HE TOLD ME OF HIS LIFE

 As he sat down in his rocking chair he began 
 to speak,

 With a smile, he invited me to sit and went 
 About his story.

 His life as a child, at the beginning of a war 
 For Independence,

 On a farm in South Carolina, he lived with a 
 Father, Brothers, Sisters.

 He went on to tell of adventures in the Summer, 
 Just before it happened,

 A big house, great times with family, working the 
 Farm each day was tiring.

 He must have been about ninety years old now, the war 
 And those days long gone,

 A childhood recalled, swimming in the pond with 
 A friend or two, The night's moon.

 He told me of this war being all around them, nothing  
 Would be the same, Much change,

 Tears in his eyes as he described that time and place 
 Where brothers and family died.

 He sits in his chair today, many years away 
 From there, He lives in that house today,

 He sits in his chair on that porch where as 
 A child he played, He told me of his life.
                   Keith Garrett

                                                                                     CURTAIN CALL


 The last hurrah, the very last dance,


 Say goodbye for the final time.


 It's time to turn out the lights,


 Fade away, fade to black, not coming back.


 The last words ever spoken, a final cry,


 A last page in a book, the final chapter.


 The hourglass is now empty,


 Close the door and say goodnight.


 This is your curtain call, the end of this life,


 Till we meet again beyond the lit stars of the 
 Might.
              Keith Garrett

                                                                           BEACHES AND OCEANS

 To love the beach, walking along the sand 
 So warm,

 Looking ahead of me at the pier in the distance.


 The feel of the wind as I'm walking along the wet, 
 Sandy shore,

 The sun shining in the sky, seagulls flying 
 In search for food.

 My thoughts are of many things as I dream 
 Of life's pleasures,

 At peace I am strolling along listening, always
 Listening.

 The waves are a beautiful sight, musical tunes 
 Crashing upon the shore,

 The horizon seems like forever as I stare in 
 Silence at its mystery.

 Shadows from clouds darken the ocean but 
 Only a touch,

 The wonders of life that live beneath the waters 
 Are seen from within.

 Beaches and oceans have been forever,


 There's a great love for me as they go on together.

                Keith Garrett

                                                                                       BABOON


 Baboon, poor baboon, why are you the brunt of 
 Everyone's jokes?


 "You're acting like a bunch of baboons"  says 
 The teacher to her students.


 "Quit jumping around like  a baboon"  were you 
 Born in a zoo?


 I saw someone today, he was as ugly as a Baboon, 
 What a face.


 "You need to see a dentist" " you have teeth 
 Like a Baboon"


 Some people laugh with the sound of a Baboon, 
 Poor Baboon.

 They are made fun of, they appear to be 
 Something so bad,


 Perhaps misunderstood, in the jungle not so sad, 
 Maybe glad.
                  Keith Garrett

                  ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE


 I write to you from yesterday, a very long 
 Time ago for you,

 Long before you were born in a town of people 
 And family.

 My family and I were up before the break of dawn, 
 Working,

 Children of a simple time but at times not so 
 Simple you see.

 Horses were a common thing just as your car 
 Is in your time,

 Things of your day not dreamed up as of yet, 
 Life was hard, Also fun.

 Here in yesterday there is sickness that kills many
 As there is no medicine,

 As I sit here on my farm watching my wife and kids 
 Play as I write this to you.

 When you receive my letter it will be that I and those
 I love will be gone now,

 You will have all the things that we here have never 
 Seen, Good and bad.

 There are beautiful things and land that will disappear 
 With time, I can see them,

 I live here in another time and place just as you do,
 I hope this letter gets to you.
                     Keith Garrett

                    A MAN WITH AN AX

 Wood needs to be chopped, it sits waiting, 
 Many types and sizes,

 Fall is in the air, chillier the air turns, 
 Work must be done.

 A job it is to chop enough wood to warm a home 
 For the Winter,

 Must be done, perhaps no fun as it is an  
 Accomplishment To be proud.

 Stack it in a pile, carry it piece by piece, 
 Chopped and split wood for a fire,

 A smell, can you take it in, smell the aroma as it's 
 Cut, Stronger it grows.

 A man with an ax gets this job done, he sweats from 
 Morning Till the setting sun,

 Swinging an ax, working as the cold moves closer,


 The wood pile will rise higher.


 A man with an ax is strong and determined,


 He will succeed because he knows of its need,


  When it's done, a Winter of warmth,


 When the setting sun, he knows the job is done. 

                          Keith Garrett

                  A LIGHT IN THE FOREST


 Traveling together were myself and a friend, a 
 getaway,

 Down the long highway we went, weren't sure 
 Where we were going.

 We started out driving, searching for that unusual
 Place of discovery,

 A forest, that would be our destination, we're 
 On our way into the day.

 We travel along talking, and listening to our favorite 
 Music getting close,

 Further ahead of us in the distance they appear to 
 Our eyes, Trees so high.

 We'll be going up a ways, where everything is so green 
 And Darkness within the trees,

 We make our camp for the night, ready in the morning  
 For our Walk below the hidden sky.

 Tonight a campfire, some food, laughing with a friend, 
 And sleeping under a star or two,

 Morning light shines down upon the land, we pack 
 Our things And head into the forest.

 Dark, very dark as we make our way deeper among 
 The ancient trees, Where are we?

 There's something up ahead, can you see, a light 
 In the forest, we'll be okay.
        Keith Garrett

                                                       SUNRISE


 Darkness disappears' as day comes to life,


  Footsteps of mine traveling the morning light.


 The fog begins' to lift showing the beauty of God,


 I walk this way with hope by my side.


 Quiet as It's early, fore sleep still lingers,'


 On the move are these legs, tired, forever 
 Tired.

 Rays of light shine through the distant clouds,


 Sunrise has a story for a man roaming alone.


 Everything has changed as the days' seem the 
 Same,

 A song, he sings' a song In my ear always heard.


 My favorite music from the man from Jersey,


 Sunrise, sweet sunrise, each day my journey.


                 Keith Garrett  

                     WHERE IS THIS TOWN?


 Is there a place, yes! I've heard stories that
 It exists,

 People pass each other by with not a frown to 
 Observe.

 Children play In the fields' of grass and streams,


 Laughing and running, sometimes cries but many 
 Smiles.

 Men and women gather for a night just for themselves,


 Under the warm Summer sky, a barbecue and talk.


 Friends' and lovers' dance to music of hopes and 
 Dreams,

 Where Is this town that happiness seems to want to be.


 This town Is here, this town Is everywhere, open your 
 Eyes,

 It lives and dreams where you live and dream, your hopes.


 Into your life a love you will find, one needs no search,


 All happens In a manner which Is to be, goodbye 
 To yesterday.

                   Keith Garrett

              THE STRENGTH FROM MY HEART


 I'll keep on fighting, to quit Is total 
 Failure, I'll keep on.


 There's a drive In me that Is powerful 
 And strong.


 Pain and hurt may attack from all sides,
 I'll survive,


 A battle or a challenge, I am ready for, 
 Standing.


 I will make It through anything that's put 
 Upon me,


 The strength from my heart Is my love for life.



 I possess Inner strength, I am a man who will 
 Not fall.


                              I AM STRONG.