SAW YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER

SAW YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER....

Saw your picture in the paper
On my way home today
As I stopped to buy some groceries
Before I went away;
God, you looked so handsome
Your bride looked lovely too
And I stood there speechless
Didn't know just what to do.

I bought a few odds & ends
A magazine, some fruit
Held onto the paper
Drove home a different route;
Stopped down by the river
Where we made love all night
My reflection in the water
Oh, what a pitiful sight.

Saw your picture in the paper
As I drowned it in the river
Got down on my knees
Before I asked with a quiver:
"God, how can I go on?
Help me, heavenly Father
How can I not tell him
I'm expecting his new daughter?"

Saw your picture in the paper.....

THE COWGIRL RIDES AWAY

THE COWGIRL RIDES AWAY


He saw my tears and still he just kept walkin'
He heard my sighs but he went right on talkin'
He left with a mere glimpse of yesterday
So this is where the cowgirl rides away.

And the horse takes me far and very fast
Until it's time for water and a rest
The sun goes down on all our yesterdays
'Cuz this is where the cowgirl rides away.

And my heart beats only for his soft caress
My lips stay moist & long for his sweet kiss
But "I love you" were words he just couldn't say
So this is where the cowgirl rides away.

SING ME TO SLEEP

SING ME TO SLEEP


Long ago when I was small
We'd listen to country tunes
By Hank Snow and Williams
Now it's been many moons.......
Life has been like those songs
Full of sad miseries
Sometimes it feels like
I'm tossed upon the seas.

Hank said he saw the light
And Snow was movin' on
Patsy sang about sweet dreams
And Tanya's Delta Dawn.........
I sing those songs aloud
When I go up to bed
I guess I'll be singing
Until I'm almost dead.

I sing about 'Yard Sale'
About love gone wrong
And I can sure relate to
'Four Walls' by Faron Young.......
I cry sometimes recalling
Love that used to be
I make believe your arms
Are still surrounding me.

But you and I have been apart
So many moons it seems
That I cannot remember
You, except in dreams........
When you died, you took
Part of me with you
And country music cannot
Stop these lonesome blues.

'Still' I sing Bill Anderson
And Loretta's country songs
Tammy and George's music
Makes me sing along...........
The older ones get to me
Each and every time
I taste your sweet kisses
In every sip of wine.

Sing me to sleep........

ALL SHE'D EVER NEED

ALL SHE'D EVER NEED

The rain beat down on the roof
Of the tin ceiling in the barn
The horse snored as he slept
'Twas soft hay all around;
She found a stream of sunlight
So she could rest & read
From her book named Heidi
All she'd ever need.

Her daddy sat her on his knee
As stories he did tell
And the snow fell from Heaven
Until the dinner bell;
She sat high on her red stool
As her hungry mouth she'd feed
And felt the love surround her
All she'd ever need.

Her choir gown fit just right
She sang aloud the words
And saw outside the windows
All the springtime birds;
Her mother played the organ
God's word they did heed
Her father rang the church bell
All she'd ever need.

But Heidi was just fiction
And horses don't live long
Choir, church, family
Life was just a song;
But dreams don't really happen
They wither & they bleed
At the time her dreams were
All she'd ever need.

MY BROTHERS OLD GUITAR

MY BROTHERS OLD GUITAR


How well I remember
When we bought our guitars
They were both made by hand
By someone from afar;
We were very happy
Like wishing on a star
And today I opened up
My brothers old guitar.

I stared at it all winter
Sitting in its black case
I could hear its rythem
I could see his face;
I just couldn't open it
The pain too much to bear
And then today I did it
It was majic to my ears.


The tune was right on pitch
Tho the strings need replacing
And it still smelled like him
Down inside the casing;
When his grandsons play it
He will be so very proud
Why, I can see him smiling
From way up in the clouds.



I left it out awhile
The sun shone on its case
And somehow I just knew
That it was Rodney's face....
Grinning and a humming
From a distant shining star
How sweet the haunting sound
Of my brothers old guitar.

THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL

THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL


The parking lot looked empty
On this hot spring-like day
The only car she saw was hers
She smiled in her shy way;
"Honey, I'm home" she softly yelled
And entered their nice, cool place
Hot as hell it was outside
She couldn't wait to see his face!

But the place was neat and quiet
No-body was inside
She rushed to the pool to look
And everywhere else outside;
But there was no sign of him
Inside she felt a chill
Was then she felt the first effects
The day the world stood still.

She ran upstairs to face the truth
Empty hangers in his closet
A missing suitcase, and his clothes
Made her immediately nauseate;
"NO! It can't be true!"
She screamed from deep inside
And part of her was lost that day
The part of her that died.

The honeymoon was over now
Just six weeks and he had gone
Why and where she knew not how
But her stuff he had pawned;
She almost didn't survive the loss
Her pain was dulled by pills
And hatred filled her young heart
The day the world stood still.

Years have passed and time's moved on
Yet the agony of defeat
Took the sparkle from her eyes
And trust in those she'd meet;
Life and love stopped for her
She still can feel the chill
God, how it hurts to recall
The day the world stood still.

WISHES

WISHES

A falling star makes me smile
As I walk in summertime
But catching snowflakes on my tongue
Or sipping on some wine
No matter what the season
No matter what the day
I wish that on your birthday
It was still yesterday.

I wish you were still fifty
And fifty-six was I
Every day seemed special
Before we said goodbye
Just the magic of a wink
A glance across the store
Left us both, longing
Oh, for so much more.

But life took us separate ways
So we play the cards we're dealt
Memories are all that's left
But I know how it felt
To have you for a little while
To dream how it might be
And if I had three wishes
These are what they would be.

The first wish would be simply
Good health for you, of course
And then for my second wish
That you never face divorce
Grass isn't always greener
Still, my third wish would be
When you close your dark eyes
That you'd remember me.

Happy Birthday!

IF JESUS CAME TO MY HOUSE

IF JESUS CAME TO MY HOUSE


I've often wondered what I'd do
If Jesus came to dinner
If He showed up, unannounced
Would he wish that I was thinner?
Would I use a tablecloth
And the napkins to match
Or perhaps I'd use some placemats
But not the ones I patched.

I wonder what food He'd like
Soup, roast or stew?
Maybe I would bake a pie
A rhubarb one, might do;
Would He like a glass of milk
Or a glass of wine?
Who should ask the blessing
When it came the time?

If He asked some questions
Would I know what to say?
And if He asked to spend the night
Would he expect to pay?
If my other guests returned
Would I be proud of Him?
Introduce Him as my Lord
My Saviour and best friend?

If Jesus came to my house
And stayed overnight
I would feel in Heaven
Everything would be alright!
Maybe He would carry me
To live with Him up there
'Til then, I'll just pray and wait
And always be prepared.

If Jesus came to my house.....

"WILL YOU COME BACK SOMETIME?"

"Will You Come Back Sometime?"


The water looked so very black
With stratus clouds all grey
She stood alone out on the deck
'Til the old ship pulled away;
It was full of fishermen
All smoking down below
She waved goodbye until it hurt
Then it was time to go.

She watched him through binoculars
And as he blew his nose
He dried his eyes and drove away
His fingers must be froze;
She stared at the horizon
But only saw his face
And each nautical mile
His last kiss she could taste.

The thunder roared above her
She almost froze to death
Still she leaned against the rail
And took a long, deep breath;
By now he'd be close to home
And he'd find the note she wrote
Back in the good ol' USA
But inside, her heart was broke.

Many miles down the Freeway
She stopped to get some rest
A motel room with a telephone
Put her to the test;
She'd not call him up this late
She fell asleep instead
And already she was homesick
Remembering what he'd said:

"Will you come back sometime?"

SOMEDAY.....

SOMEDAY.....


He waved goodbye to Mommie
As the school bus pulled away
She watched as it turned the curve
Said to herself: "Someday!"
Someday she could sleep in late
Someday she'd come and go
Do just as she pleased in life
But now she watched him grow.

He met her hand to do high-fives
As she loaned him the car
He had a special girlfriend now
She hope they wouldn't go far!
She said to herself: "Someday"
He'll be through school and gone
She'd have the car and the house
It wouldn't be very long.

He threw a kiss from the plane
His uniform looked so smart
She wiped a little tear away
Prayed aloud in the dark.
She said to herself: "Someday"
She might find time for her
She reached for her Bible
And loved the way things were.

But the old house was too quiet
She kept busy just the same
But missed hearing "Mum"
Her one and only name.
Then two years disappeared
He'd be home very soon
She cooked his favourite foods
Straightened up his old room.

The Military car pulled up outside
Her heart caught in her throat
Surely God was teasing her
She threw on her old coat;
She ran outside in the snow
As the doors opened wide
And flew into his open arms
Her son, her joy, her pride!

He waved goodbye to Mother
As he borrowed her new car
A grown up man he was now
Who'd traveled near and far;
One day soon he'd marry
But until that happy day
She'd love, protect and keep him
And never say, "Someday".

JUDGING

Judging

The little girl sat quietly
As I sang aloud in church
She only saw the singer
She didn't see the hurts;
"I wish that I could be you!"
She whispered in my ear
How could I tell her
What she wouldn't want to hear?

I sing to keep from crying
I laugh so it don't hurt
No-one knows the emptiness
I even feel in church;
She leaves with her family
Hand in hand they walk
While I go home to nothing
No-one to greet or talk.

The old man sees a ballgame
And wishes he could run
He watches as his neighbor
Laughs and has some fun;
"I wish that I could do that too!"
He states outside the park
I overheard the player say:
"Now listen to me, Mark."

"Old man, I only play here
So I won't be alone
Because of sports and my job
I'm hardly ever home;
I used to have a family
Now it's just the dog and me
I would trade my very life
For all you have, you see."

At the store that same evening
I ran into a friend
I asked how her vacation went
And she took my hand;
"I only go away so much
To escape what I miss so
My husband died at Christmas
Oh! You didn't even know?"

So if you ever envy those
Who sing or play or travel
Please remember some of us
Almost come unrattled
If we sit at home too long
Or struggle 'cuz we're blue
Do not judge one of us
Next it could be you!

For Mum (died March 4th, 1979)

DearMum:

I recall when I first saw you
As I slid off your lap
I must have been almost two
And it was time for nap;
I loved to hear you singing
A sweet old lulliby
As you dried my baby tears
Every time I cried.

I recall you cooking every day
As I sat on my red stool
You promised me that soon
I too could go to school;
But that year was the best of all
As I had you all to me
We'd hang our clothes on the line
Then I'd sit upon your knee.


Soon school arrived and I grew old
And I guess that you did too
I didn't hang around too long
Nothing much to do;
Summertime I came back home
And you were still the same
I rolled your hair & we played cards
Scrabble was our game.


It doesn't seem like thirty years
Since we told you goodbye
Every time I climb March Hill
I almost start to cry;
Your grave is just a quiet place
Where I still talk to you
And, Mum, each year's so long
I don't know what to do.

I recall when I last saw you
As you weakly said my name
I grew old at thirty-one
But I still felt the same;
I wish that we could all go back
To hot bricks and bannock bread
And make believe and pretend
My mum's asleep; not dead.

Love Heather