Self Composed Epitaph By Glenn K.

Here lies Glenn K.
Let everyone cry
Let everyone weep
We thought he was dead
But he was only asleep

-Glenn Arthur K.
5th Grade-1972

Message

secrets of the spirit
sing in the wind,
listen very closely ...

your heart will mend.

Amy K.
May 2007
Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

I'll Never Forget You Dear

I think of you in the sunshine,
I dream night and day of you.
When all the world is silent,
And the stars shine out in the blue

And wheather the hours are golden
Or weather the day be drear,
It seems you're beside me always-
I never forget you dear!

I see your eyes in the stars, love.
I hear your voice in the sea,
The spell of your tender presence
Goes over the world with me.

And distance cannot divide us,
Though far away, or near,
In my heart of hearts you dwell, love,
I never forget you dear!

The stars may forget their places,
The day may forget to break:
The flight of the hours may alter,
The rose may forget to wake.

But love that is true is forever,
Not a day, nor a month, nor a year;
To the end of the world I love you,
I never forget you dear!

-W.C. Harris
Long Branch West Virginia
1876-1936

We Are Builders

(y)our words
hold a mighty power
to build up
and to tear down

maturation
of the spirit
gives the strength
to control the impulse
to destroy

so the gifts
of words
and wit
and wisdom
and where-with-all

aren't used

in a harmful way.

we can give
kindness
love
forgiveness
gratitude
praise
hope
empathy
caring
understanding

with our words

on
purpose.

(thank you God.)

-Amy K.
February 2008
Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

Light & Shadow

A startle
of cats by
Midnight
outside
my cold
window>
No moon
to light
the cherry
blossoms.

4/16/2009

--

Heaven
brought a
late Summered
rain> I’ll
wait [again]
for your poem/
August darkens
just beyond
my window.
Carefully above
the blood
withered petals of
forgotten roses,
a spider still
spinning.

T. Byron K.
8/27/2009
Blue Ridge Mountains,
Virginia

The Ancient World

The Ancient World

Mesopotamia, with two rushing rivers, refreshing the land as they flow by

And towering ziggurats that rose into the light sapphire sky.



Egypt, with god-like pharaohs upholding justice and mercy,

And historic pyramids, lavish tombs for long departed kings.



Israel, with God’s divine law given to Moses upon Sinai Mountain,

And the sacred temple furnished with gold and royal purple curtains.



Babylon, with the guarded Ishtar Gate and its ornate tiles of blue,

And the majestic Hanging Gardens, where there may have been a Giant Timber Bamboo.



Greece, with mythological gods, who lived on Mount Olympus,

And herculean athletes, who hurled the spear and discus.



Rome, with powerful emperors, often cruel and corrupt,

And organized armies, infrequently walloped.



The Ancient World,

Spiritual, fascinating, and treasured.

Alaina Malise K.
2012 (age 10)

Untitled

Let Poet's rave about first love,
The maiden's blush exalt above
All else that mortal lips and eyes
Can feast upon beneath the skies;
But give to me that love secure
That speaks through eyes and lips mature;
With days of youthful romance past
And hearts have found true love at last.

Let men of all the ages sing
Of thrills the first sweet kiss can bring:
How maidens young shy and sweet
Have swept young men from off their feet;
But let me have that lingering kiss
Which carries rapture, joy and bliss
To every fibre of the heart,
From her who truly knows the art.

What matter now the other arms
Enfolded her-enjoyed her charms?
What matter now the other's lips
Once met hers and sweet nectar sips?
To have her turn from all the rest
And say "Sweetheart, I love you best"
Is joy and bliss beyond compare,-
-sweet dream of lovers everywhere-

So Hello World! I wish to tell
How hopelessly for her I fell,
Through love's magnetic power I stand
A willing slave at her command;
This wonderous creature sways my life,
Tho now she is anothers wife:
Will fond affection sound the knell
Which sends an erring one to H---?

Gladly have kings renounced the throne
For love's sweet sake and that alone;
Vast fortunes some refused to claim
That one they love might bear their name.
Darling, I've no earthly crown,
No princely fortune to lay down;
Greater by far my sacrifice
In forfeiting eternal life.

When birds shall cease to seek their nest,
When babes shall scorn their mother's breast
When twinkling stars and blazing sun
Shall fade from yon bright lexicon;
When far beyond the Milky Way
Angelic hosts no longer stay--
When endless ages shall decline
I still shall love you, sweetheart mine.

-Walter C. Harris
Long Branch West Virginia
1935

West Virginia Moon

1.-
From the world's broadcasting station
As we hear the crooners croon,
Every state in the great nation
Claims our West Virginia moon.
2.-
Long in the silence have we waited
As each state has filed a claim,
But for us she was created.
And shes' ours just the same.
3.-
Listen as we try to tell
How a mountain man one morning soon
Left his home to hunt his bell cow,
And at night was on the moon.
4.-
Up the mountain side he followed,
Though the path was rough and steep,
And in vain for her he hollered
For she made one mighty leap.
5.-
'Tis no myth or fairy story,
And our boys are told each night,
How this cow won fame and glory
When she made this non-stop flight.
6.-
But this West Virginia farmer
Made his last round-up that day,
But he reached the moon in safety
Every night he looks this way.
7.-
From over the moon the old folks say-
The old cow came from the sky,
She left her milk in the Milky Way,
And forever was bone dry.

-Walter C. Harris
Pax West Virginia
1876-1936

Life's Puzzle

Life's Puzzle

And all life's simple puzzle parts
Before the King were brought in carts,
Who, sitting there upon his throne
Assembled them quite on his own.

Each part locked, a pattern spread;
A form took shape, or so 'tis said.
But 'fore the picture was completed,
The king sat back, all but defeated.

Though all were there when he'd begun,
One part was gone, the crucial one.
The Jester, from the game expelled,
Now in his palm, the part was held.

Angrily, the King's voice hissed,
"Find for me the part I've missed!"
And all his people scurried out,
Looked up and down, and 'round about.

The Jester said to search no more.
"Here is the part you're looking for.
"This part of life that means so much.
"The part that even King's can't touch."

The Jester to the King did teach,
Some things must stay beyond his reach.
Missing from his grasp this day,
What is the part? What would you say?

-D.G.K.
Virginia 1998
Born: Long Branch West Virginia

Dost Thou Remember

Dost thou remember, dearest heart,
Before our lives were torn apart
How oft we met beneath the pines
Through which the silver moonlight shines?

Dost thou remember, fairest one,
Our midnight joy rides and fun?
When oft we took paths obscure
And found delight in each detour?

Does memory fail you, oh, my love,
How from New River's heights above
We lingered long midst leaf and fern,
While friends awaited our return?

Will time erase the tragic scene
When love and passion swayed my Queen?
Where lash-horns met across the trail.

When storms had passed and fogs dispelled,
Some wondrous scenes our eyes beheld;
Again we view the flock with pride,
Each lamb is safe at mother's side.

But time has turned another page
And storms still in your bosom rage;
One question I would ask tonight:
Will love or passion win the fight?

-Walter C. Harris
Long Branch West Virginia
1876-1936

Red is the Violet

Red is the violet
Blue is the rose
To you a birthday happy
(I'm up-mixed, you suppose?)
If from me a tip you'll take
Since "Fair is all in love and war".
And "Tis fair play to turn about".
You're 45, not 54.
Wish best,
Rose Maude

-Maude Rose Kelly
Salem, Virginia 1966
Born 1912-Pike Kentucky