PERFECT SUBMISSION, PERFECT DELIGHT

PERFECT SUBMISSION, PERFECT DELIGHT

Roger A. Davis

Words from Fanny Crosby's hymn "Blessed Assurance"
Remind me of being in my Mama Grace's lap
A place of the loving "second chance"
Never making you feel like a wearer of a dunce cap

She was my earthly example of Jesus, my Lord
It is in His presence many times I've been restored
As I have submitted all that I am to Him
Especially, when all things look so dim

Fanny was 90 years blind, but had amazing insight
This inspired her, over 8000 text and hymns to write
"Visions of rapture burst on my sight"
Her view has brought Christ's people much delight

"This is my story, this my song"
Praising my Savior all the day long"
Lord, may it be with us, I pray
I hope it is, "Amen" I hear you say

"To God Be The Glory" another Crosby pearl
Another beautiful message by this submitted girl
"Give Him the glory, great things He hath done"
What a privilege it is to worship God's Son

Closing with a short poem by Eliza Hewitt
A fellow composer of the Holy writ
Written to memorialize Fanny Crosby’s passing
Into Jesus' arms, everlasting

"Away to the country of sunshine and song,
Our songbird has taken her flight
And she who has sung in the darkness so long
Now sings in the beautiful light."

NETSUKE NUT

NETSUKE NUT

Roger A. Davis

Some are made from wood, bone and nut
Yet my favorite is ivory, by a master’s cut
Buddhas, geishas, squirrel on a limb
Dragons, foo dogs and gods
Themes of the master’s whim
Zodiac animals carved in ivory
Year of the Tiger, born nineteen-fifty

Kimonos were worn days long ago
Obi sash then netsuke holding the silk string
Ojime, a tightening and loosening thing
Inro pouch for paper, pen and tobacco
Collectors now seek to acquire this art
And I am a netsuke nut doing my part

So when you come and visit to have a look
You will see Anthony Chan’s book
In a house with an ivory zoo
Now off to eBay looking for a cuckoo

MENTAL ISSUES

MENTAL ISSUES

Roger A. Davis

In my life, I have had some major mental issues
Causing my loved ones to use many Kleenex tissues
After many years, I was diagnosed: Bipolar Disorder
It seemed to get worse as I grew older

Hypomania was my main symptom
Energetic, euphoric and a false sense of wisdom
The depressive side rarely raised its head
I got a lot done; I was hardly ever in bed

Spring and summer, it seemed to peak
Became a fireball workaholic, 20/7 days a week
Did this for all my adult years
With my family's ever growing fears

Then with increasing irrational episodes
With incidents where my temper explodes
We met with a clinical psychologist
Manic-depressive, full blown, he needed no test

That very day began my first mental institution stay
I enjoyed the manic highs, no medicine, I did say
After being a disrupting force, including one escape
I started taking my meds to avoid the legal red tape

After fifteen days I got released, supposedly better
Soon stopped taking the pills, missing those hyper highs
Once again I had a brain; insanity unfettered
And a family with many tears and sighs

Spent a week of wasting money and out of control
This time, it ended with a scary depressive toll
Afraid I might hurt loved ones, to the hospital I went
Different meds and sessions, where we could vent

Sixteen days being there trying my best
Again I was let out having passed the test
And to this very day as I write this prose
The old days of bipolarism have not arose

If I was asked to give mental health advice
I'd say, everyone should get a yearly exam
Not waiting for a neurosis log jam
I wish I had done that, it would have been nice

MOPE

MOPE

Roger A. Davis

Moody blues
Dark hues
Fate's dues

Drag your feet
Take the heat
Electric seat

Down in the dumps
Take your bumps
We are all chumps

Dig your grave
Never brave
Life seems depraved

Glass half empty
Don't want sympathy
Just a rope and tree

Okay, my mope is done
I'll be up with the rising sun
My sorrows have had their run

Not often I get down
Usually the party clown
So don't frown

The depression has lifted
By remembering I'm spiritually gifted
From sadness to joy it has shifted

FILL IN THE SQUARES

FILL IN THE SQUARES

Roger A. Davis

Do you do crossword puzzles every day?
If the answer is yes, you must see the documentary,
WORDPLAY

Will Shortz, crossword editor of the New York Times
Would know the dictionary meaning of "rimes"
Also, 21 across; Nuremberg concern: w a r c r i m e s

His daily puzzle is the cream of the crop
Bill Clinton, Indigo Girls and Ken Burns share this passion
To fill in the squares, 4 down; current clothes: f a s h i o n

Shortz founded the American Crossword Tournament
It is WORDPLAY's central theme
Stamford, Conn., who will fulfill their being "The Champ" dream?

There is an underlying story of puzzle construction
That is very interesting, kind of like basic instruction
13 across; first stage of kidnapping: a b d u c t i o n

I recommend this movie to my readership
Comedian Jon Stewart is in it, he didn't even need one blip
Did you know, Jon proposed to Tracey with Will's NYT puzzle tip?

As a fan of crosswords, word scrambles and cryptoquips
WORDPLAY rekindled my interest to do puzzles
Here is one for you, 10 down, Toto restraint for lip(s)

BED & BATHROOM: FOR SALE

BED & BATHROOM: FOR SALE

Roger A. Davis

Had this idea for emptying my retirement account
A savvy business idea to increase the amount
A Bed & Bathroom, a weekend getaway
This was going to be my big payday

Spent most of the money on renovation
The rest on advertising our location
Four rooms with unique themes
The lavatories of your dreams

Library bathroom has Reader's Digest Condensed
Longer version might cause the colon to tense
Copies of national and the local wipe
And fold down table to use your laptop to type

Next was what we called Nature's Show
Off the double cots area, a tree with patio
A place to go outside and pee pee
In winter, make yellow snow with wee wee

Number 3 was called the Locker Room
Two showers, urinals, stools and mirrors to groom
Rubdown tables for massage and sleep
Your back will need the therapy; it is extra, not cheap

Lastly, our hoped for drawing card
The historic, Outhouse in the Backyard
A shack with sawdust mattress with slats of lumber
A romantic two-holer, plus old fashion slumber

On every pillow an unmarked chocolate Ex-Lax
Thinking a nice touch, to optimize their room tax
Our intention, guests will get ultimate facility use
The lawsuits charged: Criminal Bathroom Abuse

We’re putting it on the auction block
Plus all the items of the gift shop stock
Grosses of toilet paper, hope we get some bids
And twelve coin laminated stool lids

So now every time I hear a stool flush
My cheeks get this embarrassed blush
Wife says I should join a septic think tank
Public restrooms to clean, "Judge, it wasn't a prank"

GOSPEL MUSIC

GOSPEL MUSIC

Roger A. Davis

"How Great Thou Art" brings many a joyous shed tear
This scene repeated often when Gospel music I hear
Grew up on "The Old Rugged Cross" sung by the choir
And other hymns under the Methodist Church spire

For me, worshiping the Lord by song
Makes my heart long
To be in my heavenly address
And be free from sin's earthly duress

"I'll Fly Away" someday to that celestial shore
Because I've been washed in His Blood and more
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus", all our grief He bears
Especially when we vocalized them in hymns and prayers

The Christmas classics like "Silent Night"
Give our souls such Holy delight
Also a favorite, "What Child Is This?"
These lyrics make my spirit soar with bliss

I watched "Alan Jackson: Precious Memories" TV show
Again I remembered, "Jesus Loves Me This I Know"
"Amazing Grace" is not just for church people and me
Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected for all humanity

"Blessed Assurance Jesus Is Mine"
Even for the strongest of faith, it is part time
So, if your struggle with life like I do
The antidote, a heartfelt Gospel tune or two

A joyful noise is all Our Heavenly Father requires
So join with me before our time here expires
We were created to worship God, Our King
Come on, break out, sing, sing, sing!

WINTER OF OUR CONTENT

WINTER OF OUR CONTENT

Roger A. Davis

This year for me, no cabin fever
I've a made an outdoor lodge, like a beaver
If that doesn't work out, too cold for my desire
I'll use the material for a roaring bonfire

This poetic preamble is written in jest
Now, I like Spring and Fall the best
But when younger, Winter was my bag
Sold Christmas trees, price marked with red tag

Loved the icy sleet that transformed trees
To crystal landscapes, and geese in flying vees
Drifting snow keeping us from school
Building forts and snowball fights was the rule

In flat Kansas, sledding was tricky
About any incline was used, you couldn't be picky
Also employed a three wheeler to pull a plywood sled
Snow frozen wheat field, our mountain slope, instead

My son, at 8 or 9, pulled me behind the Yamaha
I fell back on my head, bellowing to stop
Not hearing, Josh dragged me to the end, his frozen pop
To everyone watching, it was a big ha, ha, ha

In my family, I'm known as "Best Ice and Snow Driver"
But in their minds, they think, "He's still a survivor?"
You see I have had a number of winter accidents
I seemed to ignore Mother Nature's icy road hints

Blizzard drifts were a magnet to me
Thinking, go fast enough, it will set you free
Once it took two space heaters in father-in-law's garage
For my Chevy's front-end to thaw and dislodge

Now, when a winter storm strikes
No more sleds and motorized trikes
Now it's my GMC 4X4 to breach the Arctic blast
And here's hoping, I don't repeat the frosty past

PAID PROGRAMMING

PAID PROGRAMMING

Roger A. Davis

I have a satellite dish for viewing TV
And I pay a hefty monthly fee
I like C.S.I. and Monk
Also sports, especially a slam-dunk

I'm a night owl, nap during the day
3 a.m. and on, it's time to play
If the computer makes me bored
It's to the television, I'm headed toward

Grab the remote and scan for a selection
Over a 100 channels for my inspection
The majority read "Paid Programming"
This Dish Network is very damning

I'm already paying a hunk of cash
Don't need shows where advertisers
Sell products to increase their stash
For thirty minutes, they hash and hash

Info commercials are my pet peeve
Not one item bought would you believe?
Long time ago, I almost bought an electric wok
But my son stopped me with a calming talk

I guess I’d better grab a book late at night
Because those Ronco ads make me uptight
"When you order now we will send you free"
My, my, this is captivating TV

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest
Hope you’re not failing The Shopping Network Test
If UPS and FedEx are on first name basis
Stop, don't let TV ads put you through their paces

ODE TO FLASHLIGHT

ODE TO FLASHLIGHT

Roger A. Davis

First light I see tonight
It is my trusty flashlight
Employed for my journey to the bathroom
Enables me to avoid articles of doom

Joshua Lionel Cowen invented it in 1898
Joshua was to have another fate
The toy train manufacturer, elite
Lionel Corporation was no small feat

Conrad Hubert was given the invention
Eveready Flashlight, his multimillionaire connection
Batteries in a tube with a bulb that glows
I so enjoy the light it throws

There are many variations, my friends
Using D, C, AA, AAA, it just depends
Had one pair you wore like glasses on the head
Freeing hands for night work instead

Have an antique flashlight cane
Handed down from Great-grandmother Mayme
Torch is the Commonwealth name of fame
But it is the same in the main

I could go on and on with this tribute ode
Like how they can be used for Morse Code
Yet I believe there is a universal appreciation
This, my flashlight infatuation

So enjoy you Energizer Buddy today
And don't forget a shadow show to play
Or a ghost story for added fright reflection
Yes, especially for any nighttime inspection