Always Remember

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But don't forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that have passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.
 
Always remember to forget those friends who left you and did not care.
But don't forget that I am a true friend I'm not going anywhere.

author unknown

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When the life is a dance .
Each day is a step of two .
When the life is a collar.
each day is a pearl.
When the life is a melody
Each day is a refrain .
When the life is a poême .
Each day is worms.
When the life is one spring.
Each day is a bud .
When the life is a happiness .
Each day is a smile.
When the life is a gift.
Each day is a surprise.

Anonymous

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I was recently in the hospital, and sitting in that chair in the poem, and suddenly came the words...but that's the dwelling, and all of the rest...

LINDA  

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Don’t Quit
By Alice Enzie Zimmerman
Written 1948 - See letter and article below

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When we might have won had we stuck it out.

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the winner’s cup.
And he learned too late when the night slipped down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver lining of the clouds of doubt
And you can never tell how close you are –
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

For we know the Father above looks down,
He sees our struggles and holds the crown.
He knows the way though it’s rough and drear,
He will give strength so we need not fear.
He offers to you the refreshing cup
Of the water of life; then in faith look up.
Continue on ‘til the crown is won
Which he will give when our work is done!

An Interesting Piece Of  Trivia…

Many of you know the poem "Don't Quit" from a bookmark, plaque, cup, clock or poster. It is always signed "Author Unknown."

The true story is that this poem was written in 1948 by a young girl from Torrington, Alberta when she was about 15 or 16. She liked to write poetry for the school paper. One day she happened to see a classified ad for poetry which could be set to music. Submitting three poems, she shortly received a letter stating that her work had merit and would be published after sending money. She does not remember the amount requested. As farmers, any amount was out of the question so she replied that the publisher could do as he wanted with her poetry.

Our young author moved to Olds and attended Youth Group at the Nazarene Church. She soon married a local gentleman, had three children and faithfully attended the Baptist Church in town.

Preparing for church on Easter Sunday 1974, she spotted her poem in a paper distributed by the Red Deer Advisor. Since she had seen or heard nothing to this point, she excitedly showed it to her husband. He wouldn't believe her until she produced the original poem, which she still had. Contacting the paper, she discovered that it had been submitted by a Red Deer resident who had found it in a book of American poetry.

Since then it has been published around the world, usually with three verses, but the original had five. We are pleased to give you this little memento courtesy of the author, in its original form.

You may have known her as Alice (Enzio) Zimmerman from Olds, wife of Wilbert, who passed away to glory in 1989. Alice married Bill Rowland in 1991, after which they moved to British Columbia for 10 years. Alice is now living in Red Deer and continues to create and enjoy poetry.

Found at this website.

http://www.all-creatures.org/poetry/dontquit-aez.html

Kristi K

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Robert Frost has always been one of my favorite poets also.  Along

with Emily Dickenson.  In fact; I kind of based my life on 'The Road

Not Taken'.  "I took the one less traveled by; and that has made all

the difference."  For good or ill.  Few regrets.  Thanks for reminding

me.

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While You Were Sleeping

by Tara Simms

While you were sleeping,
I sat by your bed.
I watched you
as you smiled through your dreams.

I traced your perfect shell ear,
Touched every curl
On your little head.

I tried to sleep
But the sound of your breathing
Drew me back to your room.

I couldn't resist
The magic which tugged
At my heartstrings
And brought me to your side.

I settled on the floor
Once again.
Back against the wall,
Holding your tiny hand in mine.

While you were sleeping
I fell in love with you all over again.

Isn't this sweet?

Kristi K.

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Should you go first and I remain
To walk the road alone,
I'll live in memory's garden, dear,
With happy days we've known.
In spring I'll wait for roses red,
When fades the lilac blue,
In early fall, when brown leaves call
I'll catch a glimpse of you.

Should you go first and I remain
For battles to be fought,
Each thing you've touched along the way
Will be a hallowed spot.
I'll hear your voice, I'll see you smile,
Though blindly I may grope,
The memory of your helping hand
Will buoy me on with hope.

Should you go first and I remain
To finish with the scroll,
No length'ning shadows shall creep in
To make this life seem droll.
We've known so much of happiness,
We've had our cup of joy,
And memory is one gift of God
That death can not destroy.

Should you go first and I remain,
One thing I'd have you to do:
Walk slowly down that long, lone path,
For soon I'll follow you.
I'll want to know each step you take,
That I may walk the same,
For someday down that lonely road
You'll hear me call your name.

~Author: A.K. Rowswell~

Kristi

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Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

"Invictus,"
by William Earnest Henley

Kristi K

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No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

Kristi K

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Poem: "Lost," by David Wagoner from Collected Poems 1956-1976

Lost

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

but, I really enjoy Shel Silverstein, too.  I don't have a favorite poem, exactly; I can't ever choose just one.  So, here are these:

INVITATION

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HUG O' WAR

I will not play at tug o' war.

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins.

(They're not supposed to be double-spaced, but I don't know how to undo that.)

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Hi Kristi !  Oh, I have always loved this one, too.  It can take you so many places in your mind...thanks for posting this, and I get to see it on this (sorry) rare visit from work!  What a special treat...

LINDA  

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           The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This is still one of my favorite poems!

Kristi K

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