Thoughts of an Older Man: Poems as I See Life

By Albert C. Anderson

It seems that when good things are gone
That is when you miss them most
Like when the sun has gone down
Without the light you are lost
For many years we were like one
Together we worked till the sun was gone
She was so young and beautiful with golden hair
Which she kept in a pony-tail like a gingered mare

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463410070

Albert C. Anderson

Albert Anderson is new to the writing world. He began writing in 2005 after the death of his wife, Jorreen. He found the poetry to be an outlet for his thoughts about life as he now sees it at his young age of 81. Albert was born and raised in Illinois and lived for a time in Florida. He currently resides in Charleston, Illnois. He is ever amazed at what inspired his poety and finds solice in being able to put his thoughts in this form.

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© 2011 by Albert C. Anderson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse   08/29/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1005-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1006-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1007-0 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011908662

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

PUD

A DREAM OF HEAVEN

A FEELING OF WHAT

A GIRL NAMED TERESA

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME

A LOG, SOME FIRE, AND A FRIEND

A PRAYER

A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON

A TITLE WITH GOD

A THOUGHT OF THE PAST- PRESENT- AND FUTURE

A THOUGHT

A TRIBUTE TO A DOCTOR

A TRIBUTE TO KAREN AND BRENDA

A TRIBUTE TO MAC W. CHILDRESS

TRIBUTE TO MARLYN AND DAVID R. CARTER SR.

A TRIBUTE TO MAX DAUGHERTY

A TRIBUTE TO RENEE

ADVICE TO A BROTHER

AGE

ANNIVERSARY

ANOTHER EXPERIENCE

ANOTHER MIXED UP THOUGHT

BEAUTY

BEDTIME

BIRTHDAY FOR JEAN AND JANE

BLESSING

BORN JUST TO LIVE

BOYHOOD

BY GUM

CHAIR

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

CHILDREN

CHRISTIAN

CHRISTMAS DAY 2008

CHRISTMAS DAY

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS PAST

CHURCH

COFFEY SHOP – 62 AND OLDER

COLD AND COLDER

SURPRISE

COLD WEATHER

DO I LOVE YOU?

DR. ROBERT BLAGG

DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES

EACH AND EVERY DAY

EASTER

EVENING

EXPRESSING SOME THOUGHTS

FOG

FRIENDSHIP

GOD’S GIFTS

GOD’S LEASE

GOD’S LOVE

HE COMES AROUND

HEAVEN AS I WOULD LIKE TO PERCEIVE IT

HEAVEN YES, YES, HELL YOUR CHOICE

HELLO BOB

HIS AND HER GARDEN

HIS GRACE

HOSE CART

I MISSED IT, WHY?

ICE

IF ONE COULD WALK AROUND HEAVEN

ILLINOIS COLD

IMPORTANCE

IN LOVING MEMORY

INDIANA THANKSGIVING

IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

JACK

JESUS

JUST A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS

JUST LET MY MIND WONDER

KINDS OF LOVE

KRISTINA

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ON ME

LIFE (BORN INTO THIS WORLD)

LIFE AFTER DEATH

LIFE

MAN!!!!!!!

MARK’S AFTERGLOW

MOON

MORE THAN JUST A MEAL

MOTHER’S CHICKEN SOUP

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

MY ATTORNEY

MY AUNTS AND UNCLE

MY FEELINGS OF FLIGHT

MY MINISTER

MY SISTER DOROTHY

MY SPECIAL CPA

NEW YEAR

NINE BEGETTS TEN

NOVEMBER 12

NOW WHAT

OKRA AND US

OLIVET

ONE MEMORABLE NIGHT

ONE SPECIAL DAY

OUR DOCTOR

PEOPLE AND GOD

PEPPER

POEM SONG NO. 1

PRAYER

RAIN AND THE LITTLE THINGS

A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON

REPLY TO SISTER

REUNION

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE

ROBERT INYART

ROSES

SARAH

SISTER

SNOW

SOMETHING NEW

SOMETHING ON THE GROUND

SORROW

SOUNDING OFF

SPAGHETTI

ST LOUIS FRIENDS

STRIFE

SUNDAY MORNING SNOW

SURPRISE FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT

SURPRISE

TEACHING A CHILD

THANKSGIVING 2009

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

THANKSGIVING 2008

THAT SPECIAL MORNING

THE ADVENTURES OF A DROP OF WATER

THE BIRD FEEDER

THE BUTTERFLY

THE CAT

THE EMPTY CHAIR

THE END

THE LOVE OF GOD

THE MAGIC OF SNOW

THE MIND

THE NOSE

THE SEASONS

THE THOUGHTS THAT WERE NOT WRITTEN DOWN

THE VILLAGE

THERE ARE FRIENDS AND THERE ARE FRIENDS

THINKING

THOUGHTS OF SPRING LAKE

TIME

TO A LOVELY GREAT GRANDAUGHTER

TO A SPECIAL GRANDAUGHTER

TO BILL AND SUETTA EASTER

TO THE CHILDREN

TODAY

TODAY AND TOMORROW

TRIBUTE TO WOMEN

TRIP

TWO PIECES OF WOOD

WE TALKED

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO CLOUDS BUMP

WHAT I FORGOT

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

WHAT IS LOVE?

WHEN ONE THINKS

WHEN YOU HAVE A DOUBT

WINTER TO SPRING

WONDER

WORDS

YOUR WORD

D E D I C A T I O N

I would like to dedicate this to my lovely wife, Jorreen Anderson who many years ago requested a book of poems. I never even dreamed that I could or ever would write poetry. I wish to thank my children for their support in helping me proof read and put it together.

My son Glenn and my two daughters Kristina and April.

I also wish to acknowledge my two special sister in-laws Delores Patterson and Marilyn Carter. They both kept nagging me to have the poems published. Without their constant probing I would not have had them published.

And of course almighty GOD by whom all things are done.

                                 I love them all,

                                 Albert C. Anderson

I do hope that those who read them will enjoy them as much as I did writing them.

PUD

It seems that when good things are gone

That is when you miss them most

Like when the sun has gone down

Without the light you are lost

For many years we were like one

Together we worked till the sun was gone

She was so young and beautiful with golden hair

Which she kept in a pony-tail like a gingered mare

Some times I would tease her to make it bounce

She would smile just before me she would trounce

Our home she kept so immaculately clean

When I tracked in dirt she would almost scream

Three children we had and she brought them up well

For yet today you can still see the spell

That she put upon them to teach right from wrong

Yes indeed my Pud was very strong

She seemed to find time for most every one

She did for others when they were alone

Some thought her cold in an odd sort of way

But when need be she was as soft as green grass on a hot summer day

Loyal and kind was my dear wife Jorreen

Since she passed on I can only dream

And remember the Springs, Summers, and Falls

When on the farm we seemed to have it all

The children grew up and we were alone

NO, we were together as we had grown

We had each other and GOD had us blessed

For through it all we had pretty well passed the test

We had our problems but our love did prevail

For 55 years and then her ship sailed

It sailed out of sight over the crest

There is no question at all that GOD got the best

And now that she has been gone, years almost seven

And there is no doubt that she resides in heaven

Not a day goes by that she is not in my thoughts

Like the kids I am reminded of the things that she taught

Like I said at the first, you do not realize

Till the LORD has taken away your great prize

So all one can do is go on from the past

Yes thank goodness for dreams and the fact they will last

All I can do is give praise and think that you knew

So in some form of way I dedicate these poems too you

As we used to say when things got tough

Just you and me and the LORD WE CAN HANDLE THE ROUGH

TO PUD WITH LOVE, ALBERT

A DREAM OF HEAVEN

I had a dream it was so great,

To tell you of it I would not hesitate.

I gazed into unforeseen things,

This was it, it was my dream.

It seems that in my past, many wrongs I have done,

But when I thought that all was lost I was met by GOD’S only son.

He stood before me in white robe just as the picture was

The color of his skin was not clear, it had brownish fuzz.

Upon his head a crown of thorns with blood upon his brow

And yet there seemed no pain as His hand He gave me now.

I told HIM of my many sins and the things I had done wrong

His answer was my child there are many in my home.

You see the things that you have done that were not quite right

I always knew them when you did them, but I kept you in my sight.

Some you did correct and some you could not,

But when you said your prayers at night, of repentance you had thought.

You see when GOD made you he knew you would do things wrong,

That is why they made erasers so that you could erase and then move on.

He knew you would have problems just like every human being,

But the question was did you try to do the right thing?

If you tried to help people with no real gain in sight,

Then those things GOD will think that you tried to do right.

Did you forgive those that owed you, in many cases you did

Of those whom you did not, we will have to see what HE said

You seemed to love every one that is a great attribute

That will give you good grades if it is the real truth

You understand many sins that enter into your thoughts

You really do not have to worry because I wiped them off.

When you first began to believe in ME the SON OF GOD

It is like the bible tells you; you were cleansed by MY blood.

Well I looked all around me and the whole place seemed to glow

There were angels standing all around their robes all did flow.

Yes I heard their voices singing O so loud and clear

It was the song my mother sang (Tell Mother I will be there)

Now this is my story and it gives me peace of mind

Because this proves to me JESUS and GOD are there to help all mankind.

So just remember when you think there is no hope

THEY are always watching and will help pull you up the slippery slope.

A FEELING OF WHAT

Why do I have this feeling I do not understand

I should be able to because I am a man

You see that all through life many battles I have fought

Most of them I have won but some of them have been lost

It seems that every day when I did arise

I would put on my battle mind and go to seek the prize

I would not harm anyone in my ventures through life

But in doing battle I also had some strife

Now the things I did were sometimes right and sometimes wrong

But no matter what I did I felt that GOD was along

I always felt his presence in every thing I did

Right or wrong HE was always there for this kid

Just like a father HE was always by my side

When ever I got in trouble HE would always give me a ride

Sometimes when you tried the hardest and yet you would not succeed

God would pick you up and give you the thing you’d need

O yes there were times that you thought that HE had let you down

But if you would stop and think HIS presence would be renowned

For there is nothing on earth or the universes that surround it

That God does not control and makes all pieces fit

But as to this feeling that I have had for a few days

It seems to have affected me in the most peculiar ways

I have a feeling of a kind that is hard to explain

It is sort of like the feeling of a soft and gentle rain

I seem to feel so relaxed and want to let the days go by

The boisterous days of battle I let go by with just a sigh

I wonder why I am consoled by the simplest things

Sometimes I just close my eyes and listen to the birds sing

No this is not my usual self on this you can really

For usually I will arise and give a battle cry

Maybe my days of resting are beginning to set in

Whatever it is, I take it that God is saying, I can not win

Unless I do remember that He has led me on

And whatever I choose to do, HE I can not con

What ever this feeling is it is so very fine

And I guess that God will reveal it all to me when HE thinks that it is time

A GIRL NAMED TERESA

There was a girl named Teresa

No I did not say Lisa

I have known her all her life

Even through her days of strife

And as an uncle I can say

On this her birthday

That of her we are very proud

And I will even say it out loud

She is lovely inside and out

Of this there is no doubt

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE

You will have them for sure

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME

A Little Bird Told Me of this special day

For Dan and Dora to celebrate in their on special way

It seems as though they been together for quite a while

And through those many years they have kept their happy smiles

I’m sure when Dan looks into her eyes and thinks of the past

He is so very happy that their togetherness did last

And when Dora looks at Dan

She thinks (yes sir he’s my man)

When one has lived together for lo this many years

And been through life’s sorrows, tears, and fears

You think of all Gods’ blessings that on you he has bestowed

And thank the heavenly Angels that in his light you do glow

A LOG, SOME FIRE, AND A FRIEND

It is eight outside I know

We even had some snow

But we are inside where it is warm

You might say sheltered from the storm

We opened up the fireplace just to try it out

It was so very pretty there is no doubt

The paper and the kindling were placed upon the rack

The logs that we had cut had been added to the stack

Now all that was needed was a spark to start the fire

And when it as touched to the stack it roared just like a choir

The flames engulfed the kindling from the paper down below

And as it did your face was all aglow

The tongues of flame rose up to touch the logs

The very thought of it made one want to shed his togs

The sparks they flew with the logs pops and cracks

They made a scene just like a miniature fire works

As the fire warmed the room

We sat upon the couch (that is my wife and I)

We held each others hands and watched it with a sigh

The flames they grew higher and then they settled down

The wife had brought some popcorn in and she passed it around

We sat and watched the blue flames licking at the logs

And then there were the red ones that devoured them like a hog

But pretty soon as the embers glowed in rest

The wife and I began to cuddle her head upon my chest

This was the first time that I had sat and watched the fire

There was something about it that I had to admire

You see it seemed like life itself that stars off with a roar

And after it has made its show one wonders what it was for

And like the burning embers we sort of settle down

And we sometimes glow a little bit and sometimes just settle down

As one gazes into the glow you will imagine many things

If you look hard enough it will make your memory ring

But I must admit that I have never felt so warm

Just sitting there with popcorn and my honey in my arms

And then one stops and thinks just how can this solace be

It is only by the grace of God, and the fact that he set me free

Because just like I said never in my life

Have I been able to shed my strife?

Until God showed me, me

I am so glad that now I appreciate things because now I can see

A PRAYER

We thank the LORD for this fine day

And all the things that you have sent our way

The sunshine and the balmy breeze

The green grass that under the snow you leave for us to see

The health that you have left us with

So that we may enjoy the life you give

To us to live from day to day

With hope that we will follow your ways

The food that we have upon our plate

When many are with out of late

We know that the economy is not so good

Mainly because we have not done what we should

We all are guilty of greed

And did not your words of caution heed

So now we must pay the price

And that is only right

But even though we have made mistakes

You have still given us a break

Hoping against hope that we will repent

And realize the rules we have bent

So I will say to you O LORD

You do give us more than you should

And we do appreciate the blessings we have received

And will try in the future, you to please

AMEN

A REFLECTION AND A COMPARISON

When at night

By city lights

You see a beauty of the world

As the snow comes down in swirls

The city lights reflect on the snow upon the ground

And makes so one can see like daylight all around

Turn on the porch light

And watch the snow float down so white

Like a goose just flew over

And dropped so many feathers

As they swirl down to the ground

With out the least little sound

And they settle down to rest