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.

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

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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