"My Favourite Poem"

ROSE

Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.

The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door. The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before.

Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say, "I love you even more this year, than last year on this day.

My love for you will always grow, with every passing year." She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.

She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.

He always liked to do things early, way before the time. Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase. Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.

Author Unknown

THE COMPUTER'S SWALLOWED GRANDMA

The computer swallowed grandma. Yes, honestly it's true. She pressed 'control' and 'enter' And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm. She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I've even used the internet, But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found 'online'.

So, if inside your 'Inbox,' My Grandma you should see, "Please 'scan' 'copy' and 'paste' her in an e.mail back to me"!.

**This poem was written by Valerie Waite, who lives in Derbyshire, England, UK. It was originally published in the English National newspaper 'The Daily Mail' on July 2, 2004. (Peterborough page.). The poem is contained in her second book of illustrated poems 'Little Gems'. It was set to music by Eileen Lowry of Bristol, UK, and is a free e-card on...Happy Day Cards...(with her permission)...and is printed here with permission from Valerie Waite.

Meanest Mother

I had the meanest Mother in the whole world. Real mean. For instance, kids I knew could eat candy for breakfast, if they wanted to. I had to have orange juice, cereal, eggs---the whole healthy (ugh) bit everyday. And milk. My supper too, was different from other kids. My Mother made me eat horrible vegetables, salad and meat. But I wasn't alone in my misery. My sister and two brothers suffered too.
My Mother was not only fussy about our food but about our friends. She insisted on knowing who they were and where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang. I am almost ashamed to confess that if we disobeyed her and did as we pleased, she actually grounded us. Imagine punishing a child just because he disobeyed?
But that's not all. Each night we kids had to be in bed by nine and up early in the morning. Our friends could sleep late, but not we. In fact while they slept, my Mother had the nerve to break the child labor law. She made us work. We washed dishes, made beds, learned to cook. I believe she lay awake at nights thinking up mean things to do to us. And she always insisted that we tell the truth, even if it killed us. Sometimes it nearly did.
By the time we were teenagers, she was much wiser and knew just how to make our lives more unbearable. She embarrassed us no end by insisting that our dates come to the door for us. No car horn honking to get us to come running. (I might mention that while my friends dated at the grown-up age of twelve, my oldfashioned Mother refused to let me date untill I was fifteen.
My Mother was a complete failure as a Mother. None of us was ever arrested, divorced or beaten up by his mate. Each of my brothers served in the service of this country. But just think of things we missed. We never got to march in a protest parade nor take part in a riot nor burn draft cards. Instead our mean Mother forced us to grow into God-fearing, educated, and honest adults.
And would you believe it? I am now trying to raise my three children the same way. I stand a little taller and am filled with pride when they call me mean. Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest Mother in the whole world.

Author Unknown

Lovely Rose at 87

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.
She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester, we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet.
I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die...
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up...
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be...

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

Author Unknown

FRIENDS

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks They really should get lives. " He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! "He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, ! Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. ! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "! Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved.
"My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." There is no beginning or end...

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Author Unknown

Revenge
(humour)

After 17 years of marriage, a man dumped his wife for a younger woman. He wanted to continue living in their downtown luxury apartment with his new lover so he asked his wife to move out and get another place. His wife agreed to this, provided that he would give her 3 days alone at the apartment to pack up her things.
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.
On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.
On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining table by candlelight, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp and a bottle of Chardonnay.
When she had finished, she went into each room and deposited a few of the half-eaten shrimp shells into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.
When the husband returned with his new friend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly the apartment began to smell. They tried everything, cleaning, mopping, and airing the place out. Vents were checked for rodents and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere.
Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days, and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive carpet. Finally, they could not take it any longer and decided to move.
They could not find a buyer for their stinky apartment so they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place. The moving company arrived and did a very professional packing job, taking everything to their new home...including the curtain rods.

DO NOT MESS WITH A WOMAN!!!!!!!!

Author Unknown

This Special Day

Thank you for sharing this special day, I'm sorry I had to stay away. But I may be a little longer, 'Cos I have to grow much stronger. Thank you for your love and wishes, I'd like to shower you with kisses.

Love from Baby.

Author Unknown

Very touching Mother Facts !

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by wailing like a banshee. When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all night long. When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called.
When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor. When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. You thanked her by coloring the dining room table. When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.
When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

Those teenage years

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug. You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked. When you were 16, she taught you how to driver her car. You thanked her by taking it every chance you could. When you were 17, she was expecting an important call. You thanked her by being on the phone all night. When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation. You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

Growing old and gray

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags. You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends. When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone. You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business." When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you." When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation. You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe. When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment. You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.
When you were 24, she met your fiance and asked about your plans for the future. You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!" When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.
When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby. You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now." When you were 40, she called to remind you of an relative's birthday. You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."
When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her. You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you "never did" came crashing down like thunder.

Author Unknown

With Tiny Hands

With tiny hands and tiny feet I hope that very soon we'll meet. I hope that you will stay a while And make my mommy (and daddy) smile. And although I can't be there today There's something that I'd like to say, Thank you for your gifts and wishes And please help mommy with the dishes.

Love from Baby.

Author Unknown

Fingerprints

Sometimes you get discouraged, because I am so small And leave my little fingerprints On furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing And soon will be so tall That all these little fingerprints Will be difficult to recall.
So here's a little handprint That you can put away So you will know how my fingers looked On this special day.

Author Unknown

A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something that no on can explain, It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain, It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation, And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.

Helen Steiner Rice

Tears Of A Women

"Mom Why are you crying?" Why are you crying?" he asked his mom."Because I'm a woman" she told him. "I don't understand," he said.

His mom just hugged him and said ,"And you never will"........Later the little boy asked his father "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?" "All women cry for no reason" was all his dad could say........

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.. .Finally he put in a call to GOD; when GOD got on the phone the man said, "GOD, why do women cry so easily?" GOD said......."When I made women she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort....I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children......

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone elsegives up and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining...... I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has * hurt them very badly... This same sensitivity helps her to make a child's boo-boo feel better and shares in their teenagers anxieties and fears.......I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.... I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly....I gave her a tear to shed. It's hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed. It's her only weakness.... It's a tear for mankind.....

Author Unknown

Cause my Cup Has Overflowed

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now. But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed...

Haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough But I've got loving ones all around me, and that makes me rich enough. I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He's bestowed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed...

I remember times when things went wrong, My faith wore somewhat thin But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again. So Lord, help me not to gripe, about the tough rows I have hoed. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed...

If God gives me strength and courage, When the way grows steep and rough. I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough... And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads. Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed...

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse than I do, I realize just how blessed we really are.

Author Unknown

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free I'm following paths God laid for me. I took his hand, I heard him call... Then turned, and bid farewell to all.

And if my parting left a void. Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss. Ah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened...deep with sorrow I wish you sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full...I've savored much.

Good friends, good times...a loved ones touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief Don't lenghthen it now with undo grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wants me now. He set me free.

Author Unknown

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.

The Years Of A Woman
Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a Queen.
Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella.
Age 15: She looks at herself and sees an Ugly Sister (Mum I can't go to school looking like this!)
Age 20: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"- but decides she's going out anyway.
Age 30: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway.
Age 40: She looks at herself and sees "clean" and goes out anyway.
Age 50: She looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.
Age 70: She looks at herself & sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a PURPLE hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

Lightly Stepped A Yellow Star

Lightly stepped a yellow star To its lofty place, Loosed the Moon her silver hat From her lustral face.
All of evening softly lit As an astral hall-- "Father,'' I observed to Heaven, "You are punctual!''

by Emily Dickinson

I hope you've enjoyed my Humour, Poems and Inspirations...if you have one you would like to share for my Poem pages...Please send it in an E-Mail to me and I would be happy to include it on here for you.