If a Jet Could Cry

Three weeks before Christmas a plane left BC ground,
Took off for Korea, it's roar sounded hell bound.

Up over the mountains and across the sea,
That plane didn't know it took Andrew from me.

The passengers all happy and jolly that day,
Just eager and ready to get on their way.

All wrapped in their thoughts and plans for their stay,
Not many noticed a young man cross the way.

His whole world before him, his family behind
Not one of them wondered what was on his mind.

I didn't know either what visions he could see.
I only wish he was thinking, kindly, of me.

Yes, I'm very selfish, and sometimes vain,
But that I would gladly have ripped him off that damn plane.

So for months I'll curse the planes going that way,
Until I feel he's happy and contended to stay.

Down deep I'm proud of a well traveled man.
They must see all they can of this beautiful land.

It broadens the mind, gives a much broader view.
The small things in life are much easier seen through.

Yes, we all need to travel, on land, air or sea.
If they did, a much better world we might see.
But please don't take my Andrew from me.
(Ruth Klassen, my "Gram", Jan. 17, 2000)

A GRANDSON'S DREAMS

Today I awoke, jumped with a start.
What time can it be? Oh, where is that clock?
It's 10 o'clock, too late, he has gone,
There I slept, was unaware of the time.

Yes, he's gone, gone, without a good-bye.
He didn't want to disturb me. Why? Why? Why?
Without a touch of his hand, or a kiss to my brow,
I overslept, what a curse, tell how how.

So hard to miss him, to beg him don't go.
Stay here with me, George, dogs and cat.
It would ruin all his life,
What a waste with no start.

I know he will work hard, like a miner strikes gold.
For the world is his oyster, and the moon is his goal.

Oh well, it's not that sad, as this is his big day.
He has big things to do, must not stand in his way.
A future to build, all his dreams to come true,
Being so strong and wise, he'll make it through.

He can see the big picture, but I know all the trials and strife,
Work, study, loneliness and sacrifice.
So watch out Korea, here he comes to take charge,
With his humor and laughter, he brings sunshine and smiles.

Sometimes I could cry "Just stay here with us,
Throw away all your dreams, your tomorrows and wealth.
Don't make a new start."
For the whims of Grandma without any heart.

Because he's my darling Grandson and about to depart,
Oh, my poor little feelings. Oh, my poor little heart.
No, look up and out to the sky,
And follow your dreams, don't let them die.

Don't let anything die over a Grandma's whims,
You are young, strong and wise.
Look, look up and out,
God's riding beside you. He knows best, no doubt.
(Ruth Klassen, my grandmother, Dec. 8, 1999)

A WONDERFUL MOTHER

God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He molded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks, fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
(-Pat O'Reilly)

SEEING

They took away what should have been my eyes,
(But I remembered Milton's Paradise)
They took away what should have been my ears,
(Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)
They took away what should have been my tongue,
(But I had talked with God when I was young)
He would not let them take away my soul,
Possessing that, I still possess the whole.
(-Helen Keller)

I RESOLVE

To strip the soul of all pretense,
To hold each day in reverence,
To keep the head and heart apace,
To make this world a worth-while place,
To share my bread with those in need,
To tolerate a neighbor's creed,
To keep a stride without a strut,
To make a home in manse or hut,
To have the grit to grin at loss,
To master life and be its boss!

My Creed

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand;
The record of my brain and hand,
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.

To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.

To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.
(-Edgar A. Guest)

All of us pursue happiness,
but without knowing where to find it;
we are like drunkards trying to find their way home,
aware that they live somewhere.

It takes greater qualities to cope with good fortune than with bad.

The greatest obstacle to happiness is the expectation of too great a happiness. (Bonard le Bovier)

THE TOWN OF DON'T YOU WORRY

There's a town called Don't you worry
On the banks of River Smile,
Where the Cheer-up and Be-Happy
Blossum sweetly all the while;
Where the Never-grumble flower
Blooms beside the fragrant Try,
And the Ne'er-give up and Patience
Point their faces to the sky.

Rustic benches quite enticing
You'll find scattered here and there,
And to each a vine is clinging
Called the Frequent-eanest prayer.
Everybody there is happy
And is singing all the while,
In the town of Don't you worry
On the banks of River Smile.

MYSELF

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to be able, as days go by,
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for things I have done.

I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of man I really am;
I don't want to dress up myself in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men's respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know
That I'm bluster and bluff and empty show.

I can never hid myself from me;
I see what others may never see;
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free.
(-Edgar A. Guest)

There are but three events which concerns mankind:
Birth, life and death.
They know nothing of their birth,
Submit to death
and forget to live.
(Bruyere)

TO LIVE

There are three events in the world of great meaning:
Our birth, our life and our death.
This thought comes from a man named "Bruyere".
With every word, I agree what he said.

It matters not where we may come from;
whether our income is modest or high.
We all share the same path of existence:
We are born, we live, then we die.

Of our birth, we know little or nothing.
Concerning death, we all must submit.
Between these two bookends of living,
to truly live, we forget.

I want to scream in frustration,
for the downcast souls of life's sea
that drown in their "what ifs" and "if onlys"
Losing sight of the wings at their feet.

Are you truly living this moment?
Having regrets of unfinished deeds?
Forget them - Start planting your rosebuds.
Stop looking for thorns, snakes and weeds.

Sing a song, write a poem, go out dancing.
Celebrate. Enjoy. Be content.
If not now, I'm afraid it'll be never,
and you'll wish you had lived in the end.
(Andrew Brown)

Live now, believe me,
wait not for tomorrow.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.
(Pierre De Ronsurd)

To suffer rather than die,
That is the motto of mankind.
(Jean De la Fontaine)

It's not what you'd do with a million,
If riches should e'er be your lot,
But what are you doing at present
With the dollar and a half you've got?

TEN GOOD THINGS

There are ten good things for which no man has ever been sorry:
For doing good to all;
For speaking evil of no one;
For hearing before judging;
For thinking before speaking;
For holding an angry tongue;
For being kind to the distressed;
For asking pardon for all wrongs;
For being patient toward everybody;
For stopping the ear to the tale bearer;
For dis-believing the most of the evil reports.

THINK

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's WILL -
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've just got-to-be sure of yourself
Before you can win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who THINKS HE CAN.

(Walter D. Winkle)

The best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness;
to an opponent, tolerance;
to a friend, your heart;
to your child, a good example;
to a father, deference;
to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you;
to yourself, respect;
to all men, charity.
(Lord Balfour)

LORD, MAKE A REGULAR MAN OUT OF ME

This I would like to be - braver and bolder,

Just a bit wiser because I am older,

Just a bit kinder to those I may meet,

Just a bit manlier taking defeat;

This for the whole year my wish and my plea -

Lord, make a regular man out of me!

This I would like to be - just a bit finer,

More of a smiler and less of a whiner,

Just a bit quicker to stretch out my hand

Helping another who's struggling to stand,

This is my prayer for the whole year to be,

Lord, make a regular man out of me!

This I would like to be - just a bit fairer,

Just a bit better, and just a bit squarer,

Not quite so ready to censure and blame,

Quicker to help every man in the game,

Not quite so eager man's failings to see,

Lord, make a regular man out of me!

This I would like to be - just a bit truer,

Less of the wisher and more of the doer,

Broader and bigger, more willing to give,

Living and helping my neighbor to live.

This for the whole year my prayer and my plea -

Lord, make a regular man out of me!

(-Edgar A. Guest)

Today poetry is an absolute necessity.
The world needs it for its vitalizing strength.
Poetry came into being because of this need,
and it is perpetuated for the same reason.
Poetry has nearly everything that music can give -
melody, rhythm, sentiment -
but it has this advantage: it can come closer to the heart.
Therefore it can have a more personal and a more lasting appeal.
It satisfies a hunger for beauty
that is a part of nearly every normal person's make-up.
It recaptures vanished moments
and recreates scenes that have grown dim through passing years.
It stirs wholesome emotions
and gives glimpses across the border that,
vague as they may be, are a preview of eternal things.
It entertains,
it inspires,
and, in time of need, it comforts.
(Edward Frank Allen)

A Dancing Star

To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm; to know one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded. (R.W. Emerson)