Poems and Prayers for the Ups and Downs of Life

By Marsha Cain

Poems and Prayers for the Ups and Downs of Life is a unique compilation of verse- 40 years in the making.

First time author and retired social worker, Marsha Denial Cain explores the challenges and joys of our collective and personal lives.

Focusing on matters of the heart, Cain addresses topics as diverse as the evening news and as lighted hearted as child's play. With insight, humor, and faith; Cain ponders the issues of grief, suffering, heartache, and love. Yet she also celebrates the special memories and triumphs of life .

So, whether you are having a "good" day or a "challenging" one, you will likely discover a poem that brings a tear to your eye, a song to your lips, or a prayer to your heart!

Enjoy the ride!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669844150

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 by Marsha Cain.

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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/26/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

804546

Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Acknowledgements

POEMS AND PRAYERS FOR

THE YOUNG AT HEART

Poetry for All

Write

Poetic License

Word Power

Moments

Hugs

A Mother’s Kiss

The Dance

Guys and Gals

Moods

Spring’s Song

Mother’s Day Mania

Summer Days

July 4th

Fair Time

Demolition Derby

A Redneck

Fishing

The Man

The Old Guys

Home Renovation

The Moving Dance

When Days are Not Sunny

Dinner Dilemmas

Pity Party

Couplet

Someone’s Turning 60

Baby Boomers

Crazy Things

Remembering

New Glasses

My Feet

My Mind

Upstairs

A Colonoscopy

The Christmas Mess

Going to the Emergency

Taking Care

The Obits

So What

Decades

Funny Lines

Betty Spaghetti

The Broom

The Jolly Woman

The Computer

Fancy Girl

Great Day

Silly Boy

Baby Rock

My Room

Grandma Says

Math Magic

Who and What and Where and When

Winter, Winter

Lines

POEMS AND PRAYERS FOR

THE TROUBLED HEART

In the Day of Trouble

When Fear Comes

Twin Towers

September 11

Did you Hear?

It’s 3 a.m.

Their Son

How?

The Veteran

The Sounds

Wounds

The Price

Paducah

Peaceful Savior

Slaughter of the Innocents

Mad World

Disturbed

Pushed to Prayer

A Single Mother

Hungry Children

Cry Out

Hurricane Harvey

Irma’s Plea

Hope

Bonded

Prayers Like Raindrops

Flatten the Curve

Social Distance

A Covid Prayer

Truth, Truth

Data, Data Everywhere

Facebook Fears

Faith and Fear

Why Do I Worry?

Lord, Help Me

My Heart

Brought to Tears

Listening

Forgiveness Speaks

Reconciliation

Our Help

Only Your Love

An Evening Prayer

My Troubles

POEMS AND PRAYERS FOR

THE SORROWING HEART

Late Night Call

Family and Friends

The Waves of Grief

Our Deepest Prayers

Tears

Morning

I Want to Pray

My Plea

Routine

Silence

Grief

Laughter

Loss

Unwelcome Guests

Perspective

Longing

The Widow

A Soldier’s Lament

Memories Linger

Questions

Come, My Love

Plight

Unresolved Grief

Comfort for the Sorrowing

The Good Fight

Broken Button

The Old Man

Limitations

Tea

Cleaning Closets

This Thanksgiving

Your Birthday

Seeing Parents Aging

Until

Bedside Vigil

My Mother

When

Because

Repeat Conversations

A Poem for My Father

My Father

Some Day

Who Knows?

Why?

The Road

POEMS AND PRAYERS FOR

THE GRATEFUL HEART

An Artist’s Touch

Faces

God’s Pebbles

Waves

In the Shadows

Rewind

Celebration

Little Baby

Mystery Love

A Mother’s Legacy

A Father’s Love

Repairs

Every Time

How Long’s A Mother’s Love?

A Parent’s Prayer

Family Reunion

Never the Same

The Bond of Mother/Daughter

Mystic Dreams

The Older Couple

Retirement Dreams

Grandson of Love

Christmas Lullaby

The New Year

A Grandmother’s Prayers

Golden Dreams

Helping Hands

A Crooked Smile

God’s Presence

Spared

Anchor of My Soul

The Seen and Unseen

Detours

Notecards and Postcards

Treasures

Moving Memories

Life

A Dream of Heaven

My Mother’s Letter

Time

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my parents, LaVerne and Roy Denial who instilled in our family a love of books and writing. Although they are both gone, they left behind special notes, poems, and letters which I continue to treasure.

My father Roy Denial was a professional writer most of his life. He wrote numerous articles that were featured in newspapers, magazines, and other publications, while also completing two novels during his retirement.

As a tribute to my father, I have taken the liberty of co-writing a poem with him, called Hugs. In dedicating this book of poetry to my parents, I am thankful for all the hugs I have received and hope to pass some on to you!

Prologue

My interest in writing poetry began as a young child when I received a special birthday gift at age six – a copy of A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.

This book opened my eyes to a world of play and imagination where the reader would delight in simple pleasures and pastimes.

As a child and teenager, I frequently found myself writing poems and songs to entertain myself and others. Over time, journalling became a standard practice that helped me to process my thoughts, express my feelings and cope with challenging situations.

So this book is the culmination of many years of processing, praying, and navigating through the Ups and Downs of Life. I hope that my readers will find these poems helpful as they take their own journeys through uncharted waters.

Acknowledgements

One never accomplishes a goal without the encouragement of others. This is certainly true in my completion