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Machine Shop Poet

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Contents

In Memory..................................................viiDrawings & Sketches........................................viiiAcknowledgments............................................ixIntroduction...............................................xiI. Family And Friends......................................1 Our Family................................................3 Five Good Kids............................................4 Linda.....................................................5 Jay (the ex-skier)........................................6 Amy.......................................................8 To All Mothers............................................9 Winifred..................................................10II. My Wife................................................13 Happy Anniversary.........................................15 My wife on Sweetest Day...................................16 My Love, My Valentine.....................................17 Sweetheart................................................18 My Wife, My Friend, My Reason to Live.....................19 Each Day..................................................20 Birthday Greeting.........................................21 Happy Birthday "63".......................................22 Love Grows................................................23 By my Side................................................24 Untitled..................................................25III. Grandkids.............................................27 Brian - Priceless Treasures...............................29 Mary......................................................30 Our Rachel................................................31 To Rachel.................................................32 Anne Elizabeth............................................33 For Allan.................................................34 My Grandson Allan.........................................35 William...................................................38 Grandsons All.............................................39 Mackenzie.................................................41IV. Holidays...............................................43 Thanksgiving..............................................45 Christmas - I.............................................47 Christmas - II............................................48 Christmas - III...........................................49 Friends on Sweetest Day...................................50 Sonnet for March 17th.....................................51 Gift of Love at Christmas.................................53 My Love, My Valentine.....................................54 Patricia at Christmas.....................................55 50 Year Valentine.........................................56 Mother's Day..............................................57V. Outdoors & Seasons Of The Year..........................59 Spring....................................................61 Passing Seasons at Mosquito Lake..........................63 Seasonal Joy..............................................64 Winter Fun................................................65 My Kite...................................................66 A Fishing Trip............................................67 The Pond..................................................68 Ode to Ray the Hunter.....................................70VI. On Life And Living.....................................71 Unseen Beauty.............................................73 Life's Music..............................................74 For All True Christians...................................77 At Night..................................................78 Secure....................................................79 My Alma Mutters...........................................80 Just Lucky................................................81 Retrospect................................................82 Nurses....................................................84 Regrets...................................................85VI. Ending Thought.........................................87

Chapter One

I fail to understand how Dad, with his dysfunctional family background, managed to develop such a deep and wonderful appreciation for family relationships. Perhaps being deprived of a loving father or unified family in his life is what drove him to spawn his own family that became his life, his legacy. Whatever reason, there is no question his adult life evolved around family and friends; they were the most important component of life and his reason to be.

The first poem in this section speaks of family appreciation; acknowledging it is something "some folks have never known."

Our Family

We'll start with Merry Christmas And the happiest New Year, Mom and I are never happier Than times when you are near.

We're grateful for the tender care And love that you have shown, Such harmony of family life, Some folks have never known. So on this yuletide season, We'll place beneath the tree A gift that we could never wrap And many cannot see.

All the love that's in our hearts Is there for each to share, A merry Christmas gift for you Our family oh so rare.

Sons and daughters, in-laws all And grandchildren so dear, We wish you Merry Christmas And the happiest New Year.

Five Good Kids

Five good kids that's all we asked for, We have all that and more. Five good kids and five great in-laws Make happy grandma and grandpas. Ten super grandkids, what a bonus Now with Christmas time upon us. God Bless you all as we've been blessed And grant you nothing but the best. So Merry Christmas family, You've made us happy as can be.

Linda

She played their games and beat the boys Around the neighborhood. They thought a girl could not compete But then she proved she could.

And then the tomboy air would fade To show my little girl, Petite and sweet with golden hair A priceless little pearl.

She never really did outgrow That rash adventurous air, Tho blossoming to womanhood With children in her care.

I still recall her childhood days - The love that we all shared; Her little homemade gifts to us Showed just how much she cared.

Again I have my little girl - Her daughter mirrors her core. I'm twice blessed and fortunate, New memories of yore.

Jay (the ex-skier) A skier's life's a happy one Until he takes a fall, Ignobly dragged down off the slope And to the hospital.

His world is white upon the slope With brand new powdered snow; The sheets are white upon the bed But there's no place to go. Now was it worth it after all, The misery and pain? He'll never know 'till he goes back And tries that slope again.

Some folks they just never learn; Now is this where I fit? Or will I have enough good sense - At home next time I sit.

I tried that run just one more time To see how fast I'd go And how the scenery is marred With red spots in the snow.

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