A sample of poems from the book
FROM AN EAGLE'S VIEW
Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly free,
To see the world as far as the eye can see,
To view the surroundings from high and from low,
To hear only the sound of a distant echo,
To float in the air with the wind being your guide,
To admire many rainbows that the trees tend to hide,
To see the misty mornings over a beautiful mountaintop,
To glide over a flowing river that never seems to stop,
To watch the animals from over a mile away,
Or to rise above the treetops that glisten in the day?
If you were an eagle you would wonder no more
For it can see things you have never seen before.
Next time you look into the sky of blue,
Think of what it's like from an eagle's view.
Stacy Smith © 2000
AUTUMN
Autumn is the time when leaves fall to the ground.
A whispering wind can be heard from all around.
The many shades of green change to shades of red and gold.
It helps to prepare us for the upcoming cold.
The campers try to enjoy their last camping trip of the year,
For they know the warm weather will soon disappear.
It is a time when families come together and enjoy a long trail,
And admire the beautiful colors, some bright and some pale.
When the leaves are on the ground parents rake them in a pile.
Then children jump in it and play with a smile.
All the pumpkins of orange will lie in a patch,
For the children to pick and find costumes to match.
Autumn is a reminder that another year soon will end,
Cherish this lovely season and make it your friend.
Stacy Smith © 2000
A COUNTRY BAND
With my son age four and my daughter six,
I was hoping that soon they would see how colors mix
To make a band of pastels up in the sky
After the rain has passed on by.
It happened today while on a country drive.
I was so happy to see this band of colors arrive.
Stretching above the treetops it was pretty as could be.
It really topped off all of the country scenery.
It wasn't even half of an arch but it was nice to see,
And I'm glad my kids were there to share this sight with me.
They both smiled widely and much happiness they did show.
They finally had the chance to see the glory of a rainbow.
Stacy Smith © 2000
A MASTERPIECE
A brisk morning walk
invigorates each breath
as air becomes smoke
with every single step.
Crunchy snow underfoot
is music to my ears;
razor-sharp wintry air
induces frosty tears.
Out of every chimney
with wondering eyes I see
breaths of swirling images
of family love and unity.
Snowflakes of diamond crystals
glistening all around me
create magical powers
that set my heart free.
God our loving Creator
adorns our land in white
to show us nature's purity
with His majestic might.
Madeleine Armstrong © 2000
OUT OVER THE OCEAN
We set sail, out over the ocean today,
Just to enjoy the view as we passed time away.
Upon our sailboat we lounged around,
Out in to the ocean where our sail was bound.
Such a beautiful day enjoying the sea and sun,
Out over the ocean, to just have some fun.
We stood side by side, looking over the sea,
As you showed me things before, I never did see.
Dolphins were playing right close to our boat,
Jumping and splashing, and just staying afloat.
Such beauty before me, I'd never seen before,
Starting with two dolphins then so many more.
The ocean was so calm, and the air was too,
This vision before us, was so very new.
I grabbed my camera to take a few shots,
Amazing pictures that turned into lots.
Snap, snap, snap each picture I would take,
As these dolphins seemed to never take a break.
Such a wonderful day upon the ocean so blue,
Was enjoyed so much, between me and you.
Out over the ocean as the sun set down,
We watched the dolphins as they danced around.
A beautiful day it turned out to be,
Out over the ocean, just you and me.
Wanda Stirewalt Starnes © 2000
THE BREATH OF SPRING
The Breath of Spring rushed by me
Through the kitchen window pane
And with it came the giggles
Of the children down the lane.
My lace curtains breathed in and out
And swirled the perfume from a rose
That climbs along our backyard fence-
The sweet scent delights my nose
The sweet melody of a lark came in
The notes hung very near
And parted my lacy curtains
And softly whispered in my ear
Spring entered through my window
Much to my elation
I had to lay my kitchen tea-towel down
And accept an invitation
Shelley D. Sparks © 2000
THE FALLING LEAVES AND LIFE
All colors have faded on the weather-worn leaves,
Which, reaching their lives' final stage,
Relinquish their holds on the ancient oak tree,
And succumb to the pressures of age.
A gentle breeze catches them one after one
And tenderly nudges them around
To appear they are tiptoeing about in the air
While they flutter and float to the ground.
A few leaves tenaciously cling to the tree,
Although they are shriveled and dry,
But the others they follow and soon spiral down
To land on the pile where they lie.
The leaves have returned to the earth whence they came,
Enhancing the soil they have fed
And providing the space in their brief cycle span
For new life to appear in their stead.
Shelby M. Forrest © 1997
STORMY JUNE NIGHT
Would this June storm wash the veil from my eyes
approaching dark clouds bring me to my feet
lightning dances across the darkened skies
the musky scent of rain on hot concrete.
Blessed cool wind from the north hits my skin
senses alive, energy in the air
drifting back to those days of youth again
Mother Nature, in her glory, laid bare.
As thunder rumbles across the meadowland
amid the tempest, treetops twist and sway
for nature's force is not ours to command
its terror breaks the searing heat of day.
The night has stilled, the air is cool and sweet
balanced once again, earth and sky, complete.
Rita Carrington Bryant © 1998
