AN OCTOBER MOON

Driving a north Georgia highway on an October night,

I played peek-a-boo with a beautiful autumn moon.

Between the trees and hills it popped out it's bright face,

Only to disappear to wait to shine out it's beautiful tune.

"I'm here!" it shouts. And then it's light is gone.

It teases and taunts, making me desperate to pause.

Where can I go? Which way must I turn to find delight?

I have no place to stop. Alone, there is no sense or cause.

 

The brilliant platter beckons through the branches of the trees.

It shows itself only for a moment, and the branches whisk it away.

I see in the opposing sky a faint hue of paler tint.

I'm losing time. I need to run. Yonder comes the day.

Oh, yesteryear! I ache to embrace the joys

Of autumn nights when I was young and in another world.

Those nights flew quickly by and I knew no fears.

Ah! Had I known the nights to come to be unfurled!

But innocence protects us from advancing signs

Of bitter nights that provide us with no gorgeous moon.

So, I'll savor this fleeting moment of a graceful gift,

And pray that the moment won't leave me too soon.

I reach my home front just in time

To witness the oncoming glow of the beautiful new day.

The crisp, damp air bites when I leave for the door.

I turn to see the moon smile, but it's gone away.

Tomorrow, I think. But the voice reminds me

That it will never be the same. It cannot be quite

The wonder of tonight's splendor revealed to me

Driving on a north Georgia highway on an October night.

Quotations

"The Man Who Thinks He Can"

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE BEATEN, YOU ARE.
IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT, YOU DON'T.
IF YOU LIKE TO WIN, BUT THINK YOU CAN'T, ...
IT'S ALMOST A CINCH YOU WON'T.

IF YOU THINK YOU'LL LOSE, YOU'RE LOST.
FOR OUT IN THE WORLD WE FIND
SUCCESS BEGINS WITH A FELLOW'S WILL.
IT'S ALL IN THE STATE OF MIND.

FULL MANY A RACE IS LOST
'ERE EVEN A STEP IS RUN.
AND MANY A COWARD FAILS
'ERE EVEN HIS WORK IS BEGUN.

THINK BIG AND YOUR DEEDS WILL GROW.
THINK SMALL AND YOU'LL FALL BEHIND.
THINK THAT YOU CAN, AND YOU WILL.
IT'S ALL IN THE STATE OF MIND!

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE OUTCLASSED, YOU ARE.
YOU'E GOT TO THINK HIGH TO RISE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
BEFORE YOU CAN WIN THE PRIZE.

LIFE'S BATTLES DON'T ALWAYS GO
TO THE STRONGER OR FASTER MAN.
SOONER OR LATER THE ONE WHO WINS
IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN.

-Walter D. Wintle

When You're Different

It starts when you're young,
but you don't always know,
though the looks make you wonder
what is happening around you
that makes you feel funny,
and you want to withdraw
to a corner just to read or
observe the large gathering
When you're different.

And, as you grow,
you enjoy making friends.
The laughter and game playing
 can seem never to end.
Then the laughter stops around
something you've said.
The stares seem confused
and lost in the thought
of what had just happened
and how to respond to the
moment of misunderstanding.
Why don't they comprehend
the views and the humor
of your entertaining mind
when you're different?

The friendships that come and go
reflect the desire to
find the kind heart that
is open to observations
not normally explored.
They call you "deep thinker",
and some walk away
from a fear of discovery
of the changes that
may come their way.
But it's all a desire to
search the deep caverns
of a life that's wide-reaching
when you're different.

BP's Got a Problem

The gulf has a big oil spill
that seems to be gushing at will.
The engineers dug it
and started to plug it,
but the oil is flowing out still.

Oh, what are we going to do?
Looks like BP will never come through.
They've dug and they've drilled
and they've cleaned up the spill.
Think the cost will come back to me and you?

Independence Day 2010

The people banded together to make their plea,
They were tired of taxes and yearned to be free.
They wrote it all down,
Thumbed their nose at the Crown,
And they won the victory for you and me.

COME AND SHOUT PRAISE

SHOUT TO THE LORD ALL YOU PEOPLE OF GOD,
COME TO HIS THRONE AND BOW DOWN.
SHOUT TO THE LORD, GIVE HIM HONOR AND PRAISE,
FILL ALL THE EARTH WITH THE SOUND.
SHOUT NEWS OF VICTORY FROM SEA TO SEA,
NEWS OF HIS GRACE AND LOVE FOR YOU AND ME.
.
COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
COME AND MARCH INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING.
COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
RAISING THE ROOF FOR THE ROCK WHO HAS SAVED US!
COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
COME ON YOUR KNEES TO THE GOD WHO HAS MADE US.
HE IS THE REASON WE LIVE.
　
GET OUT THE MESSAGE THAT CHRIST IS OUR KING,
HE PUT THE WORLD IN ITS PLACE.
BRING GIFTS AND CELEBRATE, HE'S EVERYTHING,
AUTHOR OF KINGDOMS AND SPACE.
GOD MADE THE HEAVENS, LET'S HEAR THE APPLAUSE,
REACH OUT TO RESCUE THE WEARY AND LOST.

COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
COME AND MARCH INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING.
COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
RAISING THE ROOF FOR THE ROCK WHO HAS SAVED US.
COME AND SHOUT PRAISES TO GOD.
COME ON YOUR KNEES TO THE GOD WHO HAS MADE US.
HE IS THE REASON WE LIVE.
HE IS THE REASON WE LIVE.
TO HIM PRAISE AND HONOR WE GIVE.

A Word From God

Sitting quietly in my room.
Speaking softly through my pen.
Writing friends with technical mail.
Visiting with a long, lost friend.
God spoke to me through one word....
Love.