Ruth

Ruth, you’re gone

From this earth

And we’ll miss you so

But the memories of you live on

Your words had been written

Your poems sung

Your touch is not to be forgotten

Your influence is felt

One mourns of your passing

And marvels at your blessings

Your life was rich

Your work was dandy

One sings the glory

Of your life fulfilled

You’d not want tears shed

For you’re now at peace

You’d want us to smile

And dance to our heart’s desire

You’d want each of us

To make a happy sound

With an instrument if we would

Or any way we could

To add to the chorus

You must be conducting

Be brave you’d tell us

There’s work to be done

Don’t dwell on sadness

But celebrate what’s fine

We bid you farewell

And heed your advice

We will think of you

Whene’er music is played

Your legacy’s alive

In the Volkert, now and always

A Cup of Ginger Tea

I was having a tummy ache. Lan told me to make myself a cup of ginger tea.

I am nursing myself with

A cup of ginger tea

It is soothing

It calms my nerves

That got wracked somehow

It’s a cup with many hearts

Each one represents

A love I feel somehow

Someone  

Across the miles

Is thinking of me

Someone

Who is far away

Has not forgotten me

Someone

Will write me a note

Or sing me a song

Someone

Will whisper my name

When darkness falls

Someone

Wants me to hold her hands

When they’re cold

I will be there

To be someone’s love

I will bring her

A cup of ginger tea

As a token

Of my love

Remembrance at Thanksgiving

We gather here, you and me

Giving thanks for the things we hold

For the love we’ve touched

And the time we’ve shared

We make memories to be remembered

When we’re together

We paint our lives with many colors

With strokes sometimes bold

Other times soft and slow

When our hearts are broken

We lean on each other

When joy brings us together

We laugh till our hearts are filled

When the moon rises

We marvel at the night

When the sun warms our earth

We treasure what’s given

When love is lost

We know it once was found

And we were the fortunate ones

Who had experienced it

At all

Solace

A reflection on Sunday 11/13/2016

I was in search of solace

Away from the jeers and cheers

I felt like being upside down

In a world that aligned with me not

I found myself deep in the woods

Where only a few mortals care to trod

In the clean air I felt God

Granting me the calm I sought

With my camera I captured colors

Of orange, yellow, red, and green

Which glowed under the autumn sunray

Where the cool air warmed and dispelled distress

I took tea from the Drink Me cup

A souvenir from a magic time

It served well in mending my heart

I felt better amid the confusing time

Today’s sermon was of planting a tree

When one feels the end of the world is coming near

For hope is eternal, faith is clear

God’s grace will keep you safe from fear

Collage 34

In our land the trees don’t turn

Different pretty colors from green

The weather stays warm

When the autumn wind turns

But Texas pumpkins grow lushly

Whether they are big or small

And the spirit of Halloween

Is welcomed by Dad and Mom

We dressed up in costumes

To romp around pumpkin patches and everywhere

We chose a few lucky pumpkins

And carved them with an artistic flair

Scary faces they look

But their manner is fair

We turned a special one into Darth Vader

In a shiny black armor

We strolled the street for trick-or-treat

In the twilight we went to sleep

That was not the only delight

We had when November drew near

There were birthdays to celebrate

We observed them in our country home of Sealy

The food was plentiful

The air was fresh

The wind was warm

With a touch of chill at night in the air

We got thrills from the rides on the farm

The fish in the creek said no to our fishing game

We hope they’ll say yes

The next time we want to play again

What fun it was for all of us to be together

It is surely best to have a birthday in October

First Birthday

My beautiful angel

You grew so fast

It was just a year ago

When I was there, at your birth

Had time stood still

I’d be the familiar face

You’d turn to

I could hold you

In your contentment

I could gaze into your face

Looking at the calm blue eyes

And smile with you

When your smile melts my heart

Time marches on

And I am eagerly awaiting

The time you’ll talk

And tell me many things

The time you’ll hold my hands

With love in your eyes

The time you’ll touch

On purpose

The time you’ll say

I love you too, Bà Ngoại

And I’ll cry

Happy tears

And laugh with you

As you grow

Through many birthdays to come

Wake-Up Time

After a day of travel to a country home in the heart of Texas, far from our suburban home in another state, we went to sleep easily. We were still in bed when a boy ran into our bedroom. “Wake-up time,” he said. He was full of life, full of potentials, full of everything a young boy ought to have. We stirred, wanting to linger in dreamland. He pulled the curtain open. “It’s light outside,” he said. We relished the memories he brought, of two little girls and a little boy – rousing us from our slumber on a Christmas morning.