A Working Man's Blues

The other day, after nearly 50 years of working
as a custom draperies fabricator, I had a down day.
This little limerick style ditty resulted-

For every order there's a season;
A time to sew and a time to sweep,
A time to bill and a time to pleat,
A time for sweat and deep regret
For an earlier job I didn't keep.

Ah! That seems to help

poem by Joseph Anderson
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america, America

Sing out! sing out! America,
''Sweet land of liberty;
Tell how we chased the red man
''From sea to shining sea''.

Be proud, stand tall America,
''Home of the free and brave'';
Ignore that angry black man,
Ancestored from a slave.

Sing out! ''This land is your land,
It was made for you and me'',
While toiling tenant farmers
Reside in poverty.

And sing about our many wars,
With them we must abide;
But tell the loyal citizens,
God was always on their side.

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poem by Joseph Anderson
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Daughter's Gone, Daughter's Gone

Daughter's gone, daughter's gone,
Still my memories linger on;
All those moments through the years
Fraught with anguish, doubts and fears.

Yes, she left before her time,
Changing patterns with life's rhyme;
Left our nest, in love, unschooled
And I judged her sadly fooled.

Seventeen's a fright-filled age,
With emotions on rampage;
There she left, forevermore,
Left the welcome of our door.

Now, she's gone and wedded, schooled,
Leaving me completely fooled.
Though she left before her time,
She's in cadence with life's rhyme.

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poem by Joseph Anderson
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Life's Daily Grind

A plain and simple ode (owed) for all
us middle class commoners-

Now, many of us wonder
What this life is all about;
And I oft times still ponder,
So, please just hear me out.

It's drag up in the morning
And fall to bed at night;
It's all those struggles in between
That we must daily fight.

It's Johnny's flu and Susie's sty
And hubby's drinking bouts;
It's keeping up with Jonesy
And wifey's weekly pouts.

It's off to church on Sunday,
A time for prayer and thought;

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poem by Joseph Anderson
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Never Sound Retreat

A hard fought battle you have won
This graduation day;
We fill with pride to know you still
Stand steadfast on the way.

We know you often lost your poise
And longed to sound retreat,
Until some inner strength took charge
And saved you from defeat.

Life's many battles yet to come
May test you to the core;
For every one you lose, there will
Be victories in store.

Stand firm for what you know is right,
Believe you can't be beat;
If doubts prevail then search for help,
But never sound retreat.

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poem by Joseph Anderson
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Batting One Thousand

For my foster son, who came to us from a broken home-1967

Four years ago we tensely scanned
The portal where you stood,
Because, we felt within our hearts
Your chances weren't too good.

But in the big ball game of life,
You played with scarce a balk;
Although you often did strike out,
Your goal was not to walk.

A special blend of fate and guts
And purpose all the way,
Has brought you through your senior year,
Right to this blessed day.

A graduate now, firm and erect,
You've crossed a vital door.
We are mighty proud, for in our book,

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poem by Joseph Anderson
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