Magnificent Mama Mary

Our sweet Mama Mary, was not contrary,
in fact ~ she was rather divine.
She was teacher, mother, student, hugger;
A special friend of yours and mine.

Her time on Earth was way too short;
yet, in fact, it was longer though too;
for she was told twenty years ago,
"Your heart is almost through with you".

Yet, with a whole lot of faith, she persevered;
I'd venture to say she was even blessed.
That doesn't mean her life was easy,
but she tried to see life at its very best.

When she was still able to run and play,
she loved to entertain all in a game.
Young, or old . . . or so I've been told,
she always remembered your name.

She called so many her cherished children,
and others were sisters, loved from the start.
While some of these were by luck of blood,
others were dear by choice of the heart.

She loved good food, comfort so good;
and worshiping . . . not just on Sunday.
Singing out praise til the end of her days,
a day filled with God was a fun day.

She'd rather us smile than cry now,
though our life was so blessed with her graces.
Her beauty now shines in the pretty white clouds,
where she's surrounded by heavenly faces.

__________________________________________

Rest in peace my sweet Mama Mary
Mary Olcott (10-15-1946 to 12-10-2011)

I wrote this about Mama Mary on the morning she got her wings....

A beautiful woman just got her wings and sits beside Jesus now. My sweet Mama Mary.....my soul+sister (my bestie Connie Lueke's Mama) just lost her fight to live.

I went to see Mary & Connie within the last 2 months. We thought she was close to going then. She got a last gift of life.

Mama Mary & I texted each other almost daily until 5 days ago. I would send her a 'Good Morning Mama'...and send her a bible verse. She would respond with, 'Good Morning my little ladybug'. She inspired me. Our souls connected.

I told her I wanted to write my life story, to touch people & share their stories too. She encouraged me. Said she wanted to read it, so get started. So I did. I wrote 7 pages......and sent it to her....typed in a nice big font. Connie printed it for her. She read it and loved, it encouraging me. I typed up 7 more pages in one day....they've been sent, but she never got a chance to read. (I found out later she did in fact read the last pages....)

Its ok Mama, I got you the beginning, just like I promised. Please remember I love you....you touched my heart in so many ways I never expected. You were a bonus Mom to me....for 2 months. Yes, I've known u longer...but I'll never forget these last 2 months or the inspiration you shared.

Mama, may you rest in peace, celebrating w God, Jesus & the angels.

I will always remember.... 'I can all things through Christ who strengthens me' ... Just like you taught me. I listened Mama. I've grown because of you.

I miss you so much already...I will cherish every text message & the one voice mail I'm lucky to have.

Please hug my daddy in heaven....

I'll love you always, and share your story in my book.

I never know when tears may fall. I inherited a certain 'toughness' from my parents that sometimes presents itself at times like this.

Today it fails me...as tears run down my cheeks.

Its ok.

I want to cry...

I welcome the tears, mourning...yet celebrating a very blessed soul.

So.....

"Good Morning Mama...I love you. You can just speak to my soul now...I'll listen....."

And.....

"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

I love you and miss you Mama....

The Christmas Soldier

The Christmas Soldier

You fight the fight that others won’t
Make sacrifices that others don’t
Its Christmas time and you’re far from home
During this Holiday Season you’re feeling alone

Its times like this you need to hear
Support from the Country that you hold dear
So we take this time to let you know
You have people who know the lengths you go

To stand up for your Country and for Peace
For the terrorized people to find relief
So know you are loved and that we care
And we’re thinking of you all over there

May God bless you and keep you all safe!!!

(c) Lauri Halterman – 12/05/2008

Broken Promises

A promise is a tricky thing.
You can make it and you can keep it,
but you can’t change it without breaking it.

It’s perception really.
How it’s viewed by all.
Each view carries a life of its own
and each view has its own truth,
even when there are opposing other truths.
Many conflicting truths may exist.
This does not make them less true…
…or more so either.

In many cases, a promise is made
with the grandest intentions.
Rarely with the thought of ever breaking it
because if that were the case, why make it at all?

Then again, there are emotions.
They have their role in it all,
a rather major role really.
They make us who we are.
They lead us down roads.


And then we find things change.

We change—we evolve—we devolve.

Then what happens to these promises?
To these broken promises?

They change—they evolve—they devolve.

Then we find we truly don’t know what else to do.
So we pause to pat ourselves on the back,
for no reason other than—because!

Then we do what only we can do,
we keep the biggest promise of all.

We go on—we don’t give up—we start again.

No broken promises—not this one.

Be true to me—that is what we do.



11/19/2010 Posted at d'Verse Poets Pub - http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/19/poetics-changes/

Majestic Mansion

                          Image by Dirk Juergensen

Jules starred into the vast distance.
The old, majestic Mansion loomed ahead.
The tree lined lane was filled with brush, and limbs and death.
Those limbs had shaded that lane for many a generation.
Jules removed his hat and shook his head.
He was filed with dread.

Jules bit his lip and uttered a silent prayer.
It had been too long since he'd journeyed this way.
He had been young and dumb, full of himself and full of stubborn pride.
But then, so were many men of his generation.
He'd been gone now for many a day.
Lived his life, had his way.

Jules thought long and hard and closed his eyes.
He heard the sound of the rippling waves and birds crying.
His mind wandered to another time and place.
Before he grew too big for all of this.
Before loved ones started dying.
Before rumors started flying.

He lost track and he floated through that time.
The rowboat slowly cracked into a huge old tree.
He snapped back to today; to this time and this place.
He gently guided the boat through the waters.
The old Mississippi had been set free.
Overcome its banks and made all this mess you see.

Now Jules family homestead loomed ahead.
What used to be a tree-lined lane was now a lake.
He only hoped the family he'd run from . . . was here for him to rescue.
It had taken him years to get here, he needed them to be here.
He had things he needed to say, amends he needed to make.
He only hoped it wasn't too late.

He pulled the rowboat close to the familiar old gate.
His hands shook as he pulled the boat close and tied it tight.
This was the moment of truth, the moment he'd been hiding from.
Why did he wait until this catastrophe of nature to come calling?
He used his fingers to cross his forehead, an old Catholic right.
He hadn't done it in years, but right now it felt right.

Jules jumped out of the boat into the cold, clammy water.
It took his breathe away as his heart started to race.
He almost lost his balance but used the gate to steady himself.
He lumbered forward trying to keep calm, trying to keep faith.
The water was deeper than he had thought, almost to his waist.
He did not know if he was ready for what he might face.

He made it to the front door, slightly cracked open.
He looked up into the northern window, to the place that Mama was kept.
Was that a candle in the window, or a figment of his imagination?
He was born in that room, and his Mama had died in that room.
He cried silent tears for the woman he had never met.
He made his way to that room, saw his father and wept.

~~~~~~

prompted from a photo prompt at @MyWordWizard http://www.mywordwizard.com/poetry-prompts.html

Also posted at:
11.6.2011 Poetry Pantry Week 74
11.29.2001 dVerse Open Link Night

Random Me

Random.                              Like         me.                           Sometimes   silly.        
                      Other     times         Smart.               Sometimes I'm a lady.            
    Sometimes . . .                                                                         Not so much.
                                                  I've been know to cuss.
And when you least expect it,  I'll let out a fart.                     Nonetheless . . .

        I'm most known for my                                  heart.

                    And being

a lover of hugs.                     oh, yes.          
                                                                    And ladybugs . . .
   
                     Doobie-doobie-dooo!

                                                                  Now, tell me about . . . .                      

                                    "you"

10.20.11 Created from a Prompt at dVerse Poets Pub - FormForAll – Etherees, Shape & Concrete Poems

Nothingness

I don’t know what to write about
but write I’ll do the same.
It’s time I wrote a poem or two
but nothing calls out by name.

Then that’s what I’ll write about,
nothing and nothing more.
Time to honor nothingness,
and the wisdom behind its door.

Enter gently into this dark night
of not a thing to be or see,
where nothing lies beyond the bend
to suddenly frighten or hinder me.

Nothing to take away my light
or brighten my darkest day,
nothing to tease and taunt me
then just as suddenly go away.

So nothingness, I salute you
for letting me simply be—
no more, no less, under duress
and undefined by destiny.

The Versatile Blogger Award

The ever sweet and kind blogger and fabulous poet Carrie Burtt of Hope Whispers was kind enough to give me The Versatile Blogger Award on her blog.

I'm not as active as some of you but when I do blog my poetry I truly appreciate those who stop by, read and comment. I truly value every interaction I'm granted in the blogosphere. Modern technology can be a beautiful blessing. Its brought so many wonderful people into my life and me into theirs. :)

Thank you for this award Carrie! :)

The rules of this award are:

1. Thank the person that gave you this award, and link back to his/her blog.

2. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award, and notify them about the nomination. (I'm doing 5 - such a rule breaker! )

3. Finally, tell  readers 7 things about yourself.

My Nominations are:

Hope Whispers The blog title speaks it all!! Such an amazing person. 

Poets United A place for poetry prompts! I love this place! Robert Lloyd and many fabulous poets. 

dVerse Poets Pub I stumbled upon this wonderful place for Poets and Open Link Night! Its a Poetic Pub! Love it!

Writing Vice Versa A new writing prompt place for contradictory word prompts by Robert Lloyd! 

Heather-N-Company One of the sweetest redheads I've ever know! I love this lady!

And now.....

 7 Random Things about me!

1. I rolled a car once....it was a race-car! I was 19 and racing on an oval dirt track in NM. I would not want to be in a roll over without a 5 point harness, a helmet and a fire retardant race suit!
2. I have 8 tattoo's. Got my first when I was about 30. Each one means something. They help me express myself. Visual poetry on my skin. My biggest is a portrait of my father who passed away in 2009 at 59 years young.
3. I have only one mother but many women I love like a mother. :)
4. My great-grandfather Frank DoBell was instrumental in the discovery and art of polishing Petrified Wood. 
5. Another Great Grandfather was said to have taken care of The James Brothers (Jesse James) horses in Kansas during their time.
6. I am a published poet! Alaurilee: Rhymes of a Random Soul! 
7. I am a proud Mamaw (yes, I'm 40 and a Mamaw. I love it!) to 3 grand-babies. I love being a grandma!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo