As I Recall, is a collection of humorous and heartfelt short stories and poetry sharing moments from a life full of laughter and love. I have long wanted to record memories of my childhood for family and friends. But, I was so busy with life, I didn't take the time. I'm older now, and have even more to share. And, I'm a grandfather who feels a desperate need to preserve memories of his life for another generation. Early in the process, I discovered more than a need to leave something for the family. I found a new voice that was filled with colorful and descriptive passages to deliver my messages. The voice has an understanding of the human spirit base upon experiences as a son, brother, friend, husband, father and teacher.
I hope you find this book entertaining, compassionate and as much fun to read as it was to write. Maybe it will inspire you to write a book of your own.
Ray Dillard
May 19, 2013
This is the introduction from my book. It is available online from numerous bookstores in soft cover, hardback and ebook formats. Look it up and read sample stories to find out if the introduction is adequate. RAY
Categories:
dillard, books, family, life,
Form: Prose
Such is the beauty of spring,
Filling our eyes with pleasure and
The bounty of fruit the flowers bring.
The silver glow of diamond stars
Begets the beauty of the buds
which softly beckon 'hear we are'.
The newborn nightness doth surround
The pastel pink of cherry blossoms
And a gentle breeze guides petals to the ground.
Ray Dillard
Categories:
dillard, beauty, flower, nature, beauty,
Form: Rhyme
Starlight rockets from the sky.
Glitter sparkles every eye.
Colored lights have our attention.
An act of nature, or man's invention?
The spectacle forms a brilliant crown,
Circling earth as it showers down.
Intended, or a happenstance?
A coronation-
Just by chance?
This celebration of light and color,
A gift to earth
From no One other
Than God.
Who sprinkled the heavens with stars,
Like glitter.
by Ray Dillard
for "Glow of Glitter"
Sponsored by nette onclaud
Categories:
dillard, inspirational,
Form: Free verse
I dare you to say,
"It's because of the full moon."
My heart is not made of iron.
No magnetism
Pulls me like the ocean's tide,
Holding me here by your side.
Instead, please tell me
That our hearts will beat as one
Regardless of the moon or sun.
Say that you'll be here
When we become old and gray...
Then, say the moon made us that way.
Ray Dillard 10-13-11
Categories:
dillard, nature, passion, me, moon,
Form: Choka
Happiness is a bright balloon
On the ceiling of the living room.
Confined in space it can't go far,
A butterfly in a small glass jar.
I watch it bounce and bobble by,
Searching for a big blue sky.
It finds a corner and there it parks.
A puppy dog that lost his barks.
Saddened by this circumstance,
I seize the moment, take a chance.
And guide my friend outside the door.
It's good to see him dance once more!
For Francine-- "Happiness is a Balloon"
by Ray Dillard on 7-21-11
Categories:
dillard, happiness
Form: Couplet
The Queen of Dillard Holler
By Elton Camp
Dillard Holler is down by the railroad track
Some places the street would be a cul de sac
Except that from the very front to the back,
Every house is nothing but a run-down shack
In that place, Matilda is the reigning queen
She looks like thirty, but she’s only eighteen
Matilda’s scepter is a brown bottle of beer
Her throne’s a chair on the front porch, I hear
And when princely suitors may come to call,
Matilda regally welcomes them, one and all
To the Queen, a bit of tribute they will pay
“Here it is, Matilda,” now to have their way
The Queen wears her dress cut down so low
Neighbors say, “That girl’s nothing but a ho.”
But when Matilda was just a very young child
None of them cared that she was running wild
What might have been the effect of kind words?
But nothing like that by Matilda was ever heard
Her red-haired mother lay drunk night after night
And her bleary-eyed father was at the bar to fight
Matilda, pretty and smart, might have done well
Neighbors and her kin said, “She’s a child of hell.”
Her role as Queen will Matilda ever abdicate?
Or for her can it be, even now, just far too late?
Categories:
dillard, angstnight, night,
Form: Rhyme
Perched
upon his resting place, Raven made her call
She
planned to join her lover, using powder and a ball
Gazing
at the markers where the predeceased were laid
She
watched her namesake circle, and heard his woeful voice,
Then
mused the circumstances that took her partner’s life.
Could
sacrifice unite them?
Is there an afterlife?
And
listening to the chilling call,
Raven made her choice.
For ~~A Rambling Poet~~ and the contest: Among The Dead
by Ray Dillard
Categories:
dillard, death, lost love
Form: Free verse
The Starling is a speckled thief
that comes with morning light.
He struts upon my porch
to steal himself a bite.
It wouldn't be so bad
if only one bird nibbled.
But, for some unknown reason
the whole flock must be kibbled.
The bunch is quite selective,
taking only pods of gold.
Just the brown bites left behind.
It's like they tasted old.
My dog scares the UPS man!
He bites my brother, too!
But when it comes to Starling,
he doesn't know what to do.
He watches them take bite by bite
'til all the gold is gone.
Then, barks for me to help him.
He knows they've done him wrong.
The only way to stop them
is feeding late at night.
Then the skunk and possum come
and there's a different fight.
So, I feed him a little,
where the birds can't steal a bite.
Without the gold to fill their craws,
the Starling soon take flight.
By Ray Dillard for Joyce Johnson
Categories:
dillard, animals, funny
Form: Verse