TO BE CONTENT

“Oh, why not be content right here and now? Yes, why complain, and past-and-future-trip? Why ever let a worry crease your brow? Friend, when ya think too much, it's YOU ya gyp! Now, breathing in and out 's a holy gift, so, let us both be satisfied with that! Ta practice peace gives Any heart a Lift; the kindliness resulting 's where it's At!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

TO LOVE YOUR GAL

 “Ta be a Saint, without the praise-and-blame, avoid the sadomasochism, sir. Within your soul, there's gotta be a flame, of tender love ya daily show ta her. Ya gotta be a Saint, and not complain, ya can't be mean or cruel, neither one. No, man, ya gotta be real kind, and sane, ya gotta be a perfect gentleman!”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

NICER, PLEASE!

 “Much nicer, Lord, right Now, I gotta Be: complaint-, resentment-, hate-, and anger-free! 'Cause All o' those been makin' me a Mess – so won't ya, please, this heart o' mine now Bless?”

Copyright 2016 Stephen Cromwell Gifford

GRATITUDE INSTEAD

 “When I complain, what do I hope ta get? Indulgent Sympathy, what else, I guess. Revenge? Because my spoiled demands weren’t Met? Lord, Thank Ya Now, for all the ways ya Bless!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

“Now, Anyone can be a sorry sort, and anyone can be the Grouchy type. ‘Cause sometimes we Feel bad, our temper’s short, we tend ta dwell upon what’s wrong, and Gripe! But you and I, let’s count our Blessings, please? And we can act ta thank the Holy One! We still have air and water, plants and trees. And shelter, food, and clothes, though some have none! And so we’ve got ta act, to show we care, and share our plenty ‘round the neighborhood! We might have skills, and other things ta share, so Let’s us now promote the common Good! Yes, you and I can find some Peace within, and kindly work for Justice, Freedom, too. There’s still a lot o’ hearts we need ta win, I think that we can Win some – How ‘bout You?”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

HEAVEN'S GRACE

Heaven's Grace

Why not deSire ta Serve the Lord, fer Real? Why Don't we put our Selfishness aSide? We've Been so Prone ta Murder, Wreck, and Steal, when All we Need's alReady BEEN supPlied! Well, I don't Know 'bout Ev'ryBody Else, but God's been Very Good ta Me, my friend! Ya Know, I should be THANKFUL Now, mySelf, beCause on Heaven's Grace I DO dePEND! HALLELUJAH! AMEN!!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

WE KNOW VERY WELL

We Know Very Well…

(to a child)

When Someone Says, “I Just don't Have eNough”, as Many Folks are Often Prone ta Say, they May be Making Matters Much more Rough, so, You and I, let's Not comPlain toDay!

GIVE EVERYBODY SOME!

Give Everybody Some

Our Foes may Be some Well-inTentioned Types, whose Hearts are OverCome by Doubts and Fears! So, Who are We ta Brood an' Nurse our Gripes? Why Not FORGIVE, TILL PEACE ON EARTH APPEARS?

Now, THERE'S an iDea whose TIME has Come! Lord, Help our Hearts Give EV'RYBODY SOME! OKAY?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

HEAVEN HELP US!

Heaven Help Us!

Now, You might Jive the World the Whole Day Long, and You might Think that No one Really Cares, but Heaven Knows, my Friend, when You've done Wrong – don't Let your Karma Catch you UnaWares! We Better Count our Blessin's Ev'ry Day, we Better Ask fer Help, beLieve and Trust; we Better Choose the Truly Grateful Way, and Not the Sloth and Greed and Pride and Lust! Not Anger, Envy, GluttonY and Fears, not Violence, reSentment, Spite, nor Hate; may Heaven Bless each One of Us who Hears, and Help us Turn aRound beFore too Late! 'Cause If we Fail ta Straighten Up, then Hell; this World of Ours could Go right Down the Drain, and That's alReady Started, Truth ta Tell! It's Time that No One Any More comPlain! And That's the Facts!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

LET ME HOPE

Let Me Hope

Let me not be angry,

Let me not be mean.

Let me not be spiteful.

Let me not complain.

Let me not be fearful,

Let me not fuss and fret.

Let me not despair one bit.

Let me hope in You, Lord, yet.

RESOLVE

Resolve

The Griper Turns aWay her Blessings, Man; the Careless Lets her Freedom Slip aWay. The UnbeLiever's Far too Proud ta Pray – but Me, I'm Gonna Do the Best I Can!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

COMPLAINING AIN'T WHERE IT'S AT`

When Hero-Worship Goes to Those who Kill,

when People Fault and Hate the Scapegoat Man,

it's Gross aBuse of Heaven's Gift, Free Will;

it Seems ta Me we Need a Wiser Plan!

Ta Take good Care 'o YOU, ya Must be Kind,

there Ain't No Way aRound that Simple Fact,

and If ya Never Pray, yer Flyin' Blind;

right Now, just What would Be the Kindest Act?

Let's Thank the Universe fer EV'RY GIFT,

let's Not blow All our Juice in Mad comPlaint!

Good Lovin' Gives My Spirits Quite a LIFT,

but BITCHIN', Folks, good LOVin' Really AIN'T!!

I HAVE SPOKEN!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

WHERE LOVERS GO

Where Lovers Go (for My Guy)

Oh, When you See a soulful Flame, take Care you don’t jus’ Stomp it Out! And Why inDulge in Praise-and-Blame, or Waste your Time with Fears and Doubt?

The World is Waiting Here for You, and While it Spins and Speeds through Space, your Help is Needed, Join the Crew! -- Let’s MAKE this Rock a Better PLACE!

Your Love can Help enLighten Us, your Work can Ease our Heavy Load, and If we Won’t comPlain, nor Fuss, we’ll Brighten Up our Chosen Road! And Then we’ll Wake to LIGHT, and SEE, how Much the WORLD reQuires our Bests – so Some from You, and some from Me, let’s Work to Prove we’re Worthy Guests! The Greatest Thing I’ve Got to Know... is All the Love withIn yer Soul – so Come with ME, and Let’s us GO Where LOVERS GO, and ROCK ‘N ROLL! Sock-it-To-Me, Rock-it-to-Me, MAKE-ME- WHOLE!!!


Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

VAMPIRES LOSE, LOVERS WIN

Vampires Lose, Lovers Win

A Vam-pire Victimizes Very well, just Needs a Juicy Vein; it’s modus operandi Now I’ll Tell: com-Plain, com-Plain, com-Plain! A Blaming, Angry all-reSenting creep – no mercy There to GIVE, and ALL the Juice it Drains it’s Mad to KEEP, but Leaks just Like a SIEVE! In Rip-off Rant committed all-too-Deep, it CHOSE this Way ta Live!.... So When the Vampire Angry UMBRAGE takes, rePort its Cru-el Deed -- no Need to Grant the Vampire any Breaks, nor BROOK its mindless GREED!

We’ve Gotta teach the Vampires How ta Care, and How to Moral BE, ‘cause Though they Think it’s Crazi-ness to Share – ta Care-and-Share is Key! Though Selfish Souls may Dare to Disa-Gree, it’s KIND-Ly We must Act, it’s Not un-Til we All get High-an'-Free, World Peace becomes a Fact! Let’s All resolve to try and Try a-Gain, bring lovingKindness In (I Mean all Children, womenfolk, and Men) and Then it’s Peace we’ll Win! And What a Mighty Glory Day will Come, a Time to CeleBrate, so Ev’ry Day we’ve gotta Give ‘em Some, and Start with Friends or Mate! I Have SPOKEN!


Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

TO GOD AND GODDESS

To God and Goddess
(from a guy to them)

Oh, Anger, Hatred, Spite, and Many Fears, these Pests have Dogged my Steps for sixty Years; such Doubts, reSentments, Unfor-Given Stuff, have Kept me Feeling I can’t Git e-Nough!

So Won’t you Lead my Heart ta GRATiTude, ta Praising GOD who Grants all Worthwhile Things: my talents, shelter, clothing, meds, and Food, the Friends, the Hope that Ev’ry Sacred Promise Brings!

The Goddess Gives her Sweetest Loving Care, her Precious Living Truths I Can’t reFuse, and All the Bounty Answering Each Prayer … with Grace like This a Soul can NEVer Lose! So Thank You Now, O Goddess Pure and Sweet, this Heart forEver Shall beLong to You; when We’re in Love no Foe will Us deFeat, and With our Love there’s Nothing We can’t Do! So Thank You!