Words Fail Me!!!

I'm waiting for a spark of inspiration

To set my willing hands to tapping keys,

But all I feel is anger and frustration.

I might as well be typing in Chinese.

I've been here hours and still I have no inkling

How to pull the words out of my head.
The stars outside my room are softly twinkling,
And soon I'll have to drag myself to bed.

I cannot seem to form the simplest phrasing,
Let alone the tempo and the rhyme.
I think I might as well try crystal-gazing!
It all seems such a total waste of time!

Oh, well! I'll just give up and go to sleep now.
My pillow calls and I cannot resist.
Sleep's soothing hand feels cool upon my fevered brow,
And there's nothing more to do now but...desist!

Laugh a Little Bit by Edmund Vance Cooke

Here's a motto, just your fit - 
Laugh a little bit.
When you think you're trouble hit,
Laugh a little bit.
Look misfortune in the face
Brave the beldam's rude grimace:
Ten to one 'twill yield it's place,
If you have the wit and grit
Just to laugh a little bit.

Keep your face with sunshine lit,
Laugh a little bit.
All the shadows off will flit,
If you have the grit and wit
Just to laugh a little bit.

Cherish this as sacred wit -
Laugh a little bit.
Keep it with you, sample it,
Laugh a little bit.
Little ills will sure betide you,
Fortune may not sit beside you,
Men may mock and fame deride you,
But you'll mind them not a whit,
If you laugh a little bit.

Storm In a Teacup?

Rain!
Not again!
Persistently pouring,
Dull, wet and boring!
Drenching my clothes. What a pain!

Pelting!
Belting!
This must be a freak
'Cos only last week
The sun was so hot, we were melting!

Teeming!
Streaming!
Shoppers with trolleys
Battling with brollies
Soaked to the skin, wetly gleaming.

Lightning!
Frightening!
A white streak of power
Strikes through the shower
Just when I thought it was brightening!

Rumble!
Grumble!
A great clap of thunder,
Like the sky's split asunder
And the whole world's starting to crumble!

It's done!
The Sun
Has battled the storm
To make the world warm.
The clouds have all gone and He's won!

Now I'm higher -
And drier!
In my favourite armchair
I won't, I declare,
Ever stir from in front of the fire!

In a Child's Eyes

Awareness of self and others.

Curiosity, an inquiring mind.

Honesty, no falsehood here!

Impishness, playful spirit.

Love, without price or condition.

Desire to please and amuse.

Sweetness of temperament.

Energy, a force of nature!

Youthful exuberance.

Expressiveness, no words needed.

Simplicity, clarity of mind and vision. 

All this to be found - in a child's eyes!

Whatever Happened to Gratitude?

Whatever happened to gratitude?

Is it dead, or just taking a break?

Could somebody tell me why "Thank you"

Is so hard a gesture to make?

When someone does you a favour,

Without thought of personal gain,

Are those two simple words too demanding?

Does it bring about physical pain?

I was taught to treat others with courtesy,

To be civil, respectful, and warm.

A casual "Cheers, mate" was frowned on.

That would have been judged as bad form.

"Cheers" is what you say at a toast!

As a platitude it sounds insincere!

If you're grateful for kindnesses given,

Say "Thanks" and you're debt will be clear!!!!

Possibilities

What lies in store for you, my love?

What does the future hold?

Will you be learned and wise, my love?

Will you do brave deeds and bold?

Will you be a teacher, my  love -

Young minds to nurture and guide?
Will you take to the law, my love
And over a courtroom preside?

Will you take to the sea, my love,
Seek out far, distant lands?
Will medicine be thy calling, love,
Healing power in your hands?

Whatever fate may bring, my love,
Of this you can be sure,
You will make me oh, so proud, my love,
For nothing can obscure
The bond twixt mother and child, my love.
This mighty love will endure!

You Are Old, Father William

"You are old, Father William," the young man said,

"And your hair has become very white,

And yet you incessantly stand on your head.

Do you think, at your age, it is right?"

"In my youth," Father William replied to his son,

"I feared it might injure the brain,

But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,

Why, I do it again and again."

"You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before,

And have grown most uncommonly fat,

Yet you turned a back somersault in at the door.

Pray, what is the reason of that?"

"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,

"I kept all my limbs very supple,

By the use of this ointment - one shilling the box -

Allow me to sell you a couple!"

"You are old" said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet,

Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak -

Pray, how did you manage to do it?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife,

And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw

Has lasted the rest of my life."

"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose

That your eye was as steady as ever,

Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose -

What made you so awfully clever?"

"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"

Said his father, "don't give yourself airs!

Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

Be off, or I'll kick you downstairs!"

Lewis Carroll