In a still dark and frigid room-
awakening those mornings-
to the ash grate being shook down-
and the smell of wafting coal smoke-
coal smoke that would inevitably escape

The time has passed so quickly by,
where have the years flown to-
since I heard your very first cry,
and also was the first to hold you.

As I look back on childhood days,

Murphy’s Law, one might recall-
expressed in simplest form-
states if failure is possible to befall-
it eventually will and that’s the norm.

I have personally tested Murphy’s Law-

Three in the kitchen
baking American pie-
one George too many.

Took years to fashion
many lives lost to defend
going down rat-hole.

Many to choose from
bottom of barrel scraped up

Why does my computer
Feast on the documents-
That I have saved-
to or as-
I know not where-
Although I swear-
By all common sense-
That I can retrieve them any time hence-

Blind are those that cannot see
the reversed reflections of the times.
Not only blind but also naïve,
naïve as dumb animals led to slaughter.
Realizing not-
they become victims of the times-

Cackling old hens-
thinking themselves angles of light-
lay poisonous eggs filled with lies
and gestating hate-
riling against common sense
and the rooster crows at noon.

When I look into the mirror
and gaze upon this ageing face-
it suddenly occurs to me
it’s not the one you might recall,
from a far distant time and place.

But I have a mental image

Time is a thief-
a thief that steals dreams-
then youth-
and finally life.
Time is an enemy-
an enemy that cannot
be appeased-
defeated-
or forestalled-
only sacrificed to.

You can see it in the eyes-
when childhood innocence dies-
walls are built-
to hide the guilt-
when childhood innocence dies.

You can hear it in the lies-
when childhood innocence dies-

Remove Christ from Christmas and all that’s left-
is a meaningless Xmas at the best.
If this is your desire then be my guest-
but why try to impose this on the rest?

To the tune of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem:

To shepherds watching o'er their flocks
angles appeared on high,
to proclaim the good news, the birth
of our savior is neigh.

In times of trouble and times of sorrow-
beseech we God for a better tomorrow.
And in times of war and in times of strife-
we call upon our brave soldiers to fight.

Little eyes are watching-
watching you night and day-
and little ears always
hear every word you say.

Little hands are eager-
to try every thing you do-
and a little boy dreams-

I will never win a spelling be-
but that’s all rite you sea-
I have this grate spell checker
that came with my PC.
It plainly marks for my revue
any spelling errs for me.