Butterfly Wings to Angel Wings
By Deborah Herber 2026
Out of the Smokey Mountains
A phenomenal legend was born
In her coat of many colors
It's pride and honesty she has worn.
She blessed us all
With the magic of her voice
She taught us compassion and kindness
Was something to rejoice.
From rags to riches
She made her dreams come true
And she saw only the good
In me and you.
She taught us to believe
And never give up
To face that open door
And fill up that cup.
Butterfly wings for angel wings
Dancing through heaven's gate
Singing “I will always love you”
And embracing her journey's fate.
In the arms of Jesus
She lies with that humble smile
Watching the world remember her
And the stories she carried every mile.
She was a queen of country music
Bold & feisty to boot
But she loved unconditionally
And never forgot her roots.
A lifetime of memories
Will follow in her wake
Her songs repeating in our minds
As our hearts continuously break.
Dedicated to Ms. DOLLY PARTON
8/26/2026
Soggy Doritos
I like soggy Doritos, I will not lie,
For in a taco salad, they're the apple of my eye.
I like them fresh out of the bag, as perfect as it seems,
But in a taco salad, the soggy chip is queen.
I slather on the sour cream and hot sauce just to boot,
Sending both my waistline and my blood count through the roof!
I've been known to devour a whole bag in a day,
Till my checking account is empty and I'm walking with a sway.
I love the tangy chip, I surely do,
Either from the bag or in a bowl. With a Mountain Dew.
But by far, the very best of the chip,
Is in a taco salad so soggy you can't dip.
I believe in ‘maximum exposure’
each and every day
When my plans go awry
I blame it on ‘they’
'They’ are so old-fashioned
and vindictive to boot
‘They’ even banned me from nudist camp
~ envied my birthday suit
Yogi is a Newfoundland Dog
A big black cuddly chap
He’s rather large, 150 pounds or so
His size means he cannot sit upon your lap
With a majestic head and four webbed feet
A gentle giant of a friend
Very loving and gracious
Really true to the very end
His temperament is gentle
But he likes to play a while
But although he is so big and strong
He will make you beam a smile
Affectionate to all around him
As a watchdog he’s pretty smart
One you have set your eyes on him
You will never want to be apart
He can live to almost fifteen years
His life is full of fun
He’ll take you for many long walks
He will certainly make you run
Standing very close to two-foot-six
He is certainly a magnificent sight
His bark is rather loud and deep
And gives unwelcome visitors a fright
A docile gentle type is he
The friendliest and good natured type of dog
When he bounds around the room
The whole area he seems to hog
He likes to swim down at the sea
He’s a lifesaver to boot
When he’s saving those out for a swim
It really is a hoot
It’s his natural instinct
Protective to the end
He really is a champion
The lovingest kind of friend.
A past the soul, eats
Memories of people
Event of many seats
Rained on. the steeple
Church prepped proper
Pews filled, flowers decked
White gowned, the monster
The future not yet wrecked
Confetti and photo shoot
A grand reception follow
Live band and MC to boot
Something, rings hollow
Joined in unholy union
Stoic empath and diva
For now, in communion
Twixt novelty driven fever
The mirror will break
Pierfect no more
Prisoners to take
To a distant shore
Blame games ensue
Victim turns villain
The truth to lose
Years two score ,fill in
I let them all pass over me –
The cheery Happy Easters!
Assuming I will be among
Today’s hot cross bun feasters.
But no, I won’t be eating lamb
Or ham with all its glazing,
Although I’m sure the Easter pies
My friend makes are amazing.
For I’m observing Pesach,*
So what I will eat instead
Will be matzoh or its relatives,
All with unleavened bread.
Of course, there’s meat and chicken,
Lots of veggies, eggs and fruit
And special cakes and cookies,
Made with matzoh meal, to boot.
I used to set those people straight
Whose greetings had no clue
That Easter’s not for everyone,
But I no longer do.
When people offer me a wish
For a Happy Easter day,
I smile and say, “The same to you”
And send them on their way.
*Passover
Went to see an Irish band
For a late St. Patrick’s day
In a little local restaurant
Not very far away.
The fireplace was crackling,
The menu Irish-based,
The Guinness fresh and flowing,
All just perfect for my taste.
The 3 piece combo sang and played
Guitar and pipe and flute.
A banjo and a concertina
Joined the fun, to boot.
We rarely get to do this
But as time makes it advance,
We should grab each opportunity
While we still have the chance.
You meet lots of people up there,
The Mater Hospital,
Bobby told me.
Bobby is my friend,
His hospital companion said
As he , Alan,
Left before him, Bobby,
Returning home
I'll pray for you,
He said too,
A Christian,
Bobby
Reported,
You meet all kinds of people up there
And he meant of course,
Boys and girls,
Men and women,
Doctors and nurses,
But he meant also
Rangers fans,
And protestants,
And Alan
Was
One of them,
A Christian too, to boot.
And over time,
Weeks of illness,
They chatted Wendy
And
I ndiaiadh an omlan,
Became friends
Bobby is my friend,
Alan said,
And Bobby was pleased.
Bobby, you see Alan,
Prays for you too
Not in a
Kneel -down -and -pray -before -God
Kinda thing
He plays much better Alan
He tells people
How
You promised
To pray for him
That
Is Bobby's prayer
And
Its a fantastic way to pray,
Isn't it just.
Why couldn't you have proven me wrong?
Shown just a spark of humanity.'
With just treatment .' c i f a, and your mounted twats that be.' Slitherd and skidded
You are genuine rats..Though maybe rats
Are better.? I guess we will see.. Whether
You are still accepted, among mentally
Stable humanity, i will boycott Canadian,
I refuse to go to that land; you pollute.' By your prescence, and egregiously so, to boot.!!!
Burdened by grief, I always strive
I work so hard to gain a good life
I make my way through hardened walls
I swim across roaring water falls
Under the sun I walk while singing
Insane to boot, I speak amd reek of dreaming
Next day I'll stand fists raised to fight
Giants so strong yet I remain in might
Someday soon with a happy ever after
I'll look back proud, in shared laughter
Feix is weirded out and angry; the world has gone mad.
His kibble has been stolen, by Tim, a large tom cat that is bad.
His lithium cannot get replaced, and his bipolar makes him sad.
Felix is now having the worst week he has ever had!
Felix's wife has left him, worse, she left the litter far behind.
They demandingly mew and wail, their crying not so kind.
Felix’s nerves are on edge, and he wants to give a shout.
He’s angry that he was not the first cat to move out.
He called his mother and begged her to come be a grandma cat.
She laughed her tail off, and said “you know me much better than that!”
So now he has hired a nurse, a housekeeper, and a laundress to boot.
The kitties are all screaming, and his nerves are through the roof!
I am a muse unto myself
drawing my mind on
broken mirrors
Shards assemble like
puzzles for expression
painting a future
drawing nearer
My rearview is perfect
picture
that is insightful
in my eyes
I learn from all that I
experience
therefor I am
forever growing wise
My truth makes a fool
out of lies
because they're false
& never real
Some fools will set eyes
on solid truth
looking for things
that they can steal
It's amusing how real
it can be
but it's not a joke
& never funny
Runny lies are like eggs
with feet to boot
ready-made for mouths
forever running
They move with a rhythm
like cunning snakes
out of place in
God's garden
Not pythons but mocks
on dirty grounds
in dire need
of one's pardon
“I AM”
I am the leader of a one man processional
I am a consummate professional with no job and slim prospects
I am young at heart with an old soul
I am wrestling for control with me, myself, and I
I am a good guy, but not good enough
I am finding it tough to believe, believe me
I am 27, chow, yard
I am going to try, but I never said how hard.
I am a man of course, and a felon to boot
I am a mighty redwood without roots.
I am sitting alone in my cell with a pen
I am fitting to roam straight to Hell, say Amen.
I am anxious and restless and oh so much more
I am waiting to see what’s behind the next door.
I am an enigma, a something quite strange
I am what I am, but I’m willing to change.
A freak of nature
Rejected, thrown
Left to expire
Not wanted
Not loved
Not desired
....unbonded
No support
No family
Community or home
Pile of souls
Abandoned
Alone
....unbonded
Buyers came
Agreements made
Heart torn
UNBONDED sold
Enemy's gain
Fear born
....binding
Worlds, legends,
Myths, lies
Narrative to boot
Mind taken
Will bent
A single root
....binding
Mother tree
Ecosystem threaded
Benefits awarded
Influence
Manipulation
Contracts Recorded
....time
Seed manifested
Flow untethered
LOVE sacrificed
Resurrection manifested
Empty womb
Looping Advised
....unity
Consciousness awakened
Responsibility taken
Earth's core, shaken
Blood bought soul
Freed to be whole
Authenticity known
....unity
Written by Trudy Schrader on 09-13-2025
Send me a pillow that you dream on, standing on the corner in a tuxedo suit
Dean Martin is a hero, and a singer to boot
Memories are made of this makes me smile so wide too
As does listening to you’re nobody til somebody loves you,
Fly me to the moon, so wonderful, the lyrics fine.
Everybody loves somebody, reminds me of me and mine.
Standing on the corner, joyful memories are made of this
Remembering Dean Martin’s songs feels like a kiss
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