#missrubyreddress

Too Old and 5 More

We got old they say Too old to live I guess, some might say. But we lived, and live, each day In our own peculiar way. We will again, together, live some day But I grieve our brief, may it be, separation today.

Yes we kept getting older and slower and a little more deaf But we made the best of what we had left. We never gave up on life or each other We loved being father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother. We passed on our adventures, our history, Our hopes, and desires to others. We hoped to inspire, and pass down our passion for life and each other.

It was hard growing old in some ways we observed But we did it together with passion and verve. In all the years we never lost our nerve. In all the years we held steady through many a curve. In all the years in our faith we did not swerve. In all the years he was more than the love I deserved.

Maybe we did get old while still under the sun And now both of our days are nearly done. Who can say we didn’t make the most of the days. Who can say that we didn’t enjoy every bit of the sun’s rays. Who can say our lives were measured just by what we did each day. I can say that our lives were measured by the love we shared each and every way and in every day.

The Great Divide

I walked out the door without knowing. There was nothing showing. Behind the smile saying goodbye Looking into your blue eyes. There were no sighs or cries For understanding, comfort, or love. As I waved goodbye to my mourning dove.

When you left you could not see the pain What would be the gain Should you see it if let inside? Would you understand what there lies, what I hide, If I had tried? Could you understand, soothe, or love? As we waved I searched for an answer from above. You are my friend and I love you. You are my love and I befriend you. For me you are unreachable For me you are untouchable

You Were There 

I remember you did care, And maybe still do You were there every morning To walk with me to school You were there when I fell And when I left you standing alone You were there You listened You shared You were my star You helped with classes You, the team captain,  Danced with the awkward girl in glasses But that was long ago Before the sky shed its stars Tears and stars I’ve Shed so many tears And the sky its stars

The Load

Over the many years I have hid the bitter tears I’ve walked many a country and city mile Carrying a dim ravaged smile Always asking forlorn whys Always ending in morose sighs I’ve said too many goodbyes But in the end we all die

With each lost one the weight grows The burden to keep them alive in me shows One by one they’ve fallen, passed on Leaving me to carry the load a little further on If you could only see behind my eyes  My family, my friends, my loves, my ties My ties, my roots, my foundation, my truth You would see there the graveyard of my youth

It Does Not Seem That Long Ago

It does not seem that long ago That my mother held me close When my ear ached That she cried into the pillow When I was late and missing That she planned a dinner For me and my friends That she waved goodbye When I entered college

It does not seem that long ago That my father taught me  To ride a bike That my father cheered me on In every match or race That my father showed me How to help those in need That he drove 250 miles To bring me home from college

It does not seem that long ago That my grandfather played checkers with me That he was an Oddfellow And one Summer day he had a stroke That my grandmother told me Stories of years and family gone by That she had Jade plants in the windows And Geraniums on the porch

It does not seem that long ago That I took Jane to a dance It was my first date at 14 That Dianne and I stood on the steps And had our first kiss at 17 That Linda and I stood on the porch Holding each other tight at 20 That Cindy and I walked down the aisle To begin our life together at 24

It does not seem that long ago That I was called to the hospital For the birth of our first child and son That I walked the halls Waiting for our first daughter’s arrival That I sat waiting for the doctor To say the delivery went well for mother and last child That our home was filled With laughter, tears, joys, and heartaches

It does not seem that long ago That Fred and I Raced our favorite and fastest slot cars Or Canoed and Fish at the Lake That Mark, Mike, Tom and I Swam across Conesus Lake Or hitched from town to town That Jim and I sat on the school roof Just talking about growing up Or racing cars on back roads That my friends and I Played ball in the field next door Camped out all Summer long Went to Dances with our girlfriends And longed for the last day of school

It just doesn’t seem that long ago But it was

Sometimes

Sometimes I feel that I just have to write, and write, and write Things that are inane Things that are insane Things that wash away the pain

Some days I just have to go away, far away, far far away To find some rest To find my nest To find that I am blessed

Sometimes I have to sing, and sing, and sing To hear my voice To hear my choice To hear the angels rejoice

Owner of My Heart 

You were ever so wonderful to me. I wish that your face again I would see. If truth were to be told it is you I long to hold. These sentiments have been said many times before to many lost loves in many ways to ones adored. Your love will never get old. My love will never loosen its hold. We maybe far apart, but your still near in my heart. The years have passed too quickly, but I see your beauty and love clearly. The days left to us are fewer. I don’t know what lies in the future. But each day you will always be close. You will be my ballad, mural, and prose. Should we never meet again know that you are the ink in my pen. Writing the history of something treasured. You are the muse of my heart’s pleasure. You gave meaning and wonder to life,  coloring my world with your palette knife. Words fail when it comes to the heart. The love we share will always own my heart

Do You Remember Me?

Do you remember me? I’m not sure. Maybe you remember this We played in the park, just over there on the swings. We used to climb trees, ladders and everything Pretending we could reach the stars.

You do look a little familiar, But that had to be long ago. Yes it was, but it seems like yesterday. We grew a little older, leaving the swings. We walked to school together and talked about everything Looking forward to our first cars

I walked with many friends to school And we have all changed oh so much. Perhaps that is so, but some things do not change. We danced in the gym, and swam in the lake. We sat under the stars sharing our dreams, hopes and heartaches, While searching for Venus and Mars.

I do remember doing things like that. But I was so young.- and foolish, I have put all that behind me. What good are dreams and hopes? They all lead to nothing. Perhaps I knew you and we did all those things. What good is that now when all there is only loneliness. No one really cares, leaving a world of bitterness. Hopes? Happiness? Now only briefly found in bars.

Life is not here, not now. It is all back there somewhere. Back there yes, and here too. Back there we laughed, danced, and even kissed once or twice. You were my dear friend, my confidant, Someone I could trust. We graduated, parted and moved on. You east and me west. You married well, so they said. I married too, and built a nest. And all through the years I remember us looking at the stars.

Well?! Is it a lifeless house, a faithless spouse, feeling like a noisome mouse? Is that well!? Do you call that well? You can keep your stars. I stood there silent gazing into her heartsore eyes, ignoring my own loss and pain. It hurts me to see you wounded so. I wish I could have been there. You were... and still are, to me at least, a star rare. I care. Through the years fond memories of you gave me strength, solace, and cheer beyond the stars.

I remember you. You did care - and maybe, perhaps in a way you still do care. You were there every morning to walk with me to school. You were there when I fell on stage, and when I left you standing alone. You were there to listen, to share, and help me in class - and we did swim. You pushed me high on the swing, You, the team captain, danced with me, the awkward girl in glasses in the gym. But that was all so long ago, before I shed so many tears and the sky its stars.

We stood there for a minute or too, me with a shy smile, her with doleful eyes. I gently took her hand. The swings are still free, and we can soar to the sky. If only you would remember that we were once dear friends walking side by side. We played, we climbed, we danced, we talked, swam, - and kissed And we pretended that in life and in the world we would find bliss. Come with me down to the lake and we will once again relight the stars.