Newton Citizen

 

Are you tired of all this political outrage -- charges and counter charges? Remember, we do have many bards that speak to us not in the language of politics, but in rhyme.

It is always fun to come across and read poems that amuse, inform and teach us so much about life.

Here are a few examples:"Mr. Meant-To has a comrade,

And his name is Didn't-Do.

Have you ever chanced to meet them?

Did they ever call on you?

These two fellows live together

In the house of Never-Win,

And I'm told that it is haunted

By the ghost of Might-Have-Been."A poet named Richard Gallienne has one worth remembering:"I meant to do my work today

But a brown bird sang in an apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across a field,

And all the leaves were calling me

And the wind went sighing over the land.

Tossing the grasses to and fro,

And a rainbow held out its shining hand --

So what could I do but laugh and go?"Maybe you recognize these simple rules for living:

"Honor thy father and mother."

"Thou shall not kill."

"Thou shall not steal."

"Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy."

Yes, these are, as you well know, a few of the Ten Commandments, important pronouncements for each one of us to live by.

In the evening if you are putting a child to bed, read this one to your youngster:

"When little Fred

Was called to bed

He always acted right

He kissed his Mama

and then Papa

And wished them all good night

He made no noise,

Like naughty boys

But gently up the stairs

directly went

When he was sent

And always said his prayers."

In speaking of love, poet Roy Croft wrote:"I love you

Not only for what you are.

But for what I am

When I am with you,

not only for what

you have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me."An unknown poet also wrote about love. Here is what he told us:"If you are ever going to love me

love me now while I can know

all the sweet and tender feeling

from which real affection flow.

Love me now while I am living,

do not wait till I am gone

and then chisel it in marble --

warm love words on ice cold stone."Back in elementary school, our teachers taught us early on, and even had us memorize, poetry that stimulated our imagination. We learned about verse and special sounds, and we enjoyed hearing aloud the words of Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Poe, Whitman, Browning, Longfellow and many more masters of poetry. It was always enjoyable to listen to or read rhyming words that suggested more than they say and stir the imagination.

Jack Simpson is a former educator, veteran, author and a law enforcement officer. His column appears each Friday.