""""What A Family Means""""
A family means a FATHER
Who stands there real strong
One who praises you for good
And willing to correct you when you are wrong
He works hard each and every day
Making earnings so as to buy
Whatever the family is needing
He is always there to answer why
He shows us love and caring
In his own special ways
He is always there for us
Each and every one of our days
A family means a MOTHER
Who knows just what you need
Cooking up all the good things
Making meals, that to you, she will feed
She makes sure you have clothes
That fit each of us just right
She washes all the clothes for us
Working hard from morning until night
She tends to us when we are ill
Making us take medicine to make us well
She shows her constant loving
And this we can all surely tell
A family means a SISTER
Who is there to lend an ear
She sits and listens for hours
As all of your problems she wants to hear
She will be there to comfort you
When everything around seems blue
She will be there to console
And do whatever she can for you
She will want what is best
Putting herself after everyone
She puts herself at the end
And takes what is left when others are done
A family means a BROTHER
Who stands beside you with pride
He is always there for you
He will never run and hide
He helps to protect you from evil
Making sure that safe you will stay
He will listen when you ask a question
Pay attention to what he does say
He lets you, when he goes, tag along
And even join in on his fun
He never pushes you away, saying "Get out of here"
He will play with you until the day is done
A family means the RELATIVES
That are there for you
Whenever the going gets tough
They are there to help you make it through
And talk about old times
They are the ones that come and visit
They give you a hug when it is needed
When you are troubled, they say, "Please come and sit"
They are always there with open hearts
And want you know they really care
As they are caring and understanding
And all of your concerns they want to share
So when to us a FAMILY is mentioned
I hope we can look around and see
All the ones that are there
There to stand by you and me
We can count all our blessings
And know how lucky we are for these
For without the ones that we now have
Life would not be such a breeze
Now I would like to thank you one and all
For all that you have done for me
And want you to know this one last fact
When in need you can count on me
© Tall Mountain Dreamer December 29, 1998
""""My Grandmother And Me""""
My Grandmother meant the world to me
Someone I enjoyed to go see
She was the one who was always fair
One could tell that she really did care
Her visits were welcomed and filled me with joy
She would visit with me and check out my new toy
Many times I would bring my worries to her
Climbing up trees, she thought a little too far
Hanging upside down, the wind blowing me too and fro
Hollering to her, "Gram! Come see me go!"
I remember the games that she taught me to play
Things to do and kind words to say
Sitting at the table with her cribbage board
When I made a mistake, never a harsh word
In her gentle and sweet voice she would just say
"No! That is not the way that we play."
Many a crossword I watched her complete
Completing some was no easy feat
She stood by and watched as I steadily grew
If, what that meant to me, she only knew
She lived in our house for a few years
When she left I had to fight back my tears
She saw me graduate, a special time in my life
And then start out building my own special life
Many a time I would think of her and wonder
What she was doing, her health I would ponder
She moved and went many miles away
I would not get to see her for many a day
I then joined the service, calling cadence out loud
If she could have seen me then, I know she would have been proud
Returning home after proudly serving my country
Some disturbing news was passed on to me
My Grandmother was ill and it certainly looked bad
No one really knew how much time she had
I made me a vow, I would see her before it was too late
So I sat down and then I came up with a date
I took the trip down south, in a blizzard of snow
This trip, I would not be denied, as onward I would go
I traveled the highways down to the south
So she could hear the words from my very own mouth
"Grandma! I missed you and I love you a lot"
Seeing her lying there helplessly, my tears I fought
After seeing her I left the room and let her rest
Knowing quite well, this would be the best
I would then return to say my final good-bye
Thinking to myself, "Why! Dear God!! Please tell me why"
Then the news came that she had passed away
There in her bed, her soul, to heaven slipped away
I then went to the funeral to pay my last respect
Her passing was hard for me to accept
Of all the days we had been kept apart
This special day was really tearing me apart
Her remembrance will always remain deep in my heart
Thoughts of the good times will never depart
Now when times are tough and the right path hard to see
I remember the knowledge that she passed on to me
Now to my Grandmother, in prayer, there is one thing to say
"Keep on that cheerful smile as we will be together one day."
And from my heart and straight to you
Your memory will always remain strong, and I will always love you
© Tall Mountain Dreamer June 17, 1998
""""My Grandfather""""
I remember him standing there so tall and strong
He would work really hard all day long
He would be out when the sun still slept
This vigorous ordeal, each day he kept
He would be out in the fields for the whole day
At noon he would take his only break of the day
He would cut the hay and lay it out straight
And for the sun to dry it he would then wait
Then to the house he would return when it was dark
"This has been a long day!", I would hear him remark
He would then wipe the sweat from his brow
He did this each day, I knew not how
He would always smile and make time for me
Telling me many a story as I sat on his knee
Telling me of times when he was also small
Amazing me to how easy these he could recall
Then I would watch as he faded of to sleep in his chair
Gram would then cover him and say, "Just leave him right there!"
He always knew when I was sad and broken hearted
Especially when my mom and dad had departed
He then told me words that still stick with me
Words that I will remember and that are special to me
"Nothing in the world is fair!", he would say
"But each dog will sooner or later have their day"
"Now to the deserving this will all turn out good"
So do unto others good, and treat them like you should"
"Because when the time comes and a friend you need"
"You will be able to count on them indeed"
Then I remember that day I came running inside
Looking for Gram and my eyes open wide
"I exclaimed, "Come with me and look at Grandpa!!"
I wanted her to see what I had saw
We went to the barn and the tractor inside
Upon it set Grandpa looking like he was ready to ride
He was slumped over and laying against the steering wheel so black
I was screaming his name but he wouldn't answer back
Now Grandma looked at me and I saw a strain on that face
The same as when mom and dad had passed and she gave me that embrace
I knew right then what had happened for sure
My mind was filled with anger and my heart was tore
This great man had died as he had lived his life
Getting ready to go to work and provide for his wife
Grandma took me and we went back inside
The pain I was feeling I was not able to hide
Well they came and got him and took him away
I didn't see him again until that final day
At the graveside things were said that I didn't understand
But one thing for sure, they were burying one hell of a man
There were more people there then I had ever seen before
To pay their last respects to a great man, I was sure
Well when it was over I walked over to the grave
And to my Grandpa my little tractor I gave
I knew right then he would be happy wherever he went
As with him this tractor, with love, I had sent
Now he would be able to work those fields up high
As he watched down upon me from that bright blue sky
© Tall Mountain Dreamer July 18, 1998
""""Wonders Of Life""""
Into this world joy does come
Not for all but a selected some
The news will fill some couples with bountiful joy
One question remains. A Girl or a Boy?
Through the waiting they share the events
Relishing in the joys, lasting through the torments
Along he goes with her crazy whims and diet
Whatever she ask, if possible, he would buy it
At her side he will faithfully stand
So together they can enjoy this event so grand
Finally the ending has come into sight
Next question, Would it be in the day or in the middle of the night?
Finally he hears the words for which he does wait
"Let us get going," she says, "before it is too late"
Out to the car they go in a flash
Off to the hospital they go in a dash
The labor room is the first stop that they make
The pains are closer, how much longer can it take
Finally the doctor says "The time has come and all is okay!"
As to the delivery room they speed on their way
Finally the time has come to end all the pain
Panting, puffing and pushing she does strain
Finally the time comes for a joyous climax
None of this would they ever want to take back
Now they both may relax and enjoy this day for all it is worth
Living and enjoying this miracle called BIRTH
""""Daddy Tell Me Why""""
I remember the nights filled with horror
That I would cry myself to sleep with fear
Listening to my daddy scream and holler
And verbally abuse my loving mother
He would rant and rave, arguing just to argue
No one could do no write, no matter what you do
I know my daddy was a proud man inside
But only if his built up rage he could learn to control and hide
Many times I would see the bruises from the landed blows
And see the broken items that he picks up and throws
Watching in silence as the family slipped apart
Wanting to say something but not knowing where to start
I remember asking my daddy for help to fix a toy
Him saying “ Get away! I don’t have time for you boy!”
This tore my heart and gave me pain inside
My mind keeps going back to those days of horror I hide
I would watch as he would leave each day
And hard at work he would always stay
Working for the family as he gave us a place to be
But it would have been even better having a daddy who loved me
Then I heard the words said, late in the darkness one night
Said in the throws of a knock down, drag out fight
He said, “This family I am leaving I don’t any of you no more”
If he only knew how those words made my heart sore
Then the daylight came and the time was finally here
When my daddy walked out the door, but it didn’t end my fear
I looked on with tears in my eyes and running down my face
As my heart told me, after my daddy chase
He said not a word to me but walked right on by
I just wanted the time to ask my daddy why
Why he was so angry and took it out on us
Never compliment the things we did, but always to us fuss
He never said the words I Love You to any
And the scars he was now leaving are many
I knew this was the end of the family as I now knew
What would happen to me now what would mom do
I looked at her and saw that even she did cry
And I yelled out in anger, “Please! Daddy tell me why!!”
Now to this day I still wonder with the memories that I have
If it hurt to much for him, that’s why no reason he gave
He could not explain the way he felt inside
And all the pain of failure he was gallantly trying to hide
As I stop and look back over the years that have gone by
There is one thing I need to understand, if I try
I don’t ask him to love me any more then he did then
But to remember in his memories of times way back when
We can discuss these heart tearing events if we try
But I just want the chance to say to him, “Daddy Tell Me Why”
© Tall Mountain Dreamer June 3, 2000
""""He Said To Me""""
My Grandfather was a wise man
And I listened when he talked
I went along with him when I could
Was beside him when he walked
He told of times that were hard
And wanted me to understand
That though life was full of fun
There were going to be times not so grand
He told of times when food was scarce
And he had very little to eat
But with the love and kindness shown to him
The hard times he was able to beat
He told of times when there was war
And family and friends, over the ocean, were sent
Of how scared he had been right then
But when they called his number, he proudly went
Of the bad memories he had from those days
He told me of the killings and watching his friends die
How there were explosions all around him
Seeing dead bodies everywhere and silently asking why
He told of cars that you had to crank to start
And how they would not go very fast
Of how times certainly had changed in the country
How they had raised the price of gas
Telling me of family members I never got to know
Of things that they did together with love
And what they meant deep in his heart
As I saw his eyes glance up above
He told me of times when things were bad
As panic quickly swept over this proud and strong country
Of the banks closing their doors in front of all the people
Who only wanted their hard earned money
He told of watching his children grow and move on
And the love that he had inside for each
Of all the things that he had taught them
So all their goals would be within reach
He talked of pride of the things they had done
And the families they had of their own
How proudly he saw them all now model citizens
As into proud parents they had all grown
He told of the pain he felt when one of them passed away
How a part of his heart had died that day
How he stood there torn inside as the body was laid to rest
And the silent memories of them, he wouldn’t let slip away
He told me of my grandma, that he loved
And all the years, together they had spent
That he’d change nothing of this loving woman he married
He had loved the way the years had went
He went on about the land and things I couldn’t see
He told me of a special place he had by a running brook
When at times he wanted to be alone, there he went
On this day he took me there to look
When we entered that little grassy spot
He sat down on the ground and motioned for me to sit too
He then turned to me with a solemn face
And said listen carefully to these words I say to you
There will be many times in life you will be hurt
By others that are trying to get to the top
But move on steadily through your life
And never let your goals and dreams, you have, stop
Treat every person that you meet in life
As if they were yourself and you were looking in a mirror
Because only then can you honestly say to each
I have been honest to each and couldn’t be any fairer
Never judge anyone that you meet in life
As everyone has their own coarse and goals
And they will be judged for what they are and do
When after life God gathers up their souls
So I took these words that he had spoken to me
And put them in my mind and took them to heart
And now though my grandfather is now dead and gone
I can thank him for giving me these words, my life to start
© Tall Mountain Dreamer June 5, 2000
""""My Boy""""
Here I sit in my chair
With my bundle of joy on my knee
I am talking about the most precious thing
My precious baby boy
I remember the day that he was born
And all the pride it gave to me
How one little miracle of god
Could bring so much pleasure to me
I watched as my wife gave birth
And into this world he was brought
I was over flowing with happiness
As the tears of joy, back, I fought
I know I would watch him grow over the years
And I would teach him to be strong
I would always try and correct his errors
Teaching him from what is right and wrong
I will teach him how to play sports
And show him that he should always be fair
That everything that he is given in life
Then extra he should share
I would watch him play his sports
And teach him to be the best he can be
Because that precious bundle of joy
Will get all my love that I have in me
Then I will answer all the question he has
And teach him all that I know
Make sure that he gets the education he needs
So that into an outstanding citizen he will grow
I will teach all I know of love
And how to respect others that are around
I will teach him to stand true and strong
And in anger to utter not a sound
Then I will watch as this miracle of god
Grows up and becomes a man
Teach him his morals and values
So that with pride and honor he can stand
Now then my job will then be complete
As I had raised him the best I know how
But still there will be times that he needs me
The same as he does right now
And I will always be there to answer when he calls
In case there is something that he needs to know
But from all this loving support I give to him
A true and great man will grow
Then he will start a family soon enough
And then kids he will want to have
And then he will be able to live through all the fun
That this bundle of joy to me gave
Then he will be sitting in his chair
Doing the same thing as me
Taking all the pleasure and gleaming with pride
As he bounces his bundle of joy on his knee
© Tall Mountain Dreamer June 22, 2000
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