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Barry Parks Poem
The Flowers of Spring
Winter's icy grip may cling overly long some years
But the seemly reluctant warmth eventually breaks through
The frozen soil is released once more to bear its' fruit
And in a few turns of the earth the first shoots break free
The chill that has haunted the air fades beneath a warming sun
Young shoots stretch skyward and their buds begin to swell
Soon the soft breeze sweetens as delicate petals unfurl
And so the flowers of Spring awaken the world from winter's cold slumber
The sweet breeze swells with promise and calls forth memories
It swells with the promise of a bright and free future
It calls forth the memories of those who bought that future for all of us
Memories of those who purchased our freedom with their blood and their lives
For generations, they answered the call to duty
They set aside their own lives to answer their county's need
They willingly left their own lives and loved ones behind
They put their country first and took up arms when they heard the call
Their numbers grow with every threat to our great country
With each threat the call is answered by a wave of our new heroes
They shoulder the responsibility and march to her defense
One by one their names are added to the list of those who bought our freedom
As Spring is a time of renewal for all living things
So is it a time of renewal of our obligation to remember those heroes
For without their courage and sacrifice
Where in the world would we be?
© 2011 B. E. Parks senti-poem
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Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2014
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Barry Parks Poem
They paint the ground beneath the trees they served so well
Hues of red, orange, yellow and brown
All blended into an autumn camouflage
Laid down now in their final form of service
They lay moldering beneath their parent trees
In one final act of service of nurturing
They give their last bit of support
As the final molecules of their energy leach into the soil
So like the leaves of autumn are our veterans
Our country called upon our youth for service in times of need
Our youth willingly answered those calls time and time again
And as they answered they bought the freedoms we hold so dear
And like the fallen leaves, our fallen heroes nurture our country
Their valor and spirit seep deeply into the soil around them
They are the very earth and bedrock of all that we are
And it is our duty to honor them and hold them dear
The mid-November breeze blows crisp and cold across the cemetery
Small flags atop glistening white tombstones flutter
On one stone rests a majestic bald eagle
As if he too is paying homage and gratitude to the fallen
I walked the rolling lawns of Arlington in humble silence
I felt the breeze caress my cheeks and brow
And the last of the leaves of autumn rest now
In final tribute at the bases of the tombstones
© 2011 B. E. Parks senti poem
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2013
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Barry Parks Poem
DEATH?
The hour of darkness is near at hand
The cold night air blows a warning
From out of the night a whistle screams
And the earth erupts in light
He sits huddled in his shell crater
Cool rain drizzles in about him
The mud oozes around his feet
A bug bites and crawls down his neck
The moon is full in a cloudless sky
A soft warm breeze wafts her curtains
She sits on her bed thinking
His picture clutched in her hands
From out of the night a whistle screamed
And earth erupted in light
The mud oozed to new depths in the crater
And the bug looked for something new to bite
The moon is no longer full behind a clouded sky
A cooler breeze moves her curtains
She sits on her bed thinking
And a tear falls on his picture
The hour of darkness has come and gone
An afternoon sun is low in a cloudy sky
She stands, hands clasped, and weeps
He is here, but he is no more
She is gone now
And all the people and the noise
They have all gone away
And will return no more
I am glad that they have gone
For at last I am alone
The earth smells fresh and cool
And I have found peace at last
The racing is over now
I have no more worry or fear
All that was left long ago
And I am no longer concerned
The sound and the fuss have ended
They will bother me no more
The darkness grows and I am alone
And for the first time I know peace
And now He comes
I can feel His presence
I do not fear him
I just wonder about him
Why has He come for me
What have I done to call Him
Is this just a dream
Or is He really here for me
It seems so strange
I do not feel any different
I can still think and feel
And yet I know that He is here
We are going now
It is not as I thought it would be
There is no cold, no pain
There is only Him and me and peace
The way is dark and long
We do not speak, just walk
The road is smooth, free of stones
And at the end is light
(C) 1969, 2009 B. E. Parks
All Rights Reserved Senti Poem
Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2013
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Barry Parks Poem
She looked down from her place on high
The killing cold time was just past
And now she waited and watched
She waited almost withholding her breath for the magic
The conifers stood majestically along the rim
Their dark bluish green as staid as they themselves
And interspersed was a light sprinkling of white skinned beech and aspen
the early yellow-green just now appearing along their boughs
Across the floor of the valley below spread her rainbows of coming life
Young grasses pushed their emerald shoots up through the loamy earth
Eagerly they reached for the azure sky and the nurturing sun so high above
Forcefully they pushed their roots deeper into the rich soil around them
She smiled at what she was witnessing and let a soft breath escape
And they danced in joy upon the first warm breeze of Spring
Buds on naked boughs began to swell with the rising sap
The fragrance of the season began to build and flow across the vale
The listless days of the cold winter past faded before her breath
Colors were once again renewed by the gentle prodding of her touch
Here was glimpsed the first yellow-green of Aspen and Birch
And there was the first hint of emerald along the boughs of Oak and Ash
The day grew warmer still as she touched all life in her realm
Each responded to her encouragement and set about the season's rebirth
The joy of life was there for all to see and smell and touch
And she looked down and found that all was well across her world
© 2010 B. E. Parks senti poem
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Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2014
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Barry Parks Poem
Little Friends
They come to us at any age
They come to us in any size
They come to us in any and all colors
They come to us and take a place in our hearts
We watch them grow from annoyance to annoyance
From babies needing to be trained and house broken
To adolescents needing all their play time
And finally to adulthood and true members of the family
They cheer us when no other can
For they know when we need that the most
They quietly join us to curl up on our lap
Or lay at our feet and rest a shaggy head on across them
They know us better than we know ourselves, at times
Always ready to be scratched or patted
Always ready to yip or purr approval
Always ready to give their unconditional love
Time spins by as they grow with us
As they grow more and more into us
Time slips from then to now
As the bonds pull us closer and closer
And too soon the day arrives when we must say farewell
They leave us behind as they move on
And we must admit our love for them
And we will continue loving them for a long time
© 2013 B. E. Parks senti poem
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Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2013
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Barry Parks Poem
Golgotha
He looked upon the people beneath him
Some taunted while others wept
He looked up and in agony beseeched
"Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do"
A crown of thorns adorned his brow
And tore his gentle flesh
Insults and ridicule rained up to him
While understanding and forgiveness were returned
He drug his cross from the town
And up this infamous hill
It bit into his shoulder and buckled his tired knees
But it could not touch his quiet magistracy
Iron spikes were hammered in
His flesh was injured anew
And down below, the believers saw
That a great miracle was coming true
The lifeless body was lowered down
And gently laid away
A huge boulder was set in place
To help keep His body safe
Easter mornings' sun found the boulder rolled away
His body, too, had been lifted up
And in their mind an echo shook
"Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do"
© 1988 B. E. Parks senti poem
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Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2014
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Barry Parks Poem
UNSUPPORTED CODE Did You Notice?
Was the fluttering on your cheek the light brush of my lips
Was that soft touch on your hair the back of my fingers
Was that my aroma on the breeze that tickled your nose
Was that the taste of my breath when my mouth hovered over yours
Did your earlobe tingle as I nipped it between my teeth
Did you tremble just a little as I kissed the hollow of your throat
Did you hold your breath in anticipation as my tongue teased your lips
Did you try to snuggle against me as my hands found your waist
Were you aware of my grip on your elbow when your step faltered
Were you surprised to find my unending support when you were in need
Were you pleased as you learned that I that I was real
Were you shocked when my answer to your question was yes
Will you dance to our songs in the darken meadow
Will you trust in me when your fears try to overcome you
Will you accept my help when no other seems to be there
Will you overlook my shortcomings should I ever disappoint you
Have you noticed how time slows when we steal some time together
Have you felt the moments stretch beyond all reasonable bounds
Have you become frantic when those times cheat and evade us
Have you silently wondered when they will come again
Did you feel my arm as I lay it across your shoulders
Did you feel my lips as I kissed away your tears
Did you feel my bent finger beneath your chin
As I lifted your face to the new morning's sun
© 2014 B. E. Parks senti poem
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Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2014
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Barry Parks Poem
An Unawakened Angel
This angel will sleep forever in our Father's arms
No one can answer the terrible mystery of why
It is our nature to search for reasons and to try and assign blame
But these pursuits are fruitless, painful and unnecessary
This little angel never tasted the breath of life
It was never to feel the warmth of the morning sun
It never felt the soft caress of its' father's hand
This little angel never knew the love of its' mother's kiss
The tears of many have flowed and will flow again
For there is a wrongness in a passing such as this
The angel's time was not to be for reasons no one will ever know
And in sorrow we gather to lay its' earthly body to rest
This angel is at rest both here and with the Father
It rests forever in pure sweetness and innocence
It will never know any unkindness or injustice
But will rest forever bathed in peace and love
As the angel rests, we must learn to go on
And that will not be an easy thing to do
Nagging questions and unreasonable guilt will torment us
And a hollow emptiness and loneliness will haunt us
The unawakened angel rests forever in our Father's arms
It's memory shall forever be kept in a special place in our hearts
Tomorrow will awaken us to the sun of a bright new day
And those who mourn will step forward into the warmth of the future
© 2011 B. E. Parks senti poem
All rights reserved
Copyright © Barry Parks | Year Posted 2013
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