered I couldn’t live without you.
Then you reached up and tugged on my collar
As we flew in that chair painted blue.

Now you are grown and gone
And have marched away to war.
As I’m writing this letter
I yearn for your knock at our door.

I got out some rags and the wax
And gave your old Ford a rubdown.
I went for a ride of remembrance
While its mufflers made your favorite sound

I drove by the park to ponder
Those ball games we loved to play.
I can ‘t help but worry and wonder
If you’ll ever come home to stay.

Your girlfriend still teaches school
We see her every seventh day.
There’s no doubt who she thinks of
When she folds her hands to pray.

Your mother still talks to your picture
As she works at her sewing machine.
I hope my son you realize
How much to us you mean.

PLEASURE SEEKERS

That road of pleasure seeking
Has so many deep pitfalls
And all the while we walk on it
In the distance the devil calls.

Some folks drink those bubbly spirits
Or smoke that tall green weed
Anything to dull their conscience
As they sow their wild oat seed.

I’ve been no angel in my life
Though I fell from a righteous shelf
When I took those risky chances
And tried both, many times, myself.

Now I’m tired of being foolish.
So I sing my songs at church
With one eye on my hymnbook
And the other free to search.

If you’re yearning to love someone
Let’s get together and seek no more
Kiss and fondle by the fire
And push pillows across the floor.

For we need love, health and money
And may we live to enjoy them all
Before we ‘re old and in our autumn
And our leaves begin to fall.

THE FIRST ONE TO LOVE ME

The first one to love me was you; Lord
And nothing can take that away.
My soul is refreshed by living water
While my heart flows with love each day.

I thank you for the love of my family
And I thank you for the love of my life.
I thank you for all of the blessings
You give to each husband and wife.

Your glory rides high on the sunsets
Your voice is the thunder of rain.
I thank you for all of the heavens
And Jesus who came to be slain.

I feel when your eyes are upon me
As you listen to my humble cry
You’ve redeemed the soul of your servant
To dwell in your mansion on high.

I’ll claim each and every promise
From the Lord of the earth and sky.
I’m so glad I’m free from my bondage
Of the grave where my body shall lie.

I thank you for parting the darkness
And guiding my footsteps each day.
I thank you for being my shepherd
You’ve walked with me all the way.

I know your armor protects me
From the devil in search of his feast.
And all who are lost without you
Shall dwell in hell with the beast!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Christmas is coming and I’m all alone
With no one to snuggle at night.
My wineglass is empty to help dull the desire
To kiss you by soft candlelight.

A rare pearl of value, you don ‘t leave alone
Or someone will steal them from you.
After they’ve gone and flown far away
It’s hard to know just what to do.

I’m watching my neighbors hang lights on their tree
With tinsel and striped candy cane.
I took you for granted and didn’t hug enough
And now I must suffer my pain.

Lord, I’m so lonely; I wish I could die
Then be born to relive again.
I realize the value of someone to love
And the danger of my selfish sin.

There’s a ring on my phone and a knock at the door
Which do I dare go for?
If neither is you, I’ll break down and cry
And again pound my fist on the floor.

I run down the hall and the doorknob turns
As the swirling snow rides on the wind.
There, in my doorway, it’s the face I love
Such a beautiful present to send.

Now, I am happy and dancing around
With a permanent smile on my face.
As children are singing their Christmas love songs
And the world is a wonderful place.

PATHWAYS

Lord, I’m so lonely, I thirst everyday
In search of the love I need
like a man in prison with no warmth at night
A slave who seeks to be freed.

For I need a woman who will heal my heart
So my life won ‘t seem so wrong.
I’ll lie down beside her and gamble again
Then sing of our love in a song.

Remember, young Adam, your first favorite born
Who slept in your garden alone.
You took form his body and transformed some flesh
Then gave him a woman unknown.

Whichever the pathway I should choose to take
I realize that there will be brambles.
For the man who has visions everyday of his life
Will always be the same who gambles.

Now, to heaven I pray, for my treasure of life
After searching the deserts in vain.
I’m tired of mirages from fool-hearted women
Please give me someone who’s sane.

May her eyes be turquoise with cheeks like peaches
Ripe and ready to risk.
Soon they’ll turn rosy when she sneaks a peek
To the tingle of where I kiss.

Though I will love her, I shall never follow.
Nor will I ever lead.
I’ll walk beside her and share all I have
For the children who spring from seed.

If we should argue about foolish things
I ‘d rather be loved than right.
Then when I lie down at the end of my day
I’ll sleep with a smile at night.

ENCHANTED

Over any man who feels lost without love
God gives women divine powers.
They can break our hearts or deflate our ego
And cause us to buy diamonds and flowers.

They have compelled kings and presidents to beg
Wild singles to commit to change their way.
Loving us with pleasures problematic to replace
With flashbacks of their passion night and day.

Women mother our babies who we love till death
For us to raise, protect and provide for.
They contribute revenue, affection and direction
With love, companionship and more.

They insist we never abuse or disgrace them
Cheat, lie or take their love for granted.
Which helps us to become more than we are
In love and totally enchanted.

WHISPERS

The one thing I’ve learned about happiness
It will never last pretending you’re not you.
Somehow, someway the truth will arise
And all that you hide will show through.

Sooner or later, one way or another
Something in your life seems wrong.
You go to bed unhappy and awake the same
Repeating life’s mistakes too long.

One day, to yourself, you begin to question
Is this who I am and wish to be
How will I choose to live the rest of my life
Till the angel of death comes for me?

Most people wish to be at peace with God
Oneself, and those we love.
Frequently taking a look at our past
Praying for guidance from above.

Thank heaven for the whispers from the heart
Which remind us that evil has it’s voice too.
It’s always a battle amid right and wrong
As we ponder and perform what we do.

LIFE

Life’s a book written through
Where the pages are the years.
There’s good, evil, false, and true
With laughter, sweat, and tears.

Our days are songs composed by God
As we set them to music with pleasure.
His cup of life is for us to drink
Though, He, decides the measure.

Hurried and worried, dawn till dusk
There’s no time for a curtain call.
We burn our candles from both ends
And we’re lucky to be alive at all.

Cards are shuffled and hands are dealt
For all to place their bets.
Youthful blunders, adulthood struggles
And old age, with its regrets.

It matters not, how long we live
But more, how well we play our part.
For the road to heaven is always near
As long as there’s truth in our heart.

EYES OF LOVE

A mind may see a thousand eyes
Though the heart yearns for two
When the eyes we love have up and gone
To the arms of someone new.

Eyes that twinkle, I distrust
For they are the distant stars.
Eyes in love have a steady glow
Like Venus, the Moon or Mars.

Eyes of love, like planets at night
Use borrowed light to shine.
Eyes are the living lenses
To the camera of our mind.

Eyes tend to believe themselves
Like the blind love of mothers.
Eyes speak without words
To the hearts and souls of others.

LOVE

No rope or cable can hold so tight
What love can do with twine.
No kiss can taste so bittersweet
As the one which captures our mind.

The first sign of love is the last of wisdom
As eager hearts fulfill desire.
Love is just a staple of life
Though heaven sparks the fire.

Heaven knows no rage like love
Once to hatred it has turned.
How wise are we who are such fools
Who forget the lessons we’ve learned.

Love, indeed, descends from heaven
Like a shooting star across the sky.
Love sometimes stirs the dust,
Till tears fall free from the eye.

God must love people in love
Or he wouldn’t make so many.
Those who claim it’s a mental disease
Have never been loved by any.

Love is stronger than life itself
And jealousy more cruel than the grave.
Men and women have loved one another
Since they spent their nights in a cave.

When the hands of love
Touch the strings of souls
There’ll be babies on the way.
That’s the basic rules of life
No matter what games we play.

Like the flowers in the fields
We shed our shields
To be warmed by the sun.
We live our lives the best we can
Till death catches us on the run.

MY WILD ROSE

You ‘re the full moon of my nights
And the sunshine of my day.
Like a queen upon her throne
You rule what I do and say.

It’s God who makes us beautiful
And the Devil who makes us mean.
It all depends on whom we follow
Which way our lives shall lean.

With one foot in the future
And one foot in the past
Let us try to live our days
As though each was our last.

You’re the wild rose of my life
My flower of desire.
Made by God for me alone
Out of earth, stars and fire.

MY WIFE

You’re the bone of my bones
Who I love for my wife.
The flesh of my flesh
And my partner in life.

For me to have and to hold
For better or for worse.
To love and to cherish
Though we might fight and curse.

Be I richer or poorer
Till death makes us part
I will give you great portions
Of my soul and my heart.

Heaven won’t be heaven
If I don ‘t see you there
May the first to go
Be me, is my prayer.

FAMILIES

The first stage of a family group
Begins with husband and wife.
Shelters are rented, bought or built
As they yearn for more from life.

Families are found throughout the world
In bone clusters buried in caves
Where ancient people lived and loved
‘Till death placed them in their graves.

Humans still have that need to group
As a family to survive
They love and care for each other
In the world in which they strive.

Families are a nation’s crown jewels
Far more than a golden coin.
Members find love and sympathy
From the groups they’ve chosen to join.

TEARS

Tears are the raindrops of the soul
And there’s one for all who die.
They are the silent words of grief
As they fall free from the eye.

The shortest verse in the Bible
Is the one where Jesus wept
So, if you hold back tears, “shed them”
When your pains too harsh to accept.

Tears are lovelier than a smile
When they come from those you love.
As they seek relief from sadness
When you’re summoned from above.

Tears are a love-mates humble gift
When it’s time to say goodbye
Though the eyes are wet and swollen
With time and patience they dry.

LOVE & ELECTRICITY

Love and electricity are a lot alike
For we never seem to miss them till their gone.
We need both, every day of our life
And even more so between twilight and dawn.

Love resembles a self-consuming amber
A static current of both pain and pleasure.
It can warm our bed and lighten the darkness
And for most who don ‘t have it, it’s a treasure.

We can turn it on or we can turn it off
Depending on whatever we’re forced to do.
It may shock us, please us, thrill us, or hurt us
Though once without it, we can’t wait to renew.

THE SEED OF LOVE

A kindly woman can make a sad man sing
With her love and affection winter seems like spring.
Of all the pleasures in life given to a man
There’s nothing beats the touch of a woman’s soft hand.

God saw Adam alone on Eden’s floor
Then decided to give him Eve’s love and much more.
So take what you need from she chosen for you
Then rid thyself of others and to her be true.

The Lord planted love within mankind’s heart
Though things can grow sour when from Him we depart.
Love and hate are but two sides of life’s golden coin
So be ready for both no matter whom you join.

FORGIVE ME

Forgive me, forgive me
And I’ll kiss your tears away.
You’re the first thing and the last
I think of every day

Let bygones be bygones
And be willing to forgive.
And I will love you only
Every moment I live.

I love you and I need you
It’s a fact and not a lie
So if you plan to punish me
Say anything, but good bye.

PARTING

The truest words, which portray my love
I speak to you from within m

R.I.G.L 15-5-16 delineates the factors that the Rhode Island Family Court Judge should use in determining whether a Husband or Wife Qualifies for Alimony payment from the other spouse.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court Stated “Alimony is a rehabilitative tool intended to provide temporary support until a spouse is self-sufficient, and is based purely on need.” Berard v. Berard  The Rhode Island Alimony statute is set forth below. You should contact David Slepkow to get legal advice concerning your case.

Rhode Island Lawyer David Slepkow  401-437-1100 has also written over 50 Rhode Island Law Articles about Divorce, Child Support, Child Custody, Child Visitation, Post Divorce, Common Law marriage etc.

Generally, Alimony is awarded for a specific period of time, in increments which are usually weekly or monthly. Alimony could be awarded as a result of a Divorce settlement. If a party requests alimony or is unwilling to waive alimony and the parties cannot agree to an alimony award, then alimony may be awarded at the divorce trial.

Temporary Alimony may be awarded by the Rhode Island Family Court  towards the beginning of the RI divorce. This temporary Alimony award will stay in effect until the final decision by the Rhode Island Family Court Judge at the RI Divorce Trial.

The intent of alimony is rehabilitative in nature. “alimony should be ‘payable for a short, but specific and terminable period of time, which will cease when the recipient is, in the exerciseof reasonable efforts, in a position of self-support.’” Thompson v. Thompson

Alimony is usually awarded on a temporary basis but can be awarded on an indefinite and (perhaps what turns out to be permanent) basis if the facts justify indefinite alimony. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that “Alimony may be awarded even for an indefinite period as long as the trial justice considers all the statutory factors.”

Indefinite alimony may be ordered in a case where a party is seriously disabled or as a result of old age is unable to work. Indefinite alimony could also be awarded in a plethora of different factual circumstances.

The Court must look at “The health, age, station, occupation, amount and source of income, vocational skills, and employability of the parties” in making an alimony determination.

Ability to pay is a crucial factor in determining the amount of alimony and whether or not alimony should be awarded. There are many cases in which a spouse is in desperate need of alimony but the other spouse does not have the ability to pay sufficient alimony. In some cases, the spouse does not have an ability to pay because of a child support obligation to the other spouse or child support owed for other children.

Furthermore, according to The Rhode Island Supreme Court, “Section 15-5-16 does not explicitly prohibit one lump-sum award.” However,  lump sum award alimony appears to be disfavored under RI Law.

The best candidate for alimony is a spouse who put aside his or her career ambitions for many years to be a homemaker and care for the children. As a result of the role of nurturing the children and establishing and maintaining a home, the other spouse was able to advance his or her career in order to be able to afford to pay alimony.

In some cases, the family made a decision that one parent would put aside his or her career aspirations to raise a child or minor children. As a result, the homemaker’s skill set is so outmoded that he or she is unable to obtain suitable employment. This is usually because the homemaker’s job skills, employment history, licenses, training, skills, experience or degrees became outmoded or irrelevant. Perhaps the person does not have enough of an employment history to be able to be self supporting and self sufficient without receiving alimony. In some cases the spouse is unable to work because the spouse currently has a physical custody and placement of a young child.

For this type of person, the intent of an award of Rehabilitative Alimony would be to allow a person to build a work history, advance his or her education, employment training, licenses etc. so that the person can be self supporting and self sufficient in the future.

Another type of person who is an excellent candidate for alimony is a person who is temporarily disabled or permanently disabled especially if the marriage has been a long marriage. Another good candidate for alimony is a spouse who has severely disabled children which renders it difficult  or impossible for the person to seek employment.

“The assignment of property must precede any determination of alimony because the needs ofeach party will be affected by the equitable distribution of the marital estate.Section 15-5-16.1(c). In determining the amount of alimony, the court must consider: “(i) [t]helength of the marriage; (ii) [t]he conduct of the parties during the marriage; (iii) [t]he health, age,station, occupation, amount and source of income, vocational skills, and employability of theparties; and (iv) [t]he state and the liabilities and needs of each of the parties.” Section15-5-16(b)(1).6

Rhode Island Child Custody and Placement plays a role in an alimony determination. If the parties have children, the Court must also make an award of Rhode Island Child Support before the Court determines an alimony award.  The Child Support award plays a large role in determining the resources of the parent with physical custody of the minor child. A child support  http://www.slepkowlaw.com order also may severely affect  a n individuals ability to afford alimony in the future.

The needs and expenses of both parties is crucial in determining alimony. Needs and expenses are intertwined with the standard of living of the parties. The Court may look at the following types of expenses and needs: rent, mortgage, taxes, insurance, food, health insurance, uninsured medical expenses, prescription expenses, dental expenses, cable, internet, utilities, heat, gas , vehicle expenses etc.

Although conduct is a factor in alimony determinations per the RI Alimony Statute, it is not a significant factor since alimony is basically need based. Conduct such as an affair, drug or alcohol addiction, gambling problem, domestic violence plays more of a role in equitable division of assets then in an Alimony determination.

An award of alimony has Federal Income Tax consequences. Alimony is taxable to the spouse who receives the alimony and is deductible by the spouse who pays alimony. In order to qualify as alimony,

Alimony must terminate on the death of the payee spouse and upon the remarriage of the payee spouse. Payment of alimony is a taxable event to the payee spouse.

This is very different from payment of child support. Payment of child support is a non taxable event. The parent who pays child support is not entitled to a deduction for payment and the receiving spouse does not include the payment as income. Therefore it is tax free money to the parent who receives the child support.26 U.S.C.A. 71.

The IRS has rules and regulations concerning what types of payments constitute alimony. The IRS has rules and regulations concerning when a parent tries to mask child support payments as alimony. Please consult with a Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Attorney concerning the tax implications and rules concerning Alimony. A detailed explanation of tax rules, laws and regulations as they pertain to Alimony is beyond the scope of this article.

The designation of payments as alimony rather than property distribution has consequences in Bankruptcy Proceedings. An alimony award is generally not dischargeable in Bankruptcy. The interrelation between Family Law, Alimony and Bankruptcy is also beyond the scope of this article. Please consult with a Rhode Island Bankruptcy Lawyer/ Attorney.

Another important issue, perhaps crucial issue, is whether or not the parties enter into a property settlement agreement in the divorce.  In order for the alimony to be completely non modifiable, the alimony must be agreed to in a Property settlement agreement. The Court has no power to modify a property settlement agreement. A Court can only enforce or interpret a property settlement agreement. In the event of impossibility of payment, the Court could award equitable relief, equitably reforming the contract between the parties.  Please contact a Rhode Island Divorce Attorney concerning whether or not it is advisable to draft a Property Settlement agreement in your case.

Proper drafting of a Property Settlement Agreement and Alimony provisions in a Property Settlement Agreement is beyond the scope of this article.

The length of the marriage is a very important factor that the RI Family Court Judge looks at in determining Alimony. The Court also needs to hear testimony concerning the party requesting alimony plan to become self supporting and self sufficient.

The Court can also look at the relative ability of both spouses to earn income and or acquire assets and property in the future.

If a person is ordered to pay alimony and does not pay alimony, the other person can file a contempt motion. If a person is found in willful contempt of a Court order they could be jailed until they purge themselves of the contempt. Rhode Island Family Court judges take failure to comply with their alimony orders very seriously. If the Alimony award is modifiable, either party could file a motion to modify the alimony based on a substantial change in circumstances.

§ 15-5-16 Alimony and counsel fees – Custody of children.

(a) In granting any petition for divorce, divorce from bed and board, or relief without the commencement of divorce proceedings, the family court may order either of the parties to pay alimony or counsel fees, or both, to the other.

(b) In determining the amount of alimony or counsel fees, if any, to be paid, the court, after hearing the witnesses, if any, of each party, shall consider:

(i) The length of the marriage;

(ii) The conduct of the parties during the marriage;

(iii) The health, age, station, occupation, amount and source of income, vocational skills, and employability of the parties; and

(iv) The state and the liabilities and needs of each of the parties.

(2) In addition, the court shall consider:

(i) The extent to which either party is unable to support herself or himself adequately because that party is the primary physical custodian of a child whose age, condition, or circumstances make it appropriate that the parent not seek employment outside the home, or seek only part-time or flexible-hour employment outside the home;

(ii) The extent to which either party is unable to support herself or himself adequately with consideration given to:

(A) The extent to which a party was absent from employment while fulfilling homemaking responsibilities, and the extent to which any education, skills, or experience of that party have become outmoded and his or her earning capacity diminished;

(B) The time and expense required for the supported spouse to acquire the appropriate education or training to develop marketable skills and find appropriate employment;

(C) The probability, given a party’s age and skills, of completing education or training and becoming self-supporting;

(D) The standard of living during the marriage;

(E) The opportunity of either party for future acquisition of capital assets and income;

(F) The ability to pay of the supporting spouse, taking into account the supporting spouse’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, debts, and standard of living;

(G) Any other factor which the court expressly finds to be just and proper.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “alimony” is construed as payments for the support or maintenance of either the husband or the wife.

(2) Alimony is designed to provide support for a spouse for a reasonable length of time to enable the recipient to become financially independent and self-sufficient. However, the court may award alimony for an indefinite period of time when it is appropriate in the discretion of the court based upon the factors set forth in subdivision (b)(2)(ii)(B). After a decree for alimony has been entered, the court may from time to time upon the petition of either party review and alter its decree relative to the amount and payment of the alimony, and may make any decree relative to it which it might have made in the original suit. The decree may be made retroactive in the court’s discretion to the date that the court finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred; provided, the court shall set forth in its decision the specific findings of fact which show a substantial change in circumstances and upon which findings of facts the court has decided to make the decree retroactive. Nothing provided in this section shall affect the power of the court as subsequently provided by law to alter, amend, or annul any order of alimony previously entered. Upon the remarriage of the spouse who is receiving alimony, the obligation to pay alimony shall automatically terminate at once.”

Rhode island (RI) Attorney David Slepkow Represents clients in all Rhode Island (RI) Counties including: Providence County Family Court (Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Barrington, Bristol, Warren, Pawtucket etc.), Kent County Family Court (Warwick, Coventry Etc.,) Newport County Family Court (Tiverton, Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown), Washington County Family Court ( South Kingstown, Wakefield etc.)

Rhode Island legal Notice per RI Rules of Professional Responsibility:

The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all Lawyers / Attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

David Slepkow is a Rhode Island lawyer concentrating in Divorce, Family law, Restraining Orders, Child Custody, Child Support, DCYF, Post Divorce, Relocation out of State Personal Injury and Automobile / Car Accidents.

David has been practicing since 1997 and is licensed in Rhode Island (RI), Massachusetts (MA) and Federal Court. Free Initial Consultations. Credit Cards Accepted.