A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-28-05...Poetry and Potpourri at the Finest

9-28-05 | JustAmy

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear ~

Welcome To...


...at The Finest!

'Amy's Place' is more than just about poetry.
Come in, relax, and share with fellow FReepers
your thoughts about any of the things on the *Menu*.

Enjoy! :)








Graphic by Billie

Reflections

God sets a mirror down for us,
To bounce back sunny days,
He does it when the rain has passed,
To help us see the rays.

The reflection that we see in it,
Is not of hair and skin.
What we see is an image of,
The gloried state we’re in.

Light pink, and brighter orange,
And yellow brighter still.
I sit and look at glory’s frame,
Upon my favorite hill.

The others call it rainbow,
But I know what it is,
A magic mirror in the sky,
That lets us know we’re His.

The body that we occupy down here,
Is nothing like its start,
For one, the most attractive thing,
Has always been the heart.

God looks into our heart and then,
Just for His own amusement.
He gives a glimpse of what He sees,
And laughs at our confusement.

“That doesn’t look at all like me!”
I hear your protests start,
But when you look at other folks,
How can you see their heart?

If you admit there’s beauty,
Reflecting from some source,
Just think how glorious it will be,
When He’s revealed full force.

And you and I are with Him,
And joining in the glow.
Next time you see a rainbow,
I thought you ought to know.

NicknamedBob April 5, 2004
© 2004






Graphic by MamaBear

The Corner

That cupboard in the corner was where brother put his gun,
Right up top to keep it safe while he was having fun.
He made a good policeman. I always knew he could.
His stony face when he played war could scare me pretty good!

Yes, we played cops and robbers, and games like kick the can.
I know those games were helpful as I learned to be a man.
When brother came to visit, his gun went way up top,
He couldn’t win an argument just ‘cause he was a cop!

We liked to play our card games, with Dad and all the boys.
And all of us knew guns were something different from toys.
My brother used his in his work, just like the badge he had.
Although he never really used it, and for that, he was glad.

The rest of us all knew what guns were really for,
The government even gave me one when I went off to war,
Although I never used it, just like my brother cop,
The very fact that I was there, just caused that war to stop.

I have a picture of the guys, with cards all strewn about,
You’d get the notion all the rules had somehow been tossed out!
With cards in hatbands, cards in sleeves, and chips piled way up high,
But all of that was just to show for that nosy camera eye!

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . . June 8, 2005





Graphic by MamaBear

THE OLD HOUSE REMEMBERS

The old ranch house is alone with its past,
The windows are closed and the doors are fast;
The windmills are hushed, a desolate pall
Of silence and heartbreak broods over all.
Only the wind in the cottonwood trees
Tells off its rosary of memories.
Once around the wells were cattle that milled
And cooled themselves in the water which spilled
From the brimming tanks and trickled away
To a wet weather stream which trees betray;
There the willows dip their long lacy plumes
Over low marsh grass where the smartweed blooms.

Now the cottonwoods murmur, the willows weep,
And all else is silent, the place asleep,
But above the stillness when soft winds blow
Are the phantom voices of long ago ...
A lone cowboy as he rides down the trail
And yodels to drown out the coyote's wail.
While the walls reecho with rhythmic beat
To the merry tunes and to dancing feet.
So the old house lives again in its past,
Lives in the joys that the years have amassed.
And the full rich life that it’s loved ones knew
Is wafted back when it comes into view.

By Laressa Cox McBurney (my great-aunt)
Published in Prairie Panorama in 1938



Many thanks for stopping by. : )

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-26-05 Military Monday 09-27-05 Hall of Fame #13

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[lonestar]

That looks like me!

Weinie

[mrstank]

Some turtles, such as the painted turtle, or red eared sliders are mostly water turtles, but can spend short periods out of the water as well. I had a pet painted turtle for about 12 years. He is now a class pet at the elementary school in the town where my parents live.

Tortoises live pretty much exlusively on land. And sea turtles live in the ocean except when the females lay their eggs on the beach.

Hope you don't mind the turtle lesson of the day. :)

[mrstank]

Cornstarch is called cornflour or maize cornflour in Britain.

It is a starchy flour made from Indian corn used in cooking.

[JustAmy]

Ooops .... I forgot to tell PrissyMissy that she must give the author credit for his work.

"The Turtle" author is Unknown.

As someone remarked at Amy's Place .... Unknown sure keeps himself busy.

[JustAmy]

THAT'S IT!!

Thanks for finding "BAD PENNY'S CASTLE". I looked for it but had not saved it. I love Jack Deth's kitten/cat poems.

Pinging PAL, TulipTree76 and Marguerite to this one.

[JustAmy]

Simone is kinda mischievous; we think she and Missy are a perfect match. :)

[DollyCali]

GREAT POEM!! I meant to drop you at note at other thread.. glad to see you dropped in here. this group is patriotic ... fun loving... and pretty eclectic. Amy Had a daily thread for years on poetry & pot pouri. We are glad she will now & then reprise the group and the thread here.

[DollyCali]

cornstarch.. cooking thickening agent

[JustAmy]

Thank you, JW. Hope you are having a great day.

My great-aunt's poem and the old house are special for me.
My Grandmother's sister wrote lots poems and I've used several.

The old house was in Texas, north of Dallas.
It belonged to my Grandfather's brother.
I found it Saturday in a letter from 1997 to my Mom.

I'm happy that it brought you fond memories from childhood.

[hiramknight]

Glad you helped me come upon it. I'll make sure I stop by whenever I see a post.

[JustAmy]

LOL .... thank you, Lady.

While trying to find material for Amy's Place, I discovered the knack of borrowing. :)

Cute puppy and I love your Dog Haiku.



Happy Strawberry Cream Pie Day!

[DollyCali]

we can add you to the ping list if you wish. Thursday's JohnHuang2 does a satirical political essay..Monday is military. Tues & Wed varies depending on hostess & their desire.

[FreeTheHostages]

THIS ONE REMINDED ME OF YOU!

[MEG33]

That poem about the old house brought back memories of my grandmother's farm house..in Ellis Co just south of Dallas.

[LadyX]

Thank you, Miss FreeTheSausages..:))
How go things for you in the D.of C.?

[LadyX]

my spring is just this:
a single bamboo shoot
a willow branch
Issa

[JustAmy]

Good evening, Snugs.

Hope you've had a Wonderful Wednesday.

I see someone answered your questions about turtles and cornstarch. GOOD



Happy Strawberry Cream Pie Day!

[jwfiv]

my fall is just this:
a single gold leaf
a cool breeze

... )

Thank you, Miss Maggie, for the lovely thought and pic.

Love your dog haiku ... )))

[jwfiv]

my fall is just this:
a single gold leaf
a cool breeze

... )

Thank you, Miss Maggie, for the lovely thought and pic.

Love your dog haiku ... )))

[Billie]

Thank you, Amy! It is wonderful to see that familiar *Amy's Place* opening again - I love having it AND you here - it's the best of both worlds!

Your pledge graphic is beautiful!! I am so happy that you agreed to bring to the Finest a little poetry and potpourri every now and then!