Month: April 2015

Ode To Mountain Mike

      Ode To Mountain Mike

He was a mountain man through and through.

You could tell by the way he would talk to you.

He was tough as cow hide and twice as strong.

Once he started, he wouldn’t stop all day long.

He crawled 20 miles on cracked ribs & a broken leg.

Took him two weeks. Then he drank a keg.

He made it to a small, outback store for help.

To pay for it, he gave the guy a pelt.

Hunting and trapping was his stock and trade.

He made his living by what it paid.

When the Rocky Mountains were first explored,

mountain men made the first scores.

Our mountain man, we’ll call him Mike,

was as tough as a steel spike.

He had a one room cabin way up in the mountains.

He called it base camp. It was near some fountains.

He roamed an area now called Yellowstone.

He saw hot pools of water, bubbling up with foam.

He saw geysers, rivers, and hot mud flats.

The mud felt good on his tired feet. It’s a fact.

He would hunt & trap bear, beaver, badger, and elk.

He would eat the meat and save the pelts

Once a year he would go to civilization.

Take his large store of pelts in preparation.

He would then buy supplies for another year.

Then, off he would go hunting elk and deer.

He would often fish for himself. Nothing was fished out.

He would catch big, beautiful rainbow trout.

A fish dinner cooked on an open fire.

It would fill him up and he would retire.

Next day he was up early and off again.

One day he ran into a group of red men.

It was an Indian hunting party out for the day.

He knew enough of their language to say.

“How is it going? Was hunting good?”

They would answer as best they could.

He had made peace with the local Indians.

Since the day he saved the chief’s son’s skin.

The kid was pinned down by a bear.

Mike nailed the bear with a shot from nowhere.

He was so far away, the Indians could hardly believe

the shot was possible to achieve.

Such things Mike took as a task to be done.

Indians respected him. He was the ‘one.’

Many stories of mountain men are told.

Most were exaggerated to sound bold.

But, the stories of Mountain Mike were true.

There was nothing that he couldn’t do.

But, today, we are running out of time.

We will tell another of his stories another time.

——————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picking Pine Nuts From The Cone

 

      Picking Pine Nuts From The Cone

Life wasn’t what it seems.

She only came to me in dreams.

I wanted her with me & much more.

She could help me with my chores.

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

 

I saw her walking down the street.

She was tall and oh so sweet.

I didn’t even know her name.

Yet, I tried to play the game.

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

 

I said ‘Hi, remember me from?”

She looked at me like I was dumb.

I said “I can’t remember your name?”

“Don’t look at me. I’m not the blame”

 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

‘What is it your getting off your gut?”

“I wanted to get to know you.”

“You could help me do what I do.”

 

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

“It’s much more than it’s been shown.”

“Picking pine nuts from the cone.”

 

“You’re a nut. Get away from me.”

“I would never want to see

me picking pine nuts from  the cone.”

“So, go ahead, and run on home.”

 

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

It’s much more than it’s been shown.

Picking pine nuts from the cone.

——————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

You Didn’t Do A Thing

      You Didn’t Do A Thing

You could have hugged me.

Like she hugs me.

You could have kissed me.

Like she kisses me.

 

But, you didn’t—-do a thing.

You just stood there, looking at the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I will miss you,—– for eternity.

 

You could have said you wanted me.

Like she says she wants me.

You could have loved me.

Like she loves me.

 

But, you didn’t—-do a thing.

You just stood there, looking at the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I will miss you,—- for eternity.

 

You could have clung to me.

Like she clings to me.

You could have never let me go.

Like she will never let me go.

 

But, you didn’t—-say a thing.

You just turned, and left the ring.

She is everything I wanted you to be.

Now, I am without you,—- for eternity.

——————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

An Adventure Not Worth Repeating

      An Adventure Not Worth Repeating

We were just kids at the time.

We didn’t know what was dangerous & what wasn’t.

It was decided we would explore an old mine.

Five of us headed out with sack lunches.

We rode our bikes about five miles.

Then, we hiked down an old dirt road.

It went down the side of a hill. We had smiles.

The feeling of a new adventure was  a real goad.

We went for about 2 miles. There it stood.

A big black hole in the side of the hill.

There were old mounds of dirt and wood.

What appeared to be rails, remained still.

The kind ore carts would be rolled on.

They disappeared down the middle of the mine.

It was very dark inside. Not far in light was gone.

We started in with lights, taking our time.

It wasn’t long till we came to a branch.

Three of us went on straight ahead.

The other two went right, a smaller tunnel.

The two of us went on, watching our head.

After awhile, it narrowed like a funnel.

Quickly, we came to a huge cave in.

By lights, we saw we could climb up and over.

It was a very low space to fit in.

We crawled up and over a pile of boulders

Once past the cave in, we continued on.

The tunnel curved to the right

After a good distance, it was water, we came upon.

We decided to wade on in. Right.

It soon was up to our waste but, we kept going.

We tripped on something. It was submerged rails.

We went on. If we had a boat we could be rowing.

Then we saw lights & heard voices. We yelled a hail.

It was our three buddies. We had made a circle.

They were at the water’s edge.

We had scared them enough to make their blood curdle.

Their tunnel went straight. .Ours cut off, like a wedge.

Their tunnel was flooded from there on.

We decided we would not explore anymore.

The water was real cold, with mud that made a bond.

When we got out, we had our lunch, and more.

We exchanged tales of how we felt.

We told the others of crawling over the cave in.

We acted brave. Didn’t really say how we felt.

We said we would not tell where we had been.

just in case we ever decided to come back.

That never happened. I think we were scared.

Now, years later, we can talk about our track

we laid down when we were young & didn’t care.

———————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

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Agreeing To Never Disagree

      Agreeing to never disagree

I’m really feeling good all day long.

Despite the fact, I’m breathing in smog.

I do a little dance and whistle a song.

Just really happy, as I jump a log.

 

People wonder what has happened to me.

I seem different, more energized.

They don’t know I’m as happy as can be.

Because you came back and apologized.

 

A minor disagreement had me down in the dumps.

I felt as low as a snakes belly.

I wasn’t wrong, but I had taken my lumps.

My confidence was as shaky as jelly.

 

Then, you showed up at my door.

This was a total shock to me.

You apologized for the way you were before.

We made up & agreed to never disagree.

 

Now, I’m on cloud 9 and you are too.

I was meant for you & you for me.

We will stick together tighter than glue.

Though were together, we both feel free.

 

What a difference it has made for us.

A simple decision for us to follow.

No more arguing and raising a fuss.

Agreeing to never disagree is not hollow.

 

It works for us. It may not for you.

Things have greatly improved since then.

It is something we can easily do.

Since we don’t disagree, there’s nothing to defend.

————————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

The Pain Lasts So Long

 

      The Pain Lasts So long

The sun was bright. It was time to rise.

Something grimy was in my eyes.

I staggered to the bathroom & washed my face.

I started looking all around the place.

What a mess. I’ve been depressed.

Feeling to poor to clean it up, I guess.

I brushed my teeth and combed my hair.

I put on clean clothes. But, still didn’t care.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

I made some breakfast, but didn’t sit down.

I just wasn’t hungry, without you around.

I got my coat and headed for the door.

I had nowhere to go that wasn’t a bore.

I walked along and turned into a park.

Last time I was there was after dark.

Couples were walking and holding hands.

Chatting together and making plans.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

It all reminded me of better times.

I leave the park and try to unwind.

Up ahead I see a movie marquee.

I go in to see what there is to see.

It was a romance. A happy ending .

It left me tearful, uncomprehending.

It did not end up happy for me.

I was as depressed as I could be.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

Up the street, I bumped into some friends.

How was I doing?——- So it begins.

They knew I was no longer with you.

They were just trying to be supportive too.

But, it only made me feel worse.

I couldn’t tell them that. What a curse.

Finally, they let me go on my way.

They all wished me a better day.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

 

Back home again, I feel half dead.

Instead of watching TV, I crawl into bed.

I say a prayer, especially for you.

I just don’t know what else to do.

I get up and brush my teeth.

I kind of stagger. feeling a little weak.

I hop back in bed and turn out the light.

Again, tomorrow, I’ll take up the fight.

 

The pain lasts so long, since you’ve been gone.

Along the way, I’ve lost my song.

Nothing seems to have any meaning.

I just drift along without any feeling.

—————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Remembered

 

      Easter Remembered

Today is Easter. A time to remember.

A sacrifice made, so loving and tender.

Though today’s Easter may not be right.

It’s not the day, as much as the site.

What is brought to mind about that day.

The day Jesus has risen & why we pray.

Without his death, there is no forgiveness.

To conquer death was His business.

Easter is about His resurrection.

Now, were assured to make the connection.

We to, can have everlasting life.

Escape all the pain and strife.

Be one with Him who overcame.

Be brought back into the fold in His name.

What greater thoughts can there be.

Dwell on this. Keep Easter free.

Free from the bunnies and eggs.

Free from all the pagan mistakes.

Give thanks to the Lord for all He has done.

For, without Him, we would be done.

—————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

The Birth Of Love

      The Birth Of Love

Long, long ago, in the Garden Of Eden.

God created man, with a good reason.

In His own image, God created him.

He worshiped God as his creator, then.

Then man asked “Why am I alone?”

“I need someone to call my own.”

So, God created woman as his helpmate.

It was perfect,—– not a mistake.

This is how love came to be.

Love between man & woman, see.

It was perfect at the very start.

Till Satan came along & tore it apart.

Through the ages, since that time.

Love hasn’t always been real kind.

But, when the real thing comes along.

You’re back in the garden, where you belong.

Things become perfect again.

The real love grows through thick and thin.

Satan may try to mess things up.

But, if both of you are tough.

Also, if you are wise in your ways.

Neither will give Satan any sway.

Your love will prevail against all odds.

Proving that man is worth this gift of God.

This gift of love, given with all its blessings.

That leads back to God. It’s truly refreshing.

So, if you find a ‘helpmate’ to love.

Treat her as a gift from above.

No greater gift was ever given.

Till He gave His son, & we were forgiven.

——————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

The Tomorrow People

      The Tomorrow People

Another long day goes by.

There are no changes in the sky.

Day after day the sun beats down.

Sucking all moisture out of the ground.

It has been 10, or more, years since a good rain.

Will we ever see a good rain? It’s such a pain.

Dust covers everything you can see.

There are shimmering sites all around me.

Down the dusty main street of town

goes all hope. Stomped into the dirty ground.

Nothing moves. There is not a sound.

Just dried, shriveled, relics all around.

Then, there is a wail, as another dies.

Water and meds are in slim supply.

Still,—- a few, try to hang on.

Refusing to give in to that final song.

Buzzards continually circle overhead.

They know that this town is dead.

All that are left pray for a better day.

They pray the drought will go away.

Their tongues are parched and cracked.

They leave the dead right where they’re at.

The energy to bury them has long evaporated.

What little they have left, they keep encapsulated.

Their one goal is just to hang on.

They hope that it won’t be long.

These are the ‘tomorrow people’, today.

They live in tomorrow, not today.

There is only death and starvation here.

Tomorrow, everything is very clear.

There is no dust in the air.

There are crops growing everywhere.

There is water in abundance for all.

There is life, laughter, and plenty for all.

That is how they hang on today.

Thinking of that very day.

When it will rain and make all things better.

They are ready for stormy weather.

In the meantime, just hang on.

Just one drop of water.—– Bring it on.

————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)

 

 

 

 

Allergies

      Allergies

It is allergy time again.

There’s  yuck dripping from your chin.

You cough, hack, and pee your pants.

Get choked up, like in a trance.

Your eyes will water and burn.

You look like you swallowed a worm.

Your nose will run. You’re not having fun.

The ground is parched from too much sun.

Things still bloom, sometimes in vain.

They would bloom more, if it would rain.

Pollens pollute the air.

Allergens are everywhere.

There  is no place to run and hide.

You feel like you are half alive.

Is there nothing we can do?

Is there something to swallow or chew?

Over the counter meds are a joke.

They don’t help to lessen the smote.

You won’t be able to sleep at night.

All the coughing & hacking just ain’t right.

Mother nature is smacking you around.

Maybe, you should live underground.

They say you should take a sea cruise.

But, with sea sickness, you’ll still lose.

Try a dry climate, like desert living.

Remember, a sunburn is unforgiving.

Just hang in there and tough it out.

Sooner or later, you’ll be done with this bout.

Then, maybe, you can breathe again.

Until then, good sneeze there, my friend.

———————————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2015)