Our Last Chapter

Broken and Undone

Sometimes I feel broken and undone,

Like a lost and wayward one,

The certainties I counted on,

Have faded and are all but gone,

What happened to my happily ever after?

Growing old together was supposed to be our last chapter,

Then cancer came and shattered our dreams,

Our golden years together were cut short, it seems,

Until death we do part was a vow we made,

I didn’t need to be afraid,

It never happens to us, until it does,

What could have been, never was.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/27/2019

"Fantastic"

Thumbs UP!

Thumbs up means you’re positive, okay, ready,
You are rock solid, in agreement, incredibly steady,
Thumbs up means you give your wholehearted support,
It is an encouragement to someone playing a sport,
It is the gesture most often seen in the photos of Jerry,
When he was fighting cancer and it was scary,
A scary and uncertain time, but nonetheless,
He put his thumb upward; He knew God would bless,
God did bless him with an incredible life,
But He never promised there would not be strife,
Jerry’s thumbs up were meant to assure us and say:
“I’m having a really fantastic day!”
Incredible to think that someone in his situation,
Was brave enough to thumbs up without hesitation,
His attitude was always positive, and he knew,
His days on earth would only be few,
Thumbs up to Jerry for all his courage,
He was giving up hope and he did not discourage,
When I see a thumbs up emoji, I think of him over there,
On the couch with his thumb held up in the air!

Tammy Harvey
Written: 11/23/2019

Like it or Not

We are Taking you to see Santa

“We are taking you to see Santa Claus!” echoed down the hall,

“You must tell him what you want for Christmas”, (or get nothing at all?),

This visit to Santa could be met with terrified kicking and screaming,

Some kids are frightened to meet the jolly St. Nick, while others have been dreaming,

Dreaming of this encounter most of the year!

It is quite a dilemma though for those who fear,

The huge red suite and the loud “HO HO HO”,

And the long white beard, and the white fake snow,

Giant black boots, a round belly, reindeer and a sleigh,

It is hard to find room on his lap anyway,

Will I be on Santa’s list?  Naughty or nice? 

Is he really and truly checking it twice?

It puts a lot of stress on the child who is so curious,

And after standing in line for hours, the parents could be furious,

The hesitation, the meltdown, the child is not cooperating,

The situation is a little bit more than complicating,

Think of it this way and you’ll see what I mean,

He either faces his fear NOW or gets the guy dressed in green!

The Grinch is the alternative to the gift-giving spirit,

He said he didn’t want to be there, but they didn’t hear it!

Poor kid.  He just can’t win for losing,

This Santa thing was not his choosing!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/23/2019

                                             Charles   2017

Time Tested

Overalls

Except for Sunday, my Pap-paw wore overalls anywhere he would go,
Dark denim bib overalls, to be exact, high back, not low,
He was a carpenter and a painter and they served him well,
He was a laborer, a craftsman, and anyone could tell,
With pockets all over to hold his tools with ease,
His overalls were worn and sometime patched at the knees,
Comfortable and durable, though, that was the plan,
He had a wooden tape measure stick that folded up like a fan,
And a flat wooden pencil, both I thought were so intriguing,
He got up before daylight and his job was fatiguing,
With a red bandana stuffed in the bib to wipe off his brow,
He would feed and milk the old jersey cow,
His pick-up truck was a manual step-sided Chevrolet,
I rode in the middle with the stick in my way,
Grandpa Harris wore Key Imperial brand overalls to do his trade,
He was an electrician and his style of railroad striped overalls were a lighter shade,
Coveralls, too, were a favorite of his; a signature look for him,
In fact, when he passed away, he was buried in them,
Now overalls, for children, are a favorite of mine,
Nothing is cuter than a child in overalls at the age of two months or nine,
OshKosh B’Gosh were perfect hand-me-downs, for our three sons,
In the summertime, without a shirt, they wore the shorts ones,
Then in winter, the long pants with a flannel shirt was adorable,
Except for during potty training, then they could be horrible,
But all-in-all, I’d say overalls have stood the test of time,
And this is where I’ll end my rhyme!

Tammy Harvey
Written: 11/21/2019

Heart Shine, Finish Line

Run, Girl Run

Training to run a long-distance race must be incredibly demanding,

Your body is pushed to its limits; your endurance is outstanding,

You press on even when you want to stop going,

It’s grit and determination that keeps your heart knowing,

You can accomplish a 3K, a 5K, a half or full marathon,

Acknowledging it is always darkest before the dawn,

I am not speaking personally, as I am not a runner,

In my estimation, doing anything else would be fun-ner,

But for those who run, I tip my hat to you,

I understand why you do what you do,

It gives you a peace, a strength, a runner’s high, if you will,

It is not an easy pursuit; it takes time and it takes skill,

I equate it to writing poetry for me,

It fills my soul and that is the key,

To train in any sport or physical activity requires discipline,

I give you kudos, along with a lot of acetaminophen,

So, run girl run, if that is your liking,

Enjoy your time, whether it is running, hiking or biking,

Clear your mind and then your heart will shine,

When you push through to the finish line!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/15/2019

Inspired by and dedicated to Mary Lynn, who enjoys running.

Bedazzled

Ho*Ho*Ho Juno

Juno is now adorned in a Santa hat, hot pink with white fur,

Bedazzled with rhinestones; it’s a good look for her!

It’s festive and fun; she’s ready for the holiday season,

She a fashionista, after all, so she really needs no reason,

To change her hat at a moment’s notice is her inclination,

She is a trend-setter with a glorious reputation,

If you haven’t met her yet, she’s made her appearance before,

In the past blog posts, you can see what she wore,

She can’t catch snowflakes on her tongue, if she had one,

Or participate in a snowball fight, just to have fun,

She can’t build a snowman or sleigh ride on her own,

And she can’t go on-line shopping on her cellphone,

But she can celebrate the holiday with her fashion declaration,

It’s a hat that soon will be sweeping the nation,

An ordinary red Santa hat just would not do, oh no,

For Juno, who is quite unique, yet very apropos,

She projects her own style; she knows what she wants,

And a rhinestone or two she chooses to flaunt,

I’d say she is ready to be a part of our Christmas décor,

She has so much to offer; Just wait, they’ll be more!

She has become a celebrity in my household for me,

And I share her with you, so she can spread Christmas glee!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/15/2019

An Entire Lifetime Together

A Momentous Anniversary

First comes love, then comes marriage,

Then comes someone with a baby carriage,

This is the traditional order of life events in the stereotypical way,

However, life doesn’t always happen accordingly today,

Yet one couple I know has surpassed all marital expectations,

Celebrating their 68^th wedding anniversary is quite a feat for human relations,

My parents in their late eighties are achieving this nearly impossible accomplishment,

On November 16, 1951, the two of them became each other’s compliment,

Young and just out of high school, they married with a swiftness,

On the porch of the preacher’s house, his wife their only witness,

There were no fancy wedding plans, no money for such ceremony,

My Dad sold a cow to pay the preacher for the matrimony,

A honeymoon in Gatlinburg for them was especially grand,

It snowed overnight and soon became a winter wonderland,

Right away my Dad was drafted to serve in the military,

While my mother,left behind,mailed him a letter daily,

For nearly 2 years my Dad had active duty in the Korean war,

He experienced tragedy he’d never seen before,

To get back home safe and sound was the ultimate plan,

By the grace of God, he returned and their life together began,

My grandfather built a small house for them on the corner of his land,

But It was seven years later before their family would expand,

My sister was born on the fourth of July in 1958,

Then only eighteen months later, I was born; I guess I couldn’t wait!

Anyway, this is how John and Julia became a family of four,

Then they moved to Knoxville and weren’t country folks anymore,

They owned and operated their businesses with plenty of success,

Until retirement, when they finally took a needed rest,

They’ve enjoyed life living in an A-frame on the lake since then,

And reminisce about the old times ‘cause they’d do it all again,

Sixty-eight years is an entire lifetime together,

They've survived it through all kinds of weather!

Congratulations to you both! With love,

Wishing you abundant blessings from God above.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/13/2019

He was a Doer

Proverbs was Jerry's favorite book of the Bible.  I thought it fitting to include a verse from Proverbs concerning work.  There was no one else I know that worked as hard as he did in his short lifetime. He had high hopes, like the Frank Sinatra song about the rubber tree plant:

Work Ethic of an Ant

He was a doer, a worker bee,

With the strength of a mighty oak tree,

Having deep roots into family and friend:

He, being the one on whom everyone would depend,

He had the determination of a carpenter ant,

The one that moved the rubber tree plant,

He was driven, with a work ethic that was unsurpassed,

He was giving of his time and talents to help with any tasks,

He was a dreamer, aspiring to have adventuresome quests:

Those were the dreams that he loved best:

To buy a retired fire engine and take the bucket truck up high,

To fly in an experimental airplane around the SC sky,

To drive a horse trailer from up north to the Raleigh fairgrounds,

To zip-line over the rain forest in Costa Rica…upside down!

To visit the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil,

To catch Northern Pike in the Vermillion River, so surreal,

To ride motorcycles and jet skis at high rates of speed,

To drive an 18-wheeler for FedEx, his expectations to exceed,

To camp in the Great Smokey mountains annually for nearly 40 years,

We remember him fondly, as we fight back our tears,

He did all these and so much more,

But time was short for what God had in store,

He was a loving father to three amazing men,

Who stepped up tremendously when he needed them,

He always inspired others even when he was ill,

Always referring to what he thought was God’s will,

And a husband of 33 years, a brother, a mentor, a son,

An uncle, a neighbor, a friend to everyone,

He had a bucket list that was lengthy and wild,

He was excitable by simple things like a small child,

To go out west and herd cattle on a dude ranch,

Was something he would have done, given the chance,

He wanted to navigate the east coast in his own sailboat,

A free spirit, he loved the daring and remote,

To hike the entire Appalachian trail, was something he wanted to do,

And he probably would have done it, but the days he had were few,

An excellent employee, he did not allow himself much leisure,

A problem solver, a do-it-yourself-er, a real people-pleaser,

He was an energizer bunny with enthusiasm to match,

He loved chocolate chip cookies and could eat the entire batch,

He had a beaming smile that was contagious,

And bright blue eyes that were outrageous,

He did not shy away from any type of chore,

Jerry Harvey, We love you every day, even more!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  10/27/2019

Proverbs 6:6-8 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!  Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

Tough Decision

Farewell Jada

Her quality of life severely declined; she no longer was keen,

In just a few weeks, she would have celebrated her sweet sixteen,

Our dog Jada, ate and slept, then ate and slept more,

And when she slept, she would gently snore,

In her early days, she would give squirrels a chase,

And at the lake, dig a hole in the sand at a rapid pace,

She rode jet skis with her ears flopping in the wind,

She was mischievously disobedient, but a loyal friend,

Her bark was irritatingly loud, but far much worse than her bite,

She was a black wiener dog with a stubborn might,

Long bodied, but short and stubby legged,

She often sat under the table and tirelessly begged,

If anyone sat on the couch to watch tv or nap,

She could be found lounging up in their lap,

But recently her body and mind were failing,

We knew she was struggling and physically ailing,

I made a decision I’d never made before,

I took her to be euthanized; she suffered no more,

It was incredibly peaceful, and she was at rest,

And I had to believe the decision was best,

As I left the vet office with an empty leash in my hand,

I felt she was with Jerry and their time would be grand,

It’s never easy to decide a dog’s fate in this way,

But on Aug 30, we said farewell to Jada Kay.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  11/3/2019

Comfort Zone

Have you ever noticed how everyone desires the front row at a theater or ballgame, but the back row at church or in school?

Front Row Seat

I, being vertically challenged*, always chose to sit front row in a classroom,

(Those seats were always available, not the choice seats, I presume),

Otherwise, I couldn’t see and sometime couldn’t hear what was being taught,

I listened well and fervently took notes into the notebook that I brought,

Then one American History class in high school changed my whole perspective,

We were seated alphabetically, by last name; how rudely ineffective!

For the first time in my life, I was seated in the back,

It seemed miles away from the teacher; I was completely off-track,

It was necessary to copy the lesson from the chalkboard, but alas,

I could not read a word of it, like the others in my class,

I looked around and everyone was writing so intently,

 “You can see that?” I whispered, tapping a girl’s shoulder gently,

To me it all seemed out of focus and totally unclear,

Was I losing my eyesight? …  that was my fear!

Well, my eyesight was poor; I was near-sighted, in fact,

And I had to get glasses when I moved to the back,

I would not have known that based on my choice of seat,

But I still prefer the front, it makes my experience complete,

I don’t have to look past big heads that are tall,

Or get distracted for no reason at all,

Sitting in the front row may seem really lame,

But I like it there; it’s my comfort zone, just the same.

Tammy Harvey

10/6/2019

Day-by- Day

This poem is dedicated to a friend of mine who recently went to rehab and is currently 45+ days sober.

Someone once defined success to me as “Doing more than you need to, before you are asked to, not because you have to, but because you want to”.

Success

What does it mean to be successful?

Is it a sense of pride that makes your breast full?

Is it money, power or fame?

Is it winning the championship game?

Success may mean different things to everyone,

But to me it is an accomplishment, an effort that is done,

To the completion of a goal,

A testament to the tenacity of your soul,

It may be small and insignificant to those looking from the outside in,

While it is enormously gratifying to your heart within,

Anytime you triumph over an obstacle in your way,

It is a success- when you learn to overcome, it’s a brand-new day,

Success does not always correlate with becoming prosperous or wealthy,

It can be putting one foot in front of the other, keeping yourself healthy,

As healthy as you can, under your control,

Success is day-by-day, to achieve the ultimate goal,

If you struggle with alcoholism and rehabilitation is your aim,

Or any other addiction that I could readily name,

The first step is the biggest, but take that one step,

Then another and another- it’s okay to ask for help,

Success begins with a mindset, a determination to succeed,

If you really want to succeed, nothing else can ever impede,

Encouragement and support from others, of course, is a huge part,

But the decision to succeed is yours from the very start.

You can do it! You know who you are,

I am counting on you to go really far!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  10/6/2019

Transformation

The True Transformer

Remember the toys your kids had or maybe your brother?

The ones that could change from one thing to another,

A flip, a twist or turn, moving parts near and far,

Caused a toy that once was a robot to become a car,

They were called transformers and were literally two-in-one,

Intriguing, complex, but most of all, just fun,

How can something transform into something else?

And who is the transformer that is the very best?

God is the true Transformer; that is for certain,

He takes us and transforms us into a new person,

The old is gone though, never to return,

Unlike the toy, we transform, but the lesson is stern:

We don’t go back, like a two-in-one; we remain transformed,

Romans 12:2 warns us not to the world be conformed,

But be transformed by the renewing of our mind,

Then a discerning of God’s will, we will find,

God, the true Transformer; His will is perfect,

Seek God’s will and pray for wisdom to detect it,

The plans He has made for us through transformation,

Are often an amazing revelation!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/6/2019

What a Treasure!

Dutch Doll Quilt

Tiny pieces of cotton cloth cut into a particular shape,

The seamstress was careful; No minuscule detail would escape,

Small prints, brightly colored, and solids mixed in to match,

All cut precisely to the pattern until there was a batch,

A batch of Dutch doll clothing for a quilt made by a matron,

The girl doll:  A bonnet, a dress, arms and legs, with maybe a pretty apron,

The boy doll:  A hat, overalls, a back pocket, arms and feet,

Strategically sewn to form blocks, until each one was complete,

My grandmother made each first great-grandchild a crib-sized quilt,

Dutch doll style, as described; an heirloom is what she built,

I have one given to me at my eldest son’s birth,

No amount of money would determine its incredible worth,

There was love sewn into it with each and every stitch of thread,

It is truly remarkable and “you only get one” is what she said,

The tradition is long gone with my grandmother’s passing,

But she left a legacy behind that no one is surpassing,

A thoughtfully, handmade quilt for a new baby- what a treasure!

And to make them all herself was her absolute pleasure,

Each of us should create an heirloom to pass along,

It could be a piece of artwork, a writing or even a song,

A special, sincere gift to the next generation,

Get busy creating your legacy, without hesitation.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/6/2019

From Point A to Point B

Enjoy the Journey

In getting from point A to point B,

It’s fastest to go in a straight line, honestly,

Getting there fast and efficiently is the goal,

With no delays; It’s becomes a footrace, not a stroll,

The destination is the focus of our scurry,

Point B is where we want to be in a hurry,

With blinders on we push squarely ahead,

Ignoring sights and sounds while the light is red,

Green light, Go! That’s the attitude we take,

Pedal to the metal, take the foot off the brake,

We’ve got to get to where we are going; no really, it is true,

No time to stop and take in the beautiful scenic view,

It’s the journey, not the destination; why can’t we see?

It’s like we can’t see the forest through all the trees,

Stop!  Enjoy the journey.  It’s the most important part,

Getting there is half the fun; Don’t put the horse before the cart!

Destinations are on the map, but each journey is unique,

Make the journey your ultimate goal and your happiness will peak,

Getting from point A to B may have lots of twists and turns,

With unexpected delights and unpredictable returns,

The journey will be the delicious cake you can eat nonstop,

You will find the destination is just the cherry on the top!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/3/2019

Think about It

I don't usually find myself asking people not to believe, but I recently saw a bumper sticker that read:  "Don't believe everything you think".  This prompted me to think and inspired this poem:

Don’t Believe…

Don’t believe everything you think,

Good Advice.  Thoughts can really stink,

Untrue thoughts flood our minds, with regularity,

The idea is to dismiss or refute them with clarity,

Negative thoughts are there to only bring us down,

Remember that you are a child of God, preparing to wear a crown,

Satan is at work; don’t give him a foothold,

Be courageous.  Be confident. Be aware. Be bold.

Don’t believe everything you think,

Your own thoughts can really stink,

Positivity is key to a healthy mental state,

Glass half-full, not half-empty; don’t take Satan’s bait,

He gets in your head to make you feel unsure,

The word of God helps to keep your thinking pure,

Don’t believe everything you think or hear,

It can cause unnecessary doubt and fear,

Keep your thoughts on things that are true,

Phillipians 4:8 spells it out for you,

I’m not just speaking to you, I’m speaking to me,

I will take my own advice… thoughts determine who we can be!

Tammy Harvey

Written: 9/3/2019

Challenge Accepted

Recently my son Ted challenged me to write a "poem" of sorts using each letter of the alphabet to form a sentence with only that letter at the beginning of each word.  It was not an easy task and took several days to finally complete.  The letter "X" was my downfall.  Also, each sentence had to be at least 5 words long.

The Alphabet Challenge

Aardvarks are astoundingly awkward and alarmingly armored.

Bashful, blushing brides buy beautiful bridal bouquets.

Creepy crawling caterpillars can create colorful creatures.

Dignified dignitaries daily discuss developing diplomacy.

Every eleventh enormous elephant exceeds expectations.

Fancy fairy friends frolic frivolously for fun.

Ghastly goblins greedily gather golden gems. 

Heavy hippopotamuses happily have hot habitats.

I imagine I’m increasingly illogical in illustrating ideas.

Jokingly, jesters joyfully juggle jelly jars.

Keen Kangaroos kindly kiss kitchen kettles.

Lanterns light lovely, long lanes leaving lengthy luster.

Mischievous monsters meddle mindlessly making muddy messes.

Notorious nocturnal newts neighborly nest near nozzles.

Opinions obnoxiously oppose only optimum opportunities.

Precocious pretty petty people play ping pong poorly.

Quirky quail quills quietly quiver.

Rambunctious rats run rough rocks reluctantly.

Stamping stallions scarily squelch suspicious spiders.

Treacherous tornadoes twist trees trunks terribly.

Unusual unicorns utilize utopias understandably.

Vivacious violet vines venture variably, vanishing virtually.

Wishing well wishes will whimsically work wonders.

X, X,  X, X, X’s  (Kisses?)

Yipping, yapping youngsters yodeled yesterday.

Zipliners zoom, zig-zagging zestfully.

 Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/31/2019

Gone with the Wind Revisited

Fiddle-dee-dee

Gone with the Wind has long been a favorite movie of mine,

It has a certain charm mixed with grit that makes it so divine,

The cast of characters is a blend of beauty, grace, strength and determination,

Along with the drama of betrayal, destruction and humiliation,

Scarlett O’Hara is the ideal heroine, caught up in her own obsession,

The dashing Rhett Butler is the charismatic “gentleman” who makes a striking impression,

The delicate and kind Melanie, is Scarlett’s only obstacle to attaining her man,

Scarlett only wants what she cannot have, and is devoted to her plan,

Ashely Wilkes, her childhood and lifelong crush, is a man of integrity,

She cannot seduce him away from his wife; he has true loyalty,

The plot thickens in the midst of the Civil War,

When Atlanta burns, the South is shaken to its core,

Yet amid this dire situation, is an inkling of humor, particularly quaint,

Aunt Pittypat appears, with her ridiculous curls and tendency to faint,

Prissy is also one of my favorite characters with her famous quote:

“I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ no babies”; as Margaret Mitchell wrote,

 Mammy, the house servant to Miss Scarlett is sassy and memorable as well,

She strives to wrangle the antics of her mistress, but continues to fail,

“It ain’t fittin!’” spews out of her mouth for Scarlett is not compliant,

“Fiddle-dee-dee” is Scarlett’s reply, as she is certainly defiant,

Rhett Butler has the last say as he “doesn’t give a damn”,

But “Tomorrow is another day” is uttered after the big door slam,

It is a southern historical, fictional story with many a twist and turn,

True to life?  Larger than life? That is for you to discern,

This four-hour movie is a long saga, not for the weak of heart,

I took my Dad, back in the day, and he went to sleep at the start!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/27/2019

I'm BACK

Fashionista Juno

Summer is now almost officially gone,

I forgot to introduce Juno’s hat that she did don,

It was a floppy hat, light pink with a wide brim,

Embellished with a gold chain, chic and slim,

A sun hat, some would say,

Fitting for a summer’s day,

It sat comfortably upon her head,

Until I borrowed it for the beach trip instead,

A very fine choice, providing shade to my face,

And to my neck and shoulders - just in case,

Sunscreen is necessary, but can’t beat a good hat,

For protection from the UV rays.  I like it like that,

Oh, and Joshua loved to wear it, between me and you,

He donned it himself a time or two,

Into the surf shop, he got some funny stares,

But he wore it proudly without any cares,

I suppose the time has come to change Juno’s head wear once more,

A new season, fall, is knocking at the door,

What will Juno, the fashionista, wear?

She’s a real trendsetter, with a flare,

Stay tuned, it won’t be long,   

To find out what fall style she will don!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/3/2019

 

Temporary PAUSE

I guess I am on PAUSE for now, until I can create more poetry.  Sorry for the delay.  Please feel free to go back and reread the existing poems.  There are 283 of them!!!

Happiness vs Joy

I heard a sermon on Sunday about Psalm 92 which inspired this poem and gave me a whole new outlook on the difference between happiness and joy.

Defining Joy

“The joy of the Lord is my strength”- Nehemiah 8:10,

To that verse I can shout a big Amen,

Most think thankfulness comes from joy; however just the opposite is true,

Joy arises from being thankful for all things given in Christ Jesus, to me and you,

Joy is gladness in the Lord; It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit:  a positive attitude,

It is not a happy emotion based on circumstances, but it is based on gratitude,

Bad circumstances should not steal the joy we have in Him,

Giving thanks in all circumstances is not just a whim,

Biblical joy is acknowledging God’s goodness, even during difficult situations,

It is not a season in life, but a way of life; it is our rock, our sanctification,

It does not take away pain and suffering or loss; it does not make us carefree,

Joy is peace, contentment deep in our souls; not a happy-faced emoji,

Happiness is temporary, but joy is a fullness; a satisfaction of the heart,

We can be sorrowful and still have joy; each is not set apart,

Certain people exude joy when you encounter them,

Which can be infectious and uplifting, like a sweetly sung hymn,

It is a heart condition that everyone should find healing,

An inner willingness to declare ourselves “blessed “- not just a happy feeling,

Go ahead and use those yellow-faced emojis to put happy on people’s faces,

But choose joy for your heart that overflows into all the right places!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/12/2019

I Saw a Ghost (Crab)!

Ghost Crabs on the Go

Dark blue ocean fading into blue southern skies, puffy clouds of white,

I’ve been to the ocean dozens of times, but had never seen this sight:

Scurrying across the sand along the shoreline with effortless vim,

An abundance of ghost crabs! There were so many of them,

With the beige sand in the foreground, sun reflecting off each grain,

Each ebbing wave brought a flurry of activity; our excitement we couldn’t contain,

The ocean waves came and went repeatedly, and each time so did these tiny creatures,

They darted into holes in the sand.  It was hard to get a look at their features,

We decided to catch one to have a better look,

Yet not so easy a task; our agility we mistook,

These crabs were fast; faster than you might think,

After all they have 10 legs, and they are gone in just a blink,

Also, named “ghost” because their coloring blends in with the sand,

Ultimately, my youngest son held one in his hand,

These tiny crawlers were fun to watch and gave us so much joy,

Ghost crabs on-the-go, amused us like a shiny new toy,

Gliding side-to-side and hiding in a quick second, indeed,

No need to try and dig them out, we could never succeed,

That afternoon at the ocean was truly a memorable one,

Family fun on a sandy beach, basking in the sun!

Ghost crabs running here and there,

More days like this, is my prayer.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/10/2019

 

Spring Wreath on the Front Door

The Circle of Life

If I place a spring wreath on my front door,

Without a doubt, I know what it will be used for,

A mother bird will instinctively make her nest on there,

She will bring nesting materials and place them with care,

It doesn’t take long before tiny eggs will appear,

Delicate and nestled away, oh so dear,

But with our door constantly opening and closing it seems,

The baby birds will have no chance to live out their dreams,

It is a survival of the fittest; a natural selection,

All of them may not have the necessary protection,

The first nest this year was constructed by a mother wren,

She had 2 beautiful healthy birds and 1 egg that were safe and then,

The wreath fell off the door and the one egg went smash!

When the wreath was rehung, it fell again with a crash!

This time 2 babies went tumbling, like a roll of the dice,

They weren’t hurt; still breathing, but what wasn’t nice…

Our dog made a dash and swallowed one baby whole!

Now one lone survivor was left; bless its soul,

One baby bird grew large enough to fly away,

We don’t know his fate on that eventful day,

In a matter of weeks, a new nest was built by another,

With 4 precious little eggs, she became a mother,

The neatly made nest and eggs are currently thriving,

We don’t know how many of them will be surviving,

But the circle of life continues to turn,

How many will remain?  Mother Nature will discern.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/20/2019

This is the actual nest on our front door now:

Blue or Pink?

Baby's Due Date:  August 10, 2019.

Baby Makes Four

A new grand baby is soon to arrive,

In only a few more days, we will get a surprise,

Is she a girl or is he a boy?

Will we buy a doll or a truck for a toy?

In today’s world of instant information,

One has to admire the parents’ determination,

With opportunity to learn the baby’s gender,

With patience, they choose not to surrender,

Although I’m tempted to buy a little pink dress,

It would only be an uneducated guess,

A healthy baby is our only desire,

A safe delivery is all we require,

A new addition to the family is such a joy,

We couldn’t care less if it’s a girl or a boy!

Either way, Charles will be a big brother,

And Cassie will once more be a mother,

Ted will be a father of two,

Whether the blanket is pink or it’s blue!

This baby will receive abundant love,

From all of us here and from God above.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/22/2019

Bladesmithing

Raising three boys, I have had my share of what could be considered masculine television viewing.  Between action-packed movies, sporting events, and various competition reality shows, I have become quite fond of these myself.  One show in particular has not lost its edge (pun intended):  Forged in Fire on the History Channel.  We all still like to gather around to watch the newest episode of this televised competition between bladesmiths around the US.  Some of our other favorite shows have been:  Survivor, Impractical Jokers, Naked and Afraid, Alone, Ninja Warrior, Fear Factor, The Selection, UFC fights, and countless Hurricane Hockey games.
The Forged in Fire television program inspired this poem:   

 Forged in Fire

A competition between experienced bladesmiths: Begins at Round 1,

To Forge a blade within parameters assigned- can it be done?

The clock starts to count down; the allotted time is pressing,

With a nearly impossible directive, there is no time for guessing,

A heavy mallet pounds against molten steel,

Steel, red hot that moves ever so slightly, and yet the bladesmith has zeal,

The steel is plunged back into the forge fire again and again,

The craftsman wipes his brow, as the metal begins to thin,

This process requires patience and persistence; it is not for the weak,

It’s hot and exhausting- a task not for the meek,

I am intrigued with the bladesmith as he forms a shape to his liking,

He repurposes the metal into a blade, with sparks flying from his striking,

Quenched at just the right time, the steel is hardened as it should be,

When a file skates gently down the edge, it is as good as it could be,

The style and shape of the knife gives it its purpose,

Possibly to chop, slice, pierce and skin a dead carcass,

The edge is sharpened pristinely with the grinding tool,

A crafted piece of art- not for looks but performance, as a general rule,

Elimination occurs when the time has expired,

And the judges determine which contestant must be retired,

The handle is crafted next to make a fully functional weapon:  This is Round 2,

Bone, wood, stag or stacked leather are natural choices, to name only a few,

Comfortably shaped for gripping, not too round or too square,

Each crafter produces a knife and the judges compare,

In rigorous testing, to determine strength and durability,

A judge may chop viciously into a solid block of ice to measure fragility,

In turn, a slice test through apples or sand bags tests the blade for edge retention,

But by far the kill test is the most awesome to mention,

A ballistics dummy is usually disemboweled in this particular test,

It seems to be the test everyone likes the best!

Artificial blood spews from the gut and splatters the judge as he attacks,

It is gruesome and sometimes decapitation occurs with just a few whacks,

At this point, the competition eliminates another fine artisan,

And the remaining two are given a challenge that is truly non-partisan,

Round 3:  Back to their home forges these competitors go,

To attempt to craft the historical weapon assigned to them on the show,

In four days, each one returns with a replica of the blade,

Once again, the judges brutally test to see how well it was made,

Ultimately, a winner is declared and prize money is awarded,

You should set your DVR so this show will be recorded!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/18/2019

Mind Your Manners

Because I Said So

Do this and do that,

Don’t do this and don’t do that,

All mothers have a long list of what their children should do,

“Do your homework; eat your vegetables; say your prayers; tie your shoe”,

The don’t do list is probably even longer; it’s a lot!

Don’t run with scissors; don’t swallow your gum; don’t play in the street, don’t touch that, it’s hot!

Do:  Make your bed, brush your teeth, take out the trash and then…

Tomorrow, go back and do it all over again,

Turn off the tv; clean up your room,

Sweep the kitchen for me- oh, here is the broom,

Barking out orders is what I do,

Without even a please or a kind thank you,

Don’t even :  Backtalk me, whine or complain;

Why do I nag so much?  Let me explain…

Ummm …. Hmmmm …. Let me see,

I’m not quite sure- what could the cause be?

“Mind your manners”, is often my command,

“Do as I say and not as I do” is more my brand,

A recipe for success would be a compromise,

Discipline, mixed with love & grace- now, that would be wise,

It’s not all about the do and do not,

The riches are found in the memories I’ve got,

While it is important to teach them right from wrong,

It is crucial to build relationships that are strong,

“Because I said so” is a good enough reason,

“Because you asked me to” is a whole different season,

I think I’ll leave the barking to my dog,

The croaking can come from the backyard frog,

The children are only young once, why must I be a nag?

I don’t want to be known as a grumpy old hag!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  6/6/2019