Courage and Onward

 

Some folks that strive get all the breks

While others strive and get heartaches.

If you are in the latter class

Don’t groan. Someday, this, too will pass,

Just buckle down for all you’re worth

For there’s no waste on this old earth.

I’ve pondered long and it is clear,

There’s some good reason why we’re here.

Tears don’t help so no use crying;

Time is better spent in trying,

Lift up your thought, and then your feet

We’ll go prancing up the street,

Throw out your chin and see it through

“Cause, man, there’s nothing else to do !

Boats Sail on the Rivers

Boats sail on the rivers,

And ships sail on the seas;

But clouds that sail across the sky

Are prettier far than these.

There are bridges on the rivers,

As pretty as you please;

But the bows that bridges heaven,

And overtops the trees,

And builds a road from earth to sky,

Is prettier far than these.

Building a Skycraper

They’re building a skyscraper

Near our street.//

Its height will be nearly

One thousand feet.//

It covers completely

a city block.//

They drilled its foundation

Through solid rock.//

They made its framework

Of great steel beams/

With riveted joints

And welded beams.//

And swarm of workmen

Strain/ and strive/

Like busy bees

In a honeyed hive.//

Higher and higher/

The tall tower rises/

Like Jacob’s ladder/

Into the skies.//

James S. Tippett

New Friends and Old Friends

Many new friends, but keep the old.

Those are silver, these are gold.

New made friendships are like new wine,

Old friendships are those that have stood the test.

Time and change are surely best;

Brows may wrinkle, hair may turn gray.

Age will mellow and define.

Friendships never know decay.

For mid old friends, tried and true

Once more we can our youth renew

But old friends,alas! may die,

New friends must then supply.

Cherish friendship in your breast

New is good, but keep the old

Make new friends, but keep the old,

Those are silver, these are gold.

Manners

It’s very rude to cough or sneeze

And not to say “ Excuse me , please .“

And Nursie says it makes her wild

To see a badly brought up child.

You mustnt’ push when in a crowd

You musnt’ talk out very loud,

You musnt’ lean against the sail,

You musnt’ bite your fingernail,

You musnt’ leave an open door,

You musnt’ stamp upon the floor,

And if they question you a lot,

It’s rude to answer, “ What?”

And children ( this is quite absurd )

Must all be seen, but never heard,

It surely, surely can’t be right,

For you must speak to be polite.

Three Friends (Anonymous)

Where I go, I meet them

They bow, they nod, they wave,

They seem so nice and friendly.

So  tall, and strong,and brave.

The bamboo is a lady,

As stately as a queen;

The coconut is a dandy,

Dressed in the coolest green.

The mango tree is a king, indeed,

With a large and massive crown;

The fire-tree is a princess,

And the caballero tree, her clown.

Bearing beautiful, lavender blossoms,

Banana plants make our roads bright

So does the kakawate tree,

So with her flowers pink and white.

From these friends I learn a lesson

A lesson that never shall die:

Plant your feet firmly in the earth,

But lift your head and heart to the sky !