Septuagenarian Sonnet

A man exceeds his four score years and ten

with flooding memories from the distant past,

reflects upon his life and starts again,

while hoping there are lessons that will last.

 

He sees the ebbs and flows along the way,

the twists and turns that never should have been,

but hopes and dreams were there for each new day.

Mistakes were made, there’s no need to pretend.

 

He is a fallen man that is for sure.

The blood of Christ does cover all his sin.

With Jesus at his side he can endure.

God’s mercy, love, and grace do underpin.

 

Now this is true for ev’ry new beginner.

Have mercy on me Lord I am a sinner.

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A Foodie

The comfort of some macaroni

is just the food to hit the spot,

but then that tasty rigatoni

is food I really like a lot.

 

It’s hard to choose just what is best

on any given day or week,

cause see I like just all the rest.

I’m going to pause and take a peek.

 

I’ll sneak in now and have a look.

Such rude intrusion she dismisses.

My wife is just a gourmet cook.

On every dish she never misses.

 

Do not come in before the time

the food is ready to be served.

Just drink this with a twist of lime

your dinner table is now reserved.

 

Now please allow me to explain

I am so much a full-fledged foodie.

I do not want to be a pain,

but can become a little moody.

 

While staring at an empty plate

with oh so much anticipation.

I do not really like to wait

when filling every expectation

 

Could this just be a Bryant thing?

Nah, I’m sure you feel this way.

Did I just hear the dinner bell ring?

Hey, the food is on the table, yah!

 

 

Ode to a Rappahannoc Oyster

So plum and so juicy, not salty just sweet,

allow me to share a most excellent treat.

Now here is how it all came about

It was divinely inspired there’s certainly no doubt.

For flowing out to the rolling Atlantic,

those nurturing waters of the calm Rappahannock,

form a most beautiful, glorious river

and produces a gem only she can deliver –

a bivalve so succulent and wonderfully tender

just lying around in such glorious splendor.

For hidden away as if in a cloister,

that curiously wonderful, magical oyster

will steal your heart and grab your own soul.

Just place it on top of a little charcoal.

It slides right on down and tickles the throat

but eating too many may cause you to bloat

So there I have warned you to limit your slurping.

avoiding any of that uncontrollable burping.

Seventeen

I recall when she was seven

and acting like she were eleven.

But now she’s all of seventeen,

though more like she is in between

the current age and twenty one.

For I am simply on the run

to stay astride this super girl

as she takes on a brand new world.

So far she’s had a rousing run

but super girl has just begun.

I’m strapping in for quite a ride,

though Rubes will take it all in stride.

My Very Own Car

 

How truly exciting – my very own car!

It far surpasses a steel stringed guitar!

It gives me the freedom to seek and explore

except on those days when I cannot ignore

when Mom sees me as her own handy gopher;

and Lily thinks I’m her personal chauffeur.

What good is a car when it’s always on call

when I could be out having a ball?

OK,  got the iTunes playlist installed

I’m driving my friends and they’re very enthralled.

I’ll just keep my feet held firm to the ground

but I’m ready to go out and do up town.

Now I must find the cheapest gas station

and try to avoid any speeding citation.

What could be possibly better by far

than driving a fully air-conditioned car?

Hey Rubes, we are proud of your great driving skill

and piloting your own car must be a thrill.

Still we remember your days in a stroller

and now you are driving a Toyota Corolla.

 

Strength and Balance

Twirling, swirling upside down

her body spinning round and round,

I’m watching such a graceful girl

about to do just one more swirl.

But now she stops high in midair,

a striking pose with such great flare.

Such strength and balance turned to art

just makes me want to be a part.

But sitting here I clutch my chair

knowing full well I should dare

stir up my wretched vertigo.

I’ll just stay here down below.

and watch our lovely Lily’s show.

With imagination set to fly,

my ancient body not so spry.

My soaring thoughts are free to roam,

But please do not try this at home.

Memorial Day 2018

Is there no greater love than this

to give one’s life to save a friend?

A man betrayed with just a kiss

was not defeated in the end.

 

His life was offered from above.

A time of hope had been unfurled.

Can we see such boundless love?

poured out upon a fallen world.

 

Can we see our nation’s flag

waving there against the sky?

Let’s gaze upon this war-torn rag

and raise our banner up on high.

 

Let us recall the men who died

in service to a noble cause?

And unlike those who would divide

shall we observe a sacred pause?

 

Thanking those who gave their all,

let this be our last refrain:

You answered to a higher call.

You did not give your life in vain.

 

The Years Ahead

 Fifty years of cheers and tears,

alas so fast the time does pass.

Streams of dreams and bright sunbeams

delight our days with rays ablaze.

Oh so sublime our time has been.

Around the bend, is that the end,

as day gives way to skies of grey?

The answer lies up in those skies

where spirits rise and falsehood dies.

To spring eternal let us cling,

The Lord will grant a brand new thing.

 

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Celebration Sonnet

The fiftieth year just seemed so far away.

But when I asked my love to come along

we shared this glorious celebration day.

Those fifty years have proven we belong.

 

Time can be a fast and fleeting thing,

 while planting seed into a day unknown.

And who can really know what life will bring?

 Yet time will tell just how our seed was sewn.

 

At times you think you’re groping in the dark

through ups and downs  and many lows and highs.

But then you know you may just hit the mark;

with God on board to help you win the prize.

 

I’m so grateful that He was our guide

 while pairing me with such a loving bride.

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Cyrus

Even though things were disjointed,

to carry out what God appointed,

Cyrus stood as God’s  anointed.

 

He might not have known the golden rule,

nor did he teach in Sunday School,

but  surely Cyrus was no fool.

 

King Cyrus made a firm decree

that fateful day in history

that soon the world would clearly see.

 

A sovereign nation be reclaimed,

as one could ponder unashamed

a government that God had framed.

 

 Even though things seemed erratic,

and some might even say schismatic,

the rank and file were so ecstatic.

 

Despite some troubling aggravation

while standing on a firm foundation,

they vowed to stay the full duration.

 

But what a strange phenomenon

when all the upper echelon

chose to stay in Babylon!

A Sonnet to Old Yorktown

Who among us now can e’er forget

when cannons filled the air of old Yorktown

as Washington swept in with Lafayette

and laid a siege against the British crown.

 

 

Tom Nelson fired upon his stately hall

headquartered by the British high command.

With cannon ball still lodged within its wall

a symbol of his own courageous stand.

 

 

Commanded by French Admiral comte de Grasse

his fleet closed traffic up the Chesapeake.

Since English warships could no longer pass,

 the planned escape was looking very bleak.

 

 

On a day that turned the whole world upside down

Our liberty was sealed in old Yorktown.

Freedom

How do we breathe free

when lying spirits choke us?

Return to the truth.

Bazaar Shopping

 

Family gifts and family shopping,

from mall to mall you just keep hopping.

If only once we could slow down

We might have time to look around.

The greatest shopping fun by far –

weaving though a world bazaar

the tiny twins were on the prowl,

to see them shop was such a howl.

From hat, to scarf, to fancy ring,

the bazaar became their special thing.

The grand kids now have taken o’er,

the world bazaar is now their store.

For them the hunt is such a thrill,

Closing in when all is still.

Bagging ’em and out the door,

No need to linger in the store.

Hurray, it’s now time to go home.

No time left for us to roam.

But wait! There must be something more.

Our Pooh went back into the store.

Fourteen Years Old

What does it take to capture fourteen

and quickly develop a whole brand new style

while sloshing down a drink from a bean.

and never losing the magnificent smile?

 

It just takes some guts and a little true grit,

and maybe an eclectic home school education,

Of course it helps to have a fine wit,

grand imagination,  and true inspiration.

 

But I remember the day you liked wagons,

so what is this thing you call Imagine Dragons?

Rapture

You see the signs up in the sky?

The silvery moon has turned to blood.

The Lord is calling from on high.

But in the days before the flood,

so many, many years ago,

not knowing what would soon come down,

the people wandered to and fro,

without a thought they soon would drown.

We cannot know the coming day,

nor can we even know the hour,

It may just seem so faraway.

Yet He will come with holy power.

And like a thief in darkest night,

he’ll come to catch away His bride.

A faithful few will make the flight,

with others grounded by their pride.

Whom the world would call the least

will soon no longer be around.

They’ll celebrate the wedding feast.

and wear a holy wedding gown.

Are we watching every day,

confessing all our sins and shame,

forgiving others on the way,

and trusting only in His Name?

Look up my friend into the sky,

Leave all concerns within the past.

Our redemption day is drawing nigh,

and soon we will be home at last.