After We Go to Guns

 

Merle Haggard

2004

 

The preacher said bow our heads and let us pray.
And, Lord bless this congregation here today.
And lord, give our leaders a much needed helping hand.
I ask it all in Christ the Son of Man.

Oh, after we go to guns it’ll be too late.
Isn’t there something else that we can advocate?
One more peaceful Sunday Lord
A few more days to wait.
‘Cause after we go to war it’ll be too late

There’s always another war we can go to.
Soldiers they’ll be there, tho they’ll be different ones.
Keep all minds open
Should the answer come

The talking’s done
After we go to guns

After we go to war it’ll be too late
Isn’t there something else that they can advocate.
Give us a few more peaceful Sundays Lord
A few more days to wait
After we go to war it’ll be too late
After we go to guns it’ll be too late
Isn’t there something else they can advocate.

Give us a few more peaceful Sundays Lord
A few more days to wait
After we go to war it’ll be too late.

Lord, after we go to war
it’ll
be
too
late

The Story that did not Stink

Very many years ago,

When I was 24 or so,

 I was hiking in the woods

(We had no kids yet, so I could).

 I was walking at my leisure.

It was really quite a pleasure.

 Through the leaves, the sunlight cast

A dappled pattern where I passed.

 Yeah, I was “rolling in the clover”

When suddenly, it was all over!

 Strutted out before my eyes

A baby skunk-his tail held high.

 I stared at him. He stared at me.

“Oh,” I thought, “I’d better flee!”

 For, in the bushes I did hear

A rustling sound. THE MOM WAS NEAR!

 To take a pic, I did not stay.

I simply ran, and ran away.

 I must have run a half a mile,

Thinking with a little smile,

 “Tiny skunk so cute and free,

What a precious pet you’d be!”

 Many years have passed since then.

Many places I have been.

 Never once did I forget,

The skunk that could have been my pet.

 A photograph he could not give.

But, in my mind will always live

 A picture of him on that path.

And, mem-o-ries none other hath.

Sunny's Summer

A high school English teacher had her students make cold-weather-word-pictures after reading this from John Updike's "January"

"The days are short

The sun a spark

Hung thin between the dark and dark

The river is

A frozen place

Held still beneath

The trees' black lace

Cute idea. Some of their responses were good enough to share. 

For Rondi Aastrup's students, is this assignment even fair?

Should I try it with Korean students next time they see me there? 

Meanwhile, here in August's desert heat,

To remember winter's quite a feat

The image of those words I'm heeding

(from a longer poem-much worth reading) 

Those good old frozen river walks

When from the bridge while dropping rocks,

We could not even break the ice!

And, tho this was not very nice,

We almost hit the river rat

..hoarding greens..Who gave him that??

That was months ago and more away.

So, for now, I'd have to say

Here's how it really was today

The days are long

The sun is bright

Severely hung

Throughout harsh light

The river is a splashing place

With beaver, fish, and baby duck

Perhaps away they want to  race

From fisherfolk (who have no luck)

Come on now all good facebookers-

You're as good as the tenth-graders!

These verses need a few more lines.

So, in the comments, try some rhymes.