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Monday, December 31, 2018

Life is in the Living

Another new year is upon us
Coming more rapidly than the last
And while we anticipate the future
We stop to review the past

The future is bright with promise
Of family and friends and love
The past was filled with challenge
That with work we all rose above

I wish the New Year will bring you
Joyous wealth and body fit
 Yet challenge enough to assure
That you’ll live every moment of it

For life is all in the living
Not in assigned duties done
But rather in the coming together
And sharing in the long run

© Copyright 2018, Marty Vandermolen, All Rights Reserved

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Wind Whistles so Lonely

Why does the wind whistle so lonely
When it winds its way through the trees
Sounding clarion trumpets loud
Or sighing soft as you please

Why is the moon so bright
On wilderness twisted terrain
Lighting each rock and tree
Til daylight comes once again

And when the moon is dark in the sky
How do the stars shine so great
That the trees and the mountains reflect
Off the surface of a calm lake

And when winds carry before them
Bunched and laden cloud
Why is the thunder so pleasing
Regardless being scary and loud

More important than even these puzzles
Is that while in knowing yet I stand
Not in wilderness soils deep
But in the “civilized” land

My mind yearns for the wilds
My heart cries out to be heard
I need to be out there encompassed
Seldom trouble by wasted word

Far from the stresses of people
Far from the anger and shame
Living a life of simplicity
Where nature sets the soul tame

I need to be out in the forest
Or afloat on ocean grand
Challenged by wind and wave
Far from concreted over land


©Copyright 2018, Marty Vandermolen, All Rights Reserved

Saturday, December 29, 2018

The Bet

“Hey bro don’t ya think it would be so cool
To leap off this cliff, and land down in that pool
Of murcky water right where the river flows
Over that fall, between those big rock rows”

“I don’t know” said I, “seems like a long way to fall,
Not to mention this cliff of granite is like a wall
That would be awfully hard to climb back up
I could be down there all night, maybe til sunup

“Oh heck” says Bro 1, just joining in
“Its only 3 feet out, if that, he said with a grin
and maybe it might, on second glance
be 10 feet down , surely you’ll take the chance”

“To do what the two of us have done too often to count
What’s under the water you can surely discount”
“It’s deep and light and warm and smooth”
They said together, voices pitched to soothe

My cares and my worries, of that I will say
They did oh so often, most every day
Right before I ended up, launched into the air
Sprangled and sprawling with distressing flair

Yet once again, I amped my courage and trustingly took
Their assurance to heart, knowing I was a schnook
One last look at the gap that lay at my feet
I stepped back a few paces my fate to meet

Praying not to slip, fall, or bounce
I launched myself out with every ounce
Of strength I had, as time slowed to a crawl
I hurtled vertically down that tall, tall wall

I counted the time, and figured acceleration too
I was in the air so long, I needed something to do
Before hitting the water, or so I was told
For rock hard it was, not to mention snow cold

Struggling to Regaining the top I heard Brother 2 say: “Wow”
“I really, really thought that couldn’t be done, until now”
Brother 1 said, “No problem, for us it was no sweat
Now pull out some money and pay off your bet.” 

© Copyright, 2016 Marty Vandermolen

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Peace and Simplicity

I’m supposed to be too old for Santa,
For Reindeer, Flying Sleighs and Elves
Even if so, I can clearly see
They represent the best of “ourselves”

In them we see hope and caring
Sharing, joy, and love
We see “people” helping others
And efforts beyond and above

And yet, each night during the season
As I close my eyes to dream
I take a mere moment to consider
To me they’re as real as they seem.

For why can’t dreams be real
And why can’t real be dreams
And what prevents what is simple
From being just as it seems

So Santa’s as real as I am
Or maybe it’s the other way
But no matter how you see it
It explains my large red sleigh

That putts along on a wind stream
Sparkling and twinkling at night
Filled with reindeer and presents
Prompting other people’s delight

Someday my sleigh may cease to run
Or perhaps it’ll be I that cease
Whichever one, comes to be first
I leave you with this wish for peace

Peace in this Christmas season
Peace in the Christmas next
Peace and joy and loving
And simplicity in this life complex

© Copyright 2018, Marty Vandermolen, All Rights Reserved

Monday, December 17, 2018

I still believe in Unicorns.

I still believe in all the Unicorns
And sheep with fuzzy golden-fleece shorn
In Easter eggs and reindeer’s flight
Round world trips of a single night
Pixie dust and secret smiles
Pegasus and Rumpelstiltskin’s wiles

Soap bubbles glistening that float above
Longing desires that grow into love
Knights’ bold charges to side Lady fair
Magic potions that we all can share
Gods of Greece and Gods of Rome
Heroes challenging wastelands for home

Santa’s gifts, Black Peter’s wrath
Yellow brick road and bejeweled path
Ruby slippers and Puss in Boot
Pirate treasures, buried loot
Elves and fairies, Chants and spells
Fairy wands and wishing wells

All these things lay inside my heart
Lighting the darkness, the very best part
Of the life I’ve lived, the fights I’ve had
These things I believe wipe memory sad
So each morning’s thought, each nightime’s prayer
Is that when I look around, a Unicorn will be there


© Copyright 2017, Marty Vandermolen, All Rights Reserved

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Heartbeat

Heartbeats pound within my chest
Disturbing lonely nighttime rest
Crashing loud within my ears
Thrusting forth my varied fears
Flashing brilliant on smothering black
Damning my dreams for what they lack

Bringing me to face this world I made
By swinging my short and moral blade
At those who offered life and soul
To enrich mine, to make me whole
That I might live my life within
This silent world of clangorous din

Yet I refuse their offered breath
And so rushed on toward lonely death.

© Copyright 1991, Marty Vandermolen

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Death Afraid

The end of my life will not call with a clash
For I’ve lived out loud, bold and brash
Instead it will sneak up on padded feet
For fear of face-to-face mine eyes to meet

© Copyright, 2018, Marty Vandermolen, All Rights Reserved