The crows were a-crowing, and the lads were out sowing
The rye and the corn and the wheat,
While the grasses were growing and the calves were a-lowing,
And the breezes were wafting so sweet.

When across on the ferry, came bonnie maid Mary,
With a basket held tight on her arm,
Saying, “Hey, boys, come tell me, where’s the man I shall marry,
Who will love me and keep me from harm?”

Then up jumped young Harry, with a lip like a cherry,
And a gleam of the devil in his eye,
“I think I might risk it, if you brought your fine biscuit,
And a piece of your blueberry pie.”

“No pie for the greedy, no treats for the needy,
With patches on elbows and knees, see,
No biscuits with jam for any Harry or Sam,
It takes more than pleading to please me.”

Then all of that crowd started laughing out loud,
But Henry, he flushed crimson red,
And picked up his sack, and never looked back,
To see Mary tossing her head.

For way down inside her, she knew he would bride her,
Such a man he was, sturdy and fair.
He’d work and he’d strive, he’d prosper and thrive,
As long as his true love was there.

So she went up beside him, though not to chide him,
And tugged at him with her soft hand,
“If you only take care, there’s enough food to share,
And after, I’ll wait by the strand.”

Now isn't it funny, how clouds turn to sunny,
And rain disappears in a wink.
Young Harry’s big frown went and turned upside down,
Almost as fast as a blink.

So Mary and Harry, they did up and go marry,
For they matched each other so well.
And even today, if you pass by their way,
You can hear Mary giving him hell.

((Rhyming scheme: abcb with internal rhyming on odd lines. Pretty much the same as "Wreck of Ed. Fitz."))

It was a flight, like any other flight,
   With hugs and kisses and deadlines.
Flight 93, was a true tragedy,
   An ache in our hearts and our minds.

In America that's free, it's usual to see,
   People from many a country.
Four people, it seems, didn't share in our dreams,
   Nor our honor, our courage and brav'ry.

Who could foresee, these people would be
   Weapons of their own destruction?
The story it goes, like everyone knows,
   Of heroes that rose to occasion.

Once in the air, the hijackers would dare
   Slay one to keep the others in hand.
The killing begun, the cabin overrun,
   The hijackers were well in command.

Folks stayed in their seats so there'd be no repeats.
   Cell phones were starting to ring.
Two planes had smashed, another one crashed,
   Both New York and D.C. were burning.

"I love you"s were said to push back the dread
   When the plane was turned back around.
So plans were lain to take back the plane,
   A "Let's roll!" was heard on the ground.

They would not let, some base cowardice
   End their flight as a blast.
Determined to fight, they summoned the might,
   To change the fate they'd been cast.

Beamer and Glick rushed the cøckpit
   With Bingham and Burnett in tow.
Whether they met success or death,
   The listeners were never to know.

Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers,
   Flight 93 had 'em all.
In Shankesville, PA, at 10 that day,
   A silence marked the end of the call.

It was a flight, unlike any other flight,
   With honor and courage and brav'ry.

I felt her presence in my heart,
before she entered in.
Then a rush of people gathered round,
to greet their cherished friend.
There were no sounds but I would swear
that a rainbow filled the skies,
on the day that I first met the one
who's called "Angelic Eyes".



I'd never heard her name before,
or seen her lovely face,
but the moment that she spoke I felt
so welcome in that place.
I knew her for a treasure,
Heavensent without disguise,
as I felt her warmth invade me,
for she has Angelic Eyes.



Her voice is soft and subtle,
her demeanor bold and free.
But I could feel her frailties, too,
as she gave her hand to me.
I knew at once I loved her,
and my heart never lies.
God sent to me a new-found friend
who has Angelic Eyes.



She's been forced to walk a path in life
that few of us could bear.
Deep inside the fear is hidden well,
but I could feel it there.
For all that she is faced with
her spirits always rise,
As they always do for those chosen few
who possess Angelic Eyes



Now, I know that she's quite human,
but she's more than that you see.
I believe that there are "chosen one's"
God picks for you and me,
to come along and teach us
that true friendship never dies,
so he sent me a reminder,
and she has Angelic Eyes.



Her given name is Stacia,
and I know her real name well.
To me she's simply "Baby Girl",
but one can never tell,
about the name that she'll be given
in her home above the skies.
But I think God see's her clearly
and her name's "Angelic Eyes".



She's young, and bright, so full of hope.
She shares with all her friends,
all the gifts that make her special
and her sharing never ends.
She bears a "gift" for her True Love,
and won't he be surprised,
when he sees his child the first time,
and it has..."Angelic's" Eyes!

(When writing this I was thinking of a sort of Nick Cave-style dark, nasty, crashing ballad...)

Rain falls down every night and day
Those sweet-bloodied lovers have lost their way
Now all is ending in dismay
And she takes her knife to his heart.

She stabs him alone in a dark country road
Cuts out the veins that run in his throat
Leaves him there wrapped in a crimson red coat
Under a tall sycamore tree.

He lies and he bleeds
He lies and he rots
His eyes are glazed over
They're red and bloodshot
He's dead. He's dead. He's dead.

She's driving off in the black Pontiac
He's out of her hair and there's no looking back
No more putting up with his constant attacks
Where no-one else ever sees.

She goes to a man who knows what was done
He holds her close tight and makes plans to run
They're fleeing the rain, looking out to the sun
That shines on the future now.

And he lies in the lane
Where everything's still
No-one's gonna find him
This was a perfect kill.
He's dead. He's dead. He's dead.

The girl and her true love think they're out of harm's way
Enjoying the time and the cool light of day
Who's gonna find them? Who's gonna say?
And they run hand in hand til they die.

My husband, he was a mighty man
With a jaw of steel and a heart of gold,
And a fearsome warrior all the same
Or at least so the story’s been told.

He left me in March to go abroad
To fight in a battle that may never end.
I kissed him good-bye and sent him along
Thinking only of when I would see him again.

Diligent was he to write to me
To tell me that he loved me, and
That he would be home soon to snuggle me.
Oh, my brave warrior man.

One week, alas, a missive I missed,
But I wrote to him sweetly all the same.
Kissed the kids and simply hoped
That I had not lost my eternal flame.

On the first of December the letter came,
And a chill wind blew across my face.
“Chris was killed,” I read with shame.
Another angel sent to God’s grace.

I ask you not to weep for me.
My tears have all but dried by now.
But always, please, remember there is
A family of that soldier at which you scowl.

The life of a soldier never is easy.
He must fight the fight that no other wants.
And although to you it may seem unpleasing
Our brave warriors will always shine on.

In my turbulent youth I was lonely and sad
My father was gone and my mother was mad
Then one night I met my own Scheherazade
And for once in my life I felt loved

She was innocent, beautiful, gentle and sweet
And allowed me to sweep her up off of her feet
But my foolish heart had been filled with conceit
And she ended up loving, unloved

Truehearted only to drugs and to booze
Pretending that they were both feeding my muse
Her naïve soul was the kind that pursues
She accepted me as her beloved

She showered forgiveness on me like a rain
That nearly erased all the pot and cocaine
However she labored completely in vain
Instead of embraced, she was shoved

She made a wise choice and she left me for good
At first I thought I had been misunderstood
But she’d given me the best gift that she could
For I knew what it meant to be loved

I did it again, I gave my heart
to someone I just knew would break it
She left me when I needed her the most
and I haven't the strength to make it
Through the trials that one man
can't overcome alone
I reached out to her in a time of need
Only to find her gone

With my my hand held out to take hold
of the rock to help me stand
Suddenly she disappeared as I sank
quickly in the sand
On my way down I caught a glimpse of her
then she was gone again
The rock slipped thru my fingers
like sand

The last time I held her I knew
I'd never hold her again
She had said without saying a word
it had come to an end
Then she lied, said she changed her mind
as the tears fell from my eyes
And there in the midst of hope
my heart was crucified

With my hands held out to take hold
of the rock to help me stand
Suddenly she disappeared as I sank
quickly in the sand
On my way down I caught a glimpse of her
then she was gone again
The rock slipped thru my fingers
like sand

I just don't understand how she could take my soul
and crush it in her hand
One by one, the pieces slip
Thru her fingers
like sand

To the tune of Jingle Bells

Dashing to the store,
In my great big SUV.
Gas pedal to the floor,
It’s almost Christmas Eve!
Twelve presents I must get,
And then I will be done.
I wonder why some people think,
That Christmas shopping’s fun!

Chorus:
Christmas time, Christmas time,
Used to be such fun.
When I was a youngster,
Before I was a mum!
Christmas time, Christmas time,
Used to be such fun.
Now I spend it at the mall,
It’s Christmas on the run!

The parking lot is full,
I can not find a space.
I think I spot one there,
And to it I do race.
I’m ready to pull in,
I signal with my blinker,
A granny pulls in front of me
And then gives me the finger!
(Chorus)

I found a place to park,
And now it’s time to shop.
I promise to myself
I will not fail or stop,
Until I have in hand,
The perfect gifts to buy.
My kids will have the best Christmas
That credit cards supply!
(Chorus)

The shopping’s all complete,
And Christmas Eve is here.
The presents are all wrapped,
We’re full of Christmas cheer!
I look around the room,
At all my family.
I realize that it’s not the gifts,
That mean so much to me!

Final Chorus:
Christmas time, Christmas time,
It is so much fun,
Gathering with loved ones,
Sharing with each one!
Christmas time, Christmas time,
We must not forget,
The meaning behind Christmas
Is more than wrapped presents!

He was her Father's honored guest,
the Knight who came at the King's behest,
to serve his leige as champions do,
all cloaked in armor...strong and true.
He was the "favored one", this Knight,
surrounded by the King's delight.
As was the custom of the day,
the Lady 1Love led his way,
to sleep within the Regents wing...
she was the daughter of the King.
She led on feet so wondrous light,
the maiden attending this Good Knight.
She wished him peace within this place,
and saw such joy upon his face.
The tourney now his only goal,
to win the one that touched his soul!
He knew he'd won the Lady's grace,
but the tourneyment he had yet to face,
for the one True Champion in the land,
would also win the Lady's hand.
Her dreams that eve were all of him...
of the love she felt for him within.
Her heart beat wildly as she rested,
praying her Knight would not be bested.
~*~*~*~
The next day brought the answer clear,
the Good Knight bested...by his peer!
He left the field with heavy heart,
and knew it was his time to part.
He found her near the little brook,
and knowing of the chance he took.
he held her tight within his arms,
and feasted on his Lady's charms.
He could not bear her claimed by another...
he meant to be her only lover.
The two became as one that night,
and said goodbye in the morning light.
He swore he soon would come for her,
knowing the penalty he'd incur,
were they discovered in their flight...
for the Lady belongs to the Champion Knight!
~*~*~*~
She walks alone each break of day,
and dreams he'll carry her away.
Her heart he's stolen, his to keep...
bold thoughts of him invade her sleep.
He is her love...the Good Knight fair,
with wondrous eyes, and auburn hair.
His body equally steel and grace...
the deepest eyes, the kindest face.
His skills unmatched, his touch so soft.
He holds her tiny world aloft.
She mourns for him, awaits him there.
The core of herself she will never share,
but with he alone. For him she waits...
watching from the courtyard gates.
She walks along the path they took,
remembering the passion beside this brook,
where they parted as lovers in the morning mist.
'Twas here they savoured their last kiss.
~*~*~*

On one bright day, three ships set sail,
Full stocked, months' worth - well laid.
Their mission sure, they dared not fail -
The Queen in gold had paid.

Through storm and calm, they plied their way,
The stars set them their course.
The wind, full-gusting, filled their sails
With pow'rful driving force.

To Indies' lands these men did aim
And commerce was their goal.
They never dreamed that their acclaim
Would birth a nation whole.

Columbus and his captains all:
They surely missed their mark.
Not India - America!
And there they disembarked.

Six centuries have passed since then
Adventurers now float
In heavens high, not wide oceans;
In spaceships, not in boats.

So fly, fly on, space-sailor men,
And brave our frontiers new.
Find worlds unknown, and stake your claim,
In Twenty-Ninety-Two.