Wednesday, August 23, 2006

MOVIE MONTAGE

MOVIE MONTAGE

Roger A. Davis

THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO
TURNER AND HOOCH, OTIS AND MILO
TERMINATOR(s), DIE HARD
I am a movie title bard

HOME ALONE times 3, RUDY, E.T.
Some of my favorites of cinema history
YOU GOT MAIL, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES
TITANIC, all-time highest in ticket sales

JURASSIC PARK, yikes, WAIT UNTIL DARK
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE LION KING
Animated Ariel and Simba doing their thing

OCEAN'S ELEVEN, TWELVE AND APPOLLO 13
THE PRINCESS BRIDE, cult favorite, poison scene
THE HISTORY OF ROCK in PILLOW TALK
Clint's SUDDEN IMPACT, [impasse] with Sondra Locke

KARATE KID(s), SHANGHI KNIGHTS and NOON
Sci-Fi’s, STAR WARS episodes and DUNE
DANCES WITH WOLVES and LITTLE BIG MAN
Are you a Kevin Costner and Dustin Hoffman fan?

HOOSIERS, greatest sports flick
MIRACLE, U.S.A. hockey shtick
CHARIOTS OF FIRE and JERRY MAGUIRE
Where's THE [COLOR OF] MONEY?, we inquire

CAST AWAY, a soccer ball costar
FORREST GUMP, box of chocolates, floating feather
BABE, a talking pig, herding sheep
Finally, you pick your film for the top of the heap

Friday, August 11, 2006

ABC FOOD GROUP

ABC Food Group

Dedicated to my Dad for his 80th birthday

Roger A. Davis

This is how the family story is told
When my dad was four or five years old
His father was principal, teacher, and coach
His mother, my Grandma, a woman above reproach

It was The Great Depression time
Money scarce, a dime was quite a find
Many banks and businesses had failed
Much of our nation's social life was curtailed

But high school basketball games were free
A place for fun and to forget about our economy
These sporting events drew families and other fans
All sitting and cheering in the wooden stands

A time when children were not constantly watched
Allowed to go play, not worrying if they strayed
That's what my dad was doing during the game
That is, until half-time came and his mom called his name

Richard appeared with a bulging wad in his cheek
It was so big, he could hardly chew or speak
She asked where he got the gum and money
Innocently, he replied, "Under the seats, it was free."

Out of her handbag her hankie came
"Richard Layman, spit it here, you should be ashamed"
When the players came back on the gym floor
He sat beside Mama Grace until the final score

So now you know some of our Davis history
Already Been Chewed gum, acronym, ABC
It became an old family recipe
Told by my prim and proper Grandmother, with much glee

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

PATHFINDERS

PATHFINDERS

Roger A. Davis

Birch bark and dugout canoe
Paddling inland on river and creek
Their adventure was to seek
Trade or raid and counting coup

Game trails in forest and plain
Native Americans’ domain
Santa Fe Trail, legend is spun
Shooting arrows at the setting sun

Other countries came to explore
Including Coronado, the conquistador
French, Dutch and English ships arrived
Settlements were established, some survived

Thirteen colonies became our main border
British tried to maintain Parliamentary order
Independence was won and U.S.A. became our name
Now we had a Flag to stake a claim

Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark
Western expansion it did spark
Expedition began on Mississippi and Missouri
That led to the opening of Louisiana Territory

Monsieur Charbonneau and Sacagawea, his wife
Helped the "Corps of Discovery" avoid tribal strife
Through the mountains to the Pacific shore
Shoshone Ambassador immortalized in our folklore

Jim Bridger and the mountain men
Made a living trapping animal skin
Later they helped those on the western treks
As wagon train guides, again risking their necks

Bridger's South Pass on the Oregon Trail
Where pioneers crossed the great Divide
Then a long thousand mile slide
To where the ocean-going ships sail

The Gold Rush and other precious mineral finds
Brought a quest for quick wealth in the mines
Many searched for the bag of yellow dust
Dakota, Alaska, California or bust

Homestead Act and the driving of the Golden Spike
Events motivated settlers west by road and rail
Free land, build home and farm, not for the frail
For many a journey on an overwhelming turnpike

Congress ratified Alaska and Hawaii in 1959
Armstrong and Stars and Stripes on the Moon in 69
America from sea to shining sea
Even to the Sea of Tranquility

To keep our American spirit alive
It is to continue to explore and strive
Remember to trust in God's sight
That He will lead by His Guiding Light

Monday, August 07, 2006

TIGER TURF

TIGER TURF

Roger A. Davis

I'm a long time TV fan of golf; a couch potato caddy for forty-some years.
A TV Arnie's army recruit, had a Golden Bear affair and a Watson wannabe spree.
You name a duffer, I’ve shared their shanks, they suffered.
V.J., Phil, Sergio, O'Mear, Duval and Daly, the list is long of my companions;
they are all my champions.
Golf, A GOOD WALK SPOILED (John Feinstein, author)

This poem is for Tiger and my fellow birdie watchers.


British and Buick
Forty-nine and fifty
That's pretty nifty

Twenty-eight birdies
Another record, bloke
He's back, no joke

His Dad, that was sad
His open tears
Among the cheers

Sunday's orange shirt
The TW black cap
Hurray, ole chap

Wedge for the sand
Iron out of the ruff
Almost always, close enough

Tiger's long woods
His many eagle tries
Can be peers' demise

What does his future hold?
His approach shots will be bold
The history of golf will be retold
Because Tiger's turf broke the mold

Friday, August 04, 2006

20-10 VISION

20-10 VISION

Roger A. Davis


Throughout the summer, I had been boasting about my good eyesight to fellow employees (summer help, college and senior high school level). I was once checked to have 20-10 vision. When I tell people, they usually associate 20-20 as good and 20-10 as the worst. Yet, in fact, 20-100 is worse than 20-20. I usually have to produce evidence of a physical feat to convince fellow employees of my prowess. Like seeing the wheat trucks coming a mile and a half away, when they, themselves, cannot. Remember, we are talking about flat Central Kansas that has gorgeous sunrises and sunsets because of these skyline vistas.

In Kansas, every four years, you renew your driver’s license. Upon entering the examiner’s office, I turned in the open book written test and, because I was renewing, I only had to take the eyesight test, pay the fees and get a new picture taken for my license.

I stepped up to the counter with the eye testing machine and ask her to crank it down to the most difficult eyesight reading test level, which she did. This old Kansas mountain man read the test without any errors. Feeling pretty smug, I could hardly wait to get back and tell those young kids that the old man is still ahead in one area over the youth of today.

While waiting for the photo, a young woman of 16 and her dad came in for her first license. She, being very nervous, dropped the form, giggling and couldn’t sit still. They completed the paperwork and the only thing left before the driving test was the eye test. She went up to the machine and the examiner asked her to read the letters. She paused and paused and backed away, looked at the examiner and said she couldn’t make out any letters. The examiner asked whether she wore glasses. The young lady said that she didn't. Then the clerk remembered that she had not turned the machine back to the normal setting. After she did, the girl passed the test and exclaimed, “I thought I was blind and flunked!”

We all laughed and this elevator man had a tall tale for the rest of the summer.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

COLORFUL CHARACTERS

COLORFUL CHARACTERS

Roger A. Davis

Richie Rich was born under a dollar sign
And was a favorite of mine
Chip and Dale were very polite
But acorns made them uptight

Lois Lane had this Superman thing
Horn-rimmed glasses, you ding-a-ling
Little Lotta was a tremendous eater
Tasmanian Devil was no slouch either

We tried to read them on the rack
Dang, then came the cellophane sack
They used to be pretty cheap
Dime, quarter, now out of reach

Those were the days of comics delight
Aquaman, Flash and Superman's x-ray sight
With villains and foes galore
Kryptonite and the diabolical Lex Luthor

You see, this was the era before color TV
Colorful characters were from Marvel and DC
We would venture to the 5 &10 store
Hoping to find a new issue to score

Those days are long past
Satellite, cable, cartoon selection is vast
Now, tastefulness is in question
Beevis and Butthead, is there no objection?

Let us remember the glory days
Reading the comics on Sundays
Enjoying and laughing at the jokes
Well, th.., th..,th.., that's all folks!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

FRUSTRATIONS

FRUSTRATIONS

Roger A. Davis

Spit, kick and pull hair
Swear, stomp and scream
This is not a nightmare dream

Throwing a hissy fit
Because his plans went south
He sure has a potty mouth

The expressions of frustration
Been there, done that
Acting like a spoiled brat

Not getting our own way
Speed bumps on life's road
It can be a very heavy load

Do not keep it bottled up
Because blowing your cork
Makes you look like a dork

Find someone who will listen
Open up your heart
Some of the burden will depart

Goals, plans and dreams
We need them in our life
Yet, with them, there will be strife

Friends, family, counselors and preachers
We need that network of support
But, most of all, include God in our cohort

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Roger A. Davis

Many years have passed since we both said, "I do"
I am remembering the Hallmark cards I've given you
Now, I hope to say in my own special way
How precious is our relationship, this glorious day

There have been peaks and valleys, too many to tally
It is in unconditional love that we rally
Both of us counting God's love for each
Keeping us always in the other's reach

We are stubborn and headstrong
Both slow to say, "I am wrong"
Yet, when the day is finally done
We laughed a lot and had great fun

In our togetherness we produced an heir
Who has inherited the great blessing we share
He has the best mom, with so much loving care
That our son has an abundance of love to spare

This attempt to say in a poetic way
What you mean to me, on our wedding day
Cannot capture my heartfelt praises
For all your care and a lifetime of embraces

Gratefully I write, thank you my dear Wife
I count thee as the joy of my life
I rejoice that we have the rest of our days
To rest and bask in His loving ways