Amy

This old box, as you see
Shiny and new...

This old box, I found
Scratched up, dark colors
From finishes that grew old...

This old box
Is older than Grandpa, you know...

As I took it all apart
Laying the pieces all in a row
The sandpaper came out
Taking the old finishes off
Exposing the real beauty of the wood...

Putting the pieces back together
Adding a nice clear finish
All this for you...

Granddaughter of mine
As you cherish this old box
I hope you know
I did this all for you...

Grandpa than
Grandpa now
Grandpa tomorrow
Grandpa, always for you...

Life is what you make
Be it like this box
It's all out there
For you to grab...

Choose wisely
With lots of thought
Your going far
That's what you were taught...

Grandpa is proud
Grandpa is happy
Grandpa will always
Love you...


Michael Vandyke 2020

The Waters of Change...

The journals of your past
Are just memories
Words on paper....

I seen them fall
Into the creek, far below
I watched the pages unfold....

Seeing the ink blemish or disappear
As some of our memories also do
Keep what is good
Wash the others away....

The pages falling
Gliding onto their own paths
Sinking, or taking flight
As from the winds....

The rocks shredding paper
As they float towards the unknown
As some of our memories doing the same....

Choose on what to keep
Let the others go
Close your eyes
Let the waters take you home....


Michael Vandyke C@ 2019

Mike

As the angels touched you
To say, its time to come home
Your at peace now....
No sickness, no pain, no more
May you walk in the glory
Of heaven above....
The sorrow, may it be short
We will live as they say
"The Celebration of Life"....
Remember the good times
Peaceful times, quite times....
May you be rewards with tools
Of gold, silver and jewels
Happiness, content and grace....
As you meet family, friends
The people you loved
That went before you....
Jesus shared you with us
But called you back home
Blessed are we
To have shared our moments
days and years....
Be at peace my brother
My friend
Your in God's hands now
Amen.....


Michael Vandyke @C  2019

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