TURN AROUND

 “Trump prides himself on nonsense every day, and Pence? Complicit, friends, as he can be. It seems that ignorance and greed are holding sway, and harming life and good from A-ta-Z. Republicans, you often act like scum, and Democrats, you've no excuse at all. Why pride yourselves on doing stuff that's dumb? At times you show unmitigated Gall! Dear Lord, relieve us, please, of folks like those! Transform their hearts and minds ta kinder ones! This ecocidal era, let's us close! Destroy the bombs and automatic guns! Destroy the missiles, feed and house the poor! Provide fer all the best of Health care Now! Let none of us be heartless, anymore! Lord, Lead our hearts ta Love, and show us How!”

SOME INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING

“Now, if ya truly wish ta live, get Smart! It all begins with adequate self-care. You’d Best request an understanding heart, and pay attention, get your self Aware! Some folks do dope, and others meditate, or pray with words, or sing a song; friend, If you’d have a life that’s truly great, you’ll Sometimes pray... ta have a faith that’s strong. You’ll pray for wisdom, offer thanks, and love; you’ll practice peace in breathing in and out. You’ll cherish earth and seas, and skies, above; I think it’s things like these that life’s about!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

TO MY LOYAL COMPANION

“Oh, please, do not neglect me, faithful one! Like flowers need the dirt, the rain, the sun, I need your friendship, every night and day – so, please, oh, pretty please, Don’t turn away!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

PRAYER OF THANKS

“Oh, thank ya, Lord, for every gift ya give: the health, the wealth, the wisdom you bestow, the water, food, and air that help me live, the beauty, truth, and peace I get ta know! For plants and animals, for sun and moon, for dirt, and all the endless sky above – I thank you, Lord, for midnight, dawn, and noon, but Most of all, I Thank you, Lord, for love!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

BOOKWORM

Bookworm

Come out from there, you stuck in book,

come ramble down the stony brook,

and stroll the leaf-hung shady lane,

if you would helpful knowledge Gain.

They’ll teach you something you don’t know,

where all the wild and free things grow!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

REMEMBER TO BLESS ME, LORD!

Remember to Bless Me, Lord!

I Give you Ev'ry Doubt, each Hope and Fear, Lord, I surRender All I GOT ta You, my Life and Ev'ryThing I've Held so Dear; I'll Really Need your Help ta Folla Through! So, Bless me Richly, Won't You, Heaven, Please? With Patient Love fer All and Ev'ryThing! Fer All the Hills and Rocks and Skies and Seas, fer Ev'ry Winter, Summer, Fall, and Spring! Fer All the People, here and Ev'ryWhere, fer All the Animals and Plants there Be! Lord, Help me Ev'ry Day ta Show I Care! Lord, Don't forGET ta Keep on BLESSIN' Me!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

JUSTICE AND PEACE

Justice and Peace

Some People Want to Tear our World aPart, from greed, from fears, from anger, spite, and hate. So How does Someone Change a Poisoned Heart? You Act with Love, you Pray each Day, and Wait! You Might could Speak some Helpful Truth that's Kind! That Oughta Keep us Busy, Don't ya s'Pose? I Think that All could Bring us Peace o' Mind, and Peace that's Just would Blossom LIKE-A-ROSE! So Let's us Plant some Seeds of Truth and Peace; let's CultiVate a Worldwide Garden Plot! Let's See the Beauty, Joy, and Life inCrease! And Let's say, “Thank you, UniVerse, fer All we GOT!” THANK YOU, UNIVERSE, FOR ALL YOU'RE GIVING US! HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

FOR US

(from a lady to her guy)

I Got your Special “write for me” reQuest, and So I’ve Thought of Yellow Daffodils, a Great big Horde of These would Suit you BEST, in Breezes Soft on Gently Rolling Hills. And We could Walk up Through a Nearby Field, all Golden-Flowered Glory, Sunshine Blest, and Ev’ry Care to Our Creator YIELD, within the Heart of Mother Nature, Rest. And Loving Much, we Two could Freely BE, enJoy the Gift of Grace that Perfect Day, and Ev’ryWhere we Looked we’d Clearly See... the Love with Which all Heaven Lights our Way. Now, wouldn’t that be Nice for you and me?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

WHERE GOD IS

Where God Is

Don’t put your faith in ink and Paper sheets, 'cause any Man can Lie, but put your faith in Living Truth, and Love, and Beauty, ‘ tell you Why: they’ll Lead you Upward, Onward, Straight ta ReaLizing God withIn, and then you’ll find that God is ev’rywhere, in foes and kith and Kin!

And God’s in tiny dewdrops, wide expanse of Earth and Sky and Sea, and God’s inside the meanest man aLive, and God’s in You and Me!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

WHY I SHOULD TAKE CARE OF MYSELF

Why I Should Take Care of My Self

When Wisdom, Love, and PeacefulNess comBine, for-Giveness May beGin ta Gently Flow; when Holy Spirit’s Surging Through the Vine, then Branches, Leaves, and Pretty Flowers Grow!

Ta Work and Play, ta Meditate and Pray, ta Somehow Show the Wider World ya Care; ta Eat, and Laugh, and Sleep, the Balanced Way... these HABITS Yield sweet Fruits fer You ta SHARE!

An’ THAT’S Why It’s Good ta Care for Your Self! A-MEN!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

BACKSLIDER, RESPECT YOUR BOD

Backslider, Respect Your Bod

“The entire world is the body of the Buddha.”

You better tighten Up, Loose Goose – ‘cause Ev’ryThing’s at Stake; ‘cause If you skip a Duty, Man – You’ve BLOWN your Lucky Break! ‘Cause Now’s the time, and Here’s the Place, ta Make your wisest Move, ‘cause If you Don’t, things May get Worse, might NEVER much imProve! There’s Many Ways Upon this Earth... ta Love an’ Worship God: whatEver You may Choose to Do, Re-Spect the Buddha’s Bod!


Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson