Grandpa Vernon's Poems

Cynic

2010-06-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Cynic

The steak is tough, the peas are hard.
The butter has the taste of lard.
The bitter coffee, almost steam,
Cooled by an imitation cream!
I ponder now, could it be true,
That smiles are imitation too?

Courage

2010-04-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

Courage

The ancients thought they had it right
The race is to the swift and strong.
But what about the slow and weak,
How must they get along?

How much courage must it take
When you know the die is cast,
And no matter how you strive and strain
You're bound to be dead last.

(February 1996)

Canada

2010-04-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

Canada

We pride ourselves on doing our thing
Our way is always good.
But now we find we're missing things,
A lot more than we should.
But happily there is a way
That won't leave us all deprived.
Let's go down to the U.S.A.
And see what has arrived.

Bed Time Story

2009-08-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

At night I hug my pillow
I know you've put on weight
You're no longer slim as a willow
What was it that you ate?
I won't suggest what you should do
I am a real good sport
But now there is so much of you
My arms are much too short
If you think that we might play
There is no way I see
But if you ever roll my way
It will end my misery

Beauty

2008-01-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

Unseen,
Nor robed in silk or lace.
No Queen,
has ever matched her grace
Not wealth,
She labors in a store.
But health,
Who could ask for more.

Bay 6--a toast

2008-01-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

Old time men would have their say,
That women stay home cooking.
You should never act that way,
You're just too darn good looking.

Bat

2008-01-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

Whirling furball takes its flight
In my bedroom, in the night
I awakin, Grandma's quakin'.
Won't somebody light a light?
It's no use to try to hide,
Open all the doors up wide
Take the boom, swat the lout
In the dustpan, throw him out.

All the years when you were free

2008-01-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

All the years when you were free
You longed to have a family
I think now, cross my heart,
You've picked the nicest way to start

All about toads

2007-10-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

Live toads are fat toads in the garden rows.
Dead toads are flat toads. That's the way it goes.
Live toads are useful, full of bugs and pep.
Dead toads are useless, be careful where you step.
All toads have an awful taste, is it any wonder,
Dead toads simply go to waste, until we plow them under?

Above the trees and out of reach...

2007-10-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

Above the trees and out of reach,
The Hi line wires hum.
When they need work,
I cannot fix,
Cause I'm so old and numb.
But O.K. men from far away
will do the work and then,
They'll pack up all their trucks and leave.
We'll never meet again.

A wealth of friends!

2007-10-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

A wealth of friends!
Life's greatest treasure.
Then broken dreams
Don't weigh an ounce.
What Future holds
Must wait its measure.
It's what we do
Today that counts.

Two toasts.

2007-10-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

A Toast

You must plan your course with care
If you want to make a showing.
But any road will get you there
If you don't know where you're going.

A Toast

I often do imbibe, it's true
to soothe these pains of mine
But just a little smile from you
Is better than the finest wine.

A Tall Story

2007-10-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

One time, long ago, before you before you would believe it a little man was born who became your grandpa. Nobody knows how old he is because he was very old when he was born. He always said he couldn't remember when he was born. And no one can remember when it was so I suppose no one will ever know. He said he learned to read and write before anyone had anything to read and write with, so it was a lot of wasted effort. In those days the people lived very simple lives. They built their homes out of lumber sawed from the woods, they wore clothes made of fur and they ate homegrown grain and vegetables. They ate lots of rabbits, squirrels, and venison that they shot. And they drank whiskey. that cost cash money if you didn't make it yourself, and even then you had to buy sugar, so that forced the people to go out and get jobs . But since grandpa didn't drink whiskey, only water, he didn't have to work, just hunt. He thinks modern people are cowards that are afraid they will starve to death so they work all the time. They don't give their minds time to think.

A Single Boy

2007-10-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

A single boy is just a lout
a man is just a churl
A fellow somehow just ain't right
Until he has a girl.
A bachelor may pretend he's great;
he's really just a clown.
But when he has a guiding light
He can really go to town.
So when you see a man ahead
Of the rest about a mile
Remember, he's just working hard
To win his woman's smile.

Grandma Olga

2007-09-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Only one person out of 2 Billion or so can live to be 116 years old. I'm running out of time. Sweetheart: Eternity: Walk softly down that long lonely road for somewhere you will hear me call your name.

She must have heard him calling. Now they are together again.

A little green frog

2007-09-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

A little green frog
On a mossy bog
Down in the middle of the slough
Tried all day long
Just to sing a song.
He didn't know how to do.
Then he gave a little shrug
Ate another bug
This is the way he spoke
If I cna't sing
In the early spring
I just know I'll croak.

A habit that is funny

2007-09-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

A habit that is funny
Insures the rabbit race
When a rabbit meets a bunny
They immediately embrace.

A Muse Can Be Eighty-Five Years Old

2007-09-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

A MUSE CAN BE EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OLD

Just think of me as someone who was,
Who cared more than anything about you.
But cared is not enough of a description
Because it designates something that is done.
True caring is love.
And true love lasts forever.
So a thousand years from now people can say
Vernon loves Olga and her children.
that will last till no one is left in Heaven
Or on Earth to understand.

Only one person out of 2 billion or so can
live to be 116 years old. I'm running out of time.
Sweetheart: Eternity: Walk softly down that long lonely
road for somewhere you will hear me call your name.
Vernon

Friends

2007-09-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Friends
For more than eighty years I've strayed,
Down shaded path and forest glade.
To ease my mind to soothe my soul,
To keep my tired body whole.
And when at last my journey ends,
I'll know that I have been with friends.