Copyright Michael Coatesworth.

Last revised: March 08, 2008

Time for a Cuppa!

The Magazine

For all the Family

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Poet's Corner

Danny Riggs

Here are a wonderful collection of poems by Danny Riggs from Washington State U.S.A, whose interests include horses, walking, painting and writing. We welcome Danny's wonderful work here on these pages.

Just a few things to share at the end of this very hot day. I hope you have had a very enjoyable day and that tomorrow will be even better.

"Functionality"

Simultaneous, not a share experience
the man in faded jeans
well worn boots
and the dude in duds
and fancy shoes
Both had stepped in cow dung
faded jeans, didn't bother to even shrug
wiped his boots on the grass
moved along
there was work to be done
The dude complained
cursed the cow and the day
life lost the luster of fun
But life with dung is often littered
fancy and new
don't always cope
functionability is in the realm
of those of experience.

DC Riggs 24 July 00

"A Simple Man"

A simple man
eyes in crow feet parenthesis
many dawns seen
as many sunsets too
Hands, rough, looking worn
for the land does not easily give
to those of human form
but by sweat and daily toil
this man brought forth
from the soil
and fed his family
as he did the greater community
then thanked God
for what could be accomplished
without fortune or fame
by a simple man.

DC Riggs 24 July 00

"Heaven or Hell"

Heaven or Hell?
which do you choose?
if wrong, then you lose
some believe
you'll get to heaven
if you follow
carefully the proper rules
Not so
for many rule followers
to hell may go
for heaven and hell
are natural consequences
The question is plain
would you know the Creator?
on your heart
let Him write His name?
for this the Son
was born, lived, died
earning the right
in us to dwell and abide
if we live with Him
through this relationship
heaven is ours, rather than hell.

DC Riggs 24 July 00

"Your Face"

I saw your face
reflected
in the smokey glass
perfectly formed
a testimony
to beauty
a common commodity
but also rare
Your eyes, lips, and hair
invite a bold glance
of appreciation
I look
you're not there
how hollow are the words
of this simple poet
who saw, liked, then wrote
of the reflection
of your very lovely face.

DC Riggs 24 July 00

"Stuck Where He Sat"

He was sitting on top of the world
rolling along
singing a happy song
just enjoying where he was at
But life's problems were rather sticky
a bit like glue
So, soon he was stuck
in the place he comfortably sat
as the world kept rolling
kept rolling along
grinding him into the ground
leaving him feeling a wee bit flat
The learning curve
even for those a little slow
says, "don't let life's problems
fix you where you sat
flexibility and faith are keys
and in this life valuable as a rare pearl.

dc Riggs 27 June 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Love"

Love
tantalizing
fleeting
or for a lifetime
It's love
this inner need
outwardly expressed
internally digested
This is
love
with differing wants
common needs
men, women
individuals, unique
not really knowing
the what or who they seek
In this thing called
love
enriching lives
demoralizing some
making joyous
or for some
leaving them glum
Complex is
love.

dc Riggs 27 June 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Portrait of a Pet"

The essence of a pet
is found
not in it's name
but in expressions so dear
so that the personality
becomes clear
a photograph is dandy
but external
the artist sets out to capture
the essential internal
in chalk, pencil or in paint
the picture is true
to the pet
and not odd nor quaint
but a reflection
of the without and within
a pet portrait
of a good and very special friend.

dc Riggs 24 June 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Death of a Pet"

What happens at a pet's death?
beyond the fact
that life has made an exit
To the stranger across town
no meaning
To the neighbor next door
a smile or a frown
"depending"
But to the family
a loss
of a cherished member
perhaps to some
a truly silent confidant
playmate
uncompromising friend
Thus grief
in various degrees
do attend
at a cherished pet's death.

dc Riggs 27 June 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Near St. Oswald's"

It was to be near St. Oswald's Church
the village fair
many will come
from close as well as far and wide
to be there
forty floats, Wow!
watch them as they pass bye
nose to tail
they wouldn't fit side by side
the merchants
will be there with flair
while the farmers
will come ready to trade
their crops
for a price that they feel is fair
booths with food
a time filled
with fun and community
may all be blessed
as they enjoy the day
under the shadow of St. Oswald's Church.

dc Riggs 14 June 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Before St. Peter"

It was before St. Peter
he stood that day
oops, come to think of it
did he ever really pray
confused as to life's meaning
he decided power was the best
so he developed
the standard, the rule
the politically correct test
if it's good for me, then it's good
if not, it ain't too hot
Confused before St. Peter
he tried to tell of good deeds
I robbed everyone
and blamed it on someone else
I had a lot of sex
but trust me, I never inhaled
drugs, oh, no, not me
I closed my eyes
you can't do what you can't see
I was a leader of armies
but too smart to serve
I let those not as bright as I
for our country fight
I forgave myself, no problem
so I should sit as His right hand
Am I here early? You bet
she, the power lady
I think she somehow did me in
with sad heart he listened
but a smile also came
to the lips of good St. Peter.

dc Riggs 6 May 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dipsi-Doodle"

In the land of dipsi-doodle
with pad and pen
I happily will doodle
drawing mountains high
valleys, plains,
houses and trees
all I need right now
is coffee or tea and strudel
I draw faces or things
let my imagination
be the one that reigns
in this land of Dipsi-doodle
where is this land?
it is where I happen to be
in a class or office
surrounded by work's mess
this helps me relief
the rat races' burden of stress
it may be in a meeting
where the boss
presents his visions with glee
as others sleep
I keep awake, with a doodle
thus through life I go
with coffee, pad, pen, no strudel.

dc Riggs 6 May 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Weary Heart"

My heart is sometimes weary
my soul, sometimes beat
to move forward
Impossible?
No!
sometimes quite a feat
to understand, that's easy
often times
to be understood
accepted
Oh! that other's would
to realize cherished
dreams, hopes, or desires
to find a friend
who rather than takes
myself inspires
to know the reality
of my faith
the purpose of my life
to come to grips
with the past
makes my mind bleary
to face the future
is something, sometimes scary.

dc Riggs 6 May 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sail a Cloud"

Give me a tall cloud
make it as a sailing ship
and let me have a star
to steer her by
over the sea of blue
vast my sky
I will have with me
a willing crew
at least two
to sail the sky of blue
over lands strange
we with the ship
will range
adventure is the tune
that's driven many
so it will drive
this merry ship and crew
Oh! How thrilling!
when your ship is a cloud!

dc Riggs 6 May 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sixteen"

It's mom's turn
her sixteenth is passed
but now
dear son
is sixteen at last
an accomplishment to him
mixed feelings for her
for her little boy
will soon be a going
out the door
the clock began ticking
at the day of birth
will then always continue
throughout his stay
upon the earth
constants in life? Yes!
God the eternal
the clock's faithful ticking
mother's love
the future? well take a guess.

dc Riggs 6 May 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the weekend comes to a close, here are some verses as you end today and begin a new week.

"Saturday Night Prayer"

The hour is late, O' Lord my God
my body is weary
Your Word have I read
but now sleepiness
seems to crowd my head
hear my prayer
be it long or brief
let not this night
for sleep to be a thief
for I do pray
for those I love
and those who love me
they may not
be all just the same
I pray for tomorrow's sun
may you grant me
Your vision for my life
and may I say
"Your will, O' God, be done"
grant me the ability
to love those who hate me
to tolerate the silly
even when the "he" is myself
help me to be grateful
for what I have
too much I take for granted
such as I sometimes
take yourself
but I am a simple fellow
You understand
a combination of spirit and sod.

dc riggs 26 feb 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Though Bushed"

My teeth are brushed
Scripture read
prayers carefully said
yet the light
still burns
for I haven't read
all that I want
nor all that I could
so I'll take these moments
I knew that I would
for books were made
for reading
standing, in a chair, or bed
by these words
I am more than entertained
I am fed
so I read, at least a little
each night
though I may be bushed.

dc riggs 26 feb 00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bedtime"

Go to bed son, sweet dreams
goodnight
mother use to say
that was long, long ago
in a world far away
I give her and daddy a hug
kiss her cheek
then to book and bed
soon dreamland
would appear in my head
I called her tonight
though I'm far, far away
told her I loved her
but she knew that anyway
how near my eyes
the tears seem to form
as I say goodnight
I love you mom, sweet dreams.