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Poems by Pat Durand

1ST FLIGHT

I NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT,
UNTIL THE DAY OF MY FIRST FLIGHT;
THE SKY WAS BLUE AND THE WINDS WERE CALM,
I FELT AS THOUGH WE WERE JUST DRIFTING ALONG;

I GAZED BELOW ME AT THE WORLD AGLOW,
REFLECTING ON MY BOYHOOD DREAMS OF SO LONG AGO;
NOW I TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT HEAVEN MUST BE LIKE,
AS I REFLECT ON MY FIRST FLIGHT.		 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

SET YOUR GOALS TOWARD THE STARS
AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS WILL BE MET,
STAR BY STAR.

THE HAPPIEST FEELINGS ONE CAN GET, IS FROM ACHIEVEMENTS WE HAVE MET.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS MATTER A GREAT DEAL,
FOR THEY ARE LIKE SPOKES UPON A WHEEL.
ROLLING THROUGH LIFE LIKE A WHEEL,
THE SPOKES WE ADD STRENGTHENS THE WHEEL.
 
LOST INNOCENCE

THE NEGLECTED, ABUSED AND FORGOTTEN - WHAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND INSECURITIES DO THEY CARRY?

THE UN-ENCOURAGED, NEVER HAD TIME FOR, NEVER HUGGED - WHO REACHES OUT TO THEM?

THE CURSED, HARSH SPOKEN TO, NEVER TREATED KINDLY - WHO HAS A SMILE FOR, A KIND WORD FOR OR FEELINGS TOWARD?

STRIPPED OF THE MERITS OF THE HUMAN SPIRITS AND IN THEIR WORLD OF “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST” - WHAT DIRECTION DO THEY HEAD?

PLEASE TAKE TIME FOR, SHOW A LITTLE KINDNESS TOWARD AND HELP, START, SELF-EDUCATE, THE “LOST INNOCENT!”

THOUGHT FORGOTTEN, OR AM I?		 OLD LIGHTHOUSE

HOW MAGNIFICENT IS YOUR LIGHT BEAM TO THE MARINER AND THE AVIATOR

THROUGH GREAT STORMS AND THICKENING FOG, YOUR TOWERING LIGHT BECKONS NAVIGATORS PORT-WARD BOUND

LIKE THE NORTH STAR YOUR LIGHT BEAM GIVES A NAUTICAL FIX FOR THEIR COMPASS BAR

YOUR LIGHT IS THE GUIDING HOPE UPON WHOSE FAITH THE NAVIGATOR RECKONS

THAT ROTATING, FLICKERING GLIMMER - OH WHAT A SIGHT TO THAT MATE LOST AT NIGHT

SEAMAN AND AIRMAN ALIKE, FIND GREAT DELIGHT AT FIRST SIGHT OF YOUR BRIGHT RADIANT LIGHT

YOU GUIDE THEM INWARD, CREATING COMPOSURE, EVER SO CLOSER TO THEIR COASTAL PORT CLOSURE
TEACHING

MANKIND HAS MUCH MORE ACCOMPLISHED FROM
FIRM GENTLENESS RATHER THEN BRUTE FORCE,
FROM FONDNESS RATHER THEN HATE, FROM EXAMPLE RATHER THEN NEGLECT, FROM SHARING RATHER THEN SELF-CENTEREDNESS.

TEACH BY EXAMPLE, SO MUST THE FATHER TO THE SON, THE MOTHER TO THE DAUGHTER, THE
TRADESMAN TO THE APPRENTICE, THE TEACHER TO THE STUDENT. SOME PEOPLE LEARN BY PRACTICE, SOME BY THEORY. PRACTICE MAY FOLLOW THEORY OR THEORY MAY FOLLOW PRACTICE, BUT BOTH ARE NEEDED FOR THE CHECK AND BALANCE IN PROVING AND UTILIZING KNOWLEDGE GAINED.




 		 THE INVENTOR

TO SEEK, TO FIND A BETTER WAY, TO HELP MANKIND THROUGH A MORE ENLIGHTENED DAY

YOU STAY UP NIGHTS WITH NEW IDEAS, ONLY TO RETREAT TO YOUR STUDY WITH NOTES TO JOT

AND WHEN THE SUN FINALLY COMES AROUND, YOUR IDEAS ARE STILL SYSTEMATICALLY BOUND

THE DETAILS COME TOGETHER TO EQUAL THE SUM, OF ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND THINGS TO CIRCUM

SOMETHING INSIDE YOU DRIVES YOU ON, NOTHING TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER THE WORK TO BE DONE

UPON THE RISE OF ANOTHER DAY, WITH NO DELAY, YOUR THOUGHTS ARRAY

PERHAPS TODAY, YOU CAN FINALLY SAY, “MY WORK WAS FINISHED UPON THIS DAY”
GALVESTON ISLE

WALKING ALONG THE SANDY BEACH, I FELT THE SURF BENEATH MY FEET. MY MIND WAS AT SUCH RESTFUL PEACE, AS I SEARCHED FOR SEA SHELLS ALONG THE BEACH.

LOOKING OUT OVER THE GULF, I FELT THE TRANQUILITY AS MY THOUGHTS WERE ENGULFED.
MY THOUGHTS WENT BACK TO “THE STRAND”, ITS OLD SPANISH ARCHITECTURE WAS SO GRAND.

THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF SEA GULLS AT “THE FISHERMAN’S WHARF”, THE SCHOONER “THE ELISSA” AND THE SMELL OFF THE BAY, ALL MADE WAY FOR THAT PICTURESQUE DAY.

THE GRACIOUS SPANISH ARCHITECTURE OF HOTEL GALVEZ, WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD AND A PLEASURE TO SEE, AS I SAT AND GAZED OUT OVER THE SEA.

RIDING THE TROLLEY, FROM THE STRAND TO THE SEAWALL, I SAW AND FELT THE SPANISH NOSTALGIA, OF THIS OLD MADE FAMOUS, PORT OF CALL.

LEAVING ON THE FERRY, HEADING TOWARD PORT BOLIVAR, MY THOUGHTS FLOWED BACK, TO THAT PEACEFUL PLACE AND ITS ELEGANT SPANISH TASTE.		 IRIS

YOU HAD YOUR MUSIC AND YOUR PLAYS,
IF ONLY LIFE, COULD BE LIVED THAT WAY

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WERE TOO HARD
TO FACE, WITH SURMOUNTING INSECURITIES
IN YOUR DAILY PACE

YOU TRIED TO ESCAPE WITHIN YOUR RELIGION,
BUT IT ALONE COULD NOT FULFILL YOUR MISSION

YOU HAD A GOODNESS AND GENUINELY CARED,
BUT REALITY WAS FAR TOO MUCH TO BEAR

YOU LOST ALL TRUST AND DWELT ON THE PAST;
DUE TO A LOVE, THAT DID NOT LAST

YOU MADE US FEEL, YOU FELT INCOMPLETE,
WHEN YOU ALONE, SHOULD HAVE FELT UNIQUE

IF WE’VE LEARNED ANYTHING BY WHAT YOU
BORE, IT SHOULD BE THIS TRUTH FOR EVER MORE

YOU CAN’T FIND HAPPINESS IN SOMEONE ELSE,
UNLESS YOU’VE FIRST FOCUSSED UPON YOURSELF



 
SUNSHINE

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO

I GUESS, GOD WILL ONLY KNOW

YOUR SWEET MEMORIES, ARE ALL THAT’S LEFT TO SHOW

I GAZE AT YOUR PICTURES, TO TRY AND EASE MY MIND,

BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO EASE IT, SINCE I’VE LOST YOU

MY SWEET SUNSHINE

THEY SAY THAT TIME WILL HEAL, A BROKEN HEART

BUT I HAVE GROWN TIRED, OF TRYING TO DO MY PART

AFTER RAIN, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUNSHINE

AND WHAT SHOULD FOLLOW, IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FLOWERS

NOW, I LONG TO SEE THE DAY, WHEN YOU’LL RETURN TO PLAY

AND MAYBE IT IS THEN, THAT I CAN FINALLY SAY

AT LAST I’VE FOUND YOU, MY SWEET SUNSHINE

AND MAYBE THEN, I CAN SAY, GOODBYE TO ALL THE GREY		 VTOL AIRCRAFT

WHEN I’M FINALLY LAID TO REST,
BESIDES YOU LORD, LET ME FLY ON TO YOU

FOR WHEN I FLY ABOVE THE EARTH,
IT’S TO THE HEAVENS MY THOUGHTS DISBURSE

LIFT TO THE CLOUDS LIKE A HOT AIR BALLOON,
IN VERTICAL FLIGHT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

CLOSE TO THE GROUND I FLY AROUND,
IN THE GYROCOPTER THERE’S SAFETY ABOUND

THE CLOSEST FLIGHT TO THE BIRD,
IS THE FLYING OF THE WHIRLY BIRD

FOR THE HELICOPTER IS THE MOST UNIVERSAL,
OF ALL AIRCRAFT IN THE UNIVERSE

IT'S THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF EMERGENCY
RESCUE, AN ANSWERED PRAYER TO A SAILOR’S
DISTRESS

IT'S THE LAW ENFORCER’S EYE FROM THE SKY,
AND THE TV NEWS WATCH’S AERIAL VIEW

THE FARMER’S HARVEST DEPENDS ON IT TO,
FOR WITHOUT THE CROP DUSTER,
THE FARMER WOULD BE THROUGH
TIME

TIME IS OF MOST VALUABLE ESSENCE, ONCE SPENT CAN NEVER BE REGAINED

TIME IS THE AVENUE, THROUGH WHICH EACH PERSON WRITES HIS EPITAPH

TIME AND WILL ARE FOR MANKIND, GOD’S GIVEN EQUALS

TIME IS THE MEASUREMENT, BY WHICH ALL LIFE CYCLES ARE GAUGED

TIME SPENT WISELY, STEMS FROM KNOWLEDGE, EITHER SELF EXPERIENCED OR THAT READ AND SHARED WITH OTHERS

TIME MARKS MEMORIES, THROUGH LAUGHTER AND TEARS

TIME IS THE HEALER FOR ALL LIFE’S GRIEFS

TIME IS THE FACE OF A CLOCK OR THE CHIMES OF A CHURCH BELL REMINDING US TO ACT NOW

TIME IS FOR EACH OF US TO CAPTURE, IN FREEING OUR SOULS AND DOING HIS WILL

TIME CAN ONLY BE CAPTURED AND HELD, THROUGH WORDS AND PICTURES

TIME NEEDS DECISIVENESS AND SHOULD NOT BE WASTED

TIME STARTS ITS COUNT, AT OUR FIRST BREATH OF LIFE AND ENDS AT OUR LAST

THE SPIRIT OF A FINE DAY

AT THE FIRST SIGHT OF DAYBREAK, THINK OF WHAT A DIFFERENCE, ANOTHER DAY WILL MAKE

WHEN HEARING BIRDS SING, REMEMBER ALL THE JOY, THEIR SONGS WILL BRING

WHILE WALKING IN THE PARK, THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE MADE HAPPY, BY THIS LANDMARK

WHILE PICKING FLOWERS, REMEMBER, SOMEONE ELSE, IS CERTAINLY WORTH THE BOTHER

WHILE SWINGING, THINK OF THE  RELAXATION, THIS SIMPLE MOTION IS BRINGING

WHEN SEEING A HAPPY SMILE, REMEMBER THIS EXPRESSION, IS CERTAINLY WORTH WHILE

WHILE ENJOYING A GOOD LAUGH, THINK OF ALL THE GOOD TIMES AND BE THANKFUL WHILE THEY LAST

WHEN HUGGING SOMEONE, REMEMBER HOW GOOD IT FELT, AFTER IT WAS DONE

WHEN ENJOYING A GOOD MOVIE, THINK OF ALL THE EMOTIONS BROUGHT FORTH AND HOW THEY WERE SOOTHING

WHILE ON A BEACH, REMEMBER LIFE FOR THE MOST PART, IS A PEACH

WHILE LISTENING TO THE WIND, THINK OF ITS WHISPERS AND WHERE YOUR THOUGHTS HAD BEEN

WHEN LOOKING AT INDIAN SUMMER LEAVES, REMEMBER HOW THESE THANKSGIVING COLORS PLEASE

WHILE HEARING RAIN FALL, THINK OF ALL THE FLOWERS, THAT THIS WILL MAKE TALL

WHEN FEELING ALL ALONE, REMEMBER TO KEEP BUSY, TO TRY TO AVOID THIS ZONE

WHEN HEARING A LONESOME TRAIN WHISTLE BLOW, THINK OF ALL YOUR FOND MEMORIES, OF SO LONG AGO

WHILE GAZING AT THE STARS AT NIGHT, REMEMBER THE HEAVENS, FOR GOD HAS MADE IT BRIGHT

WHEN GOING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, THINK OF SOMEONE, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HOLD TIGHT

WHILE SAYING ALL YOUR PRAYERS, REMEMBER, GOD ONLY SENDS US, WHAT HE THINKS WE WILL BEAR

 

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