THOUGHTS OF AN OLDER Poems As I See Life

THOUGHTS OF AN OLDER MAN

Poems As I See LifeBy Albert C. Anderson

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Albert C. Anderson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-1005-6

Contents

PUD..........................................................1A DREAM OF HEAVEN............................................3A FEELING OF WHAT............................................5A GIRL NAMED TERESA..........................................7A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME........................................8A LOG, SOME FIRE, AND A FRIEND...............................9A PRAYER.....................................................10A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON................................11A TITLE WITH GOD.............................................12A THOUGHT OF THE PAST-PRESENT-AND FUTURE.....................14A TRIBUTE TO A DOCTOR........................................16A TRIBUTE TO KAREN AND BRENDA................................18A TRIBUTE TO MAC W. CHILDRESS................................19TRIBUTE TO MARLYN AND DAVID R CARTER SR......................21A TRIBUTE TO MAX DAUGHERTY...................................22A TRIBUTE TO RENEE...........................................23ADVICE TO A BROTHER..........................................24AGE..........................................................26ANNIVERSARY..................................................28ANOTHER EXPERIENCE...........................................30ANOTHER MIXED UP THOUGHT.....................................35BEAUTY.......................................................37BEDTIME......................................................39BLESSING.....................................................41BORN JUST TO LIVE............................................43BOYHOOD......................................................46BY GUM.......................................................49CHAIR........................................................52CHANGING OF THE GUARD........................................53CHILDREN.....................................................55CHRISTIAN....................................................56CHRISTMAS DAY 2008...........................................59CHRISTMAS DAY................................................60CHRISTMAS EVE................................................62CHRISTMAS PAST...............................................63CHURCH.......................................................65COFFEY SHOP – 62 AND OLDER.............................67COLD AND COLD ER.............................................70SURPRISE.....................................................72COLD WEATHER.................................................73DO I LOVE YOU?...............................................75DR. ROBERT BLAGG.............................................77DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES........................................78EACH AND EVERY DAY...........................................80EASTER.......................................................83EVENING......................................................86EXPRESSING SOME THOUGHTS.....................................89FOG..........................................................90FRIEND SHIP..................................................91GOD'S GIFTS..................................................95GOD'S LEASE..................................................97GOD'S LOVE...................................................98HE COMES AROUND..............................................101HEAVEN AS I WOULD LIKE TO PERCEIVE IT........................102HEAVEN YES, YES, HELL YOUR CHOICE............................104HELLO BOB....................................................106HIS AND HER GARDEN...........................................108HIS GRACE....................................................109HOSE CART....................................................110I MISSED IT, WHY?............................................112ICE..........................................................114IF ONE COULD WALK AROUND HEAVEN..............................116ILLINOIS COLD................................................118IMPORTANCE...................................................120IN LOVING MEMORY.............................................122INDIANA THANKSGIVING.........................................124IT'S COLD OUTSIDE............................................126JESUS........................................................127JESUS........................................................129JUST A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS.................................131JUST LET MY MIND WONDER......................................133KINDS OF LOVE................................................136KRISTINA.....................................................138LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ON ME...................................140LIFE (BORN INTO THIS WORLD)..................................142LIFE AFTER DEATH.............................................144LIFE.........................................................146MAN!!!!!!!...................................................148MARK'S AFTERGLOW.............................................150MOON.........................................................152MORE THAN JUST A MEAL........................................154MOTHER'S CHICKEN SOUP........................................156MOTHER'S D AY SPECIAL........................................158MY ATTORNEY..................................................160MY AUNTS AND UNCLE...........................................162MY FEELINGS OF FLIGHT........................................163MY MINISTER..................................................166MY SISTER DOROTHY............................................167MY SPECIAL CPA...............................................169NEW YEAR.....................................................170NINE BEGETTS TEN.............................................171NOVEMBER 12..................................................173NOW WHAT.....................................................176OKRA AND US..................................................179OLIVET.......................................................181ONE MEMORABLE NIGHT..........................................183ONE SPECIAL D AY.............................................184OUR DOCTOR...................................................185PEOPLE AND GOD...............................................187PEPPER.......................................................189POEM SONG NO 1 1....................................90PRAYER.......................................................191RAIN AND THE LITTLE THINGS...................................193A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON................................195REPLY TO SISTER..............................................196REUNION......................................................198RIGHT DOWN THE MID D LE......................................200ROBERT INYART................................................203ROSES........................................................204SARAH........................................................207TO A SPECIAL GRANDAUGHTER....................................208SISTER.......................................................209SNOW.........................................................211SOMETHING NEW................................................213SORROW.......................................................215SOUNDING OFF.................................................217SPAGHETTI....................................................219ST LOUIS FRIENDS.............................................220STRIFE.......................................................221SUNDAY MORNING SNOW..........................................223SURPRISE FRON ONE DAY TO THE NEXT............................224SURPRISE.....................................................226TEACHING A CHILD.............................................227THANKSGIVING 2009............................................229THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS........................................231THANKSGIVING 2008............................................233THAT SPECIAL MORNING.........................................234THE ADVENTURES OF A DROP OF WATER............................236THE BIRD FEED ER.............................................238THE BUTTERFLY................................................240THE CAT......................................................242THE EMPTY CHAIR..............................................244THE END......................................................246THE LOVE OF GOD..............................................250THE MAGIC OF SNOW............................................252THE MIND.....................................................253THE NOSE.....................................................255THE SEASONS..................................................256THE THOUGHTS THAT WERE NOT WRITTEN DOWN......................258THE VILLAGE..................................................260THERE ARE FRIEND S AND THERE ARE FRIENDS.....................263THINKING.....................................................264THOUGHTS OF SPRING LAKE......................................266TIME.........................................................269TO A LOVELY GREAT GRANDAUGHTER...............................271TO A SPECIAL GRANDAUGHTER....................................272TO BILL AND SUETTA EASTER....................................273TO THE CHILDREN..............................................275TODAY........................................................277TODAY AND TOMORROW...........................................279TRIBUTE TO WOMEN.............................................281TRIP.........................................................283TWO PIECES OF WOOD...........................................285WE TALKED....................................................287WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO CLOUD S BUMP...........................289WHAT I FORGOT................................................291WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?...........................................292WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?...........................................295WHAT IS GOING ON?............................................297WHAT IS LOVE?................................................299WHEN ONE THINKS..............................................301WHEN YOU HAVE A DOUBT........................................303WINTER TO SPRING.............................................304WONDER.......................................................305WORD S.......................................................306YOUR WORD....................................................307

Chapter One

PUD

It seems that when good things are gone
That is when you miss them most
Like when the sun has gone down
Without the light you are lost
For many years we were like one
Together we worked till the sun was gone
She was so young and beautiful with golden hair
Which she kept in a pony-tail like a gingered mare
Some times I would tease her to make it bounce
She would smile just before me she would trounce
Our home she kept so immaculately clean
When I tracked in dirt she would almost scream
Three children we had and she brought them up well
For yet today you can still see the spell
That she put upon them to teach right from wrong
Yes indeed my Pud was very strong
She seemed to find time for most every one
She did for others when they were alone
Some thought her cold in an odd sort of way
But when need be she was as soft as green grass on a hot summer day
Loyal and kind was my dear wife Jorreen
Since she passed on I can only dream
And remember the Springs, Summers, and Falls
When on the farm we seemed to have it all
The children grew up and we were alone
NO, we were together as we had grown
We had each other and GOD had us blessed
For through it all we had pretty well passed the test
We had our problems but our love did prevail
For 55 years and then her ship sailed
It sailed out of sight over the crest
There is no question at all that GOD got the best
And now that she has been gone, years almost seven
And there is no doubt that she resides in heaven
Not a day goes by that she is not in my thoughts
Like the kids I am reminded of the things that she taught
Like I said at the first, you do not realize
Till the LORD has taken away your great prize
So all one can do is go on from the past
Yes thank goodness for dreams and the fact they will last
All I can do is give praise and think that you knew
So in some form of way I dedicate these poems too you
As we used to say when things got tough
Just you and me and the LORD WE CAN HANDLE THE ROUGH

TO PUD WITH LOVE, ALBERT


A DREAM OF HEAVEN

I had a dream it was so great,
To tell you of it I would not hesitate.
I gazed into unforeseen things,
This was it, it was my dream.

It seems that in my past, many wrongs I have done,
But when I thought that all was lost I was met by GOD'S only son.

He stood before me in white robe just as the picture was
The color of his skin was not clear, it had brownish fuzz.

Upon his head a crown of thorns with blood upon his brow
And yet there seemed no pain as His hand He gave me now.

I told HIM of my many sins and the things I had done wrong
His answer was my child there are many in my home.

You see the things that you have done that were not quite right
I always knew them when you did them, but I kept you in my sight.

Some you did correct and some you could not,
But when you said your prayers at night, of repentance you had thought.

You see when GOD made you he knew you would do things wrong,
That is why they made erasers so that you could erase and then move on.

He knew you would have problems just like every human being,
But the question was did you try to do the right thing?

If you tried to help people with no real gain in sight,
Then those things GOD will think that you tried to do right.

Did you forgive those that owed you, in many cases you did
Of those whom you did not, we will have to see what HE said

You seemed to love every one that is a great attribute
That will give you good grades if it is the real truth

You understand many sins that enter into your thoughts
You really do not have to worry because I wiped them off.

When you first began to believe in ME the SON OF GOD.
It is like the bible tells you; you were cleansed by MY blood.

Well I looked all around me and the whole place seemed to glow
There were angels standing all around their robes all did flow.

Yes I heard their voices singing O so loud and clear
It was the song my mother sang (Tell Mother I will be there)

Now this is my story and it gives me peace of mind
Because this proves to me JESUS and GOD are there to help all mankind.

So just remember when you think there is no hope
THEY are always watching and will help pull you up the slippery slope.


A FEELING OF WHAT

Why do I have this feeling I do not understand
I should be able to because I am a man
You see that all through life many battles I have fought
Most of them I have won but some of them have been lost
It seems that every day when I did arise
I would put on my battle mind and go to seek the prize
I would not harm anyone in my ventures through life
But in doing battle I also had some strife
Now the things I did were sometimes right and sometimes wrong
But no matter what I did I felt that GOD was along
I always felt his presence in every thing I did
Right or wrong HE was always there for this kid
Just like a father HE was always by my side
When ever I got in trouble HE would always give me a ride
Sometimes when you tried the hardest and yet you would not succeed
God would pick you up and give you the thing you'd need
O yes there were times that you thought that HE had let you down
But if you would stop and think HIS presence would be renowned
For there is nothing on earth or the universes that surround it
That God does not control and makes all pieces fit

But as to this feeling that I have had for a few days
It seems to have affected me in the most peculiar ways
I have a feeling of a kind that is hard to explain
It is sort of like the feeling of a soft and gentle rain
I seem to feel so relaxed and want to let the days go by
The boisterous days of battle I let go by with just a sigh
I wonder why I am consoled by the simplest things
Sometimes I just close my eyes and listen to the birds sing
No this is not my usual self on this you can really
For usually I will arise and give a battle cry
Maybe my days of resting are beginning to set in
Whatever it is, I take it that God is saying, I can not win
Unless I do remember that He has led me on
And whatever I choose to do, HE I can not con
What ever this feeling is it is so very fine
And I guess that God will reveal it all to me when HE thinks that it is time


A GIRL NAMED TERESA

There was a girl named Teresa
No I did not say Lisa
I have known her all her life
Even through her days of strife
And as an uncle I can say
On this her birthday
That of her we are very proud
And I will even say it out loud
She is lovely inside and out
Of this there is no doubt
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE
You will have them for sure


A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME

A Little Bird Told Me of this special day
For Dan and Dora to celebrate in their on special way
It seems as though they been together for quite a while
And through those many years they have kept their happy smiles
I'm sure when Dan looks into her eyes and thinks of the past
He is so very happy that their togetherness did last
And when Dora looks at Dan
She thinks (yes sir he's my man)
When one has lived together for lo this many years
And been through life's sorrows, tears, and fears
You think of all Gods' blessings that on you he has bestowed
And thank the heavenly Angels that in his light you do glow
It is eight outside I know
We even had some snow
But we are inside where it is warm
You might say sheltered from the storm
We opened up the fireplace just to try it out
It was so very pretty there is no doubt
The paper and the kindling were placed upon the rack
The logs that we had cut had been added to the stack
Now all that was needed was a spark to start the fire
And when it as touched to the stack it roared just like a choir
The flames engulfed the kindling from the paper down below
And as it did your face was all aglow
The tongues of flame rose up to touch the logs
The very thought of it made one want to shed his togs
The sparks they flew with the logs pops and cracks
They made a scene just like a miniature fire works


A LOG, SOME FIRE, AND A FRIEND

As the fire warmed the room
We sat upon the couch (that is my wife and I)
We held each others hands and watched it with a sigh
The flames they grew higher and then they settled down
The wife had brought some popcorn in and she passed it around
We sat and watched the blue flames licking at the logs
And then there were the red ones that devoured them like a hog
But pretty soon as the embers glowed in rest
The wife and I began to cuddle her head upon my chest
This was the first time that I had sat and watched the fire
There was something about it that I had to admire
You see it seemed like life itself that stars off with a roar
And after it has made its show one wonders what it was for
And like the burning embers we sort of settle down
And we sometimes glow a little bit and sometimes just settle down
As one gazes into the glow you will imagine many things
If you look hard enough it will make your memory ring
But I must admit that I have never felt so warm
Just sitting there with popcorn and my honey in my arms
And then one stops and thinks just how can this solace be
It is only by the grace of God, and the fact that he set me free
Because just like I said never in my life
Have I been able to shed my strife?
Until God showed me, me
I am so glad that now I appreciate things because now I can see


A PRAYER

We thank the LORD for this fine day
And all the things that you have sent our way
The sunshine and the balmy breeze
The green grass that under the snow you leave for us to see
The health that you have left us with
So that we may enjoy the life you give
To us to live from day to day
With hope that we will follow your ways
The food that we have upon our plate
When many are with out of late
We know that the economy is not so good
Mainly because we have not done what we should
We all are guilty of greed
And did not your words of caution heed
So now we must pay the price
And that is only right
But even though we have made mistakes
You have still given us a break
Hoping against hope that we will repent
And realize the rules we have bent
So I will say to you O LORD.
You do give us more than you should
And we do appreciate the blessings we have received
And will try in the future, you to please
AMEN


A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON

When at night
By city lights
You see a beauty of the world
As the snow comes down in swirls
The city lights reflect on the snow upon the ground
And makes so one can see like daylight all around
Turn on the porch light
And watch the snow float down so white
Like a goose just flew over
And dropped so many feathers
As they swirl down to the ground
With out the least little sound
And they settle down to rest
Each one different than the rest
Makes me think of all the people in the world
And the different things that they fulfill
They also are not alike
In looks, color, or height
But they all in the end
Lay down together my friend
For every thing was not made the same
Nor does every thing have the same name
But each and every one has its place
And it is because of GODS GRACE
For nothing on this earth be
Except by the will of HIS ALMIGHTY
So when you look around you may see
The one who will end up lying by the side of thee


A TITLE WITH GOD

LORD GOD in heaven I pray to you this day
I try to do it often in many different ways
Over the years I have tried to understand
The many things you tell me that will make me a better man
Sometimes it seems as plain as day
And other times it just fades away
I think that I try to do
The things you want me to
But I am also wise enough to know it is true
That I do not always follow through
I thank you for the blessings that you have bestowed upon me
And I never paid a thing for them as you gave them to me free
There is no doubt about it they were really not deserved
And why and how through my actions you have ever cared to persevere
What you have given unto me I cannot begin to repay
All that I can try to do is to love you every day
When I have had some problems you were always there
And when I asked your help somehow I new that you were there
Some people think that I do not believe enough
Because I question things about the bible and that sort of stuff
Well it is not that the belief part that I think over
And I feel that when I question things you will make sure that I see no other
Some say that you are the best GOD that there is around
Now when I hear this I do not even like the sound
For as far as I believe there is no other
So why would any one even this statement bother
My problem LORD is that I am not sure at all
Just what it is that I must do to really not fall
Others seem so certain that they are in your good grace
Of this I am not certain no matter how I run the race
One day I feel as though I can really have the hope
The next I wonder as for your assurance I cope
Well GOD I am so glad that we could have this talk
No you did not speak a word allowed
To me so that I might be so proud
As to tell the world JESUS spoke to me and I heard his word
But I feel that you have spoken and some how I understood
Yes I will keep on with my beliefs until you tell me where I am wrong
And when you tell me so it will not take very long
To change my thoughts and actions to what you want of me
Just open up my eyes dear LORD so that I can see
I guess that I will say LORD, Show me the way so that YOUR WILL may be done
And if you make it clear to me DEAR FATHER, I will try to be your son


A THOUGHT OF THE PAST-PRESENT-
AND FUTURE

As one gets older and begins to look around
He finds some things in his past that he has done wrong
The things that you did not do and let pass by
When now you look at them you sometimes want to cry
I find that during my lifetime the things that I did miss
Can never be recovered no matter how much you wish
What I refer to that has just hit me in the face
Was a trip I made back to another place
A journey to Wisconsin to see some of my kin
They were my uncles and my aunts
About my age but I had not seen since I wore short pants
Really it had been 35 to 40 years
And when I met them I just had to shed some tears
They seemed so glad to see me and I felt the same
The fact we had not got together more we agreed it was a shame
Now the fault was all mine
Because it seemed that I never had the time
There were other reasons but I could have passed them by
But whatever they were I still should have tried
I had a more wonderful time than I can remember
And the things that we talked about were like a fire with glowing embers
When I think of all the fun I missed I was pretty sad
But I will tell you now that for this trip I am very glad
Now I am 78 in age and they are 82
And I will guarantee that the visits are not thru
All the things that seemed so important before
Are now nothing but past lore
And this new joy that I have found makes me feel so sublime
I can think of no better way to have spent my time
These people that I had not seen brought me life anew
I never laughed so much; you would have thought that I had home brew
Now I write this in appreciation for what they did for me
In many ways it sort of seems like they have set me free
So if any one reads this I would highly recommend
Before you get as old as me associate with your friends
For work is important because you have to eat
But really it is your friends that will keep you on your feet
They are thinking of you when you do not realize
And of all the things in life worth having they are the PRIZE


A THOUGHT

I got up this morning and what did I think
It won't be long till I make that link
To the pictures that I have seen
That gave me many a lovely dream
It's just tomorrow when I shall see
The beautiful thoughts that haunt me
The thoughts of the lady that I must love
She must be sent from heaven above
She is not an angel I am sure
But to me she is pure
Beauty and ecstasy all rolled into one
She must be a Delilah and I must have some
She has driven me crazy as a loon
She has me eating out of her spoon
The lovely voice I hear on the phone
I just can't wait till I get home
And put it with the pictures I will be blessed
Because I believe Lord, I will have best

(Continues...)

Excerpted from THOUGHTS OF AN OLDER MANby Albert C. Anderson Copyright © 2011 by Albert C. Anderson. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.