Eugene

I heard the bells toll up on high

and from their song I knew thereby,

a saint of God came home to stay,

and all that I could do was pray

and give my thanks to God above

for one who lived a life of love.

He served his church and family well,

whose faith and conduct did compel

our souls to rise and follow suit

that we might share his joyful fruit.

He was the youngest of them all,

but in the faith he stood so tall.

His smile could stir our hearts to sing

and turn the winter into Spring.

And on his gentle smiling face

reflected glory shown by grace,

a shining light so soft and bright

it pierced the darkness and the night.

He loved so much his lovely girls,

who are their mother’s string of pearls.

They smile his smile with shining eyes

whose beauty reaches to the skies.

Blessed with courage and with strength

and like their mom can go the length;

Our prayers are with these saints of God

and for their strength we do applaud.

The days ahead will bring new light.

They’ll come on holy wings despite

the pain and sorrow now we feel

but by God’s grace our hearts will heal.

And though there still be pain to bear,

our Lord Jesus has been there.

He will lead to pastures green,

that we may see great things unseen.

And we will know this sacred time

as a moment so sublime,

when we reflected on the man

the stoutly leader of the clan.

He is so held in high esteem

we miss you so beloved Eugene.

 

Thuggery

In the course of political skulduggery,

a Party resorts to treacherous thuggery,

with blatant acts of rebellious effrontery,

and accusations of political trumpery,

with little room for an expectant recovery,

please let me attempt a most salient summary,

that Party may make an unexpected discovery,

that their cause has lead to an unruly reality.

Why then did they put us through all of this drudgery?

United We Stand

Those who label and divide

are those who have the most to hide.

It isn’t wisdom from above

nor is it born from peace and love.

The perfect wisdom of our Lord

is leading us to one accord.

For he who sees us deep within,

has love that covers all our sin,

He’s placed his watchmen on the tower

to pray and watch in this dark hour.

You say we just misread your vision.

The one which God holds in derision?

Why do you people plot in vain?

A quest for power and worldly gain?

You say you’ll burst God’s bonds asunder.

They will surely knuckle under.

We will cause them to surrender

Make them doubt and question gender.

The right to choose, then limit choices.

Drench them with destructive voices.

Right is wrong and wrong is right.

Light is dark and dark is light.

Is this the course you choose to take?

But now the people are awake,

your foolish schemes no longer work

and soon you’ll lose that secret smirk.

You charged us with most every ism,

Forgetting flag and patriotism.

 Repenting now would be most wise,

for faith and truth are on the rise.

Be warned, O rulers of the earth:

your lies have spawned our new rebirth.

When plots and evil are exposed

and foolish thoughts are then disclosed,

the lords of lies are soon disgraced.

The living Word will take their place.

Behold one nation under God

rebuilding on our sacred sod.

A sane return to rule of law

and equal justice for us all.

This is the news throughout the land.

Together we do take our stand,

 divided not by tyrants’ lies,

for faith and truth are on the rise,

uniting us in common cause.

It is our God who makes the laws

which cause the angry waves to cease.

To him we serve, our Prince of Peace.

For ever faithful, ever near,

he is the one who we hold dear.

Sweet Fifteen

Soaring on a swing so high

filled with energy and grace

she’s just so talented and spry

flowing at a fearsome pace.

Our Lily seems to do with ease

that for most would make us pause

She makes it all seem like a breeze

bringing on our loud applause.

So secure and so serene,

just to think she’s now fifteen.

And when she’s planted on the ground

her mind still soars to lofty heights.

for she just turns my head around

with smart ideas and deep insights.

Let us take a moment now

and give our praise to God above.

 That sly smile and raised eyebrow.

 Let’s us know she’s fire and love.

Halfway Home

 

I want you to know that a man with a beard

is certainly not always the man who is weird.

Our man of the hour, through thrills and some tears,

let us just say, has put on a few years.

But he ‘s not wasted his time in the least

is looking at life as one big love feast.

His life is family and friends and outreach,

with a few days off to go to the beach.

We like computers but not their connection

but this man was there at the Apple inception.

He capably connects most any peripheral,

a technical knowledge so magically visceral.

The man likes to bike but once had a wreck

he dusted himself off – right back on the trek.

A connoisseur of the stout mountain bike,

at a very early age he gave one to Mike.

One day on the trail Mike had a slight slip,

but big brother Josh was so wise and so hip.

He made the whole day an exciting adventure.

The slip was not in the least bit a quencher.

But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

He moved to Richmond for fortune and wealth,

though he probably came to chase a pooh bear.

And all I can say is that they make quite a pair.

They go out to search for new barbecue sites,

the Christmas season’s most tackiest lights,

the roaring festivals and rocking concerts,

before heading for home those good pie desserts.

Josh fathers those two most beautiful girls,

while staying alive in their fast artist worlds.

He keeps his heart young in the classic rock scene,

but he has other ways, if you know what I mean.

He’s getting some help from the Father above

and growing each day in his grace and his love.

So now he’s just a young quinquagenarian,

 well on his way to the ancient centenarian.

Bedford

I sing a song of Bedford town

a little place of great renown.

For on one awful, dreadful day

our hopes and dreams were held in sway.

The brave young men who gave their lives

so sacred liberty survives,

are now enshrined for all to see

their lasting generosity.

Nestled down among the hills

in a place that gives one chills

The men returned to Bedford town.

with all its beautiful surround.

Having given all their best

they found a sacred place to rest

from blasting shells and flashing light

for they would not give up the fight

til evil had its gasping breath

with eyes upon its looming death.

These men did die that they might give

a chance for peace to those who live.

And do not think that they regret

lest we forget, lest we forget.

D – Day

Twas not a time to hem and haw,

we hit the beach at Omaha.

Though most of us were so afraid,

before our God we all had prayed

into your hands our souls do place

we do this for the human race.

Against the surging evil tide

we plunged ahead but many died.

No greater love could we expend

to give it all for one dear friend.

You are that one to whom we gave

our life and blood that we might save

one single life of liberty.

My prayer was now “deliver me.”

Forging ahead we did not stop

climbing up the mountain top

I reached the top by his good grace

and poked the enemy in his face.

Yes, it’s good that we look back

upon our fierce D Day attack

But we should also look ahead

so truth and justice not be shred.

there is no peace without our price

undying love and sacrifice.

Lily’s Fourteenth Birthday

Master of the silks and rings

and all those other mobile things,

a girl with such a lovely smile

sets her above the rank and file.

And even on a cloudy day

her shine does find a passageway.

The art and crafts and jewelry making

are so sublime and so breathtaking

Who is this girl with such esteem,

who on this day has turned fourteen?

Her mind exceeds her age by far?

She is our bright and shining star.

 Her name means purity and love.

Our Lil is gentle as a dove,

with just a touch of whimsy wild.

An oh so bright, precocious child,

 her gifts and talent have set the pace,

to move ahead with style and grace.

Lola

You know what it feels like to be someone’s pet?

It all depends on the one you have met.

Unless you’ve selected the best of the best,

a master that’s better than just all of the rest,

and followed her home to a safe dwelling place,

then you can bark at your happy home base.

You circle around in your roomy backyard,

though not forgetting you’re still standing guard

keeping it safe for your wonderful friend.

Well I saw this new guy rounding the bend.

But I could tell by his wonderful smell

that my new home was gonna be swell.

No need to worry, I’m not on the fence,

for I could tell He’d brought on the Prince.

Well they were quickly beginning to mesh,

something bout bonding and becoming one flesh.

There’s so much I liked – the park and the pool,

I thought that first step was really so cool.

And really I loved most all of my toys,

especially when they could make the right noise.

Now I have saved the best for the end

Twas something so special about my dear friend.

You look for ways to share all of the love

before you are called to your home up above.

I’m just waiting for a glorious reunion

with unlimited days of love and communion.

 

Love Is Abandonment

Love is complete abandonment:

I give myself to you.

and  lose that old contaminant

which spawns a selfish view.

A massive disentanglement,

embracing all things new.

Love the sacred sacrament

that ever rings so true.

 

I must enlarge my living space

and make room for your beauty,

while placing self proper place

which is so small and snooty,

and yield to God’s amazing grace,

my solemn daily duty.

The answer for the human race

is love most absolutely.

 

 

 

Happy 50th Birthday

 

Coming home from far away,

it was a cold and snowy day

 

But what a joyful bright surprise

as if the sun began rise

 

A brand new bouncing baby girl,

would open up a brand new world.

 

She soon would walk before she talked

and on the hobbyhorse she rocked.

 

A member of a Scottish Clan,

she slipped outside and off she ran.

 

So sweet and nice and cheerful too,

that’s why we called her Lynnie Pooh.

 

Before I knew it – Towson High,

Growing so fast, I had to sigh!

 

Cameras, dark room, learning stick,

Just another easy trick.

 

Driving farm trucks to DC,

busy as a bumblebee!

 

Soon she was all college bound,

her studies on such solid ground

 

It was so hard to say goodbye,

I tried to smile but had to cry.

 

You’ve oh so many St. Mary’s friends,

That’s just the way a Pooh Bear tends.

 

Soon off to England, Oxford Town,

then touring landmarks all around.

 

Getting hooked on mountain bikes,

that expert classmate, uh-oh, yikes!

 

Back to St, Mary’s one more time,

A beautiful wedding so sublime!

 

Raising creative girls so smart,

their beauty flowing from the heart.

 

They each have brightened up our world,

just like their Mom, our precious girl.

 

Congrats on these girls you’ve reared

but kudos also to The Beard.

 

We long to drive to Richmond town,

and see our girls of such renown.

 

Happy Birthday our own Pooh Bear,

and thank you for your kind Pooh care.

 

Fifty years is not so old.

One is still young or so I’m told.

 

They say it makes one sweet and wise,

but oh how fast the time just flies!

A Most Happy Birthday

The moon was full and on the rise.

Twas a very pleasant surprise

when daylight dawned with brand new skies.

 

Such great joy around us swirls

Cause out came two delightful girls

who quickly change our ordered worlds.

 

What a birthday celebration,

simply beyond imagination,

to see God’s wonderful creation.

 

Two lovely girls to celebrate

on such a most momentous date

They are the twins –  each one first-rate!

 

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.

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.