In the summer of Eighteen and Sixty-nine
the divot was made commercial
lives would be touched
industries would someday thrive
for on August Twenty-fourth
the waffle iron came to practical reality
the waffle of divots
those holders of syrup, jam, and honey
was certainly nothing new
the Greeks made theirs
the Dutch and others had theirs
but Cornelius Swarthout
a man of Troy in the State of New York
made one, registered the patent
and waffle-mania
took on new meaning
in the summer of Eighteen and Sixty-nine!
dc riggs © 24 August 2010
We volunteered, raised our hand
took the oath
putting our lives on the line
for our Nation, our home
stateside, overseas
times of peace
times and places of conflict
we still stand tall
when the Flag goes by
duty done, we answered the call.
Wreaths on tombstones
make the veteran very proud
tributes to the dead
comfort to spouses, children
a statement
to the greater community
of those who served
across America, wreaths are laid
a salute to the brave
may there memory never fade.
dc riggs © 9 Nov 2010
Now I lay me down to sleep
on a Saturday night
facing a week
with many things on my plate
I pray for hope, strength
encouragement, for energy
much more I think
I pray for a goodnight's rest
that tomorrow I may truly worship
not checking a thing done
but time with You dear Lord
Creator of Heaven and Earth
though our time
is constant through the week
the time with fellow believers
in song and prayer
in study of Your Holy Word
these touch my soul
where technology has no power
Your Holy Spirit
my soul will maintain and keep.
dc riggs © 27 Nov 2010
The turkey cooked, feasted upon
leftovers in the fridge
prayers of Thanksgiving said
the nap taken
the day comes to an end
but not the blessings
for the Lord watches us
as we sleep, go through the day
laugh, cry, rejoice, grieve
in all things He holds our hearts
our hands
in the Valley of the Shadow
on the mountain top of true joy
so Thanksgiving Day ends
but God's blessings still continue
so let our thanksgiving
be daily, rather than once a year
to God be the glory
great things He has done, will do
Amen, AMEN, and Amen!
dc riggs © 25 Nov 2010
Did you know, with a happy thought
you can dream great dreams
like Peter the Pan
you can fly
with happy thoughts
you can defeat pirates
with, without eye patch or sword
you can build, and grow
find love, hope, faith
be an encourager, an example
the pessimist, the negative thinker
looses before he/she begins
tears down without meaning to
so are we too the half glass full born?
or is it by choice?
only we can choose our attitude
our outlook on life
so beware! choose the happy thought!
dc riggs © 25 Nov 2010
In to each life a bit of rain does fall
some complain
desert people they must be
for the rain cleanses the air we breath
nourishes the grass
the trees,
the flowers that come again in May
it symbolizes the hurts
pain, the loss
that brings forth tears
so the soul might find healing
in winter's cold
the rain pushes people together
around fires, hot drinks
building relationships, fellowships
'tis a gift of God
this thing we call rain
let us walk through it
with gratitude, straight and tall.
dc riggs © 30 November 2010
Today dawn came softly and clear
bringing a new day
new possibilities
at dawn a white horse awoke
ready if needed to carry
the banner of Christ
dawn came for a Glory Rider
a cup of coffee, a prayer
for strength, courage, guidance
at dawn someday the King of Glory
will come on His white horse
to round up His own
at that dawn, "Well Done!"
will be said to riders and horses
for the witness and the love shared
in that dawn, eternity's gate
will open wide for the faithful to ride
into unimaginable glory
for that dawn will come, bright and clear.
dc riggs © 4 December 2010
Twenty four hours ago
the bride to be
had talked to her true love
far away on the Hawaiian shore
a June bride she would be
now, no more plans, no wedding
it was the Eighth of December, Forty-one
Twenty four hours ago
she awoke with her hubby
her best friend
father to their children
the day before he had Sunday duty
now she was alone
it was the Eighth of December, Forty-one
Twenty four hours ago
in Church the parents had prayed
for their military son
who had delightful duty
even if it was in Hawaii far away
now he was gone
it was the Eighth of December, Forty-one
Twenty four hours or so
what a difference it can make
lives turned upside down
tear stained pillows, hurting hearts
let us remember all who served
for our freedom died
on Seven December, Nineteen Forty-one.
dc riggs © 8 December 2010
The year was Nineteen hundred thirty-six
Edward VIII gave to Britain
and the world
a new King, his brother George
King George later would give them Elizabeth
a long reigning Queen
Edward gave himself to Wallis
after she gave Mr. Simpson a divorce
George VI gave to Edward
a title of honor
and a sentence of exile from the land
so it was in a depressed world
Spain's Civil War
a testing ground for World War
Germany reoccupied the Rhineland
Baldwin twilled his thumbs
Chamberlain waited to sell out Czechoslovakia
Churchill waited to save the world
"Peter and the Wolf" debuted
Gone with the Wind is published
Edward, bless his royal heart
the boy who did not want the crown
wore it less than a year
so Wallis could become his bride
in the year Nineteen hundred thirty-six.
dc riggs © 10 December 2010
I prepared for Christmas my way
who to buy for, what to give
what I hoped to get
tree, lights, decorations, Action!
I complained about the rush
the hustle and bustle
the commercialism in which I share
yet I failed to ask
"What About Jesus?"
Jesus got some of my attention
what Christian could do less?
but I had my naughty and nice list
who got cards, who didn't
there was little time, energy
to pray for those lost, broken, hopeless
the military or for my neighbor
like Alice's rabbit, I was running late
in the dust of my life was Jesus.
Then the mop of truth hit me
full in the face
how would I feel if on my birthday
everyone did everything else
if I were ignored, given second best
lost in life's shuffle
I tied the knot to hang future generations
to destroy all that I love, hold dear
by forgetting Jesus.
To God's throne I crawled, humbled
in tears as well as afraid
His mercy I sought, His grace He gave
my prayers became more fervent
those in need caught my heart's eye
I gave to those who could not
give back to me
my center the manger, not the tree
"Happy Birthday Jesus!"
dc riggs © 16 December 2010
The old fellow looked hard at me
yet his gentle eyes he could not deny
he spoke, his voice
bordering on a gravely snarl
"Santa Clause, Christmas Spirit, Humbug!"
his words took caused me to reel
"was this Scrooge the original?" I wondered
without missing a breath
he continued
"You keep Christmas in your way
and I will keep it in mine!"
his scowl changed to a bit of a grin
his old face as a candle first lit
with tender voice he sang
"Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, how still
we see the lie. . . ."
deep within my heart was touched
the Christmas season now had a reason
one I'd known, but ignored
if I would have eternal life, joy, and love
the babe in the manger, God-man on the cross
Jesus is the one who holds the key.
dc riggs © 16 December 2010
The Berlin Wall came down
the years of conflict
hot and cold
came to an end
the Red threat defeated
but their grip is strong, long entrenched
seeds sown in days long gone by
big government, control, power
they who would do away
with our free market system
people who deny God
have only man as a moral compass
and even the religious
can be rotten and true stinkers
destroy gradually
the faith, the economy, the military
the American way of life
don't bash with bombs
erode, erode, with questions
innocent sounding denial
to pluck our Eagle's feathers
to replace the American grin with a frown.
dc riggs © 16 Dec 2010
The clock strikes midnight
a day is over, a month, a year
we look back
with satisfaction, with regret
completions, the unfinished
but the time is done
all is set and cannot be undone
God has set a time for all
to everything a season
in the fullness of time
God has a reason.
The clock strikes midnight
a new day begun, a month, a year
we look forward
with hope as well as with fear
challenges to meet, goals to attain
a time for work, for fun
things to finish, things not yet begun
God has set a time for all
to everything a season
in the fullness of time
God has a reason.
Laugh! Love! Have No Fear!
for God is in charge of this New Year!
dc riggs 31 December 2010
