Kitchen War 9-30-17

Discussions were beginning in the kitchen fraught with hate -

and anger soon was spreading with the "who was best" debate.

"I'm protein for the people," said the big roast to the greens.

"I am so much better than potatoes, corn and beans."

"Without my oven you are absolutely nothing around here,"

said the stove so loudly so that all the rest could hear.

Close by was some oregano, paprika and some clove.

"Oh, do not boast for you are but an old and rusted stove. 

Said the sea salt to the spices, "Here's some good advice.

If you can't add some flavor,  you're no better than the rice."

Said the white rice to the sea salt, "Let me say a thing or two.

The spices have a million times more flavor than you do.

The fridge could not stay silent and the toaster now was hot.

Disposal?  It was spinning while the blender had forgot.

And that is how it started as the food began to fly.

Please tell me why there's no respect.  Please tell me, tell me why.

From floor to wall to ceiling, there was food stuck everywhere.

And you could even see the peas come bouncing down the stair.

The bragging had continued and the sink began to boast!

Then gravy splashed the window...and the fork had stabbed the roast!

The big 'ol roast let out a acream.  "I'm dying!" was his yell.

It rolled right off the table and on the floor it fell.

The hush was so immediate and no one said a word.

No sound was heard except from one small window perching bird.

Hysterically, it laughed and laughed.  I thought it'd blow its cork.

And then we all had seen it too - that cheap weak plastic fork.

The laughter had crescendoed and it filled that messy room.

But then who had to clean it up?  The dustpan and the broom.

Not one had learned a lesson and not one humility.

They still each think they are the best.  That's how they'll always be -

UNLESS they all repent and learn of God's most precious Son.

ONLY THEN can  we have peace for each and everyone.

Until then we will be at odds.  Until then we will fight.

Until then we will be at war - and world a messy sight.

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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God's Little Paradise 9-23-17

Between the path and lake I sit.  The weather sure is nice.

Creation here continues in God's little paradise.

I shut my eyes and listen to the dried up autumn leaves

that dance upon the pathway with the swirling twirling breeze.

I listen to the splattering of waves upon the shore.

I soak up sounds around me and I wait to hear some more.

A squirrel hesitates a bit, then races up a tree.

With eyes still shut I see it all and find it fully free.

I hear the wind.  I hear His voice.  I hear the angels sing.

I take in all that Heaven has.  I treasure everything.

I hear a frog and chirping birds.  I hear a quacking duck.

And far away a jingle from a roaming ice cream truck.

The grasses whisper tunes of old to leaves still on the trees.

My heart cries out for little ones, the least...  the least of these.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...

If I could only pass His love to each and everyone...

If I could only find the words to close all nation's eyes -

then maybe they could see Him too with spirit-piercing eyes.

If only faithful they could be, so they could see His face.

If only I could find the words so they could see this place.

With eyes still shut, I reminisce of all that God has giv'n.

My friends, our days on earth are short and after this a Heaven.

Between the lake and path I sit.  The weather sure is nice.
Creation here continues in God's little paradise.

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Forgive Me Please 8-27-17

If you're in earshot of my voice

Regret, I do, my ev'ry choice

that brought you pain and brought you tears.

Forgive me please, for all these years.

I toss and turn here on my bed.

Forgive me please, for all I've said.

Deserve I nothing - that I know -

for damage done so long ago.

I lost your faithful selfless love

and caused you hurt I know not of.

I broke so many of God's laws.

I weep at pain my sins have caused.

Your face reveals a giant hole

that I put in your heart and soul.

Your innocence, may God observe.

Forgiveness I do not deserve.

If time could slow... if time could stall...

if time reversed... I'd change it all.

For things I've done, there's no excuse.

And healing, I cannot produce.

BUT GOD can make the crooked straight,

wipe tears away and then create.

Please talk to Him and don't conceal

your heavy heart that needs to heal.

If you're in earshot of my voice

Regret, I do, my ev'ry choice

that brought you pain and brought you tears.
Forgive me please, for all these years.

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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This Unknown Man 8-20-17

This man, unknown, still walks alone

among the villainous -

among the thorns and wild horns,

inside our wilderness.

Day after day in dark dismay

the years tread slowly by.

Night after night, who knows his plight -

who knows the truth of 'why'?

So far above, the clouds lack love

for such a lowly man.

They give advice and are not nice

as they are better than...

The waters called and are appalled

at what this man had done.

And from the deep, they make a leap -

accused this lowly one.

But trees are friends and off they fend

the blizzards that blow bold -

and warmth from rock will always mock

the wind and  bitter cold.

Yet sharp the fangs of hunger pangs,

for food is scarce at best.

Though so deprived, can he survive

this all-important test?

He won't complain in all his pain

and so, is not ashamed -

for trees all stand so quiet and

they too, remain unnamed.

From scorching heat, they are not beat.

They brave the elements.

They do not cry.  They do not die

despite impediments.

If in review, you only knew

what all that he withstood -

while making peace with trout and geese,

then lived the best he could.

I understand this unknown man -

as you might guess the clues.

Each step by step with him I kept -

for I walk in his shoes.

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Where All Time Stands Still 7-21-17

I found myself in desperate hope -

I couldn't sing, I couldn't cope

with city's noise that so annoys

and racing time as sin destroys.

Among the city's working slave

and the great ocean's pounding wave,

the time slipped past and flowed so fast.

I prayed for peace - that it would last.

I'd often pray while I would dream

of peaceful life beside a stream -

where acorns drop from high atop

the tallest trees - where time would stop.

Alarmingly from rocky ledge -

through prayer I found the river's edge.

But there were graves in ocean caves

where men sought shelter from the waves.

I climbed down from my lofty pride

where many stumbled, many died.

In danger, pled I, humble cry

that I should live and never die.

Confessing I, reached deep within

repenting of my ev'ry sin.

And when I found that solid ground,

the grasses, green, were all around.

For all the beauty I did thank
my God along that river bank.

In answered prayer, without a care -

through faithfulness, I found Him there.

And then upstream, a path I took

along a creek, then bubbling brook.
Continued I, to walk on by
all other things that caught my eye.

The water clear, refreshing, clean
was prettier than ever seen.
As if possessed, I couldn't rest -
so feet pressed on.  I was His guest.

Beside His living, bubbling spring.
I found my voice and I can sing.

It is so sweet.  It is complete.
All time stands still with no repeat.

I tarry there in peaceful prayer.

I'm in His arms and do not care

for futile lies and futile cries

of man's deceptions as he dies.

His living spring of water lives!

It never takes - but always gives.

I sought His will and found the thrill

of living where all time stands still.

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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If Teardrop You Can't Be 6-17-17

I was one drop of water with so many, many more,

here falling from the Heavens under great big thunderous roar.

The massive lake below me was so very long and wide.

It seemed that I was dropping near the shore on eastern side.

I saw a pitter-pattering of raindrops on the lake.

I wondered when my time would come - how big of splash I'd make.

But then God sent a burst of wind that blew me over land -

I thought how futile life would be, if sank I, into sand.

As I descended, there appeared a flat, but massive stone.

I saw a little boy in tears, there sitting all alone.

I'd rather be a tear, I thought, than droplet from the sky -

for I'll accomplished little.  Oh, what little worth have I?

A raindrop's life is very short.  Accomplishments are few.

In fact, I'd be ecstatic if I was a teardrop too.

I'd care for him and show him I was patient, kind and meek.

I'd live my life right there with him residing on his cheek.

But God had other plans for me inside that noisy cloud -

and so I fell quite fast and free with others in the crowd.

I've learned some things in my short life.  Please lend me all, your ear.

Please do not cry and do not fight and do not ever fear.

Please don't be so discouraged if you're added to the sea.

Just be content to do God's will if teardrop you can't be.

So very few, are special ones.  So very few, are God's.

And sometimes we can't cope with it and so we are at odds.

I hit so hard, that massive stone.  I splattered all around.

But part of me had met those tears and it was quite profound.

Our friendships seem to be God's will - though very short the years.

The teardrops we have met through storms now bring us loving tears.

One friendship, in particular - how very short, it was -

brought ringing rhymes and chiming words.  I know you know, because...

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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What Is It? (Riddle) 6-3-17

Tell me.  What is it?

It doesn't weigh a thing.

You cannot find it in the sky.

It doesn't have a wing.

It has no legs.  It has no hands.

It doesn't have a brain.

But sometimes it just rips you up

and drives you most insane!

Tell me.  What is it?

It doesn't weigh a thing.

You cannot find it in the sea.

It has no mouth to sing.

It has no ears.  It has no eyes.

And please don't ask me why

it sometimes makes you teary-eyed

and makes you want to cry.

Tell me.  What is it?

It doesn't weigh a thing.

You cannot find it over land

but oh, what it can bring -

contentment, joy and happiness,

excitement unsurpassed.

And when it comes from God on high,

we know we have been blessed!

Tell me. What is it?

It's something int'resting.

It makes me want to shout for joy

and makes me want to sing!

It doesn't take.  It always gives -

like sunshine's warmth on chilly day

when kindness bring's the flower's bloom -

which makes LOVE's big and bright bouquet!

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Rainbow-colored Dreams 5-20-17

I chase my rainbow-colored dreams.

They are so grandiose it seems -

until the brilliance goes awry

and colors of the rainbow die.

When I was younger I was told

that I'd be better off when old -

if I would always persevere -

not give up and never fear.

So worked, I did, both day and night.

I gave it all - my fiercest fight.

For over forty years 'til now

the sweat poured off my heavy brow.

The fam'ly loss was inhumane.

The millions lost was bankers' gain.

"Success" was sketched out vividly -

but yet this nightmare came to me.

First Timothy, six and ten,
is proven true again, again.
If love of money's in the heart,

then love for God is torn apart.

Until the brilliance goes awry

and colors of the rainbow die,

I chase my rainbow-colored dreams.
They are so grandiose it seems...

©2017 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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This Mother's Day 5-13-17

Mere words are insufficient.

Mere words cannot express -

the many tossed emotions

of pain to happiness.

I long to see your face again -

though we are far apart.

I long to hold your hand again

and give you all my heart.

At first I held my feelings back

for which I can't explain.

So now emotions come alive

as with a hurricane!

For I am here and you are there.

There's no where I can turn.

There are no hugs and kisses past

that point of no return.

Oh, how I pray that I could make

my failures up to you.

Yet lost through winds of futile hope,

there's nothing I can do.

Mere time deceives the lazy heart

and says, "It's not a crime -

to wait until the rain has stopped,

then take your good ol' time."

So time has slipped away from me.

So many things it stole.

The greatest?  Not expressing love...

That sorrow rips my soul.

All Heaven knows my mom is there -

so friends, do not delay.

Give any lonely mom you find,

your love this Mother's Day.

©2017 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Rose-petal Mother 4-22-17

The morning dew settles

like tears on rose petals.

They cry out for time to return -

and beckon lost seasons

of God-given reasons

as sad notes on my guitar yearn.

You're queen of the givers.

It brings to me shivers

that I was so selfishly made.

Your name defines 'humble'

as my words now crumble

on flowers that I now invade.

Your hands were like Heaven,

unselfishly given,

beyond just the people you knew -

from city to country,

from wealthy to hungry -

and all of the rest of us too.

As butterflies flutter,

I still try to utter

some truth of your beautiful love.

But now, it is just us -

and words don't bring justice

as sunlight spills down from above.

Those simple deflections

of sunlight's reflections

now glimmer like diamonds at play -

in memories briefly

that I see routinely

as if they were just yesterday.

I am not deserving

of all I'm observing

in memories coming to mind -

surrounded by perfume

with roses in full bloom

recalling that you were most kind.

I'll always remember

that freezing December

when I erred and brought you to tears.

When you found me straying,

for me, you were praying -

and over the many long years.

Some mothers are brand new,

but none can compare to

my rose-petal mother, that's true.

While laughter was looming,

our smiles were blooming.

There's none other better than you.

I do so adore you -

shall always continue.

I'd never trade you for another.

Up deep from the earth-plow,

what words can I sing now?

I love you, my rose-petal mother.

Alive still, your caring,

through rose petal sharing.

So many, I can't see them all.

Afloat on the breezes,

each rose petal eases

the pain of the weak as they fall.

Your petals continue

to live on without you.

They float around ever so free.

Like soft downy feather,

I don't wonder whether

some petals will fall upon me.

It's not at all easy

to sing thoughts so deeply

when sung with my dusty guitar.

I find I've distorted

all good you're recorded.

My rose-petal mother, you are.

And it's not by my choice

I miss hearing your voice,

so moistness now covers my eyes.

With fingers still strumming

I hear myself humming

while words get choked up in my cries.

With eyes very blurry

I'm now in no hurry

to vacate this most sacred place.

I can't be more lonely.

I wish I could only

receive one more loving embrace.

I love you so deeply

that when I am sleepy

see rose petals filling the sky.

My rose-petal mother,

my rose-petal mother,

I'll see you in Heaven...  Bye bye.

©2017 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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