First Impressions

By Terry W. Drake

I have prepared a collection of poetry for your enjoyment that presents the various aspects of human emotion. I study the vivid reality of depression and the contrasting illusion of happiness. This book presents an attempt at dissecting fate and glorifying faith, hope and love. You will find a piece of your life written in these lyrics as we venture back into our past and look forward to the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465336606

Terry W. Drake

The author was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, on July 20, 1948. It is a small town in the south east corner of the state. He joined the United States Air Force in the middle of the Vietnam War era in August 1966. He served four years in the military, acquiring the G.I. Bill for his college education. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where he earned his Bachelor in Business Administration degree and continued on in graduate school. He obtained his Master in Business Administration in May 1975 and received his Certificate in Public Accounting in June 1976. The author is the former General Manager for the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas, and a former Board Member for the American Public Power Association. He has served on the Board of Western Fuels Association and is a member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In his last eight years in public service, he lived in the United States Territory of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. He served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Water and Power Authority and as a special financial consultant to the Government of the Virgin Islands. The author began his new career in writing after the death of his wife Deanna in 2004 and now lives in Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Drake is the father of three children. His elder daughter Terry Christine Drake lives in Everett, Washington, with her two sons Sean and Jacob, his younger daughter Dresden Marie Drake Goldberg lives in Frisco, Texas, with her husband Stephen Arnold Goldberg and their twin girls Hannah and Harper, and the authors son Brandon Octavian Lee Drake lives in Tampa, Florida, just after serving eight years in the United States Navy stationed in Japan.

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Copyright © 2011 by Terry W. Drake.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011912473

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4653-3659-0

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4653-3658-3

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4653-3660-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

96593

Contents

Acknowledgments

1. A Mother’s Love

2. Words of Senseless Anger

3. The Comforter

4. The Affliction

5. My Best Friends

6. A Man of Purpose

7. The Ticket

8. Change My Condition

9. All My Ex’s Are Close To Me

10. For Heaven’s Sake

11. I Didn’t Know

12. The Gift of Time

13. The April Fool

14. First Impressions

15. Excuses

16. Colliding Stars

17. Advice for Me

18. The Good Route

19. The Treasure

20. I Wished I Could Be Like That

21. Memories

22. Modern Cars

23. Mistreated

24. The Artist

25. I Will Never Learn

26. My Purpose

27. Nero

28. Sharing Time

29. Take Your Freedom

30. The Unity

31. The Trip

32. Mischievous

33. I’ll do it My Way

34. Loving and Missing You

35. My Inspiration

36. The Card

37. The Casino

38. The D.U.I

39. My Sobriety

40. The Pictures

41. The Ride

42. Winters Chill

43. You’re the One

44. Ode to the I.R.S.

45. The Challenge of Growing Up

46. The First time at Bat

47. The Mystery of Life

48. The Hove Around Polka

49. The Mystery of the Missing Mug

50. The House on Maple Street

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Ruth Sullivan of Kansas City, Kansas, who provided to me her critical review comments and advice during the writing of my book First Impressions. Through her critic and steady guidance, the publication of this book has been made much easier.

Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation to Elizabeth Betsy Bachofer of Shawnee, Kansas for the Author’s picture featured on the back cover of this book.

A Mother’s Love

I once was my mom’s pride and joy

As I was growing up a little boy

With mischief and playful thoughts

And the trouble I caused and forgot.

Through it all was mother’s love

Which now watches over me from above.

Failing grades were not a problem

Fights in school were more troublesome

Her hopes and dreams and aspirations

Inspired in me a form of dedication.

I formed a sense of right and wrong

Through mother’s love all along.

Times had changed and I grew up

I bought a house, a car and a pup

Things got hard and life was tough

I never thought it could be so rough

A watchful eye that followed my moves

Was mother’s love as she learned the news

I once was my mom’s pride and joy

As I was growing up a little boy.

I should have shown more respect

And done the things that she’d expect

The marriage ended through my mistakes

Mother missed the kids that moved away.

As mom suffered and passed away

I thought maybe I’ll grow up some day

She applauded all my successes

And never showed me much regret

I once was my mom’s pride and joy

When I grew up from a little boy.

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Words of Senseless Anger

The manager at our complex

Had to introduce her to me

My eyes widened in a reflex

She was pretty for all to see.

I wanted to get to know her

She had the look that impressed me

So I asked her for her number

And filed it by her name Judy.

There’re times that changed me in the past

To be shown respect and true love

Not all good things were meant to last

So I sought help from up above!

Not that everything was perfect

But we got married just the same

I saw how our friends would react

When I proposed to change her name.

As my pride and love grew stronger

We made some plans along the way

The good times grew even longer

We made some kids along the way!

There’re times that changed me in the past

To be shown respect and true love

Not all good things were meant to last

So I sought help from up above!

I can’t explain my behavior

But I sought love from someone else

That’s the reason I’m out the door

I just thought only of myself.

I didn’t take time to ponder

What all of my actions would bring

Now I have more time to wonder

What I have lost for just one fling!

There’re