The Trials and Treasures of Life

By Naomi Tomlinson

Most of my poems are happy ones. I have always written to express my emotions or moods.

Contentment was written on the way to Sedona, Arizona. I was with a couple of widows, one of whom had just lost her husband. I lost my companion twelve years ago. My contentment did not come easily or swiftly.

They Still Dance describes my feelings after watching a couple from our nursing home as they waltzed out on the dance floor.

Together Again was written for my cousin and my friend who have rekindled their romance. They were childhood sweethearts, then went separate ways. Now, in their seventies, they are in a serious relationship.

Most of my poems are personal or a result of an observation. I love sharing them with friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499072891

Naomi Tomlinson

Naomi Tomlinson is a retired teacher. She has had numerous poems, articles and short stories published in magazines and the local newspaper. Last May her book, The Rhymes and Rhythms of My Life was published. She has had the honor of reading several of her poems at the university in Seattle, Washington.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Naomi Tomlinson.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4990-7290-7

                eBook            978-1-4990-7289-1

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.

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.

Rev. date: 09/22/2014

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

668547

CONTENTS

POEMS AND SHORT STORIES

By Naomi Tomlinson

Contentment

A Chaplain’s Job

A Deep Regret

A Simple Thank You

A Trip To The Nursing Home

Along The Way

At Conemara

Christmas Eve

Disappointed

Don’t Cry For Me

Don’t Spread Your Woes!

Grandma’s Advice

Grandma Thought Tweet Was A Bird

Great Grandma Observes

Harper, After Hearts For Hearing

Hometown Visit

How Did I Fail?

I Hate Thin Walls

Leaving The Nest

Logan, My Five Year Old Great-Grandson

Memories Of Graduating Seniors

My Friend

My Getaway

Never Say, How Are You?

No Remorse

Noble Sacrifice

Nostalgic Thoughts Of Winter And Fall

Passing Times

Preview For Heaven

Respectful Decline

Sacrifices

Some Mother’s Son

Suddenly, I’m Old

Temporary

That Certain Smile

The Beauty Of Her Smile

The Death Of Our Class Comedian

The Quiet Man

The Simple Life

They Still Dance

Too Late?

To Whom Much Is Given

Together At Last

Too Much Fun

Trip To Sandburg’s Home

Unexpected Love

Why?

Hard But Necessary Changes

The Games We Used To Play

I Red Rover

II The Needle’s Eye

III Go In And Out The Windows

IV Three Deep

V Ball And Jacks

VI Jumping Rope

VII Bobbing For Apples

VIII Roll The Hoop

IX Barrel Walk And Barrel Ride

POEM

By Leroy Dority

My Wife

POEM

By Lori Eikel

My Brother’s House

POEMS AND SHORT STORIES

By Judy Goodspeed

For Better Or Worse

Mama Tried

A Stinky Adventure

POEM

By J.D. Hess

Love’s Tempest

SHORT STORIES

By Johnnie Wingo

Learning The Language

Sharecropper’s Daughter

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my daughter Jennie and her husband Harold Gordon, and to my son Fred McKinney.

Also to my grandchildren: Lindsey Sanders and husband Billy; Whitney Laramore and husband Bryan; Shawn McKinney and wife Beth; and to my granddaughter Teresa Bynum.

This book is really a continuation of my first book The Rhymes and Rhythms of my Life.

I feel blessed and pleased by the response to my first book.

I have written poems and stories since I was a child, however, I showed them to few people until later in life.

In the 80’s I began attending writers’ workshops. I received much encouragement, but not until 2002 did I become serious. With Judy Goodspeed’s encouragement I joined PAWS, a writer’s club.

Very soon, I began getting a few things published and I won a few contests.

I will always be grateful to my friend Judy who herself is a writer.

I am also appreciative of my friends at the First Baptist Church.

A very special thank you to my great pals Judy Goodspeed and Johnnie Wingo. Without you this book would never have come into fruition.

Poems And Short Stories

By Naomi Tomlinson

Contentment

I’m living the life fate dealt me,

Sad but not bereft.

Don’t waste your time with sympathy.

For me, much more is left.

I have great friends and family,

A perfect place to live,

A faith in God, a place to serve

And means with which to give.

Sometimes when things do not go well

I may feel a bit blue,

And though old age comes creeping up,

I still have much to do.

Many rich blessings come from God

To me each single day,

And for these gifts that I receive,

I never can repay.

So when my Savior calls me home

To meet Him face to face,

There at his feet I’ll worship Him

And thank Him for His grace.

1.jpg

A Chaplain’s Job

He softly knelt beside her chair.

He said I feel your pain.

She didn’t try to hide her tears

For the son who’d been slain.

He was only a child she said.

Why did he have to go?

And did he die in vain she asked

I’d really like to know.