The Silent Bridge

By Gail Leichliter

As a very sensitive girl, moments in my life which touched me deeply were sometimes difficult for me to understand, and even more difficult to express. To cope with the feelings, I found consolation and healing in printing my deepest feelings on paper, which helped me make sense of the confusion or heartache, or would allow me to rejoice in the celebration and good times. My “coping” technique began in high school and helped me through many years of friendships, loves, marriage, divorce, and significant life events. Putting my feelings on paper often allowed me to let go of the pain or heartache, or would lift me up and truly give me strength to carry on. My poetry is what helped me move through all of my early life’s experiences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663218186

Gail Leichliter

Graduated from Kansas University and taught Physical Education for three years before joining the Air Force. Spent fifteen amazing years serving my country and retired in Florida. Having a love for animals, I established a non-profit animal rescue organization, and I was the sole care provider for both of my parents.

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Copyright © 2022 Gail Leichliter.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-1817-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1818-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021904595

iUniverse rev. date:  03/23/2022

Contents

Simple Things

Dust Doesn’t Destroy

Wondering

Vacation Traveling

Silence

Words

Learning

Don’t Step Back

Deep Inside of Me

Foolish Words

My Road

Stepping-Stones

A Simple Person

My Walls

A Terrible Thing

There All the Time

Yokota

My Rescue

The Beauty of Fall

I Think of You Often

My Dad

Gwen

Greg

Garry

Mom

Karen

My Grandma’s House

My Family’s World

Christmas in My Heart

An Empty Pain

Dear Grandma

Not without You

I’ve Not Achieved Alone

Life’s Exciting Moments

Visiting

Golden

Fifty Years of Love

Yes

Sand and Sun

A Very Rich Person

Whenever

Music Man

Just Call

Where My Friends Have Gone

I’ll Always Be Your Friend

All That’s Good

Gail Wagoner

Life

You Add Sparkle

Like Family

Just As Ivy

Sincerely Appreciated

My Brother’s Friend

My Friend José Feliciano

The Weekend

Florida Rescue Friends

A Moment

My Mistake

SMS Girls on the Raiders Swim Team

SMS Swim Team, 1972–1973

Men of Triangle

Sigma Kappa Mom

OTS

OTS Support

Holiday USO Tour, 1991

A Significant Difference

The Graduation

My Redwood

An Assistance Dog

Faithful Measuring Tape

March 8, 1989

Friends Like You

Dear Lori

True Friends

A Friend in You

In All the World

You and Me

Things I Like

I Am Lonely Now

Over You

My Guy

My Place

Days

Before

Once and Again

I Give You

The State Meet

To Lie Awake

The Battle

I See You Going

You Are Going

You and Me Once Before

That Remembering

Depending on You

I Never Noticed

You Are Still There

It’s Funny

A Bit Brighter

My Special Friend

A Simple Friend

I’d Call It Simply Love

We Are Two

Please Don’t Shut Me Out

Start Over Again

I’ve Dreamed

I Understand

I Watched You Go

At First

You Stepped into My Life

Where It Is

Too Many

Rainbow

I’m Over You

I Hate to Leave

Don’t Look at Me That Way

From You

We Come So Close So Often

A Mind Game

You Are So Close

I Like What I See

Anne

Softness You Left Behind

Easy

Anticipation

Do I Love You

Why?

To Thank You

Your Eyes

Crete

My Dearest Friend

Beyond a Poem

It Is Time

Zeero

Abby

My Littlest Friend

Let Me Love

My Love (Zeero)

Kroger

Linda, You Cared

A Little Hurt

Much Too Familiar

Building My Wall

Ten Yen

Problem

Too Much a Child

Lost Hope

My Robe

What About Us?

My Hand

What I See

Problem Resolved

Glad You’re Mine

My Heart Belongs

My Christmas Gift

Retirement for Two

Lessons Learned

In Order Now

This Dream

Pedestal

I Got Lost

Always Be Proud

A Part of My Past

Blinded

What More

Simple Things

It’s simple things that make our lives

worth living day to day,

the things no one would notice if

they weren’t right in the way.

Such things as trees with arms stretched wide

or leaves upon the ground,

or oceans with their rolling tides,

which make such splashing sounds.

The sun that shines from dawn to dusk

and brightens every heart;

the moon that glows in wondrous lust

and quietens the lark.

The blades of grass we walk upon

that grow so green and straight;

the birds that chirp at morning’s dawn

while perched upon a gate.

The wind that moves the fluffy clouds

and chills us when it’s cold;

the flowers blooming oh so proud

with colors both dull and bold.

All these things are simple things

we see most every day.

In what sad shape this world would be

if God were to take them away.

November 15, 1970

Dust Doesn’t Destroy

Even though years may separate friends

and make friendships dusty,

the happiness found with others

will never be lost.

Remembering all

that was shared with friends

will scatter the dust,

and the glow of those friendships

will always shine bright

in thoughtful

memories.

April 1, 1972

Wondering

I’ve wondered just how life would be

if I had not been born to see.

I’d never know a lovely sight;

I’d know of black but not of white.

And what if I’d been given ears

just made for show and not to hear?

I’d never know sweet melodies

or hear the wind blow through the trees.

Or what if I could never speak?

A voice without the slightest squeak!

I couldn’t say Hello or Goodbye

or even heave a painful sigh.

To be without my arms or legs,

I wonder how I’d spend my days?

Just sitting as life passed me by,

or would I give the world a try?

I’ve sometimes thought these gloomy thoughts,

and thankfulness is what it’s brought.

I’m grateful I have all these things

to help me know how much life means.

I see well, and hear and touch,

but my words never say enough;

they’re very small and very few.

But, God, I give my thanks to You.

September 13, 1972

Vacation Traveling

To travel on the open road

would be a waste of time

if all you saw were cars and trucks

while reading each highway sign.

The world is full of many things

you can’t see in one place.

You need to take advantage and

forget the human race!

The sun that greets you every day,

you see it shine so bright;

sun fingers touch the morning dew

and make a lovely sight.

The mountains stand so proud and tall,

and jagged rocks you’ll see.

Some aren’t so big and have no rocks;

they’re blanketed with trees.

To drive along for miles and miles

and see but grassy fields.

Just watch the tall blades bend to earth

as to the wind they yield.

The oceans, lakes, and rivers you

might see along the way—

some splash and ripple with the tide;

some trickle on their way.

Look at the color of the sky

that follows overhead.

Sometimes it’s blue with fluffy clouds,

and sometimes it’s gray and dead.

Even though the desert’s hot

and its colors very drab,

it has a lot of beauty. If

you look, you’ll see it’s not so bad!

If you see a valley or

a canyon deep and wide,

don’t close your eyes or drive on by.

Stop; take a look inside!

And as the day comes to an end,

you can’t forget the sun.

It dips behind the earth. Then watch

its rainbow colors run!

The world is full of many things

you can’t see in one place.

While traveling, please don’t blink;

you’ll let

God’s beauty go to waste.

August 11, 1972

Silence

Have you heard the silence?

Have you felt it in the air?

Sometimes it makes you feel afraid.

Sometimes you’re glad it’s there.

It comes when you are all alone

or feeling real depressed;

it’s there when tempers get red-hot

and when you lie to rest.

It comes when you are lonely and

can make you feel so bad.

It makes you think and search your mind;

the thoughts are often sad.

But silence can be good at times

when you like to get away

to think of life in all respects.

The silence clears the way.

But have you ever thought about

what silence really is?

It’s voices from the heavens, and

they give your heart a quiz.

They ask you questions of yourself,

of friends and happenings,

to see just how you answer them.

Sometimes the truth will sting.