Echoes

The drumbeats have long ago silenced 

Forgotten, their rhythmical sway.

The smoke from the wanderers campfire 

Through ages has drifted away. 

Ten thousand flickering campfires 

Cold ashes returned to the ground 

The halls of the canyons no longer

The echo of voices resound

I step with a strange hesitation 

On ground where they made their last stand

Their epitaph written in whispers 

Borne gently across the warm sand

There runs through my mind like a phantom 

An image of what must have been

A simple people, yet noble

Their memory gone like the wind 

Reflecting I gaze o're the landscape

And savor a moment of peace. 

The wanderers spirit of freedom

Rides still on the wings of the breeze. 

Ode to my Brother

Autumn leaves scattered

Crackling fires

Evening sun paling 

Summer retires. 

Long days retreated

Childlike and free

Gaity traded

For melancholy. 

Standing above you

Wind blown and drear

Uncomprehending 

Year after year. 

Heartstrings are tugging

Memories renew

Olden times faded

Come into view. 

Memories linger

Through misty eyes

Lonely heart shattered

Love never dies. 

Nostalgia

How oft' in moments of quiet repose

My mind wanders back to those days long ago,

And a sweet, peaceful sadness steals o're my frame,

As I long to recapture my childhood again.

Just to be back home with Mother and Dad,

With brothers and sisters, when I was a lad. 

The good times and bad; they live with me still,

I'd go back there now, if it were Gods will. 

I'd walk once again through the house we called home,

Through the pasture and meadow, to the creek I would roam. 

I'd gaze o're the hillsides and thank God above

For the blessings He gave us; the blessing of love. 

I'd go to the churchyard, and there shed a tear,

Remembering the old times when God drew so near. 

The old fashioned preaching still rings in my soul. 

I'll cherish the memories while years by me roll. 

My old friends are gone now, to where I can't tell. 

But the good times we shared, I remember so well. 

Some how, some where I know they remain,

For they stroll with me now, down memory's lane. 

The musings of someone who has been wrong more than right, demonstrated more ignorance than knowledge, lost a lot but hit it lucky in most ways that count. This is dedicated to my good friend Nancy, who with much patience ( and I'm sure much rolling of the eyes ) helped me set up this blog.

In recent years it has become increasingly impressive to me how we humans are so much alike. 

Growing up, and well into adulthood, I had the misguided conception that many of my problems were unique to me. That conception, I'm glad to say, has changed dramatically. We are created with a quality that may be novel to our species; the ability to share deeply in the feelings of others. 

We, unlike all other animal life are capable of analyzing another persons behavior and relating to it. Not necessarily that we approve or disapprove, but it is understanding. I believe that our differences, from out type of dress, to political ideology, should be judged accordingly. We share pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow, excitement and the mundane with those around us. We are able to base our opinions and reactions on how we, ourselves would handle another persons circumstances.  

That may be tricky business because we don't always know the facts surrounding a given situation, or the persons history. If we can give people the benefit of the doubt, and approach their behavior in a neutral fashion, our vision will be clear and unbiased. 

That takes a giving up of our own selfish feelings of being right and superior. 

It's amazing how much we learn and the changes we are compelled to make as we strive for maturity.