Thoughts from Within: Poems for the Inner Spirit Volume 1

By Mary Margaret Keiser

Marys poems capture the essence of the changing of the seasons and focuses on the beautiful nature enveloping our surroundings. Marys writing invokes feelings of joyfulness and sometimes reflects our fleeting moods of sadness. Her poems are like ocean waves in which we can surf from the peak of feeling happy to the shore of feeling warm contentment.

Mary Margaret uses poems to express the inner spirits ability to bring about joyful feelings of daily renewal. She would like the reader to contemplate natures beautiful gifts.

As you open this book of poetry, allow the feeling of stress to dissipate like dark clouds retreating after a gentle spring rain. Experience each poem as a reflection of nature calling to your inner spirit. May you find peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524652456

Mary Margaret Keiser

Mary Margaret Keiser was born in Phoenix, Arizona. In school, she excelled in reading and language arts. She was a member of The National Honor Society in high school and graduated with distinction. In her early twenties, Mary Margaret had five poems chosen for publication. Mary studied at Arizona State University and University of Houston while working part-time and raising her family. She continued her education at Texas Woman’s University and made the dean’s list while pursuing a degree in journalism. Currently, Mary is living in North Texas with her family. She volunteers at two local food banks and helps feed the homeless. Previously, Mary volunteered her time at Visiting Nurse Association. When not writing poems and prose, Mary Margaret cares for rescue cats.

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2016 Mary Margaret Keiser. 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.

The author of this book does not give medical advice or prescribe any treatment for medical problems either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is to give general information for individuals who seek emotional and or spiritual enlightenment. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility for any actions taken by the reader who has the constitutional right in using any technique listed or referred to in this book.

All photos in this book were taken by David Erland Keiser.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/02/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5246-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5245-6 (e)

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

INTRODUCTION

JOY IN THE KITCHEN

ABUNDANCE

DANCING CHEEK TO CHEEK

A RAINY DAY

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

THE PERILS OF GARDENING

A JOB

THE PERFECT WEEKEND

GHOSTS

BECOMING MINDFUL

OH NO ANOTHER BAD COMMERCIAL!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

HIGGS-BOSON

CARDS, LETTERS AND NOTES

A DAY AT THE ART MUSEUM

THE MAGICAL SNOWMAN

DINNERTIME

A SINGLE ROSE

THE GRASS MAY NOT BE GREENER

BLUE

PETS

BOOKS

THANKFULNESS

EXPLORING THE OPEN ROAD

TODAY IS A GIFT

HOSPICE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED

SATURDAY MORNING PURSUIT

WHAT IS NEW?

A TRIP TO THE ZOO!

IF YOU CAN REMEMBER WHAT A HIPPIE WAS YOU ARE PROBABLY A BABY BOOMER

THE HAUNTED CAFÉ

A MEMORABLE SUMMER VACATION

A CUP OF COFFEE

MAKING SENSE

SUNSHINE, MEADOWS, AND ACRES OF FLOWERS

KENNEDY SLAIN ON DALLAS STREET

HOW BASEBALL WORKS

SPRINGTIME IS HERE

ANTIQUING

A WOW WEEKEND

I THOUGHT OF YOU

OH NO…I HAVE TO WEAR GLASSES!!!

GREEN

OUR GRAND GRANDPARENTS

MONEY CAN BE CONFUSING

THAT’S LIFE

OUR FIRST RESCUE CATS

OUR LOVING CAT FLOWER

LIFE IS GREAT

FAMILY VACATIONS

CATS

PLEASE SAVE OUR TREES

MY DEAR HUSBAND

BLESS ALL THOSE ANGELS

PLEASE GIVE OF YOUR TIME

JOY, LOVE AND PEACE

FLOWERS

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

A CONTRASTING CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS BLUES

WONDROUS TREES

THE BASEBALL GAME

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

A CLOUDY DAY

MISTY

OUR CAT ANTONE

THE LIFE OF A BUTTERFLY

A TRIP TO THE PARK

TODAY IS A GIFT-THAT’S WHY WE CALL IT THE PRESENT

A FAMILY’S GAME NIGHT

IDEAS FOR A RAINY DAY

THE PERILS OF A BIG FAMILY

THE MAGNIFICENT SUN

A GARDEN

ARE FAIRIES REAL??

PHOTOS OF YESTERYEAR

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

THE PATRON SAINT OF ECOLOGY

QUOTES FROM ST. FRANCIS

PRAYER OF PEACE-ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

MEMORIES

SUMMER IS HERE

THE CATCH ALL GARAGE

THE LONG HOT SUMMER

MORE MUSINGS ON SUMMER

FEEDING THE CAT CLAN

A TRIP TO THE DENTIST

SATURDAY MORNING GETAWAY

BLISSFUL SPRING

FARM FRESH FOOD

TAKE A TIMEOUT

WONDERFUL RAIN

ADORABLE KITTIES

A WOW IN THE SKY

WARM WISHES FOR YOU

BLESSINGS

SPIDER OH SPIDER

A FIREPLACE FIRE

OUR PETS

TRAVEL

A TURTLE

A SPARROW

FRUIT TREES

PRAYERS

A WALK ON THE BEACH

SIMPLE MIRACLES

THE ART OF NURTURING

RESPECT FOR IMMIGRANTS

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

TWO TYPES OF GARDENS

COMPASSION

THE NIGHT SHIFT

FUN WITH FAMILY MOVIES

FANTASTIC SEA LIFE

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS

EXPLORING THE OPEN WATER

JOY AT THE MAILBOX

WHAT IS LOVE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This book is dedicated to

Antone Ryan, Adrian Iris,

& my wonderful husband, David, whose loving

support helped make this book possible.

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INTRODUCTION

Sometimes we need to separate ourselves from the sameness that we tend to find when we commit ourselves to working to make ends meet. We wake up, go to work, come home, meditate, go to sleep, wake up and start over again. We put ourselves on a merry-go-round existence of doing things almost out of habit. We find that we forget that there is a big world outside our door. We forget about the many things that are just around the corner for us to discover. The changing of the seasons should be allowed to enter into our lives. The world, outside our front door changes with each passing day.

It was only weeks ago that we had ice and snow on the front walk. Sometimes the ice would pull heavily on the tree branches breaking limbs off before our eyes. The cold wind makes the eyes water and the skin becomes dry. Trees look so drab with their green leaves turned brown or missing altogether. They reach for the sky with bare branches stretched out like brown cracks against the bleak steel gray sky.

Mary’s poems capture the essence of the changing of the seasons and focuses on the beautiful nature enveloping our surroundings. Mary’s writing invokes feelings of joyfulness and sometimes reflects our fleeting moods of sadness. Her poems are like ocean waves in which we can surf from the peak of feeling happy to the shore of feeling warm contentment.

Mary Margaret uses poems to express the inner spirit’s ability to bring about joyful feelings of daily renewal. She would like the reader to contemplate nature’s beautiful gifts.

As you open this book of poetry, allow the feeling of stress to dissipate like dark clouds retreating after a gentle spring rain. Experience each poem as a reflection of nature calling to your inner spirit. May you find peace.

David Erland Keiser Winter of 2014

JOY IN THE KITCHEN

One Christmas when I was six,

I received a small boxed cake mix.

The box said it was enough for two,

But there were ten members in our family, my parents both knew.

So I sat on the couch confused for awhile,

Until my Dad brought in a gift that made me smile.

An easy bake oven-it looked so real,

It even had a Betty Crocker seal.

I jumped for joy at this new toy, I could not wait to bake,

My brothers came in and asked what I was going to make.

I showed them the tiny boxes and said they were for me and a friend,

But what do we get? How about us? The boy’s whining would not end.

They soon gave up and walked away and played with their brand new toys,

The living room floor was covered with fine gifts for all five boys.

I called my friend to come and see my neat surprise,

I wanted to show her my oven and see her great big eyes.

Virginia came from across the street,

She took one look and said That is really neat

After church we began to bake,

We were going to try the chocolate cake.