GOIN' HOME: Reflections on faith, farm and family

By Nicholas L. Reed

Life in the Country Through the Lens of Faith. This collection of poetry is chock-full of country wisdom and down-home philosophy that will tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings. Rooted in a deep love for family, respect for nature, and unwavering faith, these observations from over six decades of country life and farming will remind you, again and again, that through every season of life God is leading the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Nov 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781478794066

Nicholas L. Reed

Nicholas Reed has spent his entire life in the fields and forests of Ohio. A farmer for thirty-five years, he is also a proud father and grandfather, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and a lover of nature and poetry.

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GOIN’ HOME

Reflections on faith, farm and family

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2018 Nicholas L. Reed

v2.0

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Outskirts Press, Inc.

http://www.outskirtspress.com

ISBN: 978-1-4787-9406-6

Cover Photo © 2018 Nicholas L. Reed. All rights reserved - used with permission.

Outskirts Press and the OP logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Contents

R. I. P. ROB THORN

A Card From the Wall

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

A FARMER’S MUSINIGS

A NOTE TO WELL WISHERS ON MY BIRTHDAY

A SIMPLE SONG

A VISIT TO THE OLD HOMESTEAD

AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH

CONTEMPLATING MISERY

DANDELIONS

DELAYED INGENUITY

ELIXIR

EVANGEL

GONE HOME

GOODBYE VINNY

HE SPEAKS

HEAVEN

HINDSIGHT

HOMECOMING

HUMILITY

HUMMINGBIRD

IN MEMORIAM

GIVE ME JOY

JUST SMILE

LIGHTING BUGS

LILACS

LOST AND FOUND

LIFE EXPLAINED

METAMORPHOSIS

NEMESIS

A MEETUP WITH OLD MAN WINTER

ODE TO A BLACK LAB

Once In A While

REMEMBERING

RESURRECTION

SAGE ADVICE

SILVER DOLLAR CHRISTMAS

STILL PUZZLED AT 68

STOWAWAY

SUCCESS DEFINED

SWING SONGS

SYMPATHY CARD

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

TERMS OF SERVICE

THE AUTUMN OF MY YEARS

THE COUNTRY THEOLOGIAN

THE PLAIN TRUTH

THE GRAND OLD SHINGLE OAK

THE THOUGHTFUL GIFT

THE YOUTHFUL HUNTER

THEM THISTLES

TOMATOES

WELCOME COMPANY

WHEN SHE SINGS

WHEN THE GRANDKIDS COME TO VISIT

CONFESSION

R. I. P. ROB THORN

Sixty-seven of these special days

Has God granted me by His grace,

But I know of a soul by no choice of his own

Who will much sooner than I see His face.

He is the friend I’ve never met

Though close to him now I may be,

Who at forty-two years, the prime of his life,

Will from the trials here on earth be set free.

Those who know him would say with a singular voice,

Though at times perhaps wondering why,

That he showed by example how life should be lived

And is teaching them now how to die.

There’s not much I ask for my birthday this year-

Just a promise that you won’t forget,

And take time today, to pause and to pray

For the friend I’ve never met.

A Card From the Wall  

(While renovating my boyhood home the owners found my boy scout card from 1956 and mailed it to me)

Just a card from the wall

Causes mem’ries to fall

Like snowflakes caressing the brain.

I’m thinking again

Of things way back then

Of myriad joys mixed with pain.

O how sweet it would be

My old friends