I had someone ask me to send them a copy of all my poems, and found many I had forgotten to type, put into the wrong computer file, etc. I will be sending them to the list in the next several days - if you don't care for my poems, please use your delete key or flame me off list, thanks tex aka cowboy PAIN Pain, I've grown to even loath the sound of the word. It's an insidious snake, which crept slowly into my body. Sneaking in, never to leave It's wrapped its coils around my bones And it never, ever, quits squeezing Sometimes with just enough pressure to be uncomfortable And sometimes with such power I would scream if only I could But it's always present, A part of my life which I'm not allowed to forget. It's not the sharp bite that scares me, That one just hurts, then goes away. It's the knowledge that minute by minute, Day by day, and year by year, It slowly grows Until I have to wonder how much more can I bear, And how much more will I have to. bob armentrout copyright 2000 A Journey A cold winter wind blows against my back As I huddle over a small charcoal fire Vehicles hurry past, headed to their destinations While I wonder where mine is Lights from a big city reflect off the clouds But this old Coleman lamp is my only light Hills rise in silhouette around me Silently watching, Bearing mute witness to my pain Crickets sing me a lullaby And fish splash to keep me company Some bird cries in protest at being awaken and the sliver of moon casts silver shadows around I think of my sons, so far away And hope they are happy tonight But as for me, the cold wind blowing down my neck Seems to echo a bleakness in my soul And tonight, like every night, I wonder if the rising of the sun will warm my spirit Or will I be alone on this journey. bob armentrout copyright 2000 WITH LOVE IN THIS TIME OF SORROW In times like these With hearts so heavy- Brimming with unshed tears Smiles come so hard and are so rare, And when they do appear They feel so brittle and out of place Like they no longer belong on you. But you have given so much joy To so many others around you And what is given away freely Always returns So please accept this small gift of joy In the spirit it is intended. And let a smile join you for awhile To lighten your burden a little And ease a burdened heart. bob armentrout copyright 2000 _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.