AN UNEXPECTED CONVERSATION
–
Got talking with Goa Li,
First time he had much opportunity…
To chew the fat
And find out that
He did for some reason miss me.
–
Found out he has a girlfriend,
A high school love nine years toward the intend…
With stable income
Finally become one,
And wedding invitations send!
–
We talked on quite a while
Before he left with a smile…
Then back in foir he
Didn’t have the car key,
He ran to his desk, so agile.
–Jonathan Caswell
OBSERVING LARGE FAMILIES
My family is rather small,
Two parents–two brothers–that’s all…
Not much interaction
For outside inspection,
But her family’s having a ball!
–
Her party was a big crowd,
With everyone talking out loud…
Some got in more
While holding the floor
But nobody was there cowed!
–
Cousin Cathy brought Carvel,
An option that went around well…
Seconds were had
By several glad
That ice cream cake was a good sell.
–
Diana’s cheesecake too,
Diners tried to work through…
Unrefrigerated,
Soon mold-integrated,
It wasn’t worth keeping–boo hoo!
–
We sang Di. her birthday song,*
A day AFTER it belonged…
Parties short notice
Even with good motive
Take time for revelry long!
–
The next day, the other side
Of the family devised….
A luncheon good
At which Di. would
Be also pleasantly surprised.
–Jonathan Caswell
* Di. is short for Diana.
OUR FATHERS’ HERITAGE
Faith from our fathers,
Remembering th’old man…
Knowing that we were loved
According to God’s plan.
–
Did we disappoint them
Or lose our way (?)…
That–we will not learn
Until the Judgement Day.
–
We are but children
Of our father’s love…
Will our heavenly Father
Keep us for meeting above?*
–Jonathan Caswell
* The best I know, first there was Sheol…then the Bosom of Abraham…for Jewish believers…above and away far off from hell. See the rich man and poor man story Jesus told. as well as references in the Tanakh and the Bible.
LOVE MY IN-LAWS?
(to the tune of “The Yellow Rose of Texas”)
Became a part of family
By marriage, anyway,
Relations with her kinsfolk
Are cordial to this day…
She’s got a blended family
Divorces are rife,
But living with “what is”
We make the most of life!
–
My own folk have few divorces
But life at times is hard,
No matter what the money state
Or how big the back yard…
Accepting at face value
We walk among our friends,
Her family gets along
With in-laws for good ends!
–
She wanted to stay married–
That is my focus, too,
For seventy big ones
And then the “lease” renew…
Now life is full of characters
In her family,
I’m glad to be one of them…
On that we all agree!
–
I truly love my in-laws
And I know they love me too,
We’ve earned a mutual respect
To carry us through…
We’ll be there for each other
Till death do us part,
Our marriage is a covenant
And in-laws a special art!!!
–Jonathan Caswell
GENDERED RELATIONSHIPS
How is it that often TV
Programs are made to be…
Watched by women-kind,
It boggles the mind
How oft they concern you and me!
–
Guys often prefer about “things”,
And less how a family clings…
Learning to grow
In each other’s shadow,
A guy wants to see girls with wings.
–
I’m not saying guys don’t care
About how their families fare…
Just saying ‘thats’
“We be” different cats,
Preferring how to make tables square!
–
I’m hiding from a western right now…
Where an orphan is befriended to know,
His death-row Dad
Wasn’t totally bad…
In hopes that stolen money will show.
–
I gotta use the vacuum,
So I’d better sneak back to the room…
Before I’m caught
For services sought,
And am hit with a fry pan or broom!*
–Jonathan Caswell
*Just kidding–my wife and I made a solemn promise to each other to never hit each other…and it has held for 24 years now…no matter how tempting at the time! 🙂
NOT FRIENDED
He sent a Friend Request
To a girl he used to know best…
His love in High School
When he was a fool,
And she got him off her chest.
–
On Facebook he finds her
And offers to reconfer…
But she remains silent
While not actually violent,
Refusing to concur.
–
He sees she’s got family,
A clan which fills her need….
So he’ll move on,
He’s done nothing wrong
‘Cause results were never guaranteed!
–Jonathan Caswell
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASWELLS
An Advent Wreath they do not have,
But prepare within their hearts…
Reading Scripture, praying,
And acting out their parts.
–
The wife pulls decorations out
From nooks and crannies deep…
Reminders of the Lord’s goodness,
Into the conscious seep.
–
They prepare for a journey
To see her family…
His is either far away
Or not talked with easily.
–
Preparing for the Christ Child,
Who wasn’t born in snow…
Prepares them to receive Him still
Til it’s time for to Him to go.
–Jonathan Caswell
THANKFUL THIS YEAR
My wife and I are thankful
For blessings from the Lord…
While we may not have a “bank-full”,
Our lives are rarely bored.
–
We’re thankful for relatives,
Especially those who speak….
To us in commonalities
Like flood stage of the creek.
–
We’re thankful for family
And friends who remember…
That we are God’s children,
And Diana’s birthday in September.
–
We pray that we’ll be taken up
In the Rapture, really soon…
And until then, enjoy what life we can,
Whether morning, night or noon!
–Jonathan Caswell
By the Mighty Mumford 