"I want to thank all those who come from around the world and read the poetry that God has inspired me with to make the world a more pleasant and peaceful place. This site shall always be totally free for everyone with no tracking, pop-up ads & videos or other distractions." ~louis gander

February 26, 2014

Memory Wrinkles 2-26-14


Whene'er I view God's mighty trees,
small sparrows, tiny birds,
my wrinkles bring back mem'ries that
are hard to put in words.

I sit close by my window sill
with crinkled memories.
I look out as I reminisce.
Some drop me to my knees.

Yes, those I'd just as soon forget
but pleased I am with most,
Each wrinkle is a mem'ry though.
With some, I love to boast.

Now here's a very special one,
when wedding dress was worn,
and this, another perfect one,
the day my child was born.

The time my child was married off,
a sight you'd have to see,
the birth of my granddaughter too,
the day she walked to me.

This wrinkle here had really hurt -
and it is yet 'unspoken'.
It caused me many, many tears -
my heart so sadly broken.

Oh, how can people hurt so much?
It is the worst of crimes.
And down on knees I prayed and prayed
so many, many times.

It seemed that I was so alone
those many, many years.
I wept and grieved all by myself
in all my lonely tears.

Yes, time and time again I prayed.
I said life wasn't fair.
I didn't think God heard my voice.
I wasn't sure He cared.

One day with Bible in my lap,
I started reading when,
a verse had stuck; was thirty-one
in Matthew, chapter ten.

Oh, I have mem'ry wrinkles, sure,
from small to deepest one,
but every day brings greater joy -
when shines, God's morning sun.

Whene'er I view God's mighty trees,
small sparrows, tiny birds,
my wrinkles bring back mem'ries that
are hard to put in words.

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Matthew 10:31 (KJV)
"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

February 20, 2014

The Mighty Ship 2-20-14


A brand new car, a hand-held game
or other things we chose,
a TV set, a picture frame
or nice designer clothes,

possessions each- and all the toys,
with every single day,
will rot or rust as earth destroys -
and simply waste away.

Of great importance, though, the chore
to grow the love of 'greed'.
Yes, bigger- better- greater- more,
so water, we, our needs.
---
(now to the spiritual...)
---
No sea or ocean under moon
to put a ship afloat -
and twilight comes much, much too soon
to build a mighty boat.
While aimlessly, the world roams,
surprised, I hear the Lord,
"The mighty ship is sailing home.
It's time to get aboard."
So swiftly, on my journey, go
here on this mighty ship -
and left behind, all those I know.
I sail my final trip.
Securely, though, on ship thereof,
upon the mighty sea,
I find myself in arms of love -
and earth has ceased to be.
---
(and back to the physical...)
---
It's all 'the rage' so hey, come on!
Be noticed!  That's our goal!
With make-up and great outfit on,
who cares about the soul?

Contoured, the fields of corn and hay,
the winds bring season's fall.
A few have learned the real way -
are humbled through it all.

The sun has lost its grip to west
and darkness now draws nigh.
Are we prepared to be His guest?
Are we prepared to die?

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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My father was told that it was midnight and time to go to sleep,
moments later (before passing away), my father responded
with his last words- that he had to get on the boat first.
Let's all get on the ship.  We're heading home.

---

Matthew 6:16-24 (NASB)

16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.


---

God calls all parents, daughters, sons
from every earthly nation.
Get aboard, you weary ones,
don't worship mere creation.

February 16, 2014

Winks and Smiles 2-16-14


Depressed I was, at all my plight, in God's creation bright.
Confused and then intrigued I was, before I saw the light.

The rainbow winked at mustard seed, the mustard seed at tree.
The tree winked at the lily then, and lily at the bee.
The bee winked at the honey and the honey at the sun -
and then the sunshine winked at me, the sad and lonely one.

Asked I, "What's all this winking- this winking all about?"
And that's when God's creation welled and started then to shout,
"We're free!  We're free, to do all that we can!
And we've no need to shed the tears of lost and sinful man!"
I asked them, how in unison, their spirits could be raised -
and questioned the beginnings of such kind and winking ways...

The bee said that the honey glowed and smiled at everyone.
The lily said the honey bee had smiled when he was done.
The lily smiled at the tree, the tree at mustard seed.
The mustard seed smiled at the warmth that did its gracious deed.

Said rainbow then, "I swear to you, the sun had smiled like this."
And that's when God's own sunshine had, embraced me in its kiss.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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February 14, 2014

Poetry 2-14-14


I sometimes think, "Why waste the ink on many lines of rhyme?
And is it right to sit and write just wasting precious time?
This exercise is just a guise if few come here to read.
A dream it was and all because I wanted to succeed.
I know I ought, but thoughts are naught.  I'm running out of steam.
I'm having fits of knowing it's a nightmare, not a dream.
So 'what's the use?'  That's my excuse to set aside my pen.
With water cup, I'll hang it up and never write again."

I must admit that I'm unfit to write another day!
Vast thoughts were stored for you dear Lord yet I've no words to say!
But plant the seed...?  I must indeed, then watch as letters flow -
out into phrasing so amazing that all readers know -
these poems shine 'cause they're not mine!  It's God who writes each poem!
He guides my pen, again, again until the soul can know Him!
I used to think, "Why waste the ink on poetry and such?"
But if the goal's to save the soul, it matters very much.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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February 10, 2014

For He Deserves 2-10-14


I drew attention to myself
and never thought it odd -
until I heard the compliments
that should have been for God.

So I have changed my attitude
and changed my wicked ways -
that I might focus on my God -
for He deserves all praise!

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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February 9, 2014

I'd Gladly Trade 2-9-14


I run around to get things done.  It often makes me sad.
I'd gladly trade these times today for those my grandma1 had.
The world is changing rapidly and keep up, I cannot.
I have so many gadgets now I don't know all I've got.
---
Yes, I would listen to her words and all she had to say.
Enjoyed, we did, our daily chores each moment of the day.
Now after reading verses in my brand new Testament,
she asked if I had finished chores.  I knew just what she meant.

Yes, all the chores- not some of them.  I didn't need a list.
It was a job to milk ol' 'Horns'2 and not the easiest.
I'd throw the feed to chickens as they scampered on their legs.
I'd move the mother hens aside and gather their warm eggs.

Ingredients, my grandma took, that she had 'round about.
She mixed them all together in odd ways she figured out.
That rich aroma stole my nose with all her baking done -
and to this day I don't know how she always beat the sun.

She made an extra pumpkin pie just for the neighbor folk.
I listened most intently to my grandma when she spoke.
The days were hot and work was hard while sweat would soak our clothes
but never were there better days than when I think of those.

Before her home3 was torn down I had memorized them all -
each of Ten Commandments that hung squarely on her wall.
The great depression took its toll and she had lost to banks -
but she took time to pray each day to give our Savior thanks.
---
The world is changing rapidly. I don't know what to say,
but this I know- I cried and cried the day she passed away.
I run around to get things done.  It often makes me sad
and gladly trade these times today for those my grandma had.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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1 Grandma Ida 1896 to 1990.
2 'Horns' was really named 'Horney' and was the meanest of all the cows on the small farms my grandparents Homer and Ida owned (but she was still milked nonetheless).
3 Grandma's farm house had stood at North Clayton, WI. 
50 acres
Clayton, WI
43° 23.542', -90° 43.685'

200 acres
15044-15452 Vance Rd
Gays Mills, WI 54631
43° 21.017', -90° 47.780'

February 6, 2014

Until God Says 2-6-14


Oh, once upon a time there was a disciplined young lad
who didn't have the things that all the other children had.
So they would joke and laugh at him.  They really were quite bad.

Now they would taunt and tease and shove, or trip him in the hall.
The boys would always choose him last when they had played kickball
and what they really thought of him was way below them all.

Oh, how he'd try to please them though.  He'd try and try and try.
Their cruelty had followed him but he did not know why.
So many times he'd find a quiet, private place to cry.

Appreciated, he was not - nor would they, him, acknowledge.
With parents poor, he went to work and gained a little knowledge.
For over forty years he worked.  He never went to college.

And then he lost his whole life's work with cozened lawyers' pens.
And then he lost his business too, his family and his friends.
And then he lost his home and health and couldn't make amends.

Although life was depressing and- nobody seemed to care,
he prayed and prayed and prayed some more escaping this despair.
And then he did some writing- just a poem here and there.

He writes to help the "least of these" and sometimes just for fun.
He'll write and write and write some more until God says he's done.
And that, my friends, is why he writes.  He even wrote this one.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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February 1, 2014

Morning Sky!, The 2-1-14


My sleepy eyes were no disguise
for soul in such despair.
There's no defense.  It made no sense
and midnight didn't care.

The days flew past, they didn't last
and darkness made me frown.
Sin filled my mind and I was blind.
Vast blackness weighed me down.

My futile ways brought wasted days
and I began to cry.
So sad because my story was -
and I began to die...
---
Awake, I shook!  The morning took
me largely by surprise.
I felt great shame, repentance came
and grace drew me to rise.

Yes, Jesus lives and He forgives!
He makes my spirit whole!
And all the while, you'll see my smile
from such a sunlit soul!

And it awakes as Jesus takes
my burdens by and by.
The brilliant love of God above
now lights the morning sky!

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

January 29, 2014

Two Bananas & a Hot Dog 1-29-14


(A true story poem that took place Jan. 28, 2014 in southern Wisconsin)

With temp-er'-ture near zero and although it was the norm,
my fingers were so icy cold.  I shivered to stay warm.
I stopped at a convenience store to warm my frigid feet.
I browsed a couple aisles there to find what I might eat.

With hunger pains excessive and some water in a cup,
a hot dog looked delicious and it sure would warm me up.
I didn't have much money, so I had to budget some.
I bought two ripe bananas, then I added up the sum.

With hot dog and bananas now to cure my hunger pangs,
I waited patiently in line near where the candy hangs.
I'd wait until I got back home to eat and warm my toes -
but made a quick decision then to say some quick hellos.

Well, Tom is in his seventies.  His mom's one hundred one.
So I decided I would chat with Clara and her son.
I drove up to their farm house but, I had an afterthought -
that my warm hotdog would get cold- so grabbed what I had bought.

I hurried up to their front door, with my lunch safe in hand,
I knew right then, this isn't right- they wouldn't understand.
I started having second thoughts as feet slid on the ice.
I cannot eat while visiting.  Now that's not very nice!

But I was just a little late.  Tom opened up the door.
Too late to take my dinner back.  I stepped in on their floor.
Said I, then without thinking- "Hey, I brought you two a treat.
For each, a ripe banana..." as Tom offered me a seat.

I sat at kitchen table and said, "Here's your hot dog Tom."
And then the 'kidder' that I am, said "How you doing 'mom'?"
I really didn't need to ask.  She looked just fine to me.
So spry and energetic too- as far as I could see.

They lived alone together there and got along quite well.
And we had quite a lengthy chat before we said farewell.
The moral of the story is "Don't be a stingy beast"
for Tom and Clara are the best ...and I had quite the feast!

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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There are two types of people in this world- those who love others and those who love themselves.
Tom and Clara are definitely in the first category.  Tom has helped myself and others numerous times refusing to be paid and Clara is the best cook ever!  Clara recently turned 101, does not look or act it- and no one can ever top her delicious apple pies that she serves with her warm, genuine smile.  Happy Birthday Clara!

January 23, 2014

Hanging By A Thread 1-23-14


Can I not find a single leaf
that hangs upon a twig -
on hidden tree with millions more
within this valley, big?

Can I not find a single bird
that's nestled with the rest -
way deep inside a big ol' world,
protected in its nest?

Can I not find my Comforter
who's there when e're I fall -
who Jesus sent to bring me peace -
if I would only call?

Can I not find a Savior who
had walked around with men -
who was my perfect sacrifice,
so perfect without sin?

Can I not find the God of all -
Creator of all things -
and have my heartstrings failed to break
when one small girl sings?

Can I not find my purpose now
outside my selfish door -
that 'great commission' filled with love
that God has called me for?

Can I not seek beyond my wants,
beyond my worldly place -
beyond the tip of my long nose -
beyond my pretty face?

Can I not find one tiny soul
who begs and cries for aid -
who's needing someone just like me -
yet I have only prayed...?

Can I not help one tiny child
who's hanging by a thread -
in such a place of hopelessness,
with many others dead?

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Matthew 25:40 (NASB)
The King will answer and say to them,
‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,
even the least of them, you did it to Me.’