Best Ninety Eight Poems
Philippines, my country of birth,
one of the countries in Southeast Asia.
It is an archipelago or group of islands,
with more than seven thousand islands.
Luzon, the largest island in the northern
part of the country, is where I was born
and where Manila, the capital is located.
Manila, the city known as Pearl of the Orient.
Magellan, the Portuguese explorer for Spain
claimed the archipelago in fifteen hundred
twenty one, named the islands Las Felipinas
or The Philippines, after King Phillip II of Spain.
Philippines was colonized more than three
hundred years, from fifteen hundred sixty five
until eighteen hundred ninety eight and ruled
under Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Manila was called Pearl of the Orient Seas
by the historian/Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado
in seventeen hundred fifty one for being a way
of sea transactions during Asian trade of goods.
However, in Jose Rizal’s poem “My Last Farewell,”
he wrote before his execution by the Spanish
government for rebellion through his writings,
he stated his country as Pearl of the Orient.
So, Philippines, the country and not Manila,
the city became known as Pearl of the Orient,
upon the discovery of his poem after his execution
in December thirty, eighteen hundred ninety six.
Philippines is known as Pearl of the Orient for
its strategic location in Asia, rich biodiversity or
different kinds of plants and animals, natural
resources and its natural beauty and splendor.
The Spanish Crown called it Pearl of the Orient
for the country was a precious source of spices,
other resources and trade of goods, even prior to
their colonization to acquire a share in spice trade.
Philippines’ natural gem is south sea pearls
and it is renowned for cultivating south sea pearls.
The famous pearl in the country, known as The Pearl
of Lao Tzu, was considered the largest known pearl.
The pearl weighed fourteen pounds, found by a
Filipino diver in nineteen thirty four and later, a giant
pearl, the Pearl of Puerto weighing seventy five pounds,
found by a fisherman, both discovered in Palawan Island.
No doubt why The Philippines is called Pearl of the Orient,
the two biggest pearls were found in Palawan, Philippines.
Isn’t that the most obvious, sensible reason? I wonder……
Well, what do you think?...... Just asking……
A cousin called the other day saying "Another cousin has passed away".
Well my husband said "How old was she.""
"Ninety-eight".
A stalwart woman who had served family and community well. Producing one child that
became a missionary serving in a foreign land..
While talking the cousin asked "Did you know ______"?
My husband answered, "Well, I don't think that I knew them".
The cousin proceeded to tale this story.
"The man had been down with cancer for a while and passed recently..The funeral had been
conducted and the hearse had gone on to the cemetary..The family car with the family was
not to far behind..But when it pulled up, the wife of the deceased did not get out and the
funeral home staff was gathering around..The funeral home director decided to go see what
was going on ...."
The cousin said, " That this funeral home director told him". "That he had been in this
business for thirty-five years and faced something that he had never had happen to him or
any other funeral home director that he knew."
The funeral home director said, "When I got to the family car, I found the wife of the
deceased had passed from a massive corornary."
She had said, "I don't know how I will live without him." She didn't have to learn. God called
her home..
The roosters crow, the crows craw and are answered by the gobble of the turkey across the
way..
The Long Count Calendar, Cycle One Ends
December twenty-first, two thousand and twelve –
The Mayan long count calendar sets sights on that year.
Are there ecological and cosmic questions to delve?
Is it time for modern man to panic and fear?
The reckoning at hand, according to Mayans,
Began with the creation of the world.
Then, the sky still lay on the primordial sea, black
And the long count calendar began time’s whirl.
Man has traveled a long way on life’s stage.
Throughout time to beyond the information age,
Amazing discoveries have and will come to man
Since before and after the scientific method began.
End of the world theories run rampant these days.
Promulgated by televisions entertaining ways.
History Channel’s “Decoding the Past”
Brought on many doomsday sequels…and fast.
Did the galactic alignment of nineteen, ninety, eight
Begin the wake of a super-massive black hole fate?
Or will a geomagnetic reversal mark earth’s end?
Can we know when the apocalypse will begin?
The Holy Bible says no one knows when.
Upon that premise, hope over fear may win.
Have faith and see what NASA has to say
About that previously predicted calendar day.
Polarity change takes thousands of years.
And it doesn’t affect planetary alignments
There is no huge planet heading for earth.
So, predictions need realignment.
Be faithful; and with Christ live a thousand years.
Even if the apocalypse does start, put fears on shelve.
What will really happen in two thousand and twelve?
Cycle two of the Mayan long count calendar will begin.
© August 26, 2010
Dane Smith-Johnsen
RELEVANT SHORT VIDEO: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=876
We gathered for our thirtieth class reunion at Lydia's Smorgasbord.
I'd avoided such past events since in school I was largely ignored!
But my spouse proclaimed we would attend, thus ending that debate!
The dreaded encounter is expressed in verse below that I will now relate!
A social hour preceded the buffet where the booze freely flowed!
I looked about the room to see if I could spot anyone that I knowed.
I hardly recognized the campus queen - she had acquired a heap of weight!
That once haughty snob now tipped the scales, I judged, at one ninety-eight!
I saw the big-man-on-campus who was named most apt to score success.
He had a dearth of hair, an ample gut and an astonishing lack of finesse!
Some gal with purple hair staggered up to me and planted a slobbering kiss!
Must've been one of my old flames as I mused, "Now, who in hell is this!"
Guys gravitated my way boasting about this and that bending my ear.
They bored me with nasty jokes and trivia that I really didn't want to hear!
Of course I told all how great they looked, staring them dead in the eye,
And asking the Lord's forgiveness and crossed my fingers for telling such a lie!
The jocks were trying to impress one and all with their waning capabilities.
Most were hobbling about with canes discreetly masking their disabilities!
'Twas an interesting eve and the grub was great, of that there is no doubt,
But for our fortieth, fiftieth and sixtieth reunions, please include me out!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Hey little kiddies, have you heard this story
Bout the Teddy Bear who could count up to fifty
Only problem was, the numbers weren't in order
But his Bear friends all thought he was nifty
He'd start out, “one... fifty-two... sixteen... two”
Mama Bear said he was doing just fine
Didn't want to hurt her little guy's feelings
She knew he'd figure it out in good time
“He'll learn them before he grows up,” she thought
When it's important to get numbers straight
Like when he's buying honey for his sweetie
And the store sign says five ninety-eight
At first he would count out nine eighty-five
Now that was too much for the honey
Then he remembered what Mama Bear taught him
And gave the man the right amount of money
You can find him going around counting all day
He goes, “one... fifty-two... sixteen... two”
And laughs when Mama Bear gets all flustered
Then says, “one... two... three... fooled you!”
Orbiting earth, a man made creation
It looks like a moving star shining bright
It's the international space station
Big as a football field; an awesome sight
Orbits the earth sixteen times day and night
Launched in November nineteen ninety eight
A huge four hundred and fifty ton weight
Six men and women form the stations crew
Always a concern it may gravitate
So orbital height they have to review.
Written 17th May 2020
For Dizain - Poetry Contest
Sponsored By Dear Heart .
Our God is bountiful because...
From the time we come to earth,
through our innumerable birth and rebirth
till we achieve salvation
he is with us, within us, guiding us
to ensure we don't sin and reach him
He loves us beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
Ninety eight percent of our tasks he does
He completely manages working of our body and the world
still he never claims he is the doer
He allows us to assume full credit
He loves us beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
There was no need for him to bestow us with reasoning power and free will
He could have easily ensured that his impeccable world remains flawless
but he gave us freedom
He loves us beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
He shows us the right path through our conscience
"Don't do", "Do this way" his voice within us guides us.
When we don't obey him our Lord, our father, our creator watches helplessly
But he never stops correcting us
He loves us beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
He could have created a simple world but he made an exquisite one, for all to savour
He went out of the way simply because
He loves us beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
God takes care, protects, nourishes all in the world
Big forest how they flourish? By whose grace?
Same goes for all living entities
He indeed loves all beyond measure!
And God is bountiful because...
We are his own children and like any parent
he wants, he seeks our happiness
He loves all unconditionally, excessively, beyond measure!
Boundless blessings of bountiful God
Immeasurable, incessant, infinite....
Our God is bountiful because...
Date: 11/4/2020
P-hilippine Independence Day
H-ad been proclaimed twelfth of June;
I-t was the year eighteen ninety-eight,
L-iberation lives neath the moon.
I-t was the freedom from foreign control,
P-romise of reform was made;
P-eace process in the country
I-ced the war as the smoke did fade.
N-ation's Independence Day was initiated by Emilio Aguinaldo;
E-nding the three hundread years of Spanish rule, the Filipino flag began to glow.
I-ndependence day of the Philippines
N-ever departs from our mind;
D-ramatic growth of nationalism
E-manates to brightly shine.
P-hilippine Independence Day
E-xplains the Filipino's valor;
N-ever will he remain slave,
D-enying any alien conqueror.
E-very man of the world
N-eeds to be freed from soul colonizer;
C-hrist has built His Church,
E-ach one is ordered to enter.
D-on't waste the given chance,
A-sk for the righteous way;
Y-es, it's more important than Philippine Independence Day.
I’d save up all of my extra pennies in a shoebox beneath my bed,
And each night before I went to sleep I’d spend them in my head.
Sometimes I’d spend the whole darned stash on something just for me,
But sometimes I’d imagine myself on a less selfish shopping spree.
When Christmas came I’d take out the box and count whatever I had,
And try to decide how much I could spend on my brothers, mom and dad.
Way back then you’d be surprised what you could get for just a buck,
Coloring books, marbles and puzzles or maybe a toy pick up truck.
My dad would get a tie that could brighten up any room,
And for mom there was always a bottle of Walgreen’s best perfume.
I could buy a gift for each member of my family for just five ninety-eight,
And have enough left over for a Payday bar and go home feeling great.
Then I’d wrap the gifts and label them and put them beneath the tree,
I’d set them all towards the front so they’d see they came from me.
And after they’d opened their gifts and Christmas wishes had all been said,
I’d go upstairs and drop a couple of pennies into the shoebox beneath my bed.
The Alphabet Contest
Sponsor: Alfred Vassallo
A Is For Anniversary
Their love story began on April twenty-third, nineteen forty-five,
two young lovers vowed eternity before their family's eyes.
There were hard days ahead living through the Great Depression,
an economic decline, raise in unemployment through recession.
World War II came and he went off to fight for his country,
only communication was through a few letters mailed monthly.
Back home with a baby waiting for him in his lover's arms,
war had ended and he came home to protect his family from harm.
Six children within twelve years, their family was complete,
he was such a hard working white collared man only wearing pleats.
She stayed at home to raise the kids, for that was way back then,
shopping for food and doing laundry, dedicated mother til' the end.
Children grew up and off to college or a marriage of their own,
while the loving couple became grandparents, oh my how they've grown!
Fifty years flew by and they kept the same routine everyday,
ten years later came great grandchildren they were so proud to display.
A decade later we noticed a decline in his health from arthritis and old age,
she also was getting frail very slowly with each passing day.
For now it was the children's turn to take very good care of them,
falling all the time, visits is the ICU, and hospice could never prevent.
He had lived to be ninety eight, while she is now ninety three,
his time on earth had come to an end, and he was finally free.
So many fond memories survived each one thought of with many tears,
this April twenty-third, they would have been married seventy one years.
I speak to the Lord nightly in thanksgiving for their love and His mercy,
I'll whisper to the sky, “I love you Grandpa, happy seventy-first anniversary.”
Date Written: March 20, 2016
The invitations were sent to alumni far and near,
To gather for the school reunion later in the year.
The ultimate occasion to turn on all the old charm,
And fondly remember those who have bought the farm!
Ladies wear tight-fitting girdles to shrink the pounds.
Guys try crash diets to reduce flabbiness that abounds.
It's been over half a century since our graduation day.
It'll be intriguing to see how others fared along the way!
Old pals circulate boasting and bending my weary ear,
Regaling with boring trivia that I really don't want to hear.
I tell others how great they look, looking them straight in the eye,
As I cross my fingers behind my back for telling such a lie!
It appears that the campus queen totes a bit of additional weight.
That once haughty snob now tips the scales nigh one ninety-eight!
There's the big man on campus, voted the most apt to score success,
Guzzling booze as is his bent, displaying a bit of queasiness!
The years have elapsed, rolling on at a frightful pace,
But as long as docs keep us patched up we'll stay in the race!
To perhaps convene once again down life's treacherous road.
If not here, than a rousing reunion in that heavenly abode!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(© All Rights Reserved)
I lay in bed watching as over ninety-souls passed away
There was nothing I could do except cry upon that day
I lay in my bed my sheets crisp and white
As the doctor walked in and said ‘We take the foetus away tonight.’
I asked in a voice breaking, more of a whimper now it seems
‘You’re telling me my baby’s dead, the end of all our dreams?’
The death count was rising higher on the television screen
But to me one more was added, my child as yet unseen
The curtains pulled around the bed just opposite to mine
Perhaps it was supposed to be private, but I heard them fine
‘Come now it’s time to say if you want us to abort
Your weeks are running out now, and time is getting short.’
I looked at the screen no-other eyes seemed to see
I saw two more lives added, no-one had heard my plea
The count already ninety-seven and yet here was another one
An unwanted baby, a mother unwilling to pay for her fun.
Ninety-eight souls were lost on an that April day
Only ninety-six are mourned, for ninety- six they pray
But as I lay in my hospital bed, two more souls did die
I wonder if she remembers on this April day I still cry.
I stand and watch the, telly my two sons’ towering over me
They kiss and say ‘See you later mum we’ll be back for tea’
I watch them tall and strong and give thanks to heaven above
We tried against all odds and now have our sons we so love.
© Mandy Tams 15/4/2014
A true tale and I use the word ‘unwilling’ in the correct sense, I was there and heard the conversation.
Most women would jump at the chance,
Of a night in a flash restaurant,
And at one stage my wife was the same,
Now it’s something that she doesn’t want,
She’s quite happy to eat take-away,
And sometimes she’ll go to Kentucky,
Or maybe she’ll sit in at McDonalds,
If she does though the kids are quite lucky.
You see, she keeps on making excuses,
When the kids want to go out and eat,
For these days she prefers to stay home,
While I take them out for their treat,
She’s embarrassed I’d say to the hilt,
From a night we went on the town,
And took the kids out for the first time,
To a restaurant of quite renown.
Well my wife was extremely nervous,
And reminded the kids in the car,
That this place was not a McDonalds,
But something that’s known as five star,
She explained, “You must mind your manners.
You must eat with your knife and your fork,
And you must not run ‘round the tables,
And be careful what you say when you talk”.
So before we’d got out of the car,
She’d made sure the kids knew the rules,
Then reminded me she was nervous,
That they might have us looking like fools,
But I told her not to be foolish,
When somebody stated out “Sir,
Have you and your family a booking?”
Then requested that we follow her.
We were shown across to our table,
Where we were to sit down and dine,
Then the waitress asked us politely,
Would we care for a bottle of wine?
I ordered a ninety-eight Riesling,
A preference of my wife and mine,
And when our meal order was taken,
The waitress came back with our wine.
The children sat there in silence,
While the waitress extracted the cork,
They silently watched as she poured,
(It’s a worry when none of them talk)
But a sample that’s poured for her tasting,
By jingo’s brought some lively chat,
When our six year old prompted the waitress,
“Mum drinks a bloody lot more than that!”
TEN MINUTES THAT DIDN’T SHAKE THE WORLD
They seemed to talk only in metaphor or simile
And in what they call stream-of-consciousness -
These two young women in the café overheard yesterday -
About something boring to the point of unconsciousness;
And a small athlete called Richard something-or-other
Although they referred to him colloquially as Little Dick.
Maybe he was a friend-with-problems of their mother:
They spoke of age, alcohol, hormones, and bad technique.
Literary comparisons about throwing a raw sausage into a train tunnel backhand;
Jokes about stifling a yawn, making it look like open-mouth osculation;
Counting ceiling tiles in rhythm: ninety seven, ninety eight, ninety nine, change hands;
Oxymoron, bathos and pathos were all used in their discussion.
Diversions (like trying to recall the cost in the grocery store of small shrimp,
Or wondering if your contact lens has slipped or are you just sleepy-tired )
Didn’t help. They said Dick’s performance was badly timed and as well as rather limp
(Must remember to have the car’s weak battery charged before it’s retired.)
His sport may have been with aircraft in flight
But his free-fall diving ended when he pulled his string too soon,
She said, like a New Year’s rocket launched before midnight ,
He opened his champagne bottle at 8 am, before the speech at noon.
Perhaps a racehorse was involved, but as far as I could gather ,
A very small racehorse which burst away from the start line too early
And arrived at the first fence in a lather
And, she said, that’s not designed to make my toes curly.
They obviously found his performance confusing
And indeed, by all accounts rather supine.
However, his efforts seem to have been amusing
And at least it gave the girls literary opportunities to shine
Olé
Our nympho neighbour called Lucille
Yodels after sex, how she'd squeal
My poor husband Paul
Just bangs on the wall
As paper thin walls aren't ideal!
Lu’s bonking for hour upon hour
Just pausing to grab a quick shower
Though she’s aged ninety eight
Lucille’s sex life is great -
Young lovers have got staying power!
01/28/21