John Watt Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Perpetual Gift

You have given me a gift
It is always wrapped
I perpetually open it with a smile
It is a never empty tin of freshly baked cookies 
It is an elixir to fill my empty cup
     even when it is not my birthday.

You have given me a gift
I have not earned it, but I can cash it in anytime I need it
You have dug deep and found 
The very thing that touches my soul.
It is the perfectly personalized present
It tells me you know me and you care
It is both old and new 
     like us.

I have often come with shoulders slumped
To drink from this well
And have walked away with a song in my heart
When I look at this gift I see your face
When I ponder its rhythms I hear your voice
I have drunk briefly from the spring of eternal youth
I have been fed manna that does not spoil
My heart is refreshed over and over
For you have written me 
a poem.

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Jeanne Mcgee June 22, 2020 at 9:31 AM This is a fav for me John. Poems and cookies means love to me. congrats on your win. John Watt June 22, 2020 at 11:41 AM Thank you for the fave and congrats, my poetry friend. I'm with you on poems and cookies!

Aditi Mishra June 22, 2020 at 8:42 AM Back to congratulate you on your splendid win for this gorgeous poem dear friend. God bless you :) John Watt June 22, 2020 at 11:41 AM Thank you for your ongoing support and friendship, Aditi. It means so much to me ~ John

V. Deepa June 22, 2020 at 5:23 AM Hello sir, Congratulations on your wonderful win for this love wrapped write.:-)Keep writing. Take care.Warm regards ~Deepa:-) John Watt June 22, 2020 at 11:39 AM Thank you Deepa, your comment is very much appreciated ~ John

Beata Agustin June 22, 2020 at 4:57 AM Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this, and your God-granted gift of poetry. God bless you. Likewise, a blessed Dad's Day to you. John Watt June 22, 2020 at 11:40 AM Thank you for all your wonderful comments, Beata. My Father's Day was blessed indeed. God bless you today // John

Sam Kauffman June 21, 2020 at 6:46 PM Congratulations on your winning placement - especially on Father's Day. Hope you have a wonderful day! John Watt June 22, 2020 at 10:49 AM Funny you should mention Father's Day, the poem used to say "even when it is not my birthday or Father's Day or Christmas", but I shortened it for the sake of brevity. Thank you for the wonderful congrats and comment, Sam... Grateful!

Jan Allison June 21, 2020 at 5:48 PM a poetic gem John, am going to fave this and I can read the gift of your poetry again and again:-) hugs Jan xx John Watt June 22, 2020 at 10:44 AM Thank you dear Jan for the fave and the thought that my poem is a gift. You are a blessing. Hugs ~ John

Eve Roper June 21, 2020 at 10:23 AM John, such an endearing poem. Your faith and love in your soul is strong and shinning like the sun for the one you love. Congratulations on your win. Hugs Eve John Watt June 21, 2020 at 1:23 PM Eve, thank you for your lovely comment and uplifting words of encouragement. It was such a blessing to wake up to today! Many blessings, my friend. Hugs ~ John

Anthony Bianco June 21, 2020 at 3:34 AM Hi John, Great poem -thanks for this gift looking forward to reading more of your work anthony John Watt June 21, 2020 at 3:59 AM Anthony, thank you my friend for hosting this contest and for the very generous placement. Glad I could participate ~ John

Sam Kauffman May 17, 2020 at 12:46 PM Oh, John, a multi-layered delight with your faith as an underpinning in words like "manna." I hear your music and there is a mystical quality just beneath the surface of this lovely poem! Aren't you glad your cookie jar is never empty? I feel inspired to go bake cookies - sending you chocolate chip! John Watt May 17, 2020 at 11:01 PM Sam, I thought of you with that cookie line, thanks for the virtual CCC (I can just smell them baking now!). Glad you picked up on the manna from heaven, it's free, and it doesn't spoil, two things about this perpetual gift of having a poem written for you. I also wanted to encourage the giving of poems as gifts; I as a recipient know the lasting power of that gift. Blessings, friend!

Aditi Mishra May 17, 2020 at 9:04 AM This is such a touching expression of your memory John. I always feel that a gift presented with love always carries traces of the person who gifted it to you. May you always feel blissful with that fragrance. God bless you dear friend and Congratulations :) John Watt May 17, 2020 at 10:35 PM Aditi, your words bring a smile to my heart. This gift is exactly as you say, carrying a fragrant trace of my wife whenever I read her poem; it speaks so much about her as an intelligent person and as a compassionate and loving individual. Thank you so much for your uplifting words today. God bless you this week and always, friend ~ John

Silent One May 17, 2020 at 8:12 AM So beautiful, such a lovely gift you have given through your words for all readers... A great choice for the contest.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest.. John Watt May 17, 2020 at 10:32 PM Always grateful for your intriguing contests, your generous placement, and your kind words. You have encouraged so many, myself multiple times. Thank you, SO

Craig Cornish April 15, 2020 at 8:29 PM Really! This is what writing is totally all about---letting emotions flow freely from the heart---I had tears half way through and they kept coming--I'm not really a tough guy, especially ---well when someone can write like you John Watt April 16, 2020 at 1:11 AM Appreciate the reads and comments tonight, Craig. I think you have a talent for pushing people to improve beyond what they thought they were capable of. That's a valuable skill to have around at a site like this. Thank you ~ John

Indiana Shaw February 16, 2020 at 6:11 PM A lovely poem of sheer perfection you have expressed here John, it is clear to see why this person fills you up when you are in need, because you have never failed in your observations and gratitude for this giving gift and loving person, blessings to the giver and blessings to your gratefulness for what you have received, and returning with your gratitude within this delightfully perfect poem . . . John Watt February 16, 2020 at 6:16 PM Indy, thank you for a very kind and heartfelt response to this poem. I'm so glad it struck a chord with you. My parents and grandparents taught the value of gratitude, and I'd like to think those lessons eventually soaked through my thick skull! Blessings ~ John

Andrea Dietrich February 6, 2020 at 6:53 PM This is just so amazingly sweet and precious, John. You are doing top notch with this kind of writing. I sure hoype it placed high with Brian. It deserved a win. Congratulations. John Watt February 16, 2020 at 6:14 PM This comment snuck by me for a week without a reply, but it is very kind and encouraging, as all your comments are. ~ John

Sam Kauffman February 2, 2020 at 10:43 PM Hi John, What a wonderful poem highlighting the power of a simple gesture of caring! Congratulations! John Watt February 2, 2020 at 10:44 PM Thank you Sam, how very kind of you! John