BELIEFS

by LaRue Watts

I don't believe in Santa Claus
Or arcane civil-rights and laws.
I don't believe in sharing smiles
From loving friends across the miles.
I don't believe in goals I've set
Or care for those I've never met.
I don't believe in first-sight love
Or Godliness from up above.
I don't believe in Democrats
Or loyal dogs or picky cats.
I do believe in guns in schools.
And while I'm at it......April Fools!

CALVIN

by LaRue Watts

A young man fair, I never met
And that, alas, is my regret.
For I know tales of bright young days
When he was light in many ways.
But there was darkness too, I hear,
And sadness deep within his fear,
That unknown anguish he would fight
In some attempt to give it flight.
The battle, sadly so, was lost.
And he has paid the final cost.
His life is gone, the battle done.
The stars are dim.  There is no sun.
But, we take heart, because we care
About that missing young man, fair.
His smile endures and will not cease.
His smile ensures he's found his peace.

PHOENIX RISING

By LaRue Watts

I'll not align with bitter wine
This year, without a Valentine,
Instead recall that sweeter haze
When love was all, in glory days
And brightly flared that burning fire
Of earning kisses in desire.
No darkness now can conquer me.
The flame of love has set me free.
I glow.  I burn.  I soar.  I fly
Because of Valentines gone by.

A WALL

by LaRue Watts

A wall can keep you safe inside.

A wall provides a place to hide.

A wall may keep a foe at bay,

A wall can host what posters say. 

But walls were meant for ivy climbing

And walls were meant to use in miming. 

So, why a wall that only states
Our land is full, there are no gates?

Why not a wall with "Have no fear,
Your tired, your poor are welcome here."
Build in an arch that opens wide
And welcomes all to come inside.
Become a wall flower, leave a mark.
Let wall weeds wither in the dark.

ELECTION

By LaRue Watts

The animals had an election
To see who would lead them all
It was quite an enormous selection
Of creatures who'd heeded the call.
While many were fond of the lion,
The eagle and stallion did well.
And even the turtle was tryin'
To sell what he had in his shell.
The front runners had a debate
Which narrowed the field by a few
Who argued on matters of state
And turned it all into a zoo.

Now, animal nature is funny,
So two votes were cast for the monk
While three were assigned to the bunny,
The most voters went for the skunk.
When some species spoke of rebellion and such
Impeachment was bandied about
The owl wisely said "You're all out of touch
But I have figured it out.
And what do I say to each one of you
That some will surely find strange?
I think that the simplest thing we can do
Is pray for the winds of change."

THE FIRST TREE

By LaRue Watts

The Christmas tree that I recall
May not have been the best.
In hindsight, it was rather small
And somewhat under dressed.
It occupied a poorer time
When I was six or seven
Yet, Grandma made it all sublime
And pretty close to heaven.
With just some glass, a box or two,
And not much more of note,
"One string of lights will have to do,"
I still can hear her quote.

My gram and I, how did we start?
By sewing popcorn strings,
With berries as another part
And chains of paper rings.
She added cookies, newly glazed
And hung them on the tree
And I was dumbstruck and amazed
By what my eyes could see.
When all, at last, was said and done,
The tree was wondrous.  And...
I knew, midst all the work and fun
Why we called Grandma, Grand!

I LAUGH

By LaRue Watts

I laugh.
Not as much as I could.
Not as much as I should
But, I laugh.

It may be at me
and a costly mistake
Sometimes, you see
They are easy to make
So, I laugh.

I sigh.
If the day is too long.
If the day is all wrong
Then, I sigh.

It's only a sound,
Not giving up hope.
And therefore, I've found
It is easy to cope
If I sigh.

I dream
For a way yet to be
For a day all will see
What I dream.

A dream where men love
And keep hatred at bay
And the good from above,
Will shine on each day
As I dream.

When we reap what we sow,
Ignoring  the chaff,
You'll see how we grow
And I'll  laugh.