A SIMPLE DAY

Wake up to a mixture of clouds and sun,

Feed the birds and squirrels, it’s morning now.

A cup of coffee, no caffeine for me, a quiet thought,

The world is much to fast, faster than what I have come to be,

I can now get things done, the way I want it to be for me.

A simple day in the rain or sun, I have some time to have some fun,

At the computer my thoughts are given out to the world.

A simple day, nothing gets in my way, I can keep to myself,

A movie, a show, exercise that keeps me healthy and ready to go.

Keith Garrett

A SAILOR

A sailor talks of far away lands and the ports where he would like to be,

He relates to all in a salty drawl, his love for the roll of the sea.

Let’s hear him boast of powers so great, let’s hear of his deeds so bold,

Let’s hear him tell of seas of hell, and the treasures he’s bought and sold.

Let’s hear his yarn of the south sea Isles, his romance on balis shores,

Or the girl he had with eyes so sad in the land of the sliding doors.

And let me tell you what you never hear, of the loneliness that tortures his soul,

When the sun’s last light gives into night, he’s a dreamer, not a sailor so bold.

Yes, a sailor dreams when the sun goes down, and the wind lies slack on the sea,

Of the heavenly bliss of a woman’s kiss, and the home where he longs to be.

There a lamp burns low thru the lonely night, there a heart waits patiently,

There tears are shed as a prayer is said for a sailor who dreams at sea.

To live his past let no man wish for there is more than the tales he told,

Though his laugh is long and his heart is strong, inside he wrestles his soul.

Leon Russell Garrett

A MINUTE FROM HEAVEN

I live a life that seems more than half way done,

Started at a beginning, seen more than sun to sun.

I’ve walked this land and had my share of pain,

Friends whom have come and gone, love them just the same.

A family through struggles and laughter,

Children grow up so fast, will they only remember my name.?

I had my share of good, other things I’ve paid the price,

All i ask of you dear lord is that you consider my fight.

A minute from heaven is what we have each day,

Step by step when the time has come, would you kindly show me the way.

Keith Garrett

A MAN, A GHOST, AND

A WOMAN IN A DREAM

I watched a man as he traveled the road, he sees,

I travel the road fore i am a man who sees, whom dreams.

Many a ghost are known to me, a ghost of a man,

Of this world no more or of my life much distance.

A woman in a dream appears before me, she sleeps with me,

Her face is known to me as i sleep, as i dream, i see.

See me as i am, emotions run deep, a man of a thousand thoughts,

Seen from my eyes, seen as you are, i am not a fantasy, no dream.

A ghost is a memory, a vision of once was, things from yesterday,

A ghost to some as i live and breathe, one day a ghost in eternity.

She may be one that you think of, one that you dream about,

A woman in a dream, your dream woman, a life’s dream to be.

I am a man, I know of ghosts, and i have seen a woman in a dream,

Today, tomorrow, and yesterday.

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 MAN SO KIND

He had a life, so many years ago I met a man with such a smile,

Quiet with a heart so large, always a kind word or nothing at all.

He could be rough and tough, never did he want something from you,

A strong but gentle human being was he, a beautiful friend indeed.

A man so kind, Harold, today you are surely on my mind, you were loved,

Driving down the street, working in your yard, a chance to know you was mine.

Yes sir! a life you had, your smile will be always seen if only in a dream,

It’s hard to believe but this was your time to fly, leave this place behind.

It is in another home where you now roam, you journied beyond what is known,

You had a great life from once a small boy until your last day with much wisdom.

A man so kind is in this world hard to find, it does not seem fair that you are not here,

I saw you yesterday, you are thought of on this day, i will see you tomorrow.

Keith Garrett

LEGENDS OF THE OLD WEST

They came from a time chosen for them,

Became that which they were from many circumstances.

Right or wrong, bad or good, these are the legends of the old west,

The men and women whom survived as they did.

From Wyatt Earp too the Dalton gang, these names,

Doc Holliday and Calamity Jane, once walked.

Bat Mastersen, Buffalo Bill Cody, and wild Bill Hicock,

Men of the old west, a different time and place.

Annie Oakley, or General George Custer, another two,

Frank and Jesse James robbing banks and trains.

Billy the Kid at a young age killed a few,

Pat Garrett the sheriff shot him down.

From the Alamo they fought and died, back in time,

Jim Bowie did fight, Davey Crockett no longer alive.

Sitting bull and Geronimo, Cochise, Indians of stories,

Were a different breed, lived and died as they believed,

Legends of the old west, stories in time.

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

THIS TRAIN

All aboard! the conductor yells out loud,

Show your tickets, this train makes its sound.

A western world, you’ll be taken for a ride,

Journey too many places, from this train you’ll see.

From out of your window a cattle drive is noticed,

A cowboy travels from town to town.

In the distance Indians do their own thing,

This train bound for a new life for some.

It’s a chance you take riding a train,

Robbers on horses have trouble on their minds,

In a western world, a dangerous time.

Keith Garrett

WHEN APRIL WENT AWAY

Dear
father, i’m sorry for waiting so long to write to you this letter,

At that time i was only seven as you know so i tried hard not to remember.

I was once your son, you were the hero that a boy would not see again in this lifetime,

It all seemed in some ways easier as a child because I could go away, disappear.

Forget about you i did not wish to do and the pain grew as i dreamed this not true,

Did you think of me, while you were going away on your journey that night so long ago?

Are you in heaven watching, listening, or do you ever read my writing of the world,

I think of you often and in a most different way as now i grow older, older than when you went away.

You were no longer there when April went away but i celebrate your birthday as there is only one April day,

On the eleventh of that day you remain the same but if you would have stayed, eighty four would be you.

When April went away I now know that god had his plan, at that time a boy could not understand,

I lost you dad and that changed me forever, I survived and made it through but without you, here i am.

Was it a sacrifice you made that day fore my life took some different roads, god had a plan when April went away.

Keith Garrett