Rhyme for All Seasons: Many Holidays and Special Occasions

By C. B. Skelton

Rhyme For All Seasons, Many Holidays and Special Occasions is a treasury for poetry lovers or secular speakers, but especially for religious speakers on or near a holiday. About 200 of Dr. Skelton's poems about seasons, holidays, and/or special occasions are chronologically arranged in four sections, with a fifth section for non-seas

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Dec 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950947027

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Rhyme For All Seasons

Copyright © 2019 by DR. CB Skelton

Published in the United States of America

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-950947-01-0

ISBN eBook: 978-1-950947-02-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

ReadersMagnet, LLC

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Book design copyright © 2019 by ReadersMagnet, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Ericka Walker

Interior design by Shemaryl Evans

Dedication

On its republishing, this book is dedicated to my fabulous wife, Mary Frances, Fran Peeples Lynch Skelton (I call her "Frantabulous—a combination of Fran, fantastic and fabulous). This wonderful widow, whom I had known and admired for sixty years, and for whom I had delivered two babies (never dreaming we would one day be husband and wife) accepted my offer of marriage when I was nearly 87 years old. Each of us accepted the certainty that our marriage would not be a prolonged one—measured in weeks, months, or possibly a few years. We reveled in the fact that we might be raptured together.

Since that time, she has helped me in every aspect of my writing, and in every other aspect of my life. She has been the very competent editor of every poem and every book I have published within the past nearly-six years and those writings have been made better by her efforts. There is no question that this December of life marriage has been God’s wonderful gift to me.

Preface

Poetry is probably the broadest and least understood field in creative writing. It is the most dabbled in by human beings who, like me, have no formal training to guide their efforts. Almost every person in my acquaintance has at one time during his or her lifetime had a time of inspiration when he or she jotted down a poem. Much of this writing has little acceptance outside of the writer’s immediate family and circle of friends. Thus, poetry has become the bastard-child of publishers.

However, most public speakers like to intersperse rhyming passages about their subject into their speeches from time to time to make a point in a few words or to flower up an otherwise dull droning. Many of these speeches are related to seasons, holidays, and special occasions.

This book of rhymes is presented in the hope that it will be entertaining and educational to the reader, and be useful to the public speaker not only by giving him quotable quotes, but also by giving him a micro-history of some of the occasions. No claim is made that the language is ethereal. In fact, my rhymes are written with one main purpose in mind—to be understood. The reader will waste his or her time spent in looking for a deeper meaning.

Every one of these writings were first presented in my weekly rhyming column, Random Rants in Rhyme, which was begun in 1994 in a Barrow County newspaper and continues as we speak. There have been many Christmases, New Year’s, Easters, etc. in that twenty-five-year period, and several columns from each of those most celebrated holidays are recorded in this work Although there may be some recurrences of the same idea in more than one of the poems about the same subject, you will find that each one of the writings approaches its holiday from a different perspective.

Not a book to be completed in a short period of time, Rhyme for All Seasons is designed for each article to be read in or near the time of year of the captioned holiday or special occasion.

Allow me to begin this book with my usual disclaimer that declares me to be a simple rhymer, and not, of necessity, a poet. If, after reading my work, you should choose to call me a poet, then I am deeply honored.

Contents

Disclaimer

I’m Not a Poet

Seasons

Part One: First-Quarter Rhymes

Winter

In Wintertime

New Years’ Rhymes

Facing a New Year

Use the New Year Well

Pit-Stop

Barbara’s Rule for Resolutions

Peanut Philosophy

New Year’s Superstitions

Thirty New Year’s Resolutions

Jackie’s Resolution

Caution! New Year Ahead

Epiphany Celebrated January 6

Epiphany

National Sanctity of Human Life Day

Life Is Like a Symphony

The Right-to-Life Debate

The Silent Cry

Abortion Holocaust

Martin Luther King’s Birthday

I Saw You

Musings on MLK Day

Vietnam Peace Day

Vietnam Peace Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN)

The United Nations’ Holocaust Remembrance Day

National Freedom Day

National Freedom Day

Candlemas

Candlemas or Feast of Presentation

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day

The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl

Valentine Day

Valentine, Its History

My Love Is on the Stair

It’s True Love, Valentine

To My Lifetime Valentine

Time to Think of Love

Advice to Lovers

Come Away with Me

Love is an Itch

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

Lent

Lent

President’s Day or George Washington’s Birthday

President’s Day, a History

Washington’s Birthday—A History

Arbor Day

Plant A Tree

National Anthem Day

National Anthem Day

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time

Saint Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day, History

Wearing Green

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day Comes Early Sometimes

National Doctor’s Day

A Doctor’s Best Pay

National Doctor’s Day

A Healer’s Prayer

Part: Two Second-Quarter Rhymes

Springtime

The Coming of Spring

In Springtime

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

April Fools Day

April Fools Day

National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month

Poetry Is Like a River

Children, Poetry and Songs

Those Lines—Those Times

Writer’s Block

Words

Passover or Pesach

Passover

Easter

Easter, A History and Explanation

An Easter Ballad

I Go a’Fishing

See the Suffering Messiah

Jesus Was Dead

Don’t Blame the Nails

The Women’s Report

Song of Mary Magdalene

An Empty Tomb Produces Full Hearts

National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer

Earth Day

Earth Day

National Nurses Week

The Nurse

Teacher’s Appreciation Week

Teacher’s Appreciation Week

Mother’s Day

In Praise of Mother

Mother’s Day—A History

A Lifetime of Mother’s Sentence Prayers

Mothers Are Best Known For Giving

Mother of Every Day

Mother’s Day Acrostics

Mom, You’re a Sissy

It’s Mother

Mod Moms Are Marvelously Made

Armed Forces Day

Thoughts on Armed Forces Day

National Memorial Day

Memorial Day Musings

National Memorial Day

National Flag Day

National Flag Day

Don’t Burn Our Flag

Old Glory Waves

Ain’t Nobody Who Can Burn My Flag

Father’s Day

Father’s Day, A History

A True Father

Daddy’s Footprints

Gifts From a Father

Father’s Day Acrostic

Thoughts about My Dad on Father’s Day

He Looks Like a Daddy to Me

To My Dad

Part Three: Third-Quarter Rhymes

Summer

In Summertime

Independence Day

Let’s Celebrate Our Freedoms

America, You Are

Independence Day

Celebrate Independence Day

Freedom Is Not Free

E Pluribus Unum Is Difficult

Dog Days

Dog Days

Whatever Happened to "Dog Days?

Parents’ Day

Parents’ Day

Summer Olympics

The Olympic Spirit

Hiroshima Day

Hiroshima Sixty Years Later

Labor Day

Labor Day

Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day

Johnny Appleseed Day

Johnny Appleseed Day September 26th

Part Four: Fourth-Quarter Rhymes

Autumn

In Autumn

Autumn Slipped In

Life’s Autumn Like

Leaves Autumn

Annual Migrations

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Columbus Day

Columbus Day

Halloween

Halloween

Halloween

The Weird, Wild Witch of Winder

Pumpkins and Christians

Trick or Treat

National Recycle Week

Cycled, Recycled and Re-recycled

Veteran’s Day

Veterans Day

Salute To Veterans

They Paved Victory’s Path

The Man Who Wears the Uniform

The Greatest Generation

Election Day

Election Day

Election Musings

Silent No More

Quitting Smoking

Rewards for Quitting Smoking

Say NO to Nicotine

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Acrostic

A Call for Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving Time

With Thankful Hearts

Thanksgiving Doxology

Thank God for America

Reasons for Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Lord, With Grateful Hearts

Things To Be Thankful For

The ABCs of Thanksgiving

Pearl Harbor Day

Pearl Harbor Day

Christmas

Christmas The Entire Story

Why Do You Think That Baby Came?

Christ is Born in Bethlehem’s Stall

Amazing Grace Met Silent Night

The Smallest Shepherd

The Star

Hush, Child!

Christmas Mini-Stories in John

If I Were Santa

Merry X-Mas

Is Christmas a Hassle?

Christmas Musings

Part Five: Special Occasions

Graduation

Behold the Graduate

Our Graduation

Soar as the Eagle

Shoot for the Stars

Birthdays

Not Forty Yet

Retirement

Retirement

On His Retirement

Thoughts on Retiring

Overtime

Retirement? To What?

Marriage

When Two Become One

Advice for Husbands

‘R’sh Taters and Marr’age

Wedding Prayer # 1

Wedding Prayer # 2

True Love is Like a Trellised Rose

A Wedding Prayer

Love Is—Is Not—Like a Budding Rose

A Love That Is Always True

Anniversary

Anniversary

Anniversary Promise

Anniversary Prayer

Garden Of Love

Family Reunions

Family Reunions

Divorce

Divorce—

Who Is to Blame?

Death and Funerals

On Losing A Loved One

In Memory of Carol

On the Loss of Your Son

Why Weep?

Thoughts on a Friend’s Death

Benediction for a Faithful Christian

Disclaimer

I’m Not a Poet

I’m not a poet—it’s so much worse.

I see the whole wide world in verse.

No. I don’t mean it’s upside-down

or left is right, and so around.

I think God made this world, and time,

with a sense of meter and of rhyme.

Wherever I look, I plainly see

the handwork of God—His poetry.

I’m not a poet. I can’t find words

to set hearts singing like mockingbirds.

It seems when I try to bare my heart

my words don’t picture what I want to impart.

Things of great beauty clearly seen in this world,

like a mother and baby or a boy with his girl,

never show clearly in words used by me.

Though they usually rhyme, they’re not poetry.

I’m not a poet. As hard as I try,

my words don’t warm like a lullaby.

That elusive essence true poets possess

is just that, elusive, and I can guess

will continue to escape me till the end of time

unless God breathes spirit in my simple rhymes,

causing them to blossom and some soul to bless

with courage and conviction or… just quietness.

I’m not a poet. I’m a rhymer, at best.

Someday, when I stand my final test,

I’ll stand before One at the great white throne

to account for the deeds that I have done.

Each thought I have had will be brought to light,

each word I have said, be it wrong or right.

I’ll confess to the One who will judge me then,

I never was a poet. I wish I could have been.

Seasons

Everything in this world has its own season

a rock, a tree, and even your old dog, Trey.

The seasons come and go, and are the reason

for that old saying, Every dog has his day.

Earth’s seasons come because our world is tilted

23.4 degrees to perpendicular

of the plane of its solar orbit. We would be wilted

or frozen with any other axis for our star.

Late March till late September, the Northern Hemisphere

is closer to the sun as we orbit around.

This makes for longer days and an atmosphere

that is warmer, though differences may not be profound.

But, in the other months of the calendar,

the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight.

Then, its temperature is so much warmer,

and, always, they have day when we have night.

In the Northern Hemisphere,

late March launches Spring at Vernal Equinox

when light and dark claim equal shares of our clocks.

The grass turns green, and pretty flowers bloom

and earth looks like she has risen from a tomb.

With June’s Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year,

the season we call Summer first appears.

Earth’s crops draw energy from rays of the sun

to grow and fruit until their season is done.

Late September’s Autumnal Equinox

marks the start of Fall and gleaning crops

that must be placed in special storage bins

against the time when Winter’s cold sets in.

In late December comes the Winter Solstice

when earth looks like a massive cicatrice.

She cannot produce for winds and cold are strong

and she shivers through short days while nights are long.

Thus earth completes a journey ‘round the sun

and, with the Spring, another is begun.

God’s Word declares there always will be seasons

and, if they ever stop, He has His reasons.

v 

Winter

(December 21 to March 21)

In Wintertime

Winter is one of four seasons known

in regions called The Temperate Zones.

It starts in December with Winter Solstice;

Spring Equinox in March brings its fiinal kiss.

It is the season of coldest days

and lowest temperatures in regions away

from the equator.

For some, a season of depression,

dark melancholy and agitation;

the Winter Blues, due to lack of sunlight

and keeping warm by wrapping up tight.

For some, a joyous time of fun,

for snowball fights and trying ski runs;

for ice dancing and figure skating—

a fun thing to do when you are dating,

and great theater.

Winter is the season with shortest days

and less exposure to the sun’s warm rays

because earth’s axis of rotation

is tilted to its plane of orbit ‘round the sun

at 23 degrees, 27 minutes—

a tilt her axis had built in it

by her creator.

In wintertime, most fields lie fallow;

only evergreens do not look sallow.

Some animals will hibernate;

some face frigid skies to migrate;

some store food in a nice, warm burrow;

some grow white coats that blend with snow

so much better.

In midwinter, the ground hog takes center stage

as we revert to custom of a bygone age

and watch to see if he sees his shadow and runs.

The old folks say, if he doesn’t, winter’s almost done.

As for most folks, we prefer a different track.

To predict our weather, give us the Farmer’s Almanac—

It’s right to the letter.

New Years’ Rhymes

January 1

Facing a New Year

Frequently my mind turns to times when, as a boy,

it took such simple things to bring to me a sense of joy.

A plain blank piece of paper was a treasure in that day.

My mind would make a plan for it—just what to draw or say.

My pictures did not always show the object in my mind.

A lack of proper proportional sense threw them out of line.

The curved lines drawn were much too straight—the straight ones were too curved;

and few could read what I tried to write, so what purpose was served?

Nevertheless, I still grasped for a paper that was blank.

I would be so grateful and would say my childish thanks.

Then, quite often, would proceed to make the same mistakes.

and I would be so sad, I’d think my heart would surely break.

Reaching for a pencil with eraser not worn out,

I would try to make the change that should be brought about.

I was