Old Folks Home

Dad fell off the ladder

Hanging the lights

Now in a body cast

It’s quite a sight

Mom sprained her ankle

Dragging the tree in the door

And they wonder why

No one will hire them anymore

Us kids are doing great

Our careers blossom

One moved away

Other’s getting married

To be young and vibrant

Is pretty awesome

So around here that’s the deal

Dad can’t write till he is healed

Sits in his chair

A grizzled grump

Mom has an ankle

With a big old lump

Don’t know who

Half of you are

And we really don’t care

Dad told us to send this

From his wheelchair



A Force of Good

Tough times, struggles many

Others worse off than you

Count your blessings, there are plenty

Strap on your boots buckaroo

Do what you should

Remain a force of good

The place to begin is within

Appreciate the beauty of your soul

A smile, a touch, kind words

Will do more than you know

Universally understood

Remain a force of good

Listen to your dreams

Spark another’s spirit embers

Your warm love beams

Best way to be remembered

Know you did all you could

Remain a force of good

Gift Giving

What did you give last year

What did you get

The junk we gift and collect

What is real

We seem to neglect

Indulge and consume big business screams

We know best what you should dream

Homes are lost, the jobs are gone

We’ll control the vote, just shop at dawn

Fill our tills you foolish pawns

I used to participate

But I don’t go there anymore

What’s important

Can’t be found in a store

Imaginate

Can’t help but imaginate

What good could be done

The world we should create

If every day we would celebrate

Instead of just one

Believed in the magic

Of kindness, love and cheer

Nightly news void of tragic

All through the year

War sat on the bookshelf

Hate collected dust

Learned to really love our self

Cared for each other

With dignity and trust

Took just what we needed

Gave all that we had

And chose to propagate

A world full of glad

Reflect upon this holiday

And how it makes you feel

Retain it all year long

Replace imaginate with real

Legacy

Did you kiss a heart so tenderly

Way back in gloomy January

Did you lift the spirit of your Valentine

Enrich a mind in springtime

Were you inspired by the summer sun

To put a smile on a random someone

Were you kind to everyone in autumn

Simply because that’s who you’ve become

Another calendar headed for the recycle bin

‘Tis the flagrant season once again

But presents under the tree

Both given and received

Won’t be your legacy

Wrapping Paper Blues

Pumpkin pie and gobbler gone

Time grew a pair of wings

City boy with sappy hands

The annual Paul Bunyan thing

Tree stand in the attic

With decorations galore

Right next to last year’s promise

Not to do this season

Last minute anymore

To and from the traffic crawl

Inside they push and shove

No thank you shopping malls

I go somewhere different

For the ones I love

Christmas Eve is over

I got the wrapping paper blues

Each corner fold botched

Oh no, I am out of scotch

Duct tape and beer will have to do

Scooter’s First Christmas

I saw Scooter kissing Mrs. Claus

Underneath her cheeks of rose last night

He didn’t hear me creep

When I got up to take a leak

He thought I was tucked

In bed fast asleep

Then

I saw Scooter licking Mrs. Claus

Underneath her hair so snowy white

Oh, I can’t tell Momma

Her canine is a two-timing fella

Thank goodness she didn’t have to pee

When Scooter kissed Mrs. Claus last night