HEARTSONGS from a cowboy's soul

2012-03-07T05:50:00.001-08:00

In two days my son turns seventeen (3/7/12)
I find myself questioning
Have I let him know often enough
Does he really understand
How much I care for and love him?

I want to hold him and turn back the clock
I wish I could undo or redo the past
To be the one who was there
When he needed to learn how to shave
The one who was with him
When he entered grade eight
Starting high school can be scary.
But so is when your parents split up.

I want him to know that I think of him
Every day and not just once but all day long
He's always on my mind as I wonder
Does he know, does it show
He's my son and I'm so very proud
Of all that he's done
And all that he'll do.

The way he learned to play guitar
And seized the day with his writing
The way he experiments and tries
Writing music and prose and poetry
Reaching out and looking within.

He's my son and I love him so.
Happy birthday my boy
And though I can't hug you and hold you
Like I used to do
You'll always be my little guy.
Skipping rocks and trying to fish
Walking the dogs and climbing the hill

Seventeen is almost there
Adulthood just around the corner
Yet still bound by the rules
And stuck under the thumb of one
Striving so hard to become
More than a kid, not sure how
Wish it was me that was helping you see

He's my son and I want him to know
To feel in his heart
The love that I feel.
Won't be enough if I buy just a game
A fly fishing rod would be cool
But we so seldom have time together
Just one more thing
For the other to restrict.
Sigh............

I reach out to hold him
And like smoke in a mirror
He disappears
All grown up
Too late for regrets
Too little time to make up.

Happy Birthday my son

What About That Little Boy

2012-03-04T09:29:00.001-08:00

What About That Little Boy

He sits there confined to his chair

That boy with the rusty red hair

Ain’t because he wants to be there

And we complain that life isn’t fair

What about that little boy?

A brain injury before he was born

Caused his momma to feel forlorn

Her son’s head was slightly malformed

But her heart wasn’t the least bit torn

What about her little boy?

When he smiles and lights up the room

With a grin as big as the moon

You know that God’s granted a boon

To those who feel that death looms

What about that little boy?

He’s twelve years old and growing

When you hear him sing and groan

Every life is precious and worth knowing

His mother held him and faced the unknown

What about her little boy?

When We Met

2012-02-26T11:18:00.001-08:00

When We Met

Standing at the bus stop bench,

Waiting in the cold and rain

Hoping today he would quench,

Curiosity restrained.

She drove a black wheelchair van

His car had been a total wreck

She almost drove past that man

Standing in a cowboy hat of black

They had talked online for days

No need to wait much longer

Wondered if he was okay

If he could help make her stronger.

She pulled over, said hello

He climbed up in that van to meet

Lookin at her his heart fell

Deeply and forever at her feet.

Now looking back they both smile

At the peaks and valleys they’ve crossed

The steps they spent going miles

All the hours and days they lost.

Coffee at Tim Horton’s on that day

Visiting at his suite for tea

She wondered if he’d make a play

Did he think that she was sexy?

He was so shy and tongue tied

He’d been beaten down so long

Couldn’t find the nerve to try

He didn’t know he was wrong.

Third date in three days straight

She finally broke his heart

Told him that it was too late

Told him that they would have to part.

Writing poems and love songs

He threw caution to the winds

Opened up to show her she was wrong

He thought three roses was not a sin.

That’s the story of how we met

Six years ago on Valentine’s

Two weeks after that event

She asked him if she’d be mine.

Festival of Light contest

2012-02-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

Lot more entries this year I believe thanks to the promotion by the Holy Wow Poets. I didn't make the cut this year. However, they again published the booklet of poems. Poetry readings will be on February 24th at the Haney Place mall.

My Love

2012-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

The challenge from The Holy Wow Poets for the meeting to take place on February 14th was a St Valentine's Day poem. This has been rattling around in my head for about a week, so I wrote it out while driving home.

My Love

My love is cherished
My love is treasured
My love is loved
My love is her.
        - - -
My love is respected
My love is trusted
My love is beautiful
My love is her.
       - - -
My love cherishes me
My love treasures me
My love loves me
My heart is hers.
       - - -
My love respects me
My love trusts me
My love believes I'm beautiful
My soul and hers.

Copyright 2012 - Joe Robinsmith

Walk In The Light

2012-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Walk In The Light

There was nothing but white
Spread all over the ground
Turned the world into
An old photograph
Of black and white.

Made me think of the old days
When there was no color
Everything stark
Standing out in relief
Shadows from light.

The silence was deafening
The quiet surreal
Nothing seemed to move
The world holding its breath
Waiting for sunrise.

A shadow detached from the trees
Edged quickly across the path
I held my breath as I watched
Not daring to move
Black cat in white.

Sitting there on the walkway
Staring so boldy
I smiled and then squatted
Holding out my hand
Come into the warm.

With tail held high it turned
Disappeared into the bush
As I walked forward to where
It had sat and waited
There was not a sign.

Shadows and moonlight
Play tricks on the eyes
Had it been real
Or was Jake stalking my dreams
Goodbye sweet kitty.

Walk in the light.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T15:09:00.001-08:00

Here is hoping that 2012 is a happy, healthy, peaceful, prosperous year for all.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T07:33:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. God bless all.

Winter's Eve

2011-12-21T13:16:00.001-08:00

And though we've only just passed winter's eve
The night that stretches forever more
Already our imagination reaches
Grasping for some sign of life
Those few extra moments of day's light
Tease the human senses with fair promise
Greedily we soak up yon Heaven's glow.

Ah what doth that long night promise
Or tis it a threat of our own demise?
For when our own day's light come to a close
And time is spent no longer wandering
The earth in physical form and nature
For then is the new spring growth and light
Like our own spiritual rebirth?

Winter's eve we beg of thee impassioned
Linger not here prolonged and blight our day
For with the dawning of new days promise
Our soul feels not just the warmth of longer days
But a renewed sense of God's love
To lead us from the wilderness of despair
And bask in the Heavenly Father's light.

Uganda orphanage for HIV children

2011-12-14T12:02:00.001-08:00

http://jaajabarbshomeofangels.blogspot.com/
Barb is baking banana bread and selling them for $10 per loaf. 100% of the proceeds goes to the children.

http://clayandkaren.com/2011/02/18/banana-bread-for-uganda/

JRFM did a story about her back in February

http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/9350/Jaaja_Barbs_Home_of_Angels/

She was on the news again last night. They have accomplished a lot, but they still need to build another building, purchase another 50 goats for them to become self sufficient and build an 8 foot wall around the compound to protect the children from the random violence that continues throughout that region.

What can you do to help? Spread the word. Send donations. Buy banana bread.

Visit her blog and let her know you want to help and how.

Thank you

Holy Wow Poetry

2011-12-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

There is a meeting of the Holy Wow poets Tuesday, December 13, 2011. I had suggested to the organizer, Helene that perhaps we could ask all of the poets to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food bank. I'm looking forward to seeing what our group can accomplish.

Little Toy Trains

2011-12-07T13:46:00.001-08:00

The Angel's proclamation to the Shepherds

2011-12-06T19:27:00.001-08:00

Luke 2:8-14

8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;

11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Bullying must stop

2011-12-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

An example of my Christmas poem challenge

2011-11-24T19:49:00.001-08:00

Christmas to Remember

The carolers sing their hymns

Written in a different age

Beneath the snow covered limbs

Fresh snowfall setting the stage

Voices raised in harmonic love.

Hallelujah the King has come

To save us all from Satan’s hate

Jesus Christ, God’s only son

To bring forgiveness, not berate

Open your hearts to His love.

The singers shift gears and rejoice

That Christmas gifts will arrive soon

A young girl sings, beautiful voice

Mother’s arm circled ‘neath the moon

Carolers rejoicing in Christ’s love

The sound of a church bell echoes

Through the quiet snow-clad village

A child dreams of the North Pole

And a visit from Saint Nicholas

Knowing that he brings gifts of love.

A Christmas to remember

Filled with cranberry and turkey

Mistletoe in December

All the family on their knees

Thanking God for all of His love.

Christmas Poetry Challenge

2011-11-23T19:23:00.001-08:00

I've got a challenge to all poets. Create a poem that is five verses of five lines. Mention Jesus Christ in at least one verse and Saint Nicholas in at least one verse. Rhyming pattern of ababx cdcdx efefx ghghx ijijx

2011-11-17T20:37:00.001-08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2011

Day's Promise

2011-11-13T07:32:00.001-08:00

The light filters slowly through the clouds
The sun peeks up over eastern mountains
Another day full of promise and reward
To spend this morn waking at your side
Arms lovingly wrapped around you
I count my blessings and whisper thanks
To have you in my life as wife and lover.

Poetry contest update

2011-11-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

Holy WOW ! Yes, the Holy Wow Poets invited me to their monthly meeting as a featured poet. I was honoured. This was a joint celebration of Remembrance Day and also of the Honouring Our Veterans poetry contest that I organized.

I have to take my hat off to Helene Charron, the organizer of the Holy Wow Poets writers meetup. She has been my biggest cheerleader during this contest, promoting it, celebrating it, sharing it with others. To you Helene, I say thank you.

To the poets who entered the contest, I thank you. To the poets who showed up at the Holy Wow poetry reading tonight. I thank you for showing up and sharing.

As the other people reading the poems have said, this is extremely hard to choose a favourite. There are no "winners" or "losers" in the contest. However, as we have sponsors who have donated gifts for the favourite poems.

There are a total of 38 entries and over 42 poems. There was one from Jane Tremain in the United Kingdom, three poems from Linda Mills in Portland. One of the poems (not in the contest, but hoping to be published in the Times anyways) was mine. So that means 35 local poets from Langley, Surrey, and Maple Ridge entered the contest.

In the youth category we had four confirmed entries, with the youngest being 11 and the oldest, 17.

I expected about half this number of entries for the first year. I've been asked by our current Mayor and from the Maple Ridge Times newspaper to make it an annual event.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Poetry contest stats

2011-11-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

There were a total of 24 entrants, with over 30 poems entered.

I have to share them with another appraiser to ascertain aspects that allow aspiring authors ..........lol, I am trapped for thoughts on too many repetetive sounds.

The first, second and third place as well as grand prizes will be announced at the November 11th poetry reading at 3 p.m. in Haney Place mall beside Purdy's Chocolates.

Remember, Remember

2011-10-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Remember, Remember

At dawn's first light the first shot rang
Across the mud and trenches
Followed by the whine overhead
Of mortar shells released to fall
On soldiers indiscriminate
It matters not who lives or dies
To gain a few hundred feet of ground
Advancing up another hill
Or into another foreign town.

World War One was a battle slow
Fought on horses with guns and bayonets
World War Two slogged on four years
Mustard gas and bombed out cities
Too many fronts to count
Russia, Asia and the English Channel
In British Columbia they stood on alert
For submarines from across the ocean
Ending with the dropping of a mighty bomb.

Remember, remember, we say each year
Remember those that fell and died
Remember how they fought so bravely
Remember that war to end all wars.
Remember, remember we ask our children
Remember that your great grandfather died
Remember we say as they parade by
Remember we ask them as they color poppies
Remember, remember November eleventh.

The war to end all wars they claimed
There would be no more bloodshed
Until the Cold War began
Not five years after that mighty fight
Communist bloc and Western allies
Cuban missiles and Korean war.
Vietnamese jungles
And napalmed villages
Where all paid the price with sanity.

When will it stop this constant bloodshed
And for what we always ask ourselves
That time it was for land and money
Next time it's over politics and land
This time it's oil and control of production.
When man can live in peace
With enough of everything for all
Only then can our children not fear
That they will have to stand and fight again.

Remember, remember, we say each year
Remember those that fell and died
Remember how they fought so bravely
Remember that war to end all wars.
Remember, remember we ask our children
Remember that your great grandfather died
Remember we say as they parade by
Remember we ask them as they color poppies
Remember, remember November eleventh.

It is harder each and every year
There are fewer and fewer left behind.
Gone on to heaven to join their mates
Those who died and lay in Flanders Fields
They sell the poppies and stand on guard
But to their children's children's child
It all sounds like stories old and worn
Too much news of soldiers still dying
Overseas attempting to bring peace.

Peacekeepers now in bright blue
Driving in desert sand aboard humvees
Guns poised and ready to shoot
At children wearing vests of shrapnel
A simple soccer ball turned deadly
Because no one wants us to interfere
Democracy is just a word
An ideal that means so little both there and here.
We stand on guard for thee they say

Who stands on guard for them I ask
Who will bring these soldiers home again
Who will remember them in times to come
There are no parades for returning heroes
Who will cheer and hug them tight
Other than their little ones and wives
I cannot watch the tv reports
Another soldier has died, but why
Who will remember, remember them.

Maple Ridge Poetry contest

2011-10-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Confirmation from our local Member of Parliament office assistant that he would be delighted to attend the poetry reading on November 11, 2011 at 3 p.m. at the Haney Place Mall to hear the poems written for Honouring Our Veterans poetry reading contest.

http://www.mrtimes.com/news/Contest+honours+vets+with+prose/5510417/story.html

Maple Ridge Veterans Poetry contest

2011-10-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.mrtimes.com/send-us-your-news/index.html

Go to the link, fill in the required fields and then using the header in the "article" of Veterans, copy and paste your poem into the Article field.

Blue Eyes

2011-09-24T21:10:00.001-07:00

Blue as the country sky on a cloudless day

Blue as the lake water lapping at the shore

Blue like the sapphires worn by queens

There are no other words to describe

Blue eyes like yours gazing at me.

The Bigger Picture

2011-09-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Bigger Picture

There is a George Strait song currently playing

On the radio, JRFM 93.7

Everytime I hear that song, I think

That's how my life should be.

Life's not the breaths you take

But the moments that take your breath away

I nod, I laugh, I smile and sing along

I look at my son riding in the truck

Thinking how much like me he has become

I wonder how and why time flew by.

It's not the little things we do

But how we do them every day

My little girl stands there calling

Holding out the telephone

Work is calling daddy, they want you

To come in this weekend.

I nod my head and take the phone

I listen then politely I decline

I only see my little ones

Every other weekend, not today sir. No sir.

I can't believe how fast they've grown

How I wish I could turn back time

Life gets more complicated

Every single day.

But it's not how we handle that stress

It's how we love and hug.

It's not the breaths you take

Not the breathing in and out.

It's the bigger picture it's what it's all about.

I love my little ones now become young adults.

I have made some mistakes along the way

I've shed my share of tears

I've broken hearts and shattered dream

sIncluding that one inside of me.

It's held together by the thinnest threads

Connecting other hearts

Just one lets go and then we fall apart

I'd comfort you, wrap my arms about

If I thought that you'd want me to

Because it's not the past we've had

But how we make each day count.

How can I make it up to you dear heart.

It's not the breaths you take

It's the smiles we share and hugs we give

It's the little ones we care about

That wrap out hearts in love.

This is excerpted from Heartsongs from a Cowboy's Soul. Dropped off a signed copy to Crystal Darche of JRFM 93.7 yesterday and thought this was a good time to share it here.

Dancing with You

2011-09-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Dancing with You

All the times we used to share

The scent of perfume from your hair

When your head lay against my chest

I miss those days from history passed

We start again and hold on with passion

Try to recreate that old fashioned

Way of loving with a sense of romance

How I used to pull you in my arms to dance

Oh those were the days, whirling

Around the kitchen, twirling

The laughter in your eyes

The smile that could make me cry

I wish you’d smile like that at me again

Make my heart skip a beat and then

Kiss my lips to make my toes curl

Help me to believe I am your world.

I’ve learned that life isn’t perfect

But a collection of all the defects

That we have learned and gained

Are the tripping stones we must un-train

To become a higher kind of being

So that you and I are seeing

The same future and living in love

Sharing and daring all that we love.

Looking Glass

2011-09-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

So many times I look into the past
Through the looking glass of hindsight
Wondering what might have been
If only I had or had not been or done
Better or different than what I was.

Today is a new life with a new wife
Amongst the memories we create
Reside the ashes of the past
Swept under the carpets of life
Blazing new trails and paths.

Will she look back and wonder too
Does she think about the past and maybes
How do we forge ahead with today
When the past hangs around
Like Damocles' sword.

All the little reminders of what might have been
Any time we look at the product of that time
How much those children look like
The other partner of that lifetime ago
Does that threaten you the way it does me too.

I wonder if her new partner looks at him
And sees me standing there watching them
It doesn't seem so difficult when you start
But over time the little things trip you up
Building up inside and scratching like a burr.

Do we turn away again and stay alone
Or reach higher than we did before
Trying to become that better person
The one God created us to strive to be.
Able to transcend the limitations we set.

Belief, faith, trust come with time and patience
We all make mistakes in life
There are no magic pills or silver bullets
It's forgiveness of ourselves that begins
The path to love and happiness.

The looking glass is not so much for me
As what my children might have been
If two parents lovingly raised them
Instead of all the fighting and disagreements
They have done alright, but what might have been.

First Days

2011-09-01T06:47:00.001-07:00

I was the one who took her to her first day of pre-school at Miss Betty's Headstart Montessori.

I was the one who took her to her first day of Kindergarten at Alouette Elementary.

Today, I was the one who picked her up and got her to the Coquitlam bus loop

For her first day of orientation at Simon Fraser University.

I showed no tears, I didn't let her see my fear.

I gave her kisses, smiles and reassuring words.

But the tears rolled after I drove away.

My baby girl is now a beautiful, intelligent, young woman

Moving on to the next phase of her life.

I love you Hailey-cakes.
Your dad, xoxot

Sleep

2011-08-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Oh Dentastix you are the bane of my nights
The way the puppy whined throughout
Too many trips to squat and cry
He had the runs and I lost my sleep
No more treats for the puppy dog
I drag my sorry butt from bed
To prepare for a day of work
While he gets to sleep and lay around
Oh how I wish I was a dog
So I could sleep this day instead.

Fog

2011-08-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

The fog covers the trees
Just the trunks peeking through
A blanket of silence
Envelopes the barns.
A gentle rustling stirs
As the cattle climb slowly to their feet.
Ready for another day
With sunshine and fresh grass.
Milking time and then freedom
To wander the field of life.

The fog creeps across the marsh
Slipping in between the rushes
The Canada geese pull in their heads
Hunker down on their nest
Protecting the little ones beneath
While slowly paddling upstream
An otter swims past seeking breakfast
Amongst the weed choked bank

The fog slides down along the riverbank
Flowing slowly out to seek the sea
As the sun climbs over the mountain
Warming, cheering, giving life again
To the world below that hides
The water droplets return back to the sky
Clouds form and drift away
Another summer morning begins.

What Do You Do?

2011-08-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

What Do You Do?

What do you do when you see violence?

Especially happening to a child

In a public place like Walmart

Do you walk away or try to help?

It makes my heart heavy

Watching that child’s arm being squeezed

Wrenched up higher than his shoulder

The screaming into his face

My own tears reacted to those on his face

I hugged my own inner child

Remembering my own mother’s face

As she too screamed at me just like that

What do you do when you see hurt?

You want to reach out and help

Wrap your arms around that mother and child

Tell them it’s going to be okay

Instead you walk away

Because you know that it would be taken wrong

No need to cause a scene or interfere

They are doing their best and it’s not good enough.

Little boy will remember her face

Imprinted on memories that last a lifetime

Red, angry, teeth bared, snarling

Cringing inside every time he hears yelling.

What do you do when you remember?

Cry a little inside and run away

Hug that inner child and whisper

I love you, you are important, you matter to me.