Poems by Kathy J. Parenteau

Stand tall, oh mighty oak, for all the world to see.
Your strength and undying beauty forever amazes me.
Though storm clouds hover above you,
Your branches span the sky
In search of the radiant sunlight you
Count on to survive.
When the winds are high and restless and
You lose a limb or two,
It only makes you stronger.
We could learn so much from you.
Though generations have come and gone
And brought about such change,
Quietly you've watched them all,
Yet still remained the same.
I only pray God gives to me
The strength he's given you
To face each day with hope,
Whether skies are black or blue.
Life on earth is truly a gift.
Every moment we must treasure.
It's the simple things we take for granted
That become our ultimate pleasures.

Amidst the desert sands dawnings just begun,
            battle rages on, bombing veils the rising sun.
           A boy not yet a man holds a picture to his heart
            of loved ones not forgotten though oceans keep them apart.
           Called to serve his country, land of freedom home of brave,
             risking his existence for the lives that he may save.
           Concealing his dismay he holds his head up high,
              his arms embrace a trusted friend watching him slowly die.
           A boy he is no more, on that day there stood a man,
              his heart filled with rage, his mind fights to understand.
           Raised to be a man of God, taught thou shalt not kill,
              now placed upon the battlefield where there tis his only will.
           Resting beneath the sunset, wounded he dreams of home,
              lying on the desert's floor a soldier died alone.

I took a walk in the city today
to try to pass the time away.
Saw lots of people walking too.
Stepped right in a pile of doggy doo.
I thought for a moment just what could be done
to clean up the streets of doggie dung.
Maybe I'll invent something really super,
even finer than a pooper scooper.
A port a potty for our four legged friends
on every street corner where every road bends.
Then I'll become famous for this awesome invention.
At the monthly town meetings my name will be mentioned.
They'll throw a big party and dance in the streets
because never again will there be poop on our feet!

Mama told me a story a long, long time ago, not like any that I'd ever heard,
all about a little girl mama used to know, how I remember every word.
Seems like a lifetime ago, though I remember it so well.
It was a Christmas Eve I'll never forget as far as I can tell.
We were sitting at the kitchen table, it was only my mother and me.
I was dreaming of Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree.
Dad wasn't doing that well and money was scarce that year.
Mama found a way of telling me without me shedding one tear.
She told me a story of a little girl and a Christmas long ago,
who came from far away, a place where it rarely snowed.
Santa was just a dream to her, but she believed so much inside,
that Christmas was going to be special, so she knelt by her bed and she cried.
"Lord, let Santa remember me if not just this one time.
I promise I won't ask for much, maybe a dolly I can call all mine."
She closed her prayer and thanked the Lord for all that she received.
She knew that Santa would really come if only she believed.
She wrote a letter to Santa, unfamiliar to most girls and boys.
Though her list was long and full, on it there were no toys.
Only things we take for granted, like new shoes or underpants,
hair bows for her sisters and gloves to warm her brothers' hands.
At the bottom of her list she asked, if it not be too much,
for a brand new baby doll she could hold and love and touch.
Then Christmas morning came and she looked beneath her tree,
Not a present to be found as far as she could see.
She didn't give up hope as she heard a knocking sound.
When she opened up her door, a great big box she found.
She called out to her mother and dad, brothers and sisters too,
She said, "My prayers were answered, there's something in here for all of you."
Her daddy got brand new boots, her mother new underpants, her sisters got beautiful hair bows, her brothers warm gloves for their hands.
Buried deep beneath the box was a brand new baby doll and a note that said, "Merry Christmas, I love you one and all."
I'll never forget that story because much to my surprise,
I saw the true meaning of Christmas shining in my mother's eyes.
For those of you who are wondering, as if you didn't know,
The little girl in Mama's story was my mother long ago.

This poem is about a childhood memory I will never forget. God bless all the mothers in this world, and may all your Christmases be ones to remember.

Once upon a time many years ago,
an angel was sent to the earth to let all God's people know,
that love and only love is the key to all life's sorrows,
opening doors once closed, promising brighter tomorrows.
The angel traveled the globe to spread the wonderful news,
but people wouldn't listen and the angel was confused.
In the heavenly land she came from, this message was quite clear,
there is no sadness there, anger, pain or fear.
All of this is promised to those who do believe, a savior who is Christ the Lord
shed his blood to set us free.
When the angel went back up to heaven to tell God we didn't listen,
she noticed on her back her tiny wings were missing.
She cried, "Oh heavenly Father, I did my very best, but people on earth have their free will,
I sadly must confess."
Only moments later from her shoulders hung with love
were wings of solid gold, a gift from God above.
God knew his little angel did all that she could do,
to show the world what matters most, this rest is up to you.

It's our free will that will cause us to stumble, but if we do God's will we shall fly!

My dear sweet heavenly father, I come to you today
with faith and hope; I ask, send an angel Mama's way.
I know her time is near and soon you'll take her home
to stroll across the streets of gold where other angels roam.
It's hard to watch her suffer and slowly fade away.
Help me, God, to understand; give me strength, I pray.
She means so much to all of us; forgive me for my fears.
Life will never be the same without her presence here.
My mother is my angel; she taught me how to love
and told me about you, Lord, and heaven up above.
When she crosses over and steps into the light,
tell her that I love her and when the time is right,
meet me at the pearly gates where everything's brand new.
We'll walk across God's meadow lands where skies are always blue.
Somewhere beyond the sunset every now and then,
I pray she watches over me until we meet again.

Life takes us through many changes like the seasons of each year,
Some so unforgettable we sometimes shed a tear.
I remember when I was a little girl, it seems not long ago,
My mother would shelter me in her arms,
A feeling I thought I'd never outgrow.
Maybe I really haven't because hidden inside of me,
There's still that need to hold her,
Though are chances are few and far between.
We live our lives looking back on memories of the past,
Ones we often cherish, for time moves along so fast.
I remember my teenage years, rebellious as they were,
Though I'd made many mistakes I could always count on her.
Oh the times I'd hurt her with the hateful things I'd say,
I hope she knows how sorry I am and how much I love her today.
As children we don't realize how words can break a heart,
Leave scars that last a lifetime and tear two lives apart.
Though forgiveness isn't easy, we've found it through the years,
My mother and I are closer than ever,
Our love has washed away the tears.
So let me tell you that I love you mom, in this message that I send,
Though time is ever changing, I'll always remember when.