The Veteran

The Veteran

They have faithfully served

both near and far

in times of peace

and in time of war.

They’ve served on land,

the air and sea

and they’ve kept this nation

strong and free.

*

Now, some don’t bear

the wounds and scars,

while some wear the bronze

and silver stars.

Yet, they all deserve our thanks

you see,

for without them, God knows,

where we’d be!

***

Jack Downing

Nov. 2014

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Words From The Servants Of Freedom

     May God Bless those who have been given the responsibility of defending and protecting this nation from the idiots who know NOTHING about what it is that they should be cherishing and certainly NOT protesting the freedoms and rights that which they have been given by the valiant and the strong!

     Do your best to thank a VET!!

     Jake

Words From The Servants Of Freedom

There are a few words that I would like to say

to all who mention us when you pray

even though we’re not known to you and oh, so far away

when you think of all the reasons we’re not there today.

You pray for our health and safety true

and a quick return back home to you

but most of all when our tours are through

that our mission’s been done and our losses few.

That God will bring us safe and sound

from foreign shores and homeward bound

or from domestic posts on friendly ground

where danger too, can oft be found.

You pray for those who give their time

who put all they have, square on the line

and for those who’ve served and those left behind

you pray His Light on all be shined!

‘Tis because of you we stand strong not weak

yes, it is but to you, to whom we speak

the full-time patriot, not the Sunday meek

and for whom this nation only peace thou seek!

There are no words which can be expressed

to the emotions of those when they’re so distressed

but that your thoughts and prayers are at their best

when answered by God at your behest!

Jack Downing

Aug.2017

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Sail Not On The Wisdom Of Youth

SAIL NOT ON THE WISDOM OF YOUTH

The age of infallibility
will pass as surely as do your teens
and whence upon that realization
will come the light of ways and means.
For without the forewarned future,
the history and the truth
all of your shining days of dreams
are just figments of your youth.
So listen to the aged, the old wise
and clever ones,
for ’tis they who’ve stood a fore the helm
and well know the ancient tidal runs.
So set sail on a life of peace and calm
but be prepared for weather afoul
and remember be wary of the mockingbird
and heed only the wizened grey owl!

Jack Downing
July 25, 2017

ARLINGTON

May the God that they worshiped grant unto them the peace for which they so bravely sacrificed themselves for us who are the living! 

 

Arlington

Crosses and stars

perfectly rowed

on manicured fields

so patiently mowed.

Red, white and blue

in contrast to green

in every direction

in multitudes seen.

Yes, crosses and stars

of alabaster white

precisely so placed

dressed left and dressed right.

Markers to tell

the names and the ranks

of those who have passed

and to whom, we owe thanks.

To those who have served

to keep us all free

they rest now in peace

with God now, they be.

Jack Downing

May 2012

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On Being A Curmudgeon

On Being A Curmudgeon 

When summer arrives just a bit too soon and gets one to complainin’ is there not then something wrong? Since the spring’s been mostly rainin’?  

I’m thinkin’ that it must be the New Englander here inside of me or just an old curmudgeon’s ways a strainin’.

When I was once a younger man and I frankly couldn’t give a damn if it was cold or hot, and not, therefore a word of this be sayin’ .

But time it seems has come and gone and left me here with the old grumps gone and where someone needs to be the one remainin’!

And so you’ll know I’m not alone there’s plenty more who’ll gripe and moan at just about everything with no refrainin’ .

Your grampa did it and your gramma too, but never, ever in front of you they saved it for the selected few who needed their explainin’.

Yeah, you see that things ain’t like they used to be, the weather, the politics the music and me, but don’t look now, because on you the years are gainin’.

I’ll say this now and I won’t repeat, these thoughts of mine so less than sweet that you may remember some day when your patience has gone a wanin’!

You’ll have the right to speak your mind and trust me now you’re gonna find that to stay young is the only way to resist a love of life from drainin’!

***

Jack Downing

May  2017

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A Mother’s Gift

One of my first attempts at writing, and one that I repeat quite often  on Mother’s Day, or so it would seem. Happy Mother’s Day!

A Mother’s Gift

***

You filled a space

no other could,

you taught me always

think the good,

of those I meet

along the way,

and that sunrise brings

a whole new day.

To dwell not upon

a hurt or slight,

and let the heart decide

the wrong or right,

of what I do

or what is done,

then let it go

with the setting sun.

But, of all the lessons

I have learned,

there’s but one, upon

my soul’s been burned,

there is no stronger

force on earth,

nor gift, of any

greater worth.

Than a mother’s love

that’s given free,

to each of us

for eternity,

and wavers not

in life or death,

for it never takes

a final breath.

***

Jack Downing

May 2009

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Roads and Paths

Inspired by a recent post from Minnesota Prairie Roots@www.wordpress.com by Audrey Kletscher Helbling, author and photographer extraordinaire on traveling the interstate highway systems.  Thanks Audrey for the motivation! Give her blog a visit you’ll enjoy her down home American Midwestern slant on life in general, I know that I like her take on a lot of things that usually give me a different perspective than my Northeastern background provides.

Jake.

“Roads and Paths“

Each and every road or path
has its beginning and its end
and all that it comes down to
is how much you’ll have to spend.
For be it time or love or money
or the mere beauty of the sight
be it the summer’s warmth in daytime
or perhaps a family’s Christmas night.
Yes, each and every road or path
has its start and has its finish
but let that not, your journeys cease
and nor the lust for them diminish!

~Jack Downing~
May 8, 2017

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On Our Traveling Minstrel Show

 On Our Traveling Minstrel Show

Can or will there ever be

another, any other,

just the same as you

or even just as me?

If true or not then how

will we ever know, if it be so,

without proof of such

if we cannot see it now?

Can we accept some idle thought

of the he or of the she

who has not been through all of time

and of they I know of not?

So, are we not unique to know

of the there’s and where’s

 of what we’ve been or am

on our traveling minstrel show?

***

Jack Downing

Mar. 2017

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Saint Patrick And The Snakes

May Saint Patrick chase all your snakes away
and your skies be all blue without a tinge of the grey
and may you all be kept warm and kept free from all harm
whilst raising a pint
on this Saint Patrick’s Day!!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
~Jack Downing~

The March Wind

As a “tribute” to the winds of March that blustered and bullied us here in New England this past weekend..

The March Wind

Tis the lion’s roar we feel this day

as the March wind so bitterly bears the freeze

sure as cold it be, as the witch’s heart

unlike the warmth of a young April’s breeze.

To the bone and more the chill does set

and from but a few their spirit all will squeeze

for no comfort be found in a weathered space

nay, not in such harsh degrees!

*

Through the day and evening’s hours

comes the howl as if off a banshee’s cry

and of our prayers for it to cease or ease

leave us here to ask but why?

What have we done to earn this fate

that now saps the young and spry

that will lay the old and tired down

and have the birds too cold to fly?

*

How have we sinned to feel such pain

that trembles us head to toe

that humbles yet the proudest soul

with a dread to outside go?

While the hearth is warm and the food be hot

does not the inside’s fire show

that there on the outside of our doors

the wicked March wind doth blow?

*

With more of a bitter bite we’ve felt

than all of winter’s winds til now

should we not be praising of our good luck

and not to a March wind downward bow?

So if the whims of nature hold no care

as to the when nor where nor how

shall not then, the next March wind I feel

fulfill my warm and new sworn vow?

***

Jack Downing

Mar. 2017

©Copyright Jack Downing aka Jake, @poemsandponderings.wordpress.com. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or disseminated in any manner without the expressed, written consent of the author. JRD. 3/5/17