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My life starts’ out like a book, not yet a cover,

Nothing Inside, page one still not printed.

My story constantly being written with every breath,

How many pages there will be not known until the end.

This title was Imagined before my creation,

Cover to cover Is mine to write as I walk my life.

With each turning page, I Illustrate my own time,

The one before this just a memory In my mind.

Stay open It does until my story Is told,

Until I’ve been published, this mans’ book will not be closed.

Keith Garrett

ON THIS MOUNTAIN

As a child, he lived here many years before,

The great depression was not a time of all pleasant things.

It was, however, a time of childhood, a sunset for some,

There was a family of fathers and mothers, sons and daughters.

A boy was he of seventeen, a dreamer, a writer,

He had nothing but he had also everything.

On this mountain in Virginia, he was born,

So many days ago, long gone are they now.

He wrote his many thoughts by a lamp in the night,

Played games with his brothers and sisters.

Together this family sat together for dinner each night,

A lifetime ago is when this story was told.

By a boy whom with his family struggled but did laugh as they

Were blessed with much love and togetherness,

On this mountain, once upon a time.

Keith Garrett

ON A SHIP TO MANY LANDS

Let’s us take a trip together, we have the time, let’s sail,

We’ll pack our things, board that ship bound for exciting lands.

Around the world we go, traveling across the waters on a ship,

Where we are heading will be to places never seen by our eyes.

Around the world, Australia, Ireland, Greenland, what a world,

Alaska, Switzerland, Hungary, we’ll see it all, we may never go home.

Germany, Italy, France, there’s so much beauty from gods created thoughts,

Scotland, England, on a ship to many lands, across the oceans, on a ship we stand.

We’ll have sailed the seven seas and seen the moon and stars hand in hand.

Keith Garrett

“Old Man” by Keith Garrett
Who he was did not matter to me as each day I passed his way,
On a porch swing or rocking chair, he would read or listen to the world.
I gave him a smile in which he replied with a smirk from his face,
Who are you who sits in the morning sun thinking thoughts never done.?
I am a man but once a child running from sunrise till dusk, I am a man,
I’ve seen the years and have done many things in my time, once full of energy.
‘Old man’ on your porch is sitting there all that you do, tell me your story,
Are you waiting to die as each day you grow weary from nothing at all?
You are much younger than I as there was a day when I too looked like you,
What makes you think that I did not dream, that I did not succeed.
Who keeps a man company as he rests alone every day, who loves you,
As once there lived for me a love so true, she went away, who are you.?
I am an old man and for me, there was a love of beauty so fine,
Today I am loved by those who will pass me by, listen and smile.
Do you fear that life has not much more time for you old friend,
Will you grow tired of quiet nights with thoughts that never end.?
Tomorrow sunrise brings with it a new beginning, possibilities,
When I grow tired then sleep visits me, dreams fill this old man.
I am young but not so wise as I did not understand passing by,
The day will come when I too will be somewhat like you.
You called me old friend as just moments ago I was a stranger,
I did not matter to you, wisdom will grow but learn from it.
As I pass this way I will see you in a different way fore you do matter,
You’re not just an old man, you have spirit and soul, old man,
My friend.

A TOUCH OF FAITH

Holidays are upon us, soon Thanksgiving will arrive,

The leaves will fall from the trees, the chill of Winter.

Christmas is a special time of year,

The end of the year when we reflect on all that’s happened to us.

At times we forget about the good because of a hurt or tragedy laid upon us,

A touch of faith, hold onto it one day at a time.

It will get you through most anything if you just believe that all is possible,

A touch of faith is in my thoughts and hopes,

Pray to god that he will watch over you and protect you always.

Believe in all that is good and know that hard times come to all of us,

Be strong and you shall overcome anything,

A touch of faith is yours to have and keep.

Keith Garrett

A THANK YOU DEAR LORD

It’s me again, many thoughts swirl in my head,

For this life you gave to me, I am most grateful.

I wake each morning to the rain or shine,

You’ve let me walk your worldly creation, I’m still alive.

I forget at times and also for granted take,

This life is precious, there’s much good in the world.

A thank you, dear lord, for the things given to me,

The wonders of this land at times are hard to see.

I’ll try to remember that fragile is man,

Speak to you soon, I keep trying to understand and be the best I can.

Keith Garrett

A HEARTBEAT

Listen to my heartbeat, thump, thump, It beats,

Blood runs through it, listen to me as I breathe.

A heartbeat means life, It beats fast or slow,

Thump, thump, it goes, a heartbeat that slowly grows old.

It speaks of who I am, only one of a kind,

Listen, thump, thump, with a hand to my chest feel as I am alive.

A heartbeat lets us know that this moment is still ours,

Hear it pound, listen to its beautiful sound.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, one beat at a time,

A heartbeat so precious, thump as it beats one more time.

Keith Garrett

A DRIFTING MAN

On a road of travel without any end,

Rests his weary body wherever he can.

Sleeps in the night hidden from sight,

Days’ of length, the next stop is any place.

From town to town he wanders with hope,

Worry fills his head about that next meal.

Find a job and stay in one place a short while,

Friends and smiles disappear with the miles.

A drifting man sees much of the land,

Meets many faces, lonely where he stands.

A price he pays to live in such a way,

There’s a gift in seeing the world,

What’s taken away is the peace of settling in one place.

He chooses a path, he’s a wandering man,

Today he’s here, gone again.

Keith Garrett

OLD FRIENDS

Come to your mind at different times,

They rest in memories, thought of in a moment.

Some are here, closer than you know,

Scattered like the wind, they are everywhere.

Those we may find, lucky to have them around,

We find that they have changed in so many ways.

Hold onto yesterday and the faces of our friends,

Once in a while a surprise from a voice never thought would be.

Old friends, ghosts in the traveling wind, do they live?

Are they around the corner, do they pass you by without notice?

Wherever you may be, just know that I think of you,

As for you, I may never be a thought again as you move ahead,

Old friends can be the best, old friends may they be at rest.

Keith Garrett

OH! WHAT A WORLD

This is where we stand in a hostile land,

Politics and policies, rules and regulations.

Lights that say stop, tell us when we can go,

Punch a clock, we’ve become only a number,

This land is your land don’t you know.

Stand in line, give them your code,

Show a picture I.D. or to jail you might go.

Drive as you should, walk when you can,

Keep your thoughts to yourself in this American land.

Most whom do crime pay as they should,

Some with money walk away from their no good.

All around the world money’s the game,

Oh! what a world, we all have something to say.

Keith Garrett