MYRTLE GENE FOSTER BOSWELL MULLINS

THE POETRY
OF
MYRTLE GENE FOSTER BOSWELL MULLINS

For My Daughter

What can I give my daughter
As she faces life today ?
A faith in God , much human love ,
A lift upon the way.

Is her world as different as I am told ?
Is the difference an illusion ?
Is there no clear path anymore ?
Is there nothing but confusion ?

The stars are still in the heavens ,
The sun continues to rise .
The moon without a man in it ,
Still controls the tide.

She now has more choices ,
Of things she may do .
Like fly a plane , repair a car,
Almost anything she wants to .

The new freedom brings responsibility
for which she must prepare .
Must help her do her very best
While she is in my care.

So daughter, I give you my love ,
The seeds of faith to nurture .
The chance for an education ,
My best wishes for your future .

And daughter , I would wish for you :
Love , with someone to share ,
A grasp for the stars , a happy life ,
And children for whom to care .

I have no list of don'ts or do's ,
Your life is your very own ,
God gave you to me , for a little while ,
A very precious loan .

A NEW BEGINNING

New Beginnings hold much promise--
And we wish you great success .
Shed old troubles with no regret--
Never look back - old hurts forget .

Know that our love is with you--
And we wish you the very best .
If there is anything we can do to help ,
Just ask and we will do the rest .

A new dawn a new beginning
Is give us every day
If mistakes occur tomorrow
forget them and start a new way .

Here's to a new start
That brings both of you
Great fulfillment , new joy ,
For each of you and your loving boy .

1/29/80 .
A greeting for a friend who dreads be coming thirty !

So you're going to be thirty
And you feel depressed and blue .
And you want everyone to forget it .
But you're afraid that's what we'll do .

And you haven't reached the top yet
Or even found the ladder ?
Cheer up - -it only happens once
And 11 could be even badder .

Relax and pretend you're 28
Tell old age , Ah , you'll have to wait .
Enjoy yourself and have a ball ,
It's really not so bad after all .
Happy birthday

1/24/80
Back to School

Came back to school at fifty-five
With eager students , so alive .
Though most of them are very young ,
Each of us is having fun .

Creative writing we all chose .
Some write in verse , and some write in prose .
Weekly manuscripts required
Even if you're not inspired .

We learn from what each one creates,
From frank discussion and debates.
Helps us all to do our best
when help is given by the rest.

A professor astute and kind
Who really stimulates the mind.
She understands the fragile Id
And help us find thoughts we once hid.

Class is interesting, time flies.
So much talent, so much sunrise.
That's why I'm glad at fifty - five ,
I'm back in school and so alive .

1/26/80
Insanity , Various Forms
Possessed

When the devil possesses a soul ,
He directs doing hideous things .
He camouflages the nasty deeds ,
Making the soul think it wears wings .

Devils could not survive
When Jesus passed near .
They recognized His Holy Light
and fled possessed souls , in fear .

Temporary

Falling in love
Can drive one mad .
Some days you're happy ,
some days you're sad .

You may lose reason ,
You may become blind .
When love falls out,
You blow your mind .

Growing in love
takes longer.
But time nourishes
And makes it stronger .

Jealousy

Jealousy is a cancer
Which devours the cells of trust.
It torments the accuser
And turns true love to dust.

Unity

The human mind is a marvelous thing.
The soul surpasses everything.
They must work in harmony
For mankind to preserve its sanity.

Universality

There's some insanity in each of us ,
Some manic and some depressive .
It seems to manifest itself
When something in us becomes excessive .

4/29/80
Pets

A kitten is a ball of fur
Who clutches at your heart .
A puppy is a ball of fun
Who tears things all apart .

A kitten grows into a cat
Mysterious and bold ,
Who loves you when he wants to
but can be very cold .

He purrs when he's contented ,
Hisses when he is mean .
He sleeps in sunny windows
Making a beautiful scene .

A puppy grows into a dog .
There's no mystery about him .
He loves you with every heartbeat
and not just upon a whim .

His tail wags when he's happy .
He barks for many reasons .
He sleeps where you teach him to .
He's a friend for all seasons .

1/11/80

The Seasons

Spring is lovely with beautiful flowers.
Summer is filled with happy hours.
Autumn glows with a heavenly hue.
Winter brings rest, to life renew.

Youth

Have not yet reached twenty-five
Face each new day so alive.
Greet each morning with song.
How could anything be wrong?

Different damsels every night.
Each one brings her own delight.
Wonder should one settle down.
That thought brings on a frown.

On sunny days, beach says " Come ".
Cloudy days say , " go and run ".
Racquet ball for rainy eves .
A little work to pay the fees .

Been working since fifteen ,
When not so tall , trim , and lean .
Work and school , no time to play .
Now have time to live each day .

That's why , while under twenty-five ,
Face each new day so alive .
Face each morning with song .
Really there is nothing wrong .

4/22/80

Youth and Age

Age marvels a youth's energy .
Age thinks of days used to be .
Society should change it's ways
And give to youth retirement days .

The Inspirer

When we first met he was about forty-two.
He was tall and handsome with eyes of grey hue.
He was part of my very beginning.
From the time of conception, he set my world spinning.

He was a part of my life for thirty-eight years,
Sharing my joys and calming my fears.
He cherished me when I was young
And let me fly the nest when the time had come.

He shared his faith in a loving Lord
and taught me from the Holy word.
He gave me a legacy of faith that helped me meet
Challenges that, otherwise, would have brought defeat.

When my three sons and I were left alone,
He was seventy four, but, without a moan,
He left his home to care for the boys
And share in all there tears and joys.

While I worked, he supervised their day,
teaching them to study and play.
He taught them all about baseball,
To box and wrestle and to come at his call.

His call was a whistle which only he could do,
From two of his fingers, the noise shot through.
It sounded sort of like :whee-A-Wheat,
And it meant Come Home to all the kids on the street .

He took the boys to Sunday School
and was chaplain of out adult class , too .
He was a man's Man , let no one doubt ,
Who knew what life was all about .

There was always a twinkle in his eye
and with the ladies , he w a s not shy .
Letters came from widows in PA . And from
C a l i f - o r - n i - A ,
He sent flowers oft to an old flame in L .A .
We all remember one experience he shared
From his own boyhood- -when deep in prayer - -
He pondered the question , what is God Like ?
And He said his whole room filled with a great White Light .
When the doctors told him the end was near ,
He asked friends to be with me and then told me , Ah Dear , The doctor has some bad news for you .
But , do not fear , the Lord will see you through .

His Only regret was leaving us .
He did not fear the night .
And we all knew he was led to a new life
By a guiding , Loving , great White Light .

Epilogue

He always hoped I'd be blessed with a little girl
And later I was given a little pearl .
Her Father and I met through my dad - -
One of the coincidences my life has had .
I could not omit her from this Reverie
Because she does mean so much to me .
And though she did not meet Grandpa face-to face
Through her dad and brothers , she's heard of his grace .

Introspection

Dear Youth, why so bitter
When life should be so sweet?
What pain have you suffered?
How did you taste defeat?

Did one turn your love away?
Another destroy your trust?
Was is really love you gave
Or was I only lust?
What have you invested?
What have you really learned?
Do you seek more recompense
Than you have truly earned?

Happiness comes from within
And radiates to others.
Persons happy with themselves
Make the greatest lovers.