Wally and Milly Johnson - Potpourri Of Poetry

HOW WELL I REMEMBER!

How well I remember...
That lovely road lined with trees
Leading to a Wisconsin mink ranch
Where I spent my happy childhood years.
Especially do I remember this:
One day rounding a bend on this road coming from school,
A car was parked and we cautiously slowed.
My father's eyes were on the narrow road so he did not see
That the man in the car was pointing a gun at him and me!!
HOW WELL I REMEMBER!!
We saw him no more, in person that is,
But the next day that cruel face of his
Stared at us beneath headlines I can NEVER forget:
"JOHN DILLINGER IS HERE AND ISN'T CAUGHT YET!!"
He was that ruthless gangster of the thirties you'll relate
And his hide-out was at 'Little Bohemia' not far from us
And the police were irate!
He escaped, but in a Chicago theater met his fate.
Had he that day fired at us and we had been shot
I would not be here to ponder these thoughts!
How well I remember...
HOW COULD I FORGET?!!

YESTERDAY

A nickel bought a lot of things,
Perhaps a loaf of bread
Or a pencil box for Sister Sue
And for Mom some yarn or thread
...Yesterday!
We walked to school in sunshine, snow, or rain
With perhaps a 'lard pail' in our hand
Containing lunch our Mom had made
With the best homemade bread in the land
...Yesterday!
We never thought to be afraid
When to school we walked
For cars were scarce and crime was nil
And we happily laughed and talked
...Yesterday!
We were taught to honor Almighty God
By our teacher as well as at church,
If kids misbehaved they were soundly spanked
Or in a corner they would ashamedly perch
...Yesterday!
God is now forgotten as a school day begins
And kids revel in confusion...some even in sexual sins.
When tomorrow becomes today
WHY CAN'T WE GO BACK TO YESTERDAY??

AMUSING AND CONFUSING

A Mr. White and a Mr. Brown
Attended our church in Eureka, California
Where my husband was a Banker in that seaside town.
One Sunday morn to them we were talking
While our five year old son stood there gawking.
Suddenly queried our little 'clown'
"How come Mr Brown is so WHITE
And Mr. White is so BROWN?!
To make this story more amusing
I must add something quite confusing:
Mr. Brown delivered mail and should have been brown,
Mr. White should have been pale..for he was a white-collar man!
This little boy is now a grown man...
An inventor, engineer, and yes, born again!
His name is Don Johnson, and he is now fifty-five
And we think he is the greatest son, husband, and father
...alive!!

BEAUTIFUL CRESCENT CITY!

Nestled among giant redwood trees
Our enchanting little city is hidden
Bordered by an ocean's turbulent waves
That many a surfer has ridden!
It is never too hot here
Nor is it too cold.
And, I declare, is it the fountain of youth?
For Seniors look young, don't seem to get old!
If perchance you wander on Pebble Beach
Sea lions can be heard at noon.
Then, oh, at night you will see silver spilling
On the shimmering water from that magnificent moon!
And every morn as I watch
The clouds kiss the sky
I thank the Lord that I live here...
Why am I so fortunate...why?!

HOW IMPORTANT IS LOVE?

You can give your child
The world on a silver spoon...
Yes, figuratively speaking
You could give him the moon!
With all of the money he could spend
Along with expensive toys end upon end.
All this is but dross and count it as loss
For even with all the 'things' above
He will be most unhappy
IF HE DOES NOT HAVE YOUR TIME AND YOUR LOVE!!

A FOREVER VALENTINE

It matters not what I have on
Or even what I might have done...
If I'm pretty, ugly, thin or fat,
My Lord does not perceive of that!
And this I know without a doubt
LOVE is what it's all about!
Upon us ALL His love He pours
Giving us His heart,
Now give Him YOURS
This Valentine's Day!

Why??

Why do I SEE when I open my eyes?
Why do I HEAR with my ears?
Why is there a sun, moon and stars in the skies
And, after daylight, darkness appeaars?
These things HAD to be created by God,
No way could they happen by chance!
A bird flies like a plane by flapping its wings
And without taking lessons every bird sings!
A BLACK cow eats GREEN grass
Then produces WHITE milk
And a silkworm supplies us with the most beautiful silk!
Then how do we thank God for our every delight?
WE FORBID PRAYERS IN OUR SCHOOLS
EVEN ON GRADUATION NIGHT!!

TO MOTHER AND DAD FROM A BABY WHO DIED

Mom and Dad, if I could speak to you, I would say,
Do not weep for me today
For I am where the angels sing
Now Jesus takes care of everything!
And I shall wait at Heaven's gate
Watching, waiting, for your smile...
You know God has circled 'round the date
When you'll walk that long last mile.
So, Mom and Dad, please don't be sad and blue
For I am even safer here than on earth with you.
Always remember...Jesus loves you, and I do too!"

...AND A CHILD WAS BORN! (OUR SON, DON JOHNSON)

IT SEEMED LIKE A DREAM...
That round little face looking down at me
With a cleft in his chin... Our little boy - baby!
Our joy was unspeakable... We wanted him so
Never dreaming how very fast he would grow.

We named him Donald Harvey and then there were three
When he was born into our happy Johnson family.
With mischievous eyes of blue and hair of gold
He became the cutest little boy I ever did behold!

Precious memories remain as the years have flown
For our little boy is now handsomely grown.
Our 'Mr. America' has now his own family...
With three precious children, his wife Robin and he.

The joy we have known since our grandchildren came
I would not trade for the world's greatest riches
or fame.
When they lovingly look at us their dear eyes shine
And there's still more love in their arms that
entwine!
THANK YOU, LORD -- IT WAS NOT A DREAM!

A MOTHER'S DAY POEM TO MY DAUGHTER

TO LINDA:

If I could have chosen my daughter
From this world so full of them...
I would have chosen the one God did
For Linda, he gave us YOU-- a priceless Gem!

A MOTHER'S DAY POEM TO MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

TO ROBIN:

A robin once came hopping
Right into our heart...
We knew that we would love her
A lot
Right from the very start!
No, my word
She's not a bird!
But is the dearest, prettiest daughter-in-law
Anyone ever heard
Tell of...
And she's ours!

CHEER UP

Does nobody understand you...
Could you sometimes 'fly the coop'?
When you speak to your friends misinterpret.
Making you feel like a 'fly in their soup'?
Life is filled with disappointments
But I have learned to overcome
For Jesus knows our hearts and our motives
And he knows where we are coming from!
So..."Don't worry... be happy!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

Happy Birthday, dear Jesus, Son of God!
My, how you must think it a bit odd
How we mortals busy ourselves
Much like Santa Claus and his elves
Buying gifts for one and all,
Then FORGETTING Thee
Born in a manger stall!
Help us, Lord, please, to remember
There would be no Christmas each December
Had God not planned Your wondrous birth
Giving to those who believe
True 'peace on earth'!
So, "Happy Birthday, dear Jesus"
And humbly we say:
YOU are the GREATEST Gift...
YOU ARE CHRISTMAS DAY!!"

BORN TO LEAVE

Ironically, we are all born to leave the nest
Of the ones we love the best!
Now that our children are grown
We look back on the joys we have known,
But we can't help but wish they had tarried
yet awhile before they left or got married.
Oh, how we love them, but we cannot cleave
For they are born to live and born to leave!
So young parents, cherish these early years
For soon they will go as you smile through your tears.

THE NORTH WIND

Hear the winds blow clear and chill
Down the valley, up the hill
O'er the ocean's briny deep
Rousing fishes from their sleep.
This cold north wind we all know
Causes cold to come and warmth to go...
Leaves to wither, flowers to die
Windows to rattle, and trees to sigh.
We shudder as its cold blasts blow
Knowing that we'll soon see snow
Lying on the ground so white
E'er the dawn surpasseth night!

(written when I was in High School)

SNOWFLAKES

Sparkling snowflakes, gently falling
Dancing, fluttering through the night!
To each other singing, whispering,
"Are we not a gorgeous sight?"
Happy snowflakes, light is dawning
Bringing with it pure delight
To the world...gazing, gasping
At splendor wrought in dead of night!

THE OPULENCE OF OREGON

I gazed into the deepest blue
I ever had beheld
Surpassed by nothing I e'er had seen...
It seemed my heart had quelled!
The grandeur was magnificent
As I stood in breathless awe
And marvelled at God's handiwork
WHEN CRATER LAKE I SAW!!

BUSY ME

Land O' Goshen
Though I live near the ocean
The sea I seldom see!
I am so busy livin'
This life that God has given
And time will soon run out on me.
So whether the weather
Be bitter or better
Perchance on the morrow
A boat we will borrow
And the sea we shall see
My dear hubby and me!

ODE TO MY BELOVED

If there comes another spring
And my spirit hath departed
To where the Heavenly angels sing
My beloved, don't feel thwarted...
For I shall wait at Heaven's gate
Watching, waiting for your smile!
You know God has circled round the date
When we'll walk that long last mile...
So, until then I am so content
Here with Jesus all the while!

JOURNEY'S END

Strolling down the green embankment
Of the Rio Grande one day,
A bent old man was seen to halt then stagger on his way...
His wrinkled hands were trembling and his eyes were wet with tears
As on his well-trod pathway a grass-covered mound appears.
He slowly bent his graying head and lifting up his eyes
Breathed a fervent prayer to his Maker in the skies:
"Dear God" he prayed, "You've taken my one and only friend
Yet I hope that in some way this broken heart You'll mend!"
His voice suddenly quavered, he could utter not a word,
His hands weakly trembled, and, as if struck by a sword
Fell inertly to the earth...his cheek upon the mound:
HIS SOUL IS AT REST IN HEAVEN THOUGH HE LAY UPON THE GROUND!!

(written in high school)

A TRIBUTE TO ALL OUR MANY FRIENDS

We've loved you now through many years...
Together we have known laughter, and some tears.
We could never estimate your priceless worth
But thank God He put you on this earth
So we could love each other!

HOW I MET MY MAN

When I was twenty I applied for a job
In a bank in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
Shortly before someone did rob
This bank of much of its 'goods'!
The men who worked there I will never forget:
There was Tom, there was George, there was Chet.
After World War11 ended we hired two men
Who were ever so glad to be home again!
Melvin had a wife, but Wally had none...
But before much time passed, a wife Wally won:
ME!!
I thank God for him these past fifty-six years,
And we now often reminisce about our banking careers!

MY DEAREST FRIEND

There is no vocabulary eloquent enough
To describe my dearest Friend... Who is always there though my path is rough
Offering his nail-scarred hand.
"I wish he were mine," you plaintively cry;
"Beloved," I hear Jesus say...
"Repent and believe, and then you and I
Will walk hand in hand everyday!

POETRY LIVES ON

There are many benefits derived from being a writer
And my thoughts they engulf me like the web of a spider!
My time is not wasted when I cannot sleep
And I do not resort to the counting of sheep.
From the top of my head to the tip of my toes
Ideas keep popping until a thought grows.
And when I put it on paper I hope and I pray
That thoughts I have written will brighten your day.
Some of my poems have been published and I thank you, God--
Now they will live on when I am covered with sod!

ARE YOU EVER LONELY?

Are you ever lonely even though you are not alone?
God is ALWAYS with you though He lives upon his throne!
But there are times when sadness creeps upon us
unawares
And our hearts are heavy with our burdens and our
cares.
Take them all to Jesus, yes, leave them at His feet
And you will find solace so wonderful and sweet.
To think He cares about us enough to understand
Our insignificant problems and takes us by the hand.
Sometimes nobody understands us but the Master always
will
And when our prayers are answered, it really is a
thrill
To know SOMEBODY cares about us when our hearts are
really sad,
And when we fully realize His greatness, we are not SAD but GLAD!

WHAT MATTERS TO JESUS

Are your dresses or garments so very fine
With beautiful jewels that almost outshine
The sun?
It doesn't matter to Jesus.
Is your home a palace with carvings of gold
And its grounds a fairyland to behold
Here below?
It doesn't matter to Jesus.
Perhaps your clothes are simple...even torn
And your shoes may also be a little bit worn
At times.
It doesn't matter to Jesus.
What matters to Him is beneath the facade
Of the garments we wear, be they lovely or odd.
HE LOOKS AT OUR HEART...
Is there love there, or scorn
For He Who died for us before we were born?
THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO JESUS!!

ADVICE TO NEWLYWEDS

May your marriage be filled with the infinite love
That is born in the realms of Heaven above:
Caring, unselfish, forgiving and true...
With God's love in your heart
These things you will do!
Then, like we, in 55 years you will say:
"We love each other even MORE than on our Wedding Day!"

WANTS--OR NEEDS?

Some folks go to school for years
Are they smart--or are they dumb?
For the lesson they have failed to learn
Is how to live within their income!

MAN'S BEST FRIEND!

She doesn't care if I am poor or rich
Whether I am famous or dig a ditch!
Though all my world should fall apart
My dog 'Bonnie' would love me with all her heart!
She licks my hand to show her love
And sniffs the air to judge my worth!
My thanks to God in Heaven above
For putting canines on this earth!

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

As I look back in restrospect
At the countless weeks,
The months, the years...
My life's mirror reflects
A myriad of joys that far outnumbers the tears!
Incredibly dear is each dawning day
As beside me my dear husband sleeps,
And I am so thankful Jesus paid the way
So that we can be happy
FOR KEEPS!!

THIS GRANDMA'S LOVE

If I did not have grandchildren
I don't think I could live
For they love me for what I am
Not for what I can give.
And because they love me so
To them I will give
As long as I live...
Especially LOVE!
All the love I can muster
And, believe me, that's a LOT, Buster!

PERCEPTION

Do children and dogs seem to like you?
It is because you LOVE and are KIND!
It may take a judge and a jury for a conviction,
But, perceptively, a child and a dog are not blind!!

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY

If you will but remember
That you are the clay
And Jesus is the Potter...
You are apt to do and say
What you 'had oughter'!

HE LIVES IN MY HEART

It was on the Old Rugged Cross that for ME Jesus DIED
Because of my sins, and for that I have cried.
But, wonder of wonders that was only the start:
For because I repented, HE NOW LIVES IN MY HEART!

MISBEHAVIOR IS EXPENSIVE!

I have been wondering if we are aware
That if people behaved, we'd need no prisons anywhere!
We would need no guns to protect us
At home, work, or at play-
No drunks driving cars at night or noonday.
No locks on our doors,
No ripoffs in stores,
No homos, no porno, no drugs to fear,
Adn we'd know there was safety
For those we hold dear!
These things could happen--
It would be easy you know
If we'd swallow our pride and to God we would go.
He made us, then bought us
With His blood on the cross.
He'll change the whole world
If we let Him be 'boss'
Of all that we do, of all that we say.
WHY don't we do things the Master's way?
And think of the money this nation would save--
It's expensive and sinful--that word, 'misbehave'!

MEMORIES--GOOD OR BAD?

Isn't it interesting that God has created
man
With the capacity to remember in his old
age
Memories of yesterday as vivid as anyone
can
Imagine!
And it sometimes is a blessing to be sure
That often the present to the aged becomes
obscure!
But don't you find it very hard to
comprehend
What kind of memories are children and
grandchildren will tend
To remember in their old age?
Tell me... if you dare... or can!

MOUNTAINS

Their magnificent splendor in the distance looms
And, as a flower in early spring that blooms
Grow lovelier as their presence nears--
Then, as we leave them behind, like the years
Their magnificence into nothingness succumbs!

SNOW

I know my eyes shall never see
A scene more lovely than a tree
Whose limbs bedecked with new-shed snow
Bow down beneath a snow-white glow!

IRONICALLY TRUE

How many billions of dollars are spent to
improve our figure and face
While AIDS threatens to destroy us and
the whole human race.
Beauty is skin-deep -- but our acts are
not so
They uphold or condemn us -- that surely
you know.
When we throw discretion to the winds
we sadly debase
Our Lord who died to save us by his
infinite grace.
We are basking in immortality way up to
our chins --
How do we feign to escape judgment for
our sexual sins?
I, for one, firmly believe God sent us
AIDS
Because He had to... to impede our immoral
charades!

HE WHO TAKES ADVICE IS WISE

How sad today that many young folks
Resent proffered advice.
Instead, many choose to learn from their
mistakes
Which often leads to their demise!

HIS LINE IS NEVER BUSY!

"At night the wakeful hours that I spend
Are very aptly put to use...
For I talk to the Lord, my dearest Friend
Who listens whether I am awake or I snooze!
This line to Heaven is never, ever busy
And no charges for 'calls' we all know..
So, insomniacs, don't get into a tizzy
For you can talk to God without dialing ""O""!"

PRICELESS TREASURES

"I have never aspired
To keep up with the Joneses,
And the Joneses
Do not aspire to keep up with me.
But, you see, my treasures
Are safely laid up in Heaven...
They are priceless
And yet they are FREE!!"

DON'T JUDGE A MAN BY HIS LOOKS

"Dollars and cents
Are mandatory
For man to exist,
Yet,
By entirely different
...'scents'
Do all wild animals
Survive:
Totally and completely
...without money!!"

ANOTHER MAN NAMED NOAH

"There was a man named 'Noah'...
No, he did NOT build an ark!
But his contribution to us is priceless,
I shall relate it, so please 'hark':
He is someone not often thought of
I am sorry to admit...
But without NOAH WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY
Wouldn't we all have a fit? The Bible is the world's greatest Book
Inspired by God and written by man...
But, also indispensible is WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY
For, doesn't he spell words as nobody else can?!"

HAPPY FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY TO OUR DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND

fifteen years ago today
Linda, your childhood slipped away
Into the recesses of your memories!
Fifteen years ago today
Mark--you became a groom
Never dreaming what did loom
Ahead for both of you!
In 1975 along came Danny
Making Mom and Dad-Grandpa and Granny!
Jonathon and Jennifer made their debut
Loudly crying, "Now we're here too!"
We pray God will always steer your way
Today and tomorrow as He did yesterday
And as the years pass, may you always remember
"May" was really great--but so is "December"!
From two who know!

Your Mom and Dad

ANOTHER BLESSING

"We know our days on earth are numbered
Now that we're on Medicare,
But we shall not feel encumbered
For oh, so many loved ones
Are awaiting us...Up There!!"

THANK YOU, LORD!

"Through my window
I watch the clouds kiss the sky
When at dawn
Sleep eludes my eye...
Then I thank my Father
In Heaven above
For yet another day
With those that I love!!"

THE FACE THAT I LOVE

"The face that I love is the face of the man
God chose for me e'er time began!
I have loved that face for forty years...The wrinkles we have are from laughter, not tears.
God gave us a son and a daughter to bless
Our home that overflows with happiness.
Do we have grandchildren? A proud 'Amen'
Ages fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, nine and ten!
Says my husband, a retired banker,
""Our life has been blessed...
We gave Jesus our heart and He did the rest.""
You will find us in church each Sunday morn...
Our love is true...our Bible is worn."""

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

Have you ever asked this question
As through life you quickly flit--
"Do I REALLY portray Christ to men
--Or am I a counterfeit?"

LAKE OF THE WOODS

"It is morning in our little trailer
Out here at Lake of the Woods.
Green leaves are stirring in the hot summer breeze...
Last year it was cold...we wore hoods!

Embracing the lake are lovely homes
Designed for vacationer's dreams
With picture windows to view the lake
The trees, the silver moonbeams!

This is a lovely place to forget your woes
To swim, sunbathe and boat.
We are thankful for this campground retreat
And forgive me, friends, if I gloat!

I think in my wildest dreams,
""Can Heaven surpass even this?""
Of course we know that it does...
Now we have tasted of Heavenly bliss!"

AUTUMN

"Oh, what is so grand as a bright Autumn day
When brooks sweetly ripple and leaves softly play;
When skies that were gray are now azure blue,
And leaves that seemed faded now bear a bright hue!
When our orchards are gleaming with apples so mellow
And our fields are glowing with pumpkins so yellow...
Then Johnny is hunting for plump ruffed grouse
In the woods surrounding his cozy farm house...
When our birds seem to leave us for lands far away,
And as winging they go, seem to inaudibly say:
""Farewell to fair weather, to beauty of hue
When green leaves come again we'll return too!""
When our trees are aflame with a beauty most rare
'Neath sunny, clear skies so cloudless and fair...
Then I know I shall never see a scene quite as grand
AS WHEN THE ARTIST'S PALETTE IS IN THE MASTER'S HAND!!"

PARENTING

"It hurts when our precious children
Resent our loving advice...
Especially when it is very apparent
They are 'walking on very thin ice'!"

CAMPING OUT!

"I hear the breeze
Among the trees...
That rustling sound
Intrigues me!
I watch the swimmers
In this lake that glimmers
With the noonday heat
That surrounds me!
Suddeenly out of the blue
A bee did painfully spew
His venom
Right INTO me!
I saw him fly away
And so did my day
When that 'helicopter' bee
Stung me!"

GRATEFULNESS

"As I look all around me
One thing is manifest...
We are often most ungrateful
As God gives us His best.
Why, even a chicken
Has more sense than we,
For after it takes a drink
Its head lifts Heavenly!"

DIET

"How did the word 'diet' come to haunt
You and me and make us gaunt
When many of us can afford to flaunt
The 'horn of plenty' instead of want?
Well, I have a notion to take a jaunt
And FORGET my diet at my favorite restaurant!!"

THE GOOD OLD DAYS??

"How often one hears the time-worn phrase,
""What I would give for the good old days!""
But since I was a child many years ago
Many things have improved, this I do know.
Why even the dreaded Dentist's chair
No longer leaves me in despair!
When a tooth was filled I would writhe in pain
For the drill was s-l-o-w and no novacaine!
My Dentist had sweat upon his brow
And as for me, I survived, but tell me how!
No longer now do I deplore
My dental appointments as in days of yore.
The drill and the novacaine now work so fast
It bears NO resemblance to the past!"

PERPLEXITIES

"Though covered with feathers from its head to its knees
How come a chicken doesn't constantly sneeze?
Why are cows so content to chew their cud
While we devour their milk and their cheese?
How can a rooster be so cocky when all he does is crow
While the hens lay all the eggs row upon row?
Nutritious honey is manufactured by busy bees
And maple syrup evolves from sugar maple trees.
All of God's creations are here for a good reason
Without them whatever would we eat season after season?
But won't someone please bestow upon us a favour
By obliterating cholesterol from all the foods that we savor??

THE DEBT WE OWE

You do so much for me each day
What can I do for you, Lord?
A Voice to me did clearly say:
"Just trust--and obey My Word."

WHO LOVES MOTHER BEST?

(A story of our Grandchhildren)
"I love you, Mother," said little Steve...
"I love you so much, you wouldn't believe!
And I'm going to be a Doctor when I'm a man
And help all the peoople that I can!"

"I love you, Mother," said little Wendy
As she smiled oh, so friendly.
When Mama wasn't looking she got stuck in a hole
Made in the door for a cat...NOT for a soul!

"I love you, Mother," said little Dan,
"I will make you proud of me when I'm a man...
Because I am going to be a singer
And play the piano with more than one finger!"

"I love you, Mother," said little Jennifer
As the cooky dough she began to stir.
She had all her Barbies in a row
Watching Jennifer eat up the dough!

"I love you, Mother," said Jonathon little
As he was practising on his fiddle.
"When I grow up I'll be a preacher,
Or maybe like Grandpa, a Sunday-School teacher!"

"I love you, Mother," said little Erin
As quickly for pie the apples she was parin'.
Then she tended little Wendy and swept the floor
And dusted and dusted till her hands were sore!
NOW WHO DO YOU THINK LOVED MOTHER THE MORE??

P.S. THEY ALL LOVE THEIR MOTHER!!
I know for I am their Grandmother!!

Milly's Poems