Rhyme & Reason - a reason to rhyme

    Saint Valentine, the saint for love,     Bestows "amour" like peaceful dove,     All hatred, for one day, dispel,    Upon the mountains, in the dell.      Around mid month, of February,      A day does come around,      When LOVE abounds exceedingly,       Romance can aye, be found.      When lovers' feelings, do not hide,      Their boldness, power receives,      Saint Valentine tries to unite      Those who, on him believe.       The French, they say it is "amour"       When feelings, strong, display,       To  'nother, with whom there's a bond,       This is that special day.       And so those feelings are now sent,       With loving passion too,       My love abounds, the passion strong,       And ...

The hardest, yet most kindest words I've ever had to say, Will live with me 'til my last breath, Remember well, that day. My mother, on hospital bed, Few years since widowed was, Each day, did make a visit, I did it, just because. I had been with her earlier, In fine form she did sound, So glad I returned later on, In writhing pain, was found. Angina, did her, trouble, Few heart attacks, had she, Admitted in to hospital Remaining hours, would see. She 'rrested in her ward, there, Resuscitation, tried, Alas, it was not working well, That moment, mother died. The nursing staff advised me, "We could do this all night" I had to tell them, "let her go" She'd given up the fight. She sensed that she was "going", A diary, had she, kept, Whene'er I read last entry, My watered eyes, they wept. Returning to her homestead, Her diary, there, open, Last entry had me teary eyed, "These two, will get all,.......soon."

                 I oft recall my parents,             Who dwell in Heaven above,           Remember well, with fondness,           When here, they showed such love.               The care that they bestowed upon                 ALL of their children, six,           As tradesman, dad worked wonders,                 A problem? - he'd soon fix.                Out early, in the morning,                  Returning just 'fore bed,                And while exhausted, he was,                  Complaints, were never said.             ...

 When on a cruising holiday  'Round Carribean isles,  There was a young crew member  Who aye brought me to smiles.  From London, England, came he,  His accent, still as strong, So when he heard MY accent, He knew we did belong. He then adopted me, and told All passengers and crew Whenever we were nearby "That's my dad", although most knew That age difference between us Was impossibility For one, just few years younger, That relationship could be. Howe'er I played along with him, Verb'lly chastised, was he, "Behave yourself" I'd tell him, "Or  you'll go o'er my knee". Each time, with every greeting, Those twelve days aboard ship, Sure highlighted vacation  With his most friendly quip.

The water gushes endlessly, The tap must be on, full, To send this water rushing forth, E'er fresh and ever cool. And yet this force, which is so great, Can have a greater flow, When temperatures reach high degrees It moves, this H2O. For this is but a trickle small, Of what can be achieved, For in full flow, it really is A sight to be perceived. Watch water flow from underneath, Or from the sky above, Whate'er the way, one thing I know, You're sure to fall in love. Apparel warm is needed there, Show only eyes and nose, That fridge like atmosphere ensures Nothing will decompose. The stalactitic icicles, Suspended everywhere, But there's a freshness all around, In that crisp winter's air. It was a cold and chilly morn, At 'thirty two, below', But this is such an awesome place, Niagara, in the snow.

 In '82, Barbados,  The Carribean sea, A chance for scuba diving, Had been offered to me. First day, - suit and tanks were donned We walked into the sea, Kept walking, then instructor signed To rise, sea level, be. Could not believe how far we'd gone, In such short span of time, Back down in ocean, swam to shore, T'was experience, sublime Next step was getting in a boat, Quite far from shore line, sail, Instructed "Sit on side of boat, Then backwards t'ocean, flail. I thought, 'I'll watch the first one go, Then I would do the same,' However, chosen first, was I, My bearings, quickly came. 'tappeared that I had shrunk in size,  In tropical fish tank swam, The  panoramic view, serene, The ocean, oh so calm. An experience unmissable, With mem'ries lasting long, 'twas wonderful to view the scene Where shoals of fish, belong.

 When in the hosp'tal '91,  For major surgery,  Small wards they had, same gender,  Another five and me.  Each morning, 'observation check's  The nurse would, question, ask,  "Mr. Ross, d'you know where you are?"  It was a daily task   Ward 39, was where I lay,  Across the corridor,  In ward 40, were females, six,  Each morning, would implore.   Whene'er, each morn, the question asked,  A fun game, I would play,  "I'm in ward 39, though I  Want to be in 'forty'.  Coming out of anesthesia   After my surgery,  Th'observation question,asked,  To check my memory. "Mr. Ross, d'you know where you are?"  My usual response given,  "You're actually in th'recovery ward"  My memory safe, was proven.

  Goodbye, it seems so final, In life, we'll say a few, Though didn't think 'twould be as hard To say "goodbye" to you. Your stories on your 'facebook' With 'nature chats' expressed, I'm pretty sure your readers Did end up being blessed. Made mention of it often, The love you have for Tweed  And torn between Line 45, Your hearts love did succeed. So now to Tweed you're heading back  Still quite some travelling, Your 'chats with nature ', will go on Your sparrows, will still sing. Your concerned love for others, With sponsored walks, to raise Some needed funds, assistance, Then your Creator, praise. So think about us often, As we, will think of you, Your Generations family  Unite, to say "adieu".

"This  life is all there is here" "There is no 'afterlife' " Has often been repeated By youth, husband, or wife. HOWEVER, when it happens, Of someone close, demise, "They're in a 'better place's now" Are words that do arise. If only, made for certain,  Their destination place, The BETTER choice, of course made, Would provide grieving grace. Then, in place of a "funeral", Have "Life's Celebration", That certainty, re-meeting, With Spirits' elevation.