American Tragedy

American Tragedy


We had little girls in Blacksburg
Their brothers in Columbine
Sisters in the Amish school
Their spirits all divine
Our uncles fell in Austin
Near the Austin Tower Bell
Our mother – Oklahoma
In the building as it fell
We lost cousins in the jungle
When the Tet Offense came down
Our grandpa in Korea
His body never found
His father fought the Germans
Till he could fight no more
His daddy fought the Kaiser
In the war to end all war
We had family at Vicksburg
Gettysburg and Lexington
They were Yankees – they were rebels
They all fell by the gun

We’re foreign born or native son
We’re Americans right now
We’ve lived through this and what’s to come
We will muddle through somehow

Mdailey
10/04/07

On Being Green

In today's world, a lot of talk centers around whether or not something is "green". Here are my thoughts - - -

On Being Green

Long ago it was first noted
And Kermit once was quoted
You know that it’s not easy being green
Back then he meant it racial
About the color of your facial
Today that’s really not what it would mean

It means stopping our abusing
All the energy we’re using
And cutting back on all of our excess
It means windmills on the hill side
Driving hybrids when you must drive
And staying close to home and going less

It means veggies that are home grown
Clothing that is home sewn
And bicycles as gifts for lazy kids
It means using things till they’re used up
No paper plates – no paper cup
And living as our grandpas did

It means shutting off the lights
Open windows for cool nights
And getting cozy when the cold nights come
Walking – feet upon the ground
Not a treadmill to be found
And playing board games when the day is done

Turning off that old TV
Turning down that cold AC
And recycling everything that you can not use
No frills, no fancy labels
Eating home at your own tables
Going green is something you must choose

And thus I must attest
Kermit said it best
It’s really not that easy “Being Green”

Mdailey
07/24/08

Kindergarten Teacher

With the school year coming to an end soon, I want everyone who reads this to go thank a teacher. I never did when I was in school but in hindsight I really should have done so.

My Kindergarten Teacher

My kindergarten teacher and I’d guess probably yours
Taught me all I need to know to open all the doors
She taught me all my letters and how to write them out
She taught me about indoor voice and there is no need to shout
She read to me for hours; she taught me 2 + 2
She said “in learning there is power and I’m giving that to you”
She taught me how to make friends and how friends help friends get by
She taught me how to make amends when I made others cry
She taught me that in sharing I get more than I give
She taught me that in caring a better life I’d live
She taught me about teamwork and how to be discerning
But most of all she taught me a life-long love of learning

My kindergarten teacher passed away some time ago
I never got to thank her but I’d hope somehow she’d know
A kindergarten teacher is an angel in disguise
Leading – loving – learned - intelligent and wise

If not for kindergarten teachers who knows where we would be
Thank your kindergarten teacher, once for you and once for me

Mdailey
01/09/09

Retirement

This is my first day of retirement. Since it is Saturday, I feel little different. Let's see what Monday brings. My retirement party on Wed was great. Old friends came back to the event and said nice things about me. It felt funny. Thur and Fri were odd days at the office - I even worked 30 minutes past quiting time on Friday to help someone at the office. One sad note - none of my usual lunch bunch was available for lunch on Friday and I had to eat alone on my last day. That was not how I envisioned the last day to be. But I did write a couple of poems for the office before I left. I hope you enjoy them.

Who You Gonna Call

I’ll be leaving today
And I just had to say
I’ve had a good time with you all
But when I am home
I won’t answer the phone
So who are you gonna call?

Well, Loretta called Eddie up front
Said “Eddie we’ve ended the hunt
So just be a dear
And say I volunteer
And I’ll do anything that you want”

So no one should have any doubt
About who around here will help out
Eddie Ansell’s been named
(He’d say he’s been framed)
To be the man with all the clout

But Eddie can’t do it alone
He needs helpers as history has shown
So Loretta has said
That Cheryl and Deb
Will be alternates that you can phone

So if something needs fixin’ – call Ed
No answer? Call Debbie instead
If she can’t be found
Run Cheryl to ground
Your support around here won’t be dead
[More to follow this afternoon]

Mdailey / 05/01/09
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Farewell

So long, farewell,
auf Wiedersehn, good night
I see the light
I think the time is right

So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehn, goodbye
We all must leave
This time I fear it’s I

So long, farewell,
auf 'voir , auf wiedersehn
I’ve had some fun
I hope you’ve had the same

So long, farewell,
Adios & toodleoo
It’s been a blast
There’s no more I can do

So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehn, adieu
I’ve done my best
The rest is up to you

So long, farewell
Adios’ & Cheerio
My day is done
And now it’s time to go

====================================
There once was a man from Chantilly
At 60 thought boy this is silly
I’ve done my share
So I’m out of there
This will be my last poem to you – really!

Mdailey 05/01/09