Bryan Strain

I  Remember Christmas

By Bryan Strain

I remember Christmas when I was just a boy.

I remember putting plates of goodies on porches in secret ploys.

I remember searching high and low when Mom and Dad weren’t home.

I remember making sure our family and friends were never left alone.

I remember Mommy teaching me to make the candy I so loved.

I remember Christmas lessons of Heavenly Father and Son above.

I remember the hard Christmas when a fire took our house.

I remember the spirit deep from friends that fire could not douse.

I remember the powerful music I sang and heard inside my soul.

I remember that giving not getting is the most important goal.

I remember the book my mother made with stories meant to teach.

I remember the heroes and heroines who show us just how far we can reach.

I remember the traditions my Mom and Dad taught me, and the reasons why they are.

I remember to teach them to my kids so they will continue them far.

I remember the Man of perfect soul who gave everything for me.

I remember what he taught us all, and who he wants me to be.

My Flag

By Bryan Strain

Old Glory how I love you.

Your stars give certain light

Your pure white stripes burn in my heart

And in this crazy world despite

The blood that still flows in stripes of red

To defend your heaven blue field

Some who live under your gaze

Don’t understand the power that you wield

Some of us see who you are

And give all we have of worth

My great uncle Dean who wounded flew

His bones lie now in distance lands

His valor helped to save the earth

In World War II

My great uncle Warren, he fought too

Survived Bastogne and Normandy

His flesh lived and returned but his spirit died

We remember what he lost for you

In 2001 the towers fell

My youngest brother knew

It’s in our blood he had to join

Bastogne unit of the 101^stAirborne

He survives today his love for you

Lives on like mine

He passes it on for those who would be true

My love so deep

I give you my son he’s only seventeen

I know you will look after him

We’ve taught him well he wants to live

But will give whatever you deem

Necessary to keep the heavens blue

Your stripes pure

Your stars bright

This poem was inspired by another poem written by Walt Whitman called A Noiseless Patient Spider. Whitman’s poem reminded me of a nice spring day when I noticed a spider and tried to figure out what it was thinking.  Does it feel happy or sad? Is it’s universe only as large as my backyard?  That made me think about my own universe.  I’ve created a link to the pdf file because I wanted the formatting to stay intact.  I hope it makes you think about the universe too.

http://www.bryanstrain.com/ThroughASpidersEyes.pdf