Along the path...

                         By Shel Silverstein

The Unknown Soldier by Billy Rose There's a graveyard near the White House Where the Unknown Soldier lies, And the flowers there are sprinkled With the tears from mother's eyes. I stood there not so long ago With roses for the brave, And suddenly I heard a voice Speak from out the grave: "I am the Unknown Soldier," The spirit voice began, "And I think I have the right To ask some questions man to man. "Are my buddies taken care of? Was their victory so sweet? Is that big reward you offered Selling pencils on the street? "Did they really win the freedom They battled to achieve? Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre Above that empty sleeve? "Does a gold star in the window Now mean anything at all? I wonder how my old girl feels When she hears a bugle call. "And that baby who sang 'Hello, Central, give me no man Can they replace her daddy With a military band? "I wonder if the profiteers Have satisfied their greed? I wonder if a sol...

I was talking with a friend at work about a party she and her hubby are attending tonight and am totally coveting it. It's a Halloween Poetry Party! At first I had a hard time coming up with spooky, creepy, eerie Halloween poems. Then, I remembered Robert Burns and Edgar Allen Poe and decided to host a Halloween Poetry Corner. Join in the fun. Post a favorite spooky poem or write your own. Halloween by Robert Burns (1785) Upon that night, when fairies light On Cassilis Downans dance, Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze, On sprightly coursers prance; Or for Colean the rout is ta’en, Beneath the moon’s pale beams; There, up the Cove, to stray an’ rove, Amang the rocks and streams To sport that night; read more (with annotations) Jack-o-Lantern Author Unknown Jack-o-lantern, Jack-o-lantern, You are such a funny sight. As you sit there by the window, Looking out into the night. You were once a sturdy pumpkin, growing on a curly vine. Now you are a Jack-o-lantern, See your night lights ...

Image originally seen on freefoto.com This is a poem I have loved since my early college days. It reminds me to get out and do some planting. Several people have said they feel it is depressing. I find it full of hope and thought of it after reading a friend's recent post about a relationship trial she has been having. Comes the Dawn by Veronica A. Shoffstall After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't always mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much so you pl...