Here's one i wrote for my grandmother's birthday card:)

Rubies and diamonds,

silver and gold,

all of these bring wealth untold.

But a grandmother is a priceless gift,

lovely as the summer wind,

a servant and a friend.

Independence Bell

There was a tumult in the city
In the quaint old Quaker town,
And the streets were rife with people
Pacing restless up and down–
People gathering at corners,
Where they whispered each to each,
And the sweat stood on their temples
With the earnestness of speech.

As the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore,
So they beat against the State House,
So they surged against the door;
And the mingling of their voices
Made the harmony profound,
Till the quiet street of Chestnut
Was all turbulent with sound.

“Will they do it?” “Dare they do it?”
“Who is speaking?” “What’s the news?”
“What of Adams?” “What of Sherman?”
“Oh, God grant they won’t refuse!”
“Make some way there!” “Let me nearer!”
“I am stifling!” “Stifle then!
When a nation’s life’s at hazard,
We’ve no time to think of men!”

So they surged against the State House,
While all solemnly inside,
Sat the Continental Congress,
Truth and reason for their guide,
Over a simple scroll debating,
Which, though simple it might be,
Yet should shake the cliffs of England
With the thunders of the free.

Far aloft in that high steeple
Sat the bellman, old and gray,
He was weary of the tyrant
And his iron-sceptered sway;
So he sat, with one hand ready
On the clapper of the bell,
When his eye could catch the signal,
The long-expected news to tell.

See! See! The dense crowd quivers
Through all its lengthy line,
As the boy beside the portal
Hastens forth to give the sign!
With his little hands uplifted,
Breezes dallying with his hair,
Hark! with deep, clear intonation,
Breaks his young voice on the air.

Hushed the people’s swelling murmur,
Whilst the boy crys joyously;
“Ring!” he shouts, “Ring! Grandpapa,
Ring! oh, ring for Liberty!”
Quickly, at the given signal
The old bellman lifts his hand,
Forth he sends the goods news, making
Iron music through the land.

How they shouted! What rejoicing!
How the old bell shook the air,
Till the clang of freedom ruffled,
The calmly gliding Delaware!
How the bonfires and the torches
Lighted up the night’s repose,
And from the flames, like fabled Phoenix,
Our glorious liberty arose!

That old State House bell is silent,
Hushed is now its glamorous tongue;
But the spirit it awakened
Still is living—ever young;
And when we greet the smiling sunlight
On the fourth of each July,
We will never forget the bellman
Who, between the earth and sky,
Rung out, loudly, “Independence”;
Which, please God, shall never die!  

            Author unknown

My mother is a keeper-at-home,
She doesn't go into the world and roam.
While others say, "No, Siree,"
My mother says, "This is the way for me."
She cooks and bakes our meals for us,
That we may grow strong and robust,
She teaches all of us children at home,
Yes, my mother is truly a keeper-at-home.

~ Martha Harrouff

A GIRL'S PRAYER

Dear God, I would be beautiful!

But if this may not be

Oh give me beauty of the soul

For deeper sight to see!

Dear God, I would be popular

But if this be not wise

Let those who need me find me near

To comfort and advise.

Dear God, I would go far in life

And do some noble thing

but if I may not reach the heights

I'd cause some heart to sing.

Dear God, I would be dearly loved!

But if this be denied.

Help me to love humanity

Over all the world wide.

Dear God, I would be lovelines

And grace personified!

Yet, help my life to shine for Thee

A Splendid thing - All glorified!

AMERICA'S FREEDOMS

America, you're blessed although you may not see

Those freedoms that were bestowed,

Upon you and me

The freedoms that cost a heavy price

The sacrifices of men and women

Who gave up they're lives

Who left loved ones behind, so America could be,

A country worth fightting for, finally free.

The home of the brave and the home of the just

A country that still believes in the motto

"In God we Trust"

But why are we sitting down

While our freedoms are being taken away

Little by little with each passing day

America, forever be true

So take a stand, trust God,

And He will always see you through

For America, you are a country worth fightting for

A country to love and a country to adore

So keep the faith, and stand for what's right

Always trust God, and hold up the light.

                           -Megan Abot

KISSED HIS MOTHER

She sat on the porch in the sunshine

As i went down the street-

A woman whose hair was silver,

But whose face was blossom sweet,

Making me think of a gerden,

When, in spite of the frost and snow

Of bleak November weather,

Late, fragrant lilies blow.

I heard a footstep behind me,

And the sound of a merry laugh,

And I knew the heart it came from

Would be like a comforting staff

In the time and the hour of trouble,

Hopeful and brave and strong,

One of the hearts to lean on,

When we think all things go wrong.

I turned at the click of the gate-latch,

And met his many look;

A face like his gives me pleasure,

Like the page of a pleasant book.

It told of a steadfast purpose,

Of a brave and daring will;

A face with a promise in it,

That, God grant, the years fulfill.

He went up the pathway singing,

I saw the woman's eyes

Grow bright with a wordless welcome,

As the sunshine warms the skies.

"Back again, sweetheart mother,"

He cried, and bent to kiss

The loving face that was uplifted

For what some mothers miss.

That boy will do to depend on

I hold that this is true-

From lads in love with their mothers

Our bravest heroes grew.

Earth's grandest hearts have been loving hearts,

Since the time the earth began;

And the boy who kisses his mither

Is every inch a man! 

~Christian Intelligencer

The Pilot's Prayer

Lord of sea and earth and air

Listen to the pilot's prayer

 Send him wind that's steady and strong

Grant that his engine sing the song

Of flawless tone, by which he knows

 It shall not fail him e'er he goes

And that he may learn in heights of heaven,

The rapture altitude has given

And that he may know the joy they feel

Of those who ride Thy realms on birds of steel.

                                         -Cecil Roberts

SOMETIMES

Last night, my darling, as you slept,

I thought I heard you sigh,

And to your little crib I crept,

And watched a space thereby.

Then bending down I kissed your brow,

For oh! I love you so.

You are too young to know it now,

But sometime you shall know. 

~Eugene Field

TELL HIM SO

If you hear a kind word spoken

of some worthy soul you know,

It may fill his heart with sunshine

If you only tell him so.

If a deed, however humble,

Helps you on your way to go,

Seek the one who's hand has helped you,

Seek him out and tell him so!

If your heart is touched and tender

Toward a sinner, lost and low,

It might help him to do better

If you'd only tell him so!

Oh, my sisters, oh, my brothers,

As o'er life's rough path you go,

If God's love has saved and kept you,

Do not fail to tell men so!

(I'm not sure who wrote this one either)

            BEST OF ALL

He doeth well who doeth good 

to those of his own brotherhood;

He doeth better who doth bless

The stranger in his wretchedness;

Yet best, oh! best of all doth he

Who helps a fallen enemy.

(I don't know who wrote this one but I love it!)

Patriotism in Small Patriots

Patriotism, it is so evident some days

But now that I'm here, let me count the ways

First, the valiant soldiers over seas

Our Safety and security, they hold the keys.

We talk and speak about it with ease

Then we go on and do as we please.

We stand for freedom though weak, exhausted and tired.

Our flag's stripes are red, the stars  are white

Our forefather's struggle has brought us delight.

Yes, our country is taken much for granted;

But in our hearts the seeds of patriotism is planted.

Then these seeds will grow then bloom anew

We'll rise as leaders to represent the red, white, and blue.

-Daniel Fowler

                                                            OPPORTUNITY

                                     They do me wrong who say I come no more

                                      When once I knock and fail to find you in;

                                       For every day I stand outside your door,

                                     And bid you wake, and rise to fight and win.

                                     Wail not for precious chances passed away,

                                        Weep not for golden ages on the wane! 

                                      Each night I burn the records of the day,

                                          At sunrise every soul is born again!

                                     Laugh like a boy at splendors that have sped,

                                    To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb;

                                   My judgments seal the dead past with it's dead,

                                          But never bind a moment yet to come.

                              Though deep in mire, wring not your hands and weep;

                                          I lend my arm to all who say "I can!"

                                      No shame-faced outcast ever sank so deep,

                                       But yet might rise and be again a man!

                                     Dost thou behold thy lost youth all aghast?

                                    Dost reel from righteous Retribution's blow?

                                    Then turn from blotted archives of the past,

                                    And find the future's pages white as snow.

                                   Art thou a mourner? Rouse thee from thy spell;

                                       Art thou a sinner? Sins may be forgiven;

                                   Each morning gives thee wings to flee from hell

                                     Each night a star to guide thy feet to heaven.

                                                                                                 ~ Walter Malone

                                                                 SMILES

                                    Smile a little, smile a little as you go along,

                         Not alone when life is pleasant, but when things go wrong.

                           Care delights to see you frowning; loves to hear you sigh;

                              Turn a smiling face upon her, quick the dame will fly.   

                                    Smile a little, smile a little, all along the road;

                               Every life must have it's burden, Every heart it's load.

                          Why sit down in gloom and darkness, with your grief to sup?

                                 As you drink fate's bitter tonic smile across the cup.

                            Smile upon the troubled pilgrims whom you pass and meet;

                          Frowns are thorns, and smiles are blossoms oft for weary feet.

                                   Do not make the way seem harder by a sullen face,

                                   Smile a little, smile a little, brighten up the place.

                             Smile upon your undone labor; not for one who grieves

                         O'er his task, waits wealth or glory; he who smiles achieves.

                         Though you meet with loss and sorrow in the passing years,

                               Smile a little, smile a little, even through your tears.

                                                                                               ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

If Once You Have Slept on an Island

If once you have slept on an island
You'll never quite be the same;
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name.

You may bustle about in street and shop,
You may sit at home and sew,
But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.

You may chat with the neighbors of this and that
And close to your fire keep
But you'll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.

Oh, you won't know why, and you can't say how
Such a change upon you came,
But - once you've slept on an island
You'll never quite be the same.

Rachel Field

This one was for the card i made my mother for Mother Day...for you, Mom! :)

Mom

Thanks for teaching me to be mindful of my manners.

Always monitoring my mouth,

Being aware of others watching.

You showed me not to meddle in others affairs,

For it would result in me caught in a snare.

You are always reminding me to mend my mistakes,

No matter what it takes.

To be moral in all my deeds,

And concede to maintain a meek and modest appearance.

To adhere to the warning not to go astray from what we have been taught.

Giving it much thought before we charge up that hill,

Always asking God what He wills.

You’ve instilled in me a desire to be content with what the Lord has provided,

Not mumbling nor complaining when having to make a small sacrifice.

Striving to be nice, my mood merry,

A song in my heart at all times.

You taught me how to plan a menu for our meals,

Or make a masterpiece with material.

 Meditating more than a minute

On the marvelous grace of my Maker.

You prayed that I would give myself wholly to God,

Whether it be an area of ministry,

On the mission field or merely my will to yield.

You also told me to faithfully pray for the man I’ll marry.

Mom, you are truly a treasure without measure!

I’ll always marvel at the mystery

 How you had a method to the madness.

Thanks for mopping up my many messes.

Next to Christ you will always be my model to follow.

I’m incredibly proud to be able to call you Mom.

-Sharon R. Aldrich

Feb. 5/2010