Our Garden

Today we got together
Singing as we went
We visited Our Garden
To see how it has been

We hadn't visited Our Garden
For awhile it seems to me
And this we know is true
It has grown in many ways

The trellises and the roses
Blooming with perfect light
Their beauty unmatched
By anything on Earth

So we walked through our garden
Hand in hand and two by two
Boys and girls matched together
It's almost like the garden knew

Beauty all around us
And he said, "So are you-
You're as pretty as Our Garden
When it is in full bloom"

The perfect roses blooming
Elegant, soft as can be
They grow and bloom together
In perfect harmony

I blushed and smiled, my cheeks all red
Just like that blooming rose
He pulled me close into his arms,
said, "My dear I love you so."

He kissed my forehead, my blushes grew
Just as we came in sight
Of all the other couples there
Framed in shining light

The trellises tall had hid us
From the other's view
But now they too could see us
Now they like the butterflies knew

That love was found, that love was there
Unexpected as it may be
The butterflies had been flying around
It was all theirs to have first seen

I loved that day while in Our Garden
Where love was found, now known
That garden sweet now has a rose
Solitary, on it's own

This rose resides, happily within
A simple patch of dasies
It stands alone, planted there
At the end of all the mazes

This solitary rose, it stand
Proudly on it's own
Reminding all who meet it's gaze
That beauty stands alone

Every year this rose will bloom
Brightest one around
For this rose grows great and tall
Just like the love I've found

So thank you dear old garden
Thank you for knowing who
The who, the where, the when and why
It's almost as if you knew

For in the shadow of your trellis
True love you found for me
With a little help and direction
We were guided into thee

Background Story:
One of my first supporters when I started really writing poetry was my friend Emily. She read everything I wrote, as soon as she had time to read it. She judged everything I wrote and showed her, and told me exactly what she thought. It was exactly what I needed. At this time, I had been writing a lot of sappy, and rather awful poetry. You know, the stuff you hear about when someone talks about a person who thinks they are in love. The best friend always has to deal with the lovestruck fool and his or her awful poetry. Yeah, that was me. The lovestruck fool. So, Emily told me to stop it with the romancy, lovey-dovey stuff. I tried, really I did. But this is what I got. Still lovey-dovey, yet conveying a message. I'm glad I got to that point at least.

Hands

A child's hand does grasp it's mother
As the mother cries and smiles
Her baby born at last through pain
Yet worth each pain is found her son

A mother's hand does lift her child
Just a step, but soon one more
The child walks, and father smiles
Proud of his dear baby boy

A friendly hand is offered soon
As the child grows up tall
He must find his place in life
With the friends he meets and makes

A simple hand that offers love
Gently give to needing ones
He can save them from their pain
Feed them, clothe them, heal the wrongs

A loving hand does hold a ring
A simple love that hopes for "yes"
When it comes, relief is shown
A kiss to seal them to each other

A giving hand is offered now
To the wife who bears a child
Soon a miracle of life
Continuing the path of growth

A serving hand is always there
Leading, guiding, all through life
Once discovered, never leave
Righteous living brings them joy

A wringled hand does clasp another
Age is seen through change of skin
But with love the young holds old
A simple joy is sprung from here

A wrinkled hand that clasps another
The other's hand is smooth and white
In the lifetime of the former
Service, love and joy were shared

A dying hand is full of joy
For he knows the Lord is near
Waiting to embrace at last
Beloved child, son of God

The Savior's hand is always here
For all those who reach back out
He has cared for all of us
Loving brother to us all

All of us area simple hands
Serving God with all our hearts
Charity, and faith in him
Help us to return back home

All through life we see God's hands
Miracles to combat wrongs
When we serve we give love back
God will share our love with care

Background Story:
As I was holding my older adopted Grandma's hand, I looked down, and saw my hand, a young, unmarked hand, holding a wrinkled, aged hand. I thought for awhile about the image of it, and after my adopted Grandma had left to help with the presentation being presented, I started writing. I started with the stanzas about wrinkled hands, then I thought about other hands we see in life. The poem just started flowing onto the paper. I looked at it, and decided the stanzas were in the wrong order, so I re wrote the poem in the correct order. Later on, as I was looking back at what I had written, I felt like adding a little more. The last three stanzas were an inspired add-on that I feel fit with the rest of the poem.