Monday, March 22, 2010

Richly Blessed - A Tribute


It's not so easy finding words to honor someone loved so much,
someone who is treasured, someone with that special touch.
Whose life has been so rich and full, and been a shining, guiding light.
Whose hands, though soft and gentle, do things with all their might.

Call a lonely friend, and let them know you care.
Make bread and buns and muffins because you love to share.
Send a card, send an email, you know the one, from grandmapyle.
Words that bring encouragement and healing, that's her style.

She always thinks of others, such a natural way to share her joy.
Young or old, man or woman, friend or stranger, girl or boy.
Her love of friends and family, her love of God, are very clear.
She knows to share His perfect love shows others He is near.

She's woven gold and silver threads through seasons and through time.
Her prayers and faith and thankfulness, so beautifully expressed in rhyme.
She stands in awe of nature, of the grandeur of creation.
She sees within a lovely flower the promise of salvation.

She sees the poignant beauty that's hidden in a trial.
She knows the soothing comfort of kind words and a smile.
In her long life, she's learned of joy. She's also learned of sorrow.
She knows the weaving of the two prepares us for tomorrow.

Though now she needs a steady hand to stand and walk along,
her faith and trust and hope in God have never stood as strong.
She knows whatever happens, she'll trust in God for He knows best.
We thank you, Lord, for Alvah Pyle, for through the richness of her life,
our lives have all been richly blessed...


c 2008 B Philp

Impressions of Impeachment

1
When shall we all meet again
in thunder, lightening or in rain? (1)

When will we join and tell the tale?
Will they believe or think insane
the secrets of the White Knight's reign?

2
Yellow, yellow, flushed-face fellow,
tongue and finger wagging, flagging,
denying, denying, lying? lying?
yet standing tall and proud.
"I never... I never... that woman... that woman."
That woman? Yes, that young woman,
disbelieving such deceiving, crying, crying,
slowly dying down by Watergate.

3
Endless twisting, endless spinning,
spewing from the great White Knight.
A sinister, right conspiracy accused
to keep the innocent confused,
and some perverted souls amused.

4
Then out of darkness comes a light,
a bright and shining Starr!
The evil secrets long concealed
in brightness of the Starr revealed.
More than one would need to know,
much more than one would want...

5
Ah yes, ah yes! The dress, the dress!
The telling dress, the telling dress
that made the great White Knight confess.
Were it not for that damned spot
they might have never proved his plot.
That woman kept the telling dress
per chance to make the White Knight tripp.
Ah yes, that woman kept the dress
which made the White Knight helpless
to give anyone... the slip.

6
Such complexities of speech!
Such secrets locked inside a word!
No longer trust the ear to hear.
No longer trust a word thus heard.
To learn the murky myst'ry lurking deep inside a thought,
one must define just what is is, and just what is is not.
Convention has it is is is, and is not is is not.
But, to some, is is not is, and so is not is not is not.
And if it be is is not is then there remains the mystery.
Then there remains the question... Is is to be or not to be?

7
And oh, the polls, yes, oh, the polls,
the polls, the ever present polls.
The common people sell their souls.
Economy, a faithless friend, while Rule of Law stands true.

8
There sit the colleagues, so esteemed,
lined up in even rows.
Banter, banter, back and forth,
each saying what the other knows.
Few minds are changed... perhaps just one,
but after all is said and done,
friends retain their friends, and foes remain their foes.

9
Will the gentle lady yield?
"I will not yield, I will not yield
till all the charges be appealed.
'Tis clear to me it was not he
who had the gifts to be concealed."
(They say 'twas underneath a bed.
'Twas at the foot or at the head,
it is not known. It was not said.)

10
Are there not any witnesses to stand up for his name?
Will not one witness come forth to clear him of his shame?

11
And where is he whom I presume?
And where the tongue and eye of Newt?
They are no longer in out midst.
Their dance is to another flute.

12
The vote is in. He is impeached.
His place in history is marred.
The vote is in. He is impeached.
His legacy, forever scarred.

13
Some think thirteen unlucky.
'Tis only twelve plus one.
Consider tribes, and colonies, and stripes,
and arrows in the eagle's claw.
Consider thirteen valiant men
who formed their plan to take their stand
defending Rule of Law,
who formed their plan to take their stand
to battle on the Senate floor...

14
Riveting eloquence and elegant arguments
from both sides of the aisle.
But beware of twisting of the truth,
of cunning and of guile,
of virulent agendas cloaked by skillful words.
Beware of the deception that lies beneath the smile.

15
And nightly edicts from the king
with all his merry men.
Some shooting straight and some not so,
but all have an opinion. Yes, all have an opinion.

16
Except for him out on the street.
Why should he care? His life is sweet.
He mutters, "Let's move on."
He does not comprehend the awe
we must have for the Rule of Law.

17
Hear ye the words of Henry Hyde --
healing, swelling, so compelling.
Words that reach to depths inside,
stirring in one's spirit all feeling of forgotten pride.
Such freeing words, so rare of late,
words which made this nation great,
expressing precious thoughts
for which tens of thousands bravely fought,
expressing precious thoughts
for which tens of thousands proudly died.

18
One hundred men and women
make the dictates of their conscience known.
'Tis true the deeds were dastardly,
despicable, debasing, indelibly demoralizing,
detestably dehumanizing, disgracing and dismaying,
defrauding and displaying lack of judgment on his part.
Yet, in the noble Senate's eyes, to the level of high crimes
these deeds just simply do not rise.
To overturn the people's will, there must be deeds more treacherous still...

19
Is the whole head sick? Is the whole heart faint?
Is there no soundness found,
but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores,
not closed nor mollified nor bound?
(2)
There is no truth nor judgment there
where fair is foul and foul play fair.

20
Now the hurly-burly's done.
Now the battle's lost and won.
But reality has slipped all a slighting twist of fate...
for they are really vanquished who think the battle won.
The losers are triumphant, the winners are undone.

21
Some say the Knight ruled well,
'twas integrity he lacked (he could
have been the victor with integrity intact).
But History, a ruthless judge,
will bring all things to light.
Then all will know the secrets
of the dark reign of the great White Knight.


c 1999 B Philp

(1) Quoted from MacBeth, Wm Shakespeare
(2) Quoted from Isaiah

Good-bye for Now


They shared a poem,
they shared a song,
they shared a twinkle in the eye.

They hadn't known each other long,
and yet they found it difficult
to just let go, to say good-bye.

Their life paths crossed,
their spirits touched.
I think that God sent you to me.

One went away enriched and changed,
the other to her destiny...


c 2002 B Philp

Stitches in My Chin


No, these are not whiskers that you see on my chin.
Actually they're stitches that the doctor has sewn in.
No, it's not the first time. I've had stitches in my chin before.
That time I had on flippery socks. Before I knew what happened,
I'd flipped and my chin hit the floor.

This time it was toys, not socks, that made me trip the other day.
(Now I know why Mommy says to always put my toys away.)
I hope this is the last time that I slip and hit and split my skin.
I hope this is the last time that I'll need a stitch or two or three
or four or five put in my chin.

Though I really do like doctors and appreciate the things they do,
I think I'd rather spend my time visiting the animals and feeding
fishies at the zoo...

c 2002 B Philp

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Play Me Some Country (lyrics)


Play me some country, like country used to be.
Sing me those lyrics with a lilting melody.
I want to hear some country. I want to feel that harmony.
Play me some country, like country used to be.

Play me some country. Play me Patsy Cline.
Sing me those love songs where we memorize each line.
I want to hear Hank Williams. I'm so lonesome I could cry.
Play me some Gene or Roy! Just promise me you'll try.

Yesterday life was simple. We all were family.
And singin' round the radio's my fondest memory...

Play me Hank Thompson. Play me Lefty Frizell.
Sing me the heartache that Tammy sang so well.
Play me some mighty Merle. I want to hear my favorite songs.
I'd love to hear the Everlys so I can sing along.

Yesterday life was simple. We all were family.
And singin' round the radio's my fondest memory...

Sing me some Brenda Lee. Sing me Dottie West.
I'd love to hear some steel guitar that country does the best.
Can you play me a fiddle? Can you play Bob Wills for me?
I want to hear some country, like country used to be.
Play me some country, like country used to be.


c 2002 B Philp

Have Mercy on Our Land (lyrics)


I've been judged and been found guilty, but with no trial, no crime.
No choice for this unwanted one. No time for hope. No hope for time.
Is no one there to plead for me? Does no one hear my cry?
I want to live, to laugh, to love... I want my life. Don't let me die!

How can they take my precious life and forfeit my first breath?
They know that I have done no wrong. Still, they sentence me to death.
I've never seen them face to face. I wonder who they are.
Their hearts, once tender, now are hard. A nation's glory sadly marred...

Have mercy on our land... mercy on our land.
The blood of innocence cries out.
It's on our hearts. It's on our hands.

As they stumbled in the darkness, they crossed the Danger Line.
More lives may now be sacrificed as tragically as they take mine...

Have mercy on our land... mercy on our land.
The blood of innocence cries out.
It's on our hearts. It's on our hands.
It's on our hearts. It's on our hands.


c 2006 B Philp