Something To Be Thankful For

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around again,

I take stock of my life and I’d like to say,

That every experience I have ever had,

Has helped shape who I am today.

Life is a balance of highs and lows.

I have had more happy times than sad,

But those sad times have helped me grow.

So, I’ll take the good from the bad,

That’s something I am Thankful for.

 

Although it may be hard to see at the time,

Even bad moments have lessons built in,

While the hardships allow my soul to grow;

When life is good, I’ll take the win.

I can put food on the table.

And I have a place to lay my head.

I have a roof to give me shelter,

Nothing more needs to be said.

That’s something I am Thankful for.

 

I’m Thankful for memories of loved ones I have lost,

I think about them every day.

And although they are no longer physically here,

They let me know they’re still around in some small way.

I’m Thankful for friends who are still in my life,

For the fun and love they bring to each day.

For as long as I have people who love me,

I am more blessed than I can ever say.

That’s something I am Thankful for.

 

Many years ago, I hopped across the Pond,

And I’m Thankful I had the courage to change my life.

Through all the ups and downs,

I am Thankful for my loving wife.

We have been on a rollercoaster ride,

And the years are going by in a blast,

But, together, we can take on the world

Because through it all our love has remained steadfast,

That’s something I am Thankful for.

 

So, as Thanksgiving Day dawns,

Let loved ones know that you care,

Enjoy the day, the food and the fun;

Look forward to all the joy you still have to share.

It’s easy to lose track of what matters most,

As you deal with all the stress and all the strife;

Take a moment to remind yourself,

Of all the good that’s in your life.

It’s something to be Thankful for.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates it.

Paris Is Calling

There is a city that is calling to me.

But right now, it’s as far as far can be.

I will go there one day, of that I am sure,

But it will probably take a year or more.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

 

I don’t know what it is about that city, fair.

I just know that I really need to go there.

Maybe it’s because it’s called the City of Love,

Maybe this dream was sent from Above.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

 

I want to take a boat trip on the river Seine.

Why I need to do this, I just can’t explain.

It’s just something that’s deep in my heart.

Maybe my first trip will just be a start.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

 

I want to take a stroll down the Champs-Elysee’s

Stopping at cafes along the way.

Eating un croissant et drinking un cafe

A French life, that’s the way to be.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

 

I want to take a ride up the Eiffel tower.

This city simply has me in its power.

Why does this city call to me so?

I just know one day I will answer the call and go.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

 

Life is better when you have a dream.

Something that stops you running out of steam.

When life gets too much, with so many bills to pay,

It’s good to have something to aim for, one day.

I’m coming to you, Paris.

Commit To The Grind

When you work hard, I know that you’ll find,

That so long as you really don’t mind,

Holding your feet to the grind,

Your efforts will reflect back to you.

 

A few years ago, I needed to lose weight,

Because my health really wasn’t great,

And when I looked in the mirror, I would hate

What was reflected back to me.

 

I came to realize it was all up to me,

And that’s the only way it could be,

If I ever seriously wanted to see

My true self reflecting back at me.

 

So I decided to get off my idle butt,

And find a way to dig out of my rut,

I wanted to do something about my gut,

So my body would reflect my life.

 

I started to walk, then to run,

Which in the beginning wasn’t fun,

Especially in the hot summer sun,

And my results started to reflect my hard work.

 

I remember as I was running one day,

I looked at the ground along the way,

And I thought to myself; there’s no way,

That’s my skinny shadow reflecting back to me.

 

Now, as I look back at what I’ve done,

And the hard-earned victories I have won,

My real effort has only just begun

To reflect what I truly stand for.

 

And I want to say it would be truly great,

If I could use my experiences to motivate

People who need help and get them to a state

That reflects who they want to be.

 

So if you’re looking for an encouraging sign,

That everything is going to be fine,

And if you’re willing to commit to the grind,

Maybe my message reflects what you need to do.

A Selfless Love – A Tribute To My Dad

 

I was not ready to lose you.

But you were taken from me, anyway.

 

Suddenly.

 

On a sunny day that started so normally.

Without any sign of the emotional pain to come.

 

Abruptly.

 

Life’s like that, I guess.

It shouldn’t be that way.  It just is.

 

Unfair.

 

Losing a loved one is always hard.

Losing a father at a tender age is as hard as it gets.

 

Wrenching.

 

I was more than a boy.

But, not yet a man.

 

Becoming.

 

You were meant to be my guide through that stage of life.

You were supposed to be my mentor as I grew.

 

Transitioning.

 

I had to do a lot of growing up fast in those early years after you passed.

I had to be strong for Mum.

 

Maturing.

 

The sad thing is I have more in common with you now than I had then.

I share your love for photography and classical music.

 

Passions.

 

Oh, the conversations we could have had.

I don’t even know which classical composers you listened to.

 

Wondering.

 

So many things left unsaid.

So much potential.

 

Gone.

 

I would have been a different man if you had stayed.

In ways that I will never know.

 

Unguessable.

 

I’ve been told I look like you.

That gives me much consolation.

 

Comforting.

 

I feel like, in me, there’s a part of you that lives still.

I carry on your name.

 

Heritage.

 

The memories may be dimmer as the years roll by too fast.

But I will never forget the values you taught me.

 

Integrity.

Honesty.

Trust.

Love.

 

Yours was a selfless love.

I never wanted for anything.

 

Cared for.

Loved.

 

One day we WILL have those conversations.

When I get to Heaven.

 

Future.

 

But I hope that day doesn’t come too soon.

Until then, keep watching over me.

 

I hope I make you proud.

Be The Change You Want To See

Sometimes I look at the night sky in wonder,

At the myriad of stars

And I can’t help wondering to myself,

‘What’s it like where you are?’

Do you have to deal with the same issues,

That plague the human race?

Like war, famine and hate.

Or do you live in a state of grace?

 

Are we the only beings in the cosmos,

To have to deal with all this negativity?

Because if everywhere else is rosy,

Then it doesn’t seem fair to me.

To be stuck on a world so filled with misery.

Where life can be so cold and hard

If only things could be different,

I feel a change is long on the cards.

 

All I can do is set an example

Be the change I want to see

To lift people when they struggle

And fill them with positivity.

A revolution starts with just one person

To stand up and lead the way

You can’t create a better tomorrow

If you don’t make a start today.

 

I just need to lift my own vibration,

Turn my frown around.

Show everyone there’s a better way

And turn this world upside down!

So this is what I’m trying to do

While writing my poetry

To make people stop and think

And create a better society.

 

Sometimes I look at the night sky and I wonder,

Did you go through the same tribulations?

Did you all face the same questions I have?

And what was your solution?

All I can do is my part

Show those people around me,

That if you want to change the world

Then you have to be the change you want to see.

I Want To THRIVE

I had just a taste of the good life.

Now all I seem to have is strife.

One thing after another, problems galore;

Until just living feels like a chore.

 

There has to be more to life than this.

All I’m asking for is a little bliss!

Nothing but one setback after another,

Is there any way out?  Oh, brother!

 

Just struggling to keep a roof over our head.

Every day I’m just full of dread.

Worrying about a future I can’t predict.

Feeling that life has me licked.

 

There was a time I was feeling blessed.

Now I feel like we’re going through a test.

They say God doesn’t give you more than you can take,

Well God, I feel I’m ready to break!

 

When oh when will this madness end?

I feel like I’m going round the bend.

I really don’t mean to complain,

Maybe I should just end this dreary refrain.

 

All I’m asking is to be allowed to be free

To be the person I know I’m meant to be.

I’m tired of struggling to survive,

I am ready to break out and THRIVE!

Passing Angels

I believe there are people you meet in your life

Who are there to pave the way

For you to reach your destiny.

These people are sent to you in times of need

To encourage you

To motivate you

To inspire you

To remind you who you really are.

These people are angels who walk among us

Maybe they don’t even know what they are doing

Maybe it’s just a chance remark

Or even just a passing smile

That reaches you just when you need it the most.

You see, it doesn’t have to be something dramatic

It could be the simplest of gestures

That boosts your soul when you need it most.

Something that lifts your spirits

Something that reminds you that life is good

And life is worth living.

And you never know when one of these angels will cross your path.

The best thing is anyone can be an angel

To uplift and inspire

All it takes is to spread a little kindness

In a world that can seem dark and cold.

So next time you pass by someone who seems down and distressed

Just give them a friendly smile or a simple hello

Today, you could be their passing angel.

Life’s Great Mystery

It’s quite the conundrum
When life seems so humdrum
We go through our days
Wasting time in so many ways
With trivia so distracting
And problems so exacting
Filled with junk grabbing our attention
But I don’t think that was God’s intention.

Modern life is so confusing
Everyone in a rush, refusing
To stop for a moment to savor
All of life’s varying flavors
People in a hurry everywhere,
They just don’t seem to care
That so many are hurting
Society, humanity seems to be deserting.

It’s time to reverse our course.
It’s time to return to the source
Life isn’t just about living
Life is more satisfying when you are giving.
The greatest source of love
Is that which comes from above.

Copyright © Dave Whitmore | Year Posted 2019

Just Be Yourself

We all have our own path to walk,
We all have our own destiny.
Our experiences in life shape us,
They make us who we are meant to be.
It's good that we're all different,
That we all come in different flavors.
So, celebrate your own uniqueness,
It makes you something to savor.
Just be yourself.

Starry Night

There are moments in your life that will live in your heart forever

Moments that will take your breath away

Indelibly etched into your very soul.

And will never be forgotten.

Memorialized.

 

My first such moment was laying on my back at night

Looking up at the night sky in awe.

Taking in the wondrous splendor

Of the heavens above

Mesmerized

 

The band of the Milky Way stretched across the length of the sky

Blazing a trail of light as far as the eye could see

A myriad of stars too numerous to count

Brning into my retinas

Hypnotized

 

Although that night was so long ago I recall it vividly

I can call to mind the awe it filled me with

If I live to be a hundred years old

I will never forget.

Crystalized.

 

To my mind those moments are food to nourish my soul

Such happy memories for when sadness calls

When I need to remind myself

It happened to me

Realized

 

There was no social media to share this wondrous moment with

No cellphone camera to record for future posterity

Only my minds eye to recapture it

And play it back again.

Memorized.

 

For eternity.