Texas Cries With You West

Springtime brings fields

Of bluebonnets in bloom...

Familiar sound of coyotes

Howlin’ at the moon

Starry Texas nights and

Lightning bug chases...

Laughter of children

With Popsicle faces

A friendly “Howdy”

Tip of a cowboy hat...

“How y’all doin’?”

At the Friday night dance

Hard work, hard play

Our way of life...

There are no strangers

When tragedy strikes

Last call of brave men

On that fateful day...

Won’t be coming home,

Too soon, whisked away

Fond memories now

Are all that’s left

Of those selfless souls

From the small town of West

Thousands gather together

Bidding a final goodbye...

Not a person in sight

Can boast a dry eye

Texas cries with you West

You’re not alone,

Remember….

We’re in this together

Till the Lord calls us home

© Leatherman 2013

I Am Amazed

I am amazed at the sunrise

Beams of light

Breaking the darkness

God chose to compose

Another day

His breath bends treetops

As they reach for the Heavens

Praising His name

Their limbs bow

Humbled before Him

He positioned the stars

Moon and planets

To guide explorers

With His perfect

Universal map

In everything there is God

No man can take credit for

The Sun

The trees

The universe

To reject His existence

Is to deny the existence

Of being

© Leatherman 2013

For Them

Innocent child

Where have you gone?

Unexpectedly bound

For the arms of angels!

Without the sweet caress

Of your mother...

No strong hug

From your father...

Without giggles and tickles

From brothers and sisters...

No smiling farewell to

Nana and Poppa!

Not for you dearest little one...

For them!

(C) Leatherman 2012

Fallen Petals

Fresh delicate blossoms

Growing in family orchards

Loved and nourished

With tender care

A world of hope

Bright young innocence

Eager to learn and share

Youthful soul lost in

Evil’s dark shadow

Black heart’s desire

To destroy

All that grows

Plucking little buds

One by one

Fallen petals

Shall remain

Forever young

(C) Leatherman 2012

Watching America Die

It hurts to see my country so divided

I can’t express my sorrow

In so many words

But I shall give it a try

It’s like the loss of people you love most

Your best friend ran off with
Your lover and

You've lost them both

It’s like being second place in a tournament

When you know you’re number one
Playing Russian roulette
With a fully loaded gun

It’s like your mom and dad

Splitting up and
You can't understand why

Blaming yourself
All you can do is cry

It’s like finding out you’re adopted

After 30 years

Screaming at the top of your voice

And no one hears

It’s like someone you trust

Delivering a backstabing thrust
The ones closest to you
Stomp your heart to dust

It’s like trying to save a sinking soul and
Helplessly watching them drown
Walking empty streets where
No friends can be found

It's like watching the moon fall from the sky
Seeing your purple mountain’s majesty
Destroyed from within

Hanging her head and watching her die!

(C) Leatherman 2012

What Does a Temper Look Like?

I saw my tiny body lying

On the blood soaked bed....
Mommy screamed and cried for me,
"Wake up", then....
I saw her kiss my hurt little head....

"I didn't mean to do it!"

She sobbed and said to God....

"Please don't take my child from me,

I promise, I can make it stop!"

I didn't mind mommy fast enough...
Picking up my toys,
I made her lose her temper again, plus,
She said I make too much noise....

I said I'll help you find it mommy,
What does a temper look like?
It was too late to help her though,
Mommy went insanely wild!

I was only three years old
When my mommy made me die...
Jesus took me in His arms
And carried my soul away....
The only thing that makes me sad,
Although I never cry....
I didn't get a chance that day
To kiss my beautiful
Mommy goodbye!

(C) Leatherman 2012

Eggshell Boards

Quiet girl born in a very loud world

Tip toed gently on eggshell boards

While others stomped across titanium floors...

Never spoke out of turn,

She was barely ever heard...

Disappearing inside her head

Where she lived a perfect fantasy...

“Do as you’re told, not as we do,

Don’t forget little one...

Obey us, or the devil

Will come after you”!

Quickly she learns,

Intuitively knows

The ones who brought her here

Were deeply wounded souls!

Passing their toxic psyche

Through angry damaged blood,

Forcing their madness

Instead of giving absolute love....

Little girl is a woman now,

Standing up and still falling down,

One thing she knows for sure,

She’ll never again have to walk

Across eggshell boards!

(C) Leatherman 2012