Fast Jack & Tom 9-1-15

Please tell me, "Is there greener grass
that we have been denied
across life's busy highway?
What's on the other side?"
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Fast Jack, the Rabbit, wanted more
than his ol' world could bring.
So started, he, across life's road
with optimistic sing.

And Tom, the Turtle, thought he too,
could find his life's reward,
so set his mind to follow Jack
...as big, bad engines roared.

Now Jack was quick and darted o'er
the line that marked the tar,
whizzing past a left rear tire
then under low sports car.

Then Tom, the Turtle, had began.
He lifted one front toe,
but pulled it back quite quickly 'cause,
he couldn't start his 'go'.

There patiently, he held his ground
beside that busy road.
And then he heard a chuckle
with a taunt from Timmy Toad.

But patiently, he waited there -
and almost fell asleep -
if not for noisy tires
from a muddy, off-road jeep.

Now half-way 'cross the highway
that 'ol rabbit zagged his wrath,
between the bumpers back and forth.
He zigged a crazy path.

About this time Tom turtle saw
his chance to get across,
but if he wasn't quick enough
he'd end up 'turtle sauce'.

His feet, he shifted into gear.
His legs were filled with pow'r!
His speeds went unrecorded, but
...I've heard "nine stones per hour".

Hence, gap between the traffic
wasn't big enough for Tom.
A Cadillac that fast approached
was driven by a mom.

The tire on that Cadillac
caught edge of Tom's hard shell.
It flipped him forty feet through air
and things did not go well...

Tom did a dozen somersaults,
then landed on his back.
He heard a scream, "Get off of me!"
that came from... yes, Fast Jack.

Well, Jack was somewhat angered
when a semi smacked the two.
It threw him back across the road
and spun Tom dizzy too.

Then Tom rolled off the other side.
Both learned life's road was hard -
with Tom and Jack on either side
frightened, sore and scarred.
---
The moral to this poem is that
Jack had gotten meaner.
And like the fence dividing lawns,
Tom found the grass- not greener.

Now isn't it a futile life,
that Jack and Tom had tried -
despite abundant grass God gave
to each on either side?

Our pride, greed, lust and envy too,
are like Tom's somersaults.
The pain and bandages received,
are really our own faults.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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I See Spring! 8-30-15

(Four generations: Lucy Ellen Gander, Sarah Evaline Palmer (standing),

Susanna Sanborn, Katherine Jadwin, circa 1874. Sarah is Nathan Gander's wife.)

"With picture faded on the wall -

oh, who could understand it all?

For yesterday began the spring

when we could dance and we could sing.

But faded now, our lively songs

with grasses dead and flowers gone.

---

Today I stand somewhat dismayed.

and of tomorrow, am afraid.

My wrinkled face now bears a frown.

I find the whole world up-side-down.

From government to businesses -

the world is busy, all abuzz.

The love of money, Satan's hook.

What's with the envy?  Take a look!

In all the world, who understands?

Does love for money stain our hands?

---

Some day in Heaven, happily -

I'll sing God's praises out with glee!

Who cares of clothes or car I drive?

I am with Him and am alive!

Today, I see deception's sting -

but of tomorrow, I see spring!

With picture faded on the wall -

oh, who would understand it all?

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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If I Haven't Died 8-28-15

There were many things I thought important

when I was a child -

like walking and skipping and running wild -

but were they?

There were many things I thought important

in my middle years -

like career or sports and drinking beers -

but were they?

There are many things I think important

now later in life -

like health, adult diapers and dealing with strife -

but are they?

There will be many things I'll think important -

eternity's ever -

when hell has its fury - 'cause I thought I knew better.

Will they be...?

Do you get the picture now?  Do you understand -

of Heaven's importance - not this sin's wasteland?

But Jesus still waits, 'cause it's never too late -

(if I haven't died) -

to confess and repent - and be sanctified -

now.  Right now.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Li'l Puff 8-13-15

Now Li'l Puff was kind of sad.

He looked up at his giant dad,

"Oh, why am I a little cloud

but you are big and thunder loud?

"Your lightning flashes 'cross the sky

but I can't do it when I try...

And also, when you rain, you pour!

I try and try but can't rain more..."

So once again he tried so hard

to rain down drops upon a yard.

He thought he let down God and Heav'n

when counted, he, but ninety-seven.

The sod was turning gray and brown

and plants were dying all around.

Will ninety-seven drops of rain

still keep alive what does remain?

Then mom spoke up and said, "Dear son,

God wouldn't care if you had none.

He knows if you have done your best.

Be humble and He'll do the rest."

But Li'l Puff, not satisfied,

had drooped his head and cried and cried.

He wanted to be just like dad,

but he was small.  It made him sad.

So Li'l Puff had had enough.

He packed his toys and other stuff.

He ran away for life anew -

to be some ice, or maybe dew.

Descending down upon a log

our Li'l Puff became a fog.

For quite some time he rested there,

without a hope, without a care.

Sometimes he'd cry, sometimes he'd sigh.

Two long and lonely weeks went by...

Then suddenly, out of the blue,

he heard a voice from little 'Sue'.

Excitedly, she called her mom -

then called her dad and brother Tom.

"My brand new plant has bloomed a rose!'

It's fragrance touched her little nose.

While Li'l Puff was still in gloom -

what caused that little rose to bloom?

Though sometimes we have not a clue -

those ninety-seven raindrops knew.

We might not see a pretty rose

from poems that we might compose,

but God creates.  Yes, He does still.

Just be content to do His will.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Buried Treasure 8-09-15

I found a buried treasure map inside a dusty book.

It showed the paths of journeys old.  I took a closer look.

I studied meanings of those paths through all my bias views

and cut more paths with stubbornness in search of crucial clues.

Exposed were possibilities where treasures could be found,
so I mapped out my own small world where I could look around.

I envied after treasures so.  I took my ev'ry tool.

I took my shovel and my ax, my compass and my mule.

(My shovel was my selfish greed.  The ax was my own tongue.

My mule was my brand new car and friends I was among.)

I loaded up my mighty ship (that one might call 'career')
and I believed that treasure chest was very, very near.
I stood at helm, determined, on my great big sailing ship.

So confident I'd reach my goals, I held a solid grip.

I followed all the earthly rules and took each cautious measure,

went ashore on sev'ral lands in search of buried treasure.
I overturned huge stubborn stones so very burdensome -

but all I found was sinful filth and weary had become.

I thought that gold awaited me, bright silver and fine jewels -

but found out very soon that I was dumbest of the fools.
For years and decades I had searched - until one day I quit.

A treasure hunter, I was not.  I sadly was unfit.

So overboard, I threw my pride...  Depressed I was, in shock.

My anchor splashed and sank in seas then held in solid rock.

I found a much more stable life - no longer lost, adrift.

T'was then my broken heart exposed that great and precious gift.

Is treasure only found in something torn and ripped apart

and buried down and deep inside - like my own broken heart?

We hope to find true happiness with our own 'treasure maps',

but tell me - are we pirates here - with selfish goals perhaps?

I hadn't found that treasure buried deep inside of me,

until I found a little 'key' that's called humility.
And now that I've discovered it, my soul is filled with glee!

And that uncovered treasure now, has made me fully free.

Don't follow those on stormy seas where you are tossed and twirled.

Accept the treasure of His love, 'for God so loved the world'.

And don't be fake, a hypocrite who doesn't care to look,

but search down deep inside your heart (the map is in His Book).

So follow trail down deep inside so you aren't left behind.

Accept the grace of Jesus then.  Great treasure you will find!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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