by Laurie Lyle
You will suffer mental, emotional problems and strain
Maybe even injury or death, yet you go even though you know
It is a stout heart that pounds within the cavity of your chest
With patriotic spirit, you do what is best, securing a nation and its people
You go to the front line, the ultimate test
For service you serve, we have got the bravest, finest, and the best
You keep our flag flying there, high atop the crest
You make us proud to know for us you go, you passed the extreme test
So much courage, zeal, energy, and zest; we produced the bravest, we are blessed
When your work is done, come home, fearless soldier, and take your rest
We must not dwell on the price that some may pay
Dead, sick, and wounded at the end of your very long day
Our hearts and spirit are with you, for you we pray
That you will come home, hell or high water, come what may
We love and care for you, our veterans, in such a wonderful way
We are at your beck and call, you served unselfishly
You sacrificed—and gave your all
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
It was Easter, the time of year that some people gave something up for the Lenten period. Squiggly, Mumpai, and Dinty were spending the holidays with their grandmother in her quaint little house with the vegetable garden and fruit trees in the back; they were happy to be in the country and did something new every day they was having such good times. The fresh air and free spirit of country living had them dizzy with happiness. One day they were home, Grandma had gone to the market when a sweet fruity sent wafted through the air and assailed their senses. They threw their heads back and, like zombies, wandered around, peeking under here, peeking over there, with their eyes trained on their noses, which was leading them. They finally ended up in an unoccupied room at the back of the house; under a table was a large trunk. They gathered around and sniffed whatever it was that was in that trunk, and it was tempting. They prodded and poked at it until finally it opened. Beneath some old newspapers were the prettiest and ripest bananas they had ever seen. Instinctively, their mouths started to water. “Okay,” said Mumpai, “we will each take one banana, one from different hands on the bunch, so Grandma will not notice.” After the first banana, which tasted so good they just could not resist, instinctively they all reached in, plucking another banana. This happened about five times, after which they retreated to the yard where they sat under a big tree. Then reality hit them suddenly. “Grandma is going to skin us,” said Dinty. “I think she is going to drown us,” said Squiggly, and they looked guiltily at each other. When Grandma came home later that evening, they ran to her, taking her bags, opening the door for her, and when she sat down, Dinty took her shoes off and gave her a foot rub while Squiggly massaged her shoulders. This is nice, Grandma thought. The children were not so nice when they were here last year, they are really growing up. It was that night Aunt Josephine visited. She was about to leave when Grandma said, “Wait, I have some ripe bananas that I have been saving for you.” The children looked at each other in dismay and excused themselves. She went to the back room. After rummaging about, she came back with consternation in her eyes; she found the children and demanded, “Which of you ate my bananas?” “Don’t know, Grandma,” “Don’t know, Grandma,” and “Don’t know, Grandma.” They were having dinner when Grandma stated, “I hope whoever ate my bananas vomit their stomach out.” Suddenly Mumpai’s hand flew to her mouth. She gagged and dashed for the door. Squiggly and Dinty also did the same thing. They were braced against the fence, and they were all vomiting violently. Grandma was also alarmed. She mixed some concoction that she gave them to drink to stop the vomiting. After a while, it stopped. They were all seated on the couch inside, side by side. Granma again repeated, “Who ate my bananas?” This time, all three heads bobbed up and down vigorously. “Aha!” said Grandma. “I don’t think you three will ever take anything again without first asking.” They all looked up sheepishly and deliberately crossed their hearts.
FOSTERING CARE
There was three but what they did not know
There was another that made four
Mother went into the hospital pregnant for sure
But when she came out she was alone people across the way heard her moan
She left a little one behind could not feed another just could not take more
She bowed her head and stood there leaning against the closed door
She slowly crumpled and lay there on the floor her hands on her stomach
It hurt so bad to leave a little one you carried it is a crime just being poor
Left to a future of which you are not sure
Her hands were tied she tried to undo the restraints
A futile feat she tried to defeat
Little Patricia went into foster care
She was not satisfied for a moment while there
She was curious and continually asked the question why me
There was more to her and she was going to find out she had no fear
She tried for a couple of months maybe some years
Until reunited at last the missing links of the chain she found
She solved a puzzle and a mystery with her insistence and diligence
Her biological mother clasps her hands and prays
Lord release me from this shame and all this pain
She is forgiven and is showered with wide hugs and lavish kisses
WISDOM OF ADOPTION
Her husband had a dairy farm in the country
Whenever he leaves on Monday morning
He usually stays gone until Friday evening
It was during one of these absences that she ran into
An old flame from her high school days
They were happy to see each other to be together
Their hearts fluttered wildly as they got closer and closer
She said no but it was weak as she moved her lips closer to his
She lost the will to resist the serpent intervened and won
The delicate forbidden fruit was lasciviously devoured
They smacked their lips savoring the last delectable morsel
It was a few weeks later she started to have morning sickness
Then to her surprise she started to put on weight
In dismay she realized what was happening she had two children
All these happenings she kept a secret from her husband
She wore girdles and loose clothing and exposed herself little
They had not had relations in a while and she knew the worst
She gave birth alone early one morning she cleaned the baby
Wrapped it in a blanket and placed it on the steps at her front door
Shortly after her oldest daughter who was leaving for school
Discovered the baby and ran back to tell her mother
They called the police who handled it like an abandoned child
They in turn called the Department of Children’s Affairs
The baby was taken to the hospital where she spent several days
Every day the biological mother visited the child and spent a lot of time with her
One day the children’s officer came in unexpectedly and
Saw her feeding the baby from her swollen breasts; she looked at her and saw the
Pain in the mother’s eyes. It was then that she broke down and told her the story
The officer was sympathetic and promised to do what she could to ease her pain
The child was up for adoption, and she helped her to fill out the
Paperwork. It went before the courts, and she was award
ed custody
She was so happy the baby was taken home and welcomed by all the family
Her husband loved the child with a passion and welcomed it as his own
The truth is only known by two people: the children’s officer and the mother
For now the web is not tangled; the family lives in perfect harmony.
NECESSARY ERRANDS
Back in the day there was one girl who used to
hang out with
Our inner circle of friends she lived with her mother and stepfather
For the time being she is named Sheila
One day she was not in a particularly good mood and was indignant
She said my mother sends me all the way across town
To buy things available up the street
This happens all the time whenever I am out of school
It would take me ten to fifteen minutes to walk up the street
It takes me anywhere from one to two hours to take the bus and go across town
They are the same things same brand
Same milk same bread same biscuits same everything
I know whenever she is about to send me out
She has that look in her eye and keeps glancing at Father
Who is getting all the special treatment?
Whenever I get home from these errands
She is most times just getting out of the shower
All fresh and bubbly she is like a different person she is light and happy
She makes my ears hurt from her high soprano singing
Then she asked you guys what do you think they do?
We had already formed opinions as to what happened while she is away
But none of us opened our mouths none would say
If all the world was doing whatever they do
There would be less crime hostility and wars on the earth
Because the whole world would be in love
And would be making love testing it or making out
You could stay across the globe and hear shouts moans and groans
Of blissful accomplishment as they blast the fabric of the stratosphere
And it would not hurt the ear this joyful experience to hear
I HEAR VOICES
Let the voices of the Egyptian people be heard
As it echoes resounding around the hearts of people everywhere
It carries a painful and insistent message which we all hear
The quiet dignity and beauty of its people step aside
A monster emerges and rears its ugly head
Then moves forward and takes its insistent stand
The beginning in a chain of events to achieve their goal
Of social economical and political stability
They bonded to bring justice to themselves
As peace was ushered into a seat along the sidelines
They raised their shoes in defiance against a monarchy and oppression
They have had enough of this decay and decline
They overcame the fear that suppressed their will
Which triggered their consciousness and set them in motion
They will fight for a way of life for which they longed and dreamed
Their daring ambitious resolve of knowledge and resource
Is at the forefront as they push forward to fulfill an agenda
To oust those who do not do what needs to be done
Activated reaction as they work to avoid the pain of humility
Now the pro and anti meet and there is confusion mayhem and chaos
For all those gathered there in the street and at Liberation Square
FOR POSTERITY
You have just taken your virtual tour of the world
This realm in which we live
You have visited interesting and fascinating places
Along with the tedious and boring
Visited the good and the bad
Experience love and hate
The many different routes of unusual fate
You have dwelled in the hearts and minds of its people
Experienced the things they do
The games they play
Your curiosity is at its height
It is human nature to know
This stokes our intuition
We yearn to learn more
So we can feed the insatiable appetite
Of our inquisition
So we hoard our treasure of knowledge
Which will not be concealed?
This we will pass to all descendants
And future generations
JUST LOVE
When hearts are young then thoughts are free
There is beauty in everything I see
Insistent rhythm consistent beats for me
Propelling me on to be what I want to be
Breaking the shackles setting me free
Love wonderful love pouring out of me
Do not ever go away don’t let me be
Everywhere I look everything I see
Remind me of you looking back at me
I will be your servant I will kneel on my knee
To be in your arms intoxicated and free
You are my life the pin up on my wall
I pamper and spoil you at your every call
You the fluttering wind invading my quivering sails
Great wide divide I am travelling with you right by my side
Harmonious sounds vast blue waters the most wonderful hue
Uncharted course sailing just room for two
Where the sky meets the sea that’s where we will be
No tracking of the endlessness of time
Just serenading symphony of love-filled hearts
Our eyes engage reflections of love that’s all we see
PARTY TIME
In this rare tropical sunset
Let us dance bring on the sweat
Until the starry night comes
When the sun hides itself from the moon
Bodies moving swaying striking electrifying
Sweet music playing loud and blaring
As the tempest rise in our eager souls
Revolving psychedelic spotlight bright
Transient migration of love in star-filled night
Spotlight of ourselves
Which we hide out of sight
As we build castles of dreams in the starry night
Our world is small or so it seems
In our everlasting castle of humongous dreams
Dancing together hearts filled with desire
Heated bodies infused urgent emotion
Under midnight concealment of darkness
Wild abandoned we found it we got it
The sweetest the nicest and the best
PEACEFUL PEACE
Bring peace unto mankind and earthly life
With ingredient of serenity your number one spice
Small sips of vintage wine amid all the strife
