THE HALLOWEEN SCENE

What's trending they say?
Methinks somebody should pray.
Here's what I see comin' every which way...
Bats, black cats, blood, bones, boogy man;
Casket, cemetery, corpse, coffin, costumes,
Count Dracula, dead ends, demons, fangs and fog,
Ghoulish ghosts, goblins, graves, and guts,
Haunted house, headless horseman; mist, moan,
Monsters, murder, mummies, poisons, pumpkins,
Screams, shivers, skeletons, spiders, spooks,
Tombstones, vampires, warlocks, webs, werewolves,
Witchery, yowls and zombies.
What's to be scared of?
Nothin' I guess. If ya like the dark side of
a real big mess!

Nice poem, Jabber. You kind of ran the alphabet on ghoulish stuff. No wonder Halloween is one of the US's favorite holidays. Isn't it second only to Christmas?

Halloween brings the marketplace 8 billion dollars in sales, they say.

And the final 2016 Halloween sales seems to tally 8.5 billion; 3 billion in costumes alone.

THANKSGIVING 2016

When life becomes so terrorizing,
It seemingly scares you to death,
Thank God for Biblical scriptures,
Where thy soul finds peace 'n rest.
Be grateful for nature's magnitude,
When friendships prove untrue,
'N thankful for creeks and oceans,
And skies with shades of blue.
Try viewing pretty panoramas,
If depression overcomes your day,
You'll smile or be glad for the beauty,
Father God is sending your way.
Bred, born and raised in America,
Enjoying freedoms and liberties,
Thy cup overflows with blessings,
God is providing so generously.
Live, move, and have your being,
In Christ who died for you,
Thanksgiving isn't merely a day,
It's everyday all year through!

Great reminder of the true reason for Thanksgiving, Jabber!

MARY'S CHRISTMAS

Mary's countdown to Christmas,
Some may think begins way too soon,
So I asked her why she longs for December,
Starting in the month of June?

Without hesitation she sends this reply:
At Christmas nobody is suspicious,
of greetings from strangers, or
their smiling and saying "Hi"!

Christmas music is always playing,
Whether shopping indoors or out,
And lyrics with great messages,
Are uplifting spirits no doubt.

At Christmastime lights are sparkling,
Shining bright as bright can be,
Honoring the birth of The Savior,
Who's saving souls of humanity.

Children are giddy and jubilant,
Laughing so merrily,
Grownups are acting happier,
Love's flooding the earth don't ya see.

There's a magical feeling, Christmas night,
Warmth blankets thy body and soul,
A baby boy is born named Christ Jesus,
And oh what a story His life has told!

Thanks, Jabber! It's always important to recall the true meaning of Christmas.

This "Mary's Christmas" poem is virtual happenstance. For years,
every June a friend named Mary posts how many days remain until
Christmas in December. I'm enjoying June's warm weather patterns and don't want to be thinking about snowfall, having equated snow with Christmas. A couple weeks ago, I asked Mary why she's so enthralled with Christmas and her answer is the basis for that poem.

Mary and I worked together during the mid 1980's and early 1990's. Plus, she graduated High School with my son. And the best thing is, Mary likes the poem "Mary's Christmas."

I know there are other religious beliefs. But I'm confident Anne and Steve would love to read poems touting other religions, as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

Given twenty-four-hour, windows-of-time,
Let's try to achieve, even an uphill climb.
Worries and woes keep pushing us down,
Dreams fade and others can't be found.
Yesterday's mistakes, leave 'em behind,
Let success be the only vision in thy mind.
Out-with-the-old; in-with-the-new,
Choose to be happy. Refuse to be blue.
In 2017, let's reach for the stars,
Dream big dreams. Work really hard.
Fifty-two weeks, another trip 'round the sun,
Live life to the fullest. Laugh and have fun.
Make this ole world a much better place,
Even though you take-up a tiny little space.
Fulfill your destiny, brazen and bold,
Using wisdom for a guide, let your story be told.
Give the world your best, best, best and best,
'N from this vantage point, enjoy peace 'n rest.
Letting go of the past and clinging to the new,
Happy New Year from Jabber to all of you!