Oldtimers Never Leave..

I see the fence
Of rusted steel
Weathered from the sun
The winters past....

The gate
Hanging by the hinge
Blowing slowly
With the winds....

The weeds are high
From years gone by
The tombstones
Showing above
The wildflowers
The prairie grass too....

I walked in
To take a look
Remembering the names I seen...

I see Bob's
Of rusted gray
The writing still crisp
As of the first of days
He was a character
Funny and laxed
Never a better friend
To make you laugh...

As I turn around
I see another...

Phil's I believe
An honest man
As the day was long
To bad to see them
All gone...

Joe was over yonder
Oh what a rascal
He was
Did his days, one day at a time
His life was never a hassle....

Over in the corner
Out of the way
Was Hank
As rusty as an old barbed fence
Crude, as most would say
Not many friends
He just liked it that way
The few he liked
Were friends for life....

I turned to walk back to my trk
Sitting on the road
I looked down
I see a bone
Shoulder bone, flat and whole
Colored from brown, to white
Grey and old....

I picked it up
Cleaned it
Best I could
Put it in a tree
Where it stood
Reminding me
Of the guys I knew
Memories staying
Bones growing old
Never forgetting the stories
That were always told.....



Michael Vandyke @C 2019

Notes From Heaven...

I received a note from heaven
Not of paper or pen
But a sign from loved ones
From now and than....

Don't live your lives in sorrow
This is not what I want to see...

For the memories are just a touch
From the Father's gentle hand
Like the footprints
We see, in the sand...

The gentle touch from a stranger
As they smile
My touch through them
To you...

Did you see a penny
Laying on the ground
Old and worn
Maybe shiny and new
Pick it up and read
"In God we trust"
As I was to you...

These are notes from heaven
They are just for you...

The smell of a flower
Drawing memories
Of before....

Did you listen to the bird
Perched on your fence
Singing it's song
Making you content....

These are notes from heaven
For your eyes to see
Your heart to feel...

Take these signs
With tears of joy
Just little notes
From heaven, to you.....


Michael Vandyke C@ 2019

Question...

It's a question of balance
You and I
Forever in this world
To live
Or die.....

Lay your hand out
For all to see
Will it be of you
Or is it of me.....

Feel the touch
The gentle flow....

My mind becomes confused
Would you change my life
Or learn
As we grow ....

The secrets of balance
Spirit and soul....

Compassion
Onto ourselves.....

Lets open our eyes
Look at me
As I of you...….


Michael Vandyke C@ 2019

Voices From The Shadows

I remember myself
Of long ago
The shadows
Remind me so....

As the darkness passes
I walk into it
Never afraid
For I have been there before....

I hear the voices
Screams, cries too
I see the light
From the shadows within....

The smiles of children
As they play
Darkness falls
As the day's end nears
They return home
A smile, to a frown....

Like a raging river
Pulling them down
Shadows grow darker
Evil within
Could I ever explain
Where it begins....

I see the light
As I step away
The shadows calling me
Everyday....

I turn deaf
As the voices call
Leaving the past
In the shadows
Voices and all.....


Michael Vandyke @ C 2019

Walking My Life....

My travels have taught me
That the turmoil, was everywhere
I seen it from the bottom up....


The blood on the floors
The screaming, yelling
Crying too....

I've walked the
Hobo camps
Alley ways
The streets....

Hiked miles of highway
Talked with strangers
Walking away
Continue the journey....


I seen people
Drink their lives away
Seen drugs
Beat them all to hell....


Seen the attitude
With people that didn't care....


People with pity parties
As if the world
Revolved around them....

I've seen the blood fall
Burning bodies
Screaming for help...


Hear the bullets fly
Above my head
Side to side....


Hit the dirt
Cover the ground....

My travels, I seen
Countries with separate cultures
But always the same
Actions and reactions....


I have more trust
With a Hobo
Than I do
With a common man....

Respect and trust
That's all it takes....


For that purpose
I made my stand...


Walk in my shoes
We can sit down
We can talk...


If not
Continue your walk...…

Michael VanDyke @C 2019

Doris

As I look up
I see skies of blue
Mom, it was than
I thought of you....

Always happy
So many smiles
The stories you loved to tell....

It was your time
To find the love
Of your life
It was your time
To bring in love
Of many children....

Your travels
Which were many
Pop at your side
Family camping
You loved it so
That's just from
The stories I was told...

The love you have
Melted towards
The children you and Pop had
As they also shared it
Towards their children too....

Never a better person
To talk with
No judgments from you
When needed the talk
It was offered to us
Than would come laughter
Mom, that's you....

It's hard to let a person go
When love is involved
But as I feel the Spirit
Oh yes, its all around you....

I say Mom,
It's time to go
We see it, feel it too
We all will be fine
You taught your children well
Pop is ready for you....

As your room is prepared
In the heavens above
Open skies
Up with Mom you go....

Spread your wings to heaven
We will miss you so
The memories we shall cherish
This we all now.....


Michael Vandyke @c 2018 October

Our world..

I've never know the world
To be
As you and I want it to be.....

I've never know the world
To have peace
As it should be.....

I've never know the world
To like us
As it should be....

I see the human race
As our world gets older, bigger too
To be bitter, full of anger and hate.....

I see the human race
Losing it's peacefulness
Love and understanding....

I see the human race
Without Honor
Respect and loyalty....

I see the darkness
Covering the world
More and more everyday....

Spoil the truth
Live on lies....

Dishonor the countries
You are living in
Destroying it's inner soul....

The pollution
Skies of grey and black....

The garbage on our streets
And highways
Nobody cares.....

The human race
Most think
Its all about themselves
Not caring of others......

The tears of joy
With our world
Are gone....

Now its the sadness
As the human race
Destroys
The inner soul of living....

In the year 2525
It's already here
I see it everyday.....

Thank the human race
For the destruction
As the days
Grow near........


Michael Vandyke  @C  2018