Love Poems: Volume II

By Roland Peaslee

In Love Poems Volume II, Roland continues to navigate the void left by the untimely departures of his beloved wife Bonnie and cherished son Brian. Journey through the Covid-19 pandemic years and a new normal with a widower and octogenarian who remains upbeat amidst such isolating and challenging times. Written from 2019 and 2022, this collection of poems will be both thought-provoking and moving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798765238059

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Copyright © 2023 Roland Peaslee.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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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.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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.

ISBN: 979-8-7652-3804-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-7652-3805-9 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/21/2023

CONTENTS

Introduction

A Recollection

After Glow

Reflection And Recollection

Arugah! Hello Chattanooga!

For All We Know

My Sunset

4 Pm Sunday-Ah So!

From 506

Unheard Songs

Commemoration For Brian

Reflections

Oceanic Creations

The Ordeal

Different Dawns

Faith And Family

Fix Up Time

The Gift Of Love

Imagination

Dedication

Listening

St. Louis Thanksgiving: 2019

Til There Was You

A Local Perspective

A Canine View

My Time

Revealing Our Family Epic

A Conclusion

A Rainbow Search

Hail The Hockey Men!

The Curtain

Love’s Mystery Solved

Our Times

Me For You

Discover

Invisible Guidance

Rendition

Love Light

Leading

Everything For Free

New Choices

Time Flies

The Only One

Unpredictable

Discovery

Love’s Rewards

On The Move

Precipitation

Spring Again

Alone, Yet Together

Our Tool Of Time

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Our Lasting Love

Stop! Look! Listen!

Love Is No Game

A Reward

A Father’s Tribute

2020 Happenings

Progress

Two Years

Certainty

Our Days

Bending

Adaptation

Consolation

My Place

Gone

Renewal

Attainment

Discovering

Harmony

Filet Of Freedom

Memories

Perspectives

Insights

Carry On

Companionship

Disparity Of Clarity

Happy Birthday Erik!

Our Review

July 4th, Past And Present Tense

The Lace Of Love

The R-B Cruise

On The Road

A July Day

Recalling Canada

Those Were The Days

Love Cherished

Pleasantness

Ready

Finding Our Best

Resolution

Miles Of Smiles

Forever Days

My Companion

Fall Arrives

Home Places

Harmony

Reality And Dreams

Scenery

Counting

‘‘Looking Through The Twindow’’

Fall Again

Know The Glow

Snow And Friendship

Reverie

Retention

Endeavors

Legacy

Recalling Snowfall

Continuation

A Glow, Sustained

Solo Christmas – 2020

Peanut Brittle Marathon

2020 Now Visited

First Snow

My Snow Trail

The New Function

My Definition

No More Robo

Snow Glow

The Reveal

Discover The Cover

A Daughter Is:

2020 Covidity Christmas!

Admonition

Dear Deer

Twins Swim

Weaving

What Is This?

Mongolian Mystery

My ‘87 Review

2020 Christmas Views

Christmas Echoes

Looking Back

My New View

Uniqueness

An 87 Year Old’s Thoughts

Lingering

Routines

New Snow

Day By Day

Staring

Winter’s Day

A Heart Apart

Love Endures

Accumulations

Application I

Emergence

Drifting

What If?

Belonging

Recalls Forever

Sixty Years

Making History

My Sock Saga

Perspective

Retrospective

Continuation

Alone Together

Our Miracle

Watching

Presence

Warmth

Unforgettable

The Recipe

Detour

Yours Truly

Love Is:

Life Is:

Wishful Thinking

With Typist

Visiting Wordland

Searching

Perpetual

The Winner

Words

Application Ii

A Silent Duet

Tiny Wonders

Quiet Time

Fading

Two Octobers

Realization

A Heart Target

A Twin Cheer

Lady Lily Recall

Our Iowa Scene

Odyssey

Kent Kautidnary

Weather Etc

Definition

Differences

Recalling Canada

Travel Times

A Few Words

Aspiration

Life Is Faith

Renewing

Rgp Recipes

Wishing

Accountable

Adrift

Inevitability

Fortunately

A Summer Quandary – 2021 A.d.

Observation

Revisiting

A Lily Ann Dedication

Bernie’s Bull

And Then:

A Peaslee Collection – 2021

Sixty Three Ago

My Indian Summer

My Review

My Contemplation

Thanksgiving 2021

Only In This Stupid World

Reflection

My 2021 Dream

Christmas Review-2021

Still Wishing, 2021

Recounting

Once More

Snow Memories

2022 Arrives

Our Winter Scene

The Forever Gift

Journeying

My Path

The Heart Knows

Renew

A Winter Memory

Continuity

Pathways

R & B Odyssey

Requiem

Historical

Your Smile

Biding My Time

Echoes

Ah Ha!

Our Gift

Recollection

Radiance

There Once Was:

Hello Spring!

My Blue ’52

Knox Sixty-Seven

Our Time

2022

Winter Days

Outlook

Grandpa’s Recollection

My Tribute

INTRODUCTION

Hello!

A few thoughts, me thinks I can define grieving as a moment from knowing Bonnie and Brian physically to knowing these loved ones in SPIRIT. My poems are memorials, if you will accept my explanation for them. Talking it out, in the form of verses, gives me a release by reflection and devotion, meaningful expressions that remain daily for me.

Poems have become a way to keep the mind in motion, rather than a brain freeze or depression. I’ll give you a statement that appears to be confusing perhaps - but sharing a multitude of memories surpasses losing people and then being forced to admit to not knowing them, or barely.

My box of grief is still open daily, but I am trying to replace the silence with worthwhile chores and some gradual changes that seem useful. Being a resource for Brian’s five grandchildren, provides an outlet for sure, hopefully not excluding staying in touch with the other eight, of course!!

Early on, I read some brief commentary describing grief as work -Certainly the huge number of thank you’s, seeing the new floor at Church accomplished and allocating the numerous memorial funds was a form of labor, now completed.

Maybe, though we are separated by hundreds of miles, you will relate to my attempt at a reconciliation of emotions that will not be dismissed.

05/19/22

R.G.P.

A RECOLLECTION

Almost FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN years ago,

A new voice in Iowa was heard, TAMA CALLING WORLD.

My infant voice was added to MESQUAKI Valley expressions,

While my parents endured the Great Depression.

By my age two, now in NEAR-NORTH CHICAGO,

My dad had returned to fancy dining rooms to earn some dough.

After a year there, the N.W.R.R. offered him PEKIN, ILLINOIS,

Where the river valley climate and hard work could destroy one’s health

But sick people became well and remained employed,

Thus my dad’s practice grew plus my mother’s X-RAY skills

Caused better times to be enjoyed.

My time with a mower led me to washing windows clean,

A very rewarding skill that I did in-between,

Painting porch floors, windows and rusting screens.

As my pants pockets developed sags my nickname became,

MONEYBAGS

The paint store from age 13-18 developed skills with a big surprise,

When in my senior year in High School I was manager of this enterprise.

The company V.P., remembering my performance (four years later)

"Combining skills of store days plus a chemistry degree,

You can expect to soon fill an executive seat."

But my goal to be an eye-doc prevailed;

And after the U.S. Army utilized my clinical skills,

Settling in Fairfield became a final place

For a family to grow and dreams fulfill.

R.G.P.

08/08/18

AFTER GLOW

Here is a poem I’ll present and further enumerate

History fulfilled for those who choose to congregate.

Our love became an EPIC we were able to celebrate,

As love’s arrival for us came uniquely fortunate-

Quietly becoming intense and saturating

Hearts and minds blended into our soul-mating.

We never knew any sense of love evaporating.

With our expanding family, love became more concentrating.

As a pair, we aced life’s wear and tear

Encountering brief trials with no lasting despairing,

Sustained with our constant love and caring.

These bands of love were supported by total devotion,

Enabling our journey with enduring emotions

Challenges were encountered,

Then solved with able solutions.

Now regrettably I am alone completing life’s directions

Forever grateful for gifts of love

And their rewarding connections,

Containing no element of make-believe or fiction.

R.G.P.

Dec. 2018

REFLECTION AND RECOLLECTION

From the vacant table Bonnie and I shared

Smiles and plans for family events prepared,

There still radiates a lasting affection

For the love now remaining in my daily recollection.

Her patience always reminds me of special times past,

And there’s no forgetting countless joys that last.

Our heirs carry on with events and traditions,

Adding new recipes and additions.

Our expanding family tree is there for all to see

Revelations of heart-felt love, from here to eternity.

R.G.P.

12/10/18

ARUGAH! HELLO CHATTANOOGA!

Jordan and Allison Nicole will arrive

For their MATRIMONIGA.

The grandfathers won’t be dancing,

Content to gladly observe their romancing.

Stars will surely shine brighter

For this very special nighter.

Their gifts, when opened, will be recorded

To assure the donors receive

Thank you’s sincerely worded.

Bushels of love are now being sent

From an elderly Iowa gent;

Choosing words slightly bent

To create fondest wishes and

Very loving sentiment-

R.G.P.

12/21/18

AKA Grandpa Peaslee

FOR ALL WE KNOW

As I continue each day so empty without you,

I recall countless blessings you gave our family,

As they now continue.

Our home, now so quiet, day and night-

Has yet to recover a feeling of being right-

Remains through each night til morning’s light.

Our love was constant all our days

Remembering now as I recall our unusual haze

When in ninety fifty-eight, I was not seeking love

An abandoned soul, I was, until your love gave a shove

You came as one who also felt there would never be

A man who she would discover and love.

She was a smiling lady on her internship mission

To realize her goal as a registered dietitian.

Returning from Texas to begin our Iowa home

Building lives with no more orders to roam.

Your love given to me forever clings,

A love far greater than words or rings.

It’s a rainy Monday and you’re not around.

Though we’re apart, I recall dreams we unwound.

Our lives took daily form with no storm,

Never hurting each other was our norm-

Bonnie, so unforgettable, remain (as I feel a tear)-

You’re so dear, were always near, now disappeared.

Thoughts of you are present as each day is displayed,

A renewal of my love that does not fade

As you lead my memories parade.

Your love, ever-constant and so sincere

Allowed no scheming or sour thoughts to appear.

As I am reminded by pictures, a task, or a phrase

Recreating memories of loving nights and cheerful days.

No matter what words may chatter, it’s love that really matters.

You said, NO DIAMONDS UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT.

So while our lives progressed with other goals in sight,

I now wear your diamond easily recalling

Bands that remain with your smile of love

That I’ll always retain, a lasting refrain;

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK AGAIN."

I CANNOT DISMISS THE MEMORIES OF YOUR KISS.

R.G.P.

12/31/18

MY SUNSET

I never wanted to release your hand and see you go away

Because you were so good to me every day

From our first Texas days so quick and