By David Smith January 11, 2012

Inspired by CBC Radio Broadcast

Fathers without fathers as prisons continue to swell

To be a positive role to keep society from hell;

Kids need guidance from a father O so grand

To have him in a jail cell adds Kayos to this land.

There’s got to be more to punish

Than incarceration there to take

To add security to a family, a father’s duty is at stake.

Joan Baez sang it well to burn prisons to the ground

Living life from day to day is punishment I have found;

To take the moral road, and responsibility for our falls;

That’s a greater punishment than hiding behind four walls;

Fathers without fathers, to families they must return

To give their kids the love and hope, and responsibility to learn.

By David Smith December 20, 2011

He stood at attention, in years gone by

Sharp as a tack, as the flag waving high

Now he is seen, pushing a walker as he strides

A decorated soldier, his youthfulness starting to hide

Time marches for everyone, as the drummer keeps the beat

Very sad to see, old soldiers take a back seat

To think of his prime, his vitality and vigour

And now as he walks in somewhat of a dither

So I Ponder Remembrance Day, with his walker as he sat

With all of his medals, to the old fogies, he would chat

When he ruled with power, the pace- stick by his side

The bellow of his voice where the timid would hide

That power and spark is glowing dim

How it’s affecting me, my passion within

And on Remembrance Day, I shed a tear

Our light is diminishing, my greatest fear

He stood at attention, in times gone by

As did our loved ones with the bugle cry.

And our experiences, when we were young

Don’t let our failures, and successes go unsung.

Pass on the lessons of what we have learned;

The next generation, a going concern.

By David Smith December 3, 2011

Anger and humour create a personality mix

O those lead balloons for a foundation to fix

This the joy as two personalities collide

The lead balloons put the foundation in stride.

It’s not we don’t care but indeed we do

The personality mix; tried and true

That is the love as frustrations are exposed

Vulnerability and caring are greatly imposed

Bathing in friction with nerves at an end

There we can tie eternal love to mend

And like a dance the closeness and apart

Love in the air, conflict will never depart

Anger and humour like cymbals the sound

The passion of love a new depth is found

And as our differences attract and repel

We drink of the water from the living well.

Inspired by Rose City Toastmasters Meeting November 17, 2011

David Smith

A murder Case, an exciting night

Where table topics flourished with creativity so bright

Everybody a suspect and everyone had to stand

And face interrogation individually at hand

It was noted on what we did last week

And circumstances allowed for the guilty to speak

It was a joy to let circumstances soar

How circumstantial evidence can really be a chore

So we had our fun as doors were opened wide

And we got to speak where emotion could not hide.

Innovated Table Topics where the Master was in touch

And being so inspiring, Table Topics meant so much.

A Murder Case an exciting night

All being accused, in a case so tight;

The interrogation: a think tank so clear

To speak with effectiveness, was my only fear.

By David Smith November 22, 2011

From the time I was six till I was fifteen

My neighbours in Sudbury, always have been

A husband and wife and four little girls

Grew up in my neighbourhood with cute little curls.

Their mother a gem she treated me well

Encouraged through faith, her stories to tell

A security blanket as memories appear

Though her encouragement, there is nothing to fear.

Would visit her home on weekend leave

Up to Sudbury to relatives I would cleave.

She passed away but her presence bombards my mind

Youthfulness diminishing and an inner peace I can find

The joy of my childhood

Though people we grow

The vivid imagery, the joy that they show

Thinking of Mrs Williams in the advancement of years

A glimpse of the past I shed a few tears

After she’s gone, the imprint she made

I think of the hope, the foundation that’s laid

A joy to have known her, her influence we got;

To have met her in my youth, the memory means a lot.

Has got his military medals;
Does more than his share of time;
Two long service bars,
And foreign postings he did find

His career is rich and long and full;
Up through the ranks, endurance he did pull.
With wrench in rugged hand
A fine tradesman is this Army man.

And so he stands at Remembrance Days at cenotaphs so grim;
All his years of sacrifice is more than a soldier’s whim.
The uniform and glitter cannot possibly take the place;
Of a wife and children when marching is the pace.

And a lengthy career in military tradition;
Facing the outside world, where uncertainty is twitching
And so I see his medals
And how they glitter with pride
Wonder about civilian life;
How a soldier’s ways can hide.

By David Smith October 22, 2011

Flavour at the Market new tastes to imagine

Samosa and pies, new vendors, the expansion

Flowers from Beamsville move indoors we see

The colour the expansion is well beyond me

The enthusiasm and expression at Samosa   we find

Food for thought for great peace of mind

Fresh pies sold out for an early depart

A fantastic Saturday off to a great start

Music doing well with Anthony on the mic

Spirits uplifted to a new height

That is the Market with spring in the step

The harvest, the fall, newness of pep

Inspired by Doug’s Last Few Months with Family & Friends”

Woodlands of Sunset, October 29, 2011

By David Smith

Taken from DVD “Interview with Douglas Aikman”

Thanks to Woodlands Palliative Care Committee for organizing & hosting today’s workshop

His voice was quiet and frail

And His loving wife filled in the blanks; and let conversation sail.

She talked of pain being intense;

And he went into detail, how his symptoms were immense.

Writing out a biography of things of the past

Ways to make his memory last.

Reviewing life, and answers to goals; Review the past, forgiveness we are told.

Need to forgive to be forgiven;  Changing goals to continue living.

Rocks represented hurts of his past; Throwing away, so peace would last.

Focus more on living than dying; Writing out funereal service to continue relying.

People represent different parts of life; Fire fighters and police, justify might.

Celebration of life so important we hear; Different groups held him so dear.

The symbols of life are clearly seen; The funereal service now a has been.

Going through pictures, reviewing and seeing;  Going through regrets for better well being.

Learning to live in a mystery of God; Treasures of life, the friends we applaud.

Focus on the future, trust in moving ahead; And being looked after, faith in its stead

Not easy to trust; what you cannot see;  That is faith, a definition for me.

Louise and Doug work as a team; Sharing a story, hope is seen.

Carrying it on, is where we fit in; Pass on the wealth, the riches from within.

“How can you see your last day?” She asked; With family around the home at last

To respect others, a good listener we hear; Non judgemental, know one another without fear.

His voice was quiet and frail; And every word, new meaning set sail.

By David Smith September 13, 2011

King of Great Britain and France and Ireland and all

King James the First; his preamble, is the call

To link England and France under one roof;

Like Canada and Quebec the animosity, the root

O the influence from across the sea

Customs and traditions in Canada that be

Attitudes and history, where friction can flow

A new nation, a new flag, where unity can grow

Politicians and immigrants working on a blend

Like a tea that brews, a message to send

So look at the flavour of what we have got

Canada, the country, to admire a lot

One diverse nation and customs that grow

An example to the world where cultures flow

A united kingdom with power and might

Dynamic leaders to inspire so bright

Just like a tea, through the hot water, we steep

To brew from within for the flavour so sweet;

Carry it on, to a nation to thrive

Let our unique character come alive.

From Sea to Sea and everything in between

Including Quebec a vision is seen.

Multicultural, and bilingual too

A united Canada; Strong and true.

By David Smith September 9, 2011

I would love to punch your lights out as they reflect back at me;

Not your ribs nor your face

Nothing else bothers me

Your lights that shine and guilt that I feel

You radiate with enthusiasm and with sex appeal.

The love that you generate makes me feel sick

To punch out your lights may do the trick.

I want you to feel dim and left in the dark.

But you manufacture enthusiasm,

You have that inner spark.

I would love to punch your lights out,

There is a flatness within

Punching out your lights;

On equal footing, so my life can begin.