Cupid, The Devil and An Angel

by Laurie Lyle

  You will suffer mental, emotional problems and strain

  Maybe even injury or death, yet you go even though you know

  It is a stout heart that pounds within the cavity of your chest

  With patriotic spirit, you do what is best, securing a nation and its people

  You go to the front line, the ultimate test

  For service you serve, we have got the bravest, finest, and the best

  You keep our flag flying there, high atop the crest

  You make us proud to know for us you go, you passed the extreme test

  So much courage, zeal, energy, and zest; we produced the bravest, we are blessed

  When your work is done, come home, fearless soldier, and take your rest

  We must not dwell on the price that some may pay

  Dead, sick, and wounded at the end of your very long day

  Our hearts and spirit are with you, for you we pray

  That you will come home, hell or high water, come what may

  We love and care for you, our veterans, in such a wonderful way

  We are at your beck and call, you served unselfishly

  You sacrificed—and gave your all

  FORBIDDEN FRUIT

  It was Easter, the time of year that some people gave something up for the Lenten period. Squiggly, Mumpai, and Dinty were spending the holidays with their grandmother in her quaint little house with the vegetable garden and fruit trees in the back; they were happy to be in the country and did something new every day they was having such good times. The fresh air and free spirit of country living had them dizzy with happiness. One day they were home, Grandma had gone to the market when a sweet fruity sent wafted through the air and assailed their senses. They threw their heads back and, like zombies, wandered around, peeking under here, peeking over there, with their eyes trained on their noses, which was leading them. They finally ended up in an unoccupied room at the back of the house; under a table was a large trunk. They gathered around and sniffed whatever it was that was in that trunk, and it was tempting. They prodded and poked at it until finally it opened. Beneath some old newspapers were the prettiest and ripest bananas they had ever seen. Instinctively, their mouths started to water. “Okay,” said Mumpai, “we will each take one banana, one from different hands on the bunch, so Grandma will not notice.” After the first banana, which tasted so good they just could not resist, instinctively they all reached in, plucking another banana. This happened about five times, after which they retreated to the yard where they sat under a big tree. Then reality hit them suddenly. “Grandma is going to skin us,” said Dinty. “I think she is going to drown us,” said Squiggly, and they looked guiltily at each other. When Grandma came home later that evening, they ran to her, taking her bags, opening the door for her, and when she sat down, Dinty took her shoes off and gave her a foot rub while Squiggly massaged her shoulders. This is nice, Grandma thought. The children were not so nice when they were here last year, they are really growing up. It was that night Aunt Josephine visited. She was about to leave when Grandma said, “Wait, I have some ripe bananas that I have been saving for you.” The children looked at each other in dismay and excused themselves. She went to the back room. After rummaging about, she came back with consternation in her eyes; she found the children and demanded, “Which of you ate my bananas?” “Don’t know, Grandma,” “Don’t know, Grandma,” and “Don’t know, Grandma.” They were having dinner when Grandma stated, “I hope whoever ate my bananas vomit their stomach out.” Suddenly Mumpai’s hand flew to her mouth. She gagged and dashed for the door. Squiggly and Dinty also did the same thing. They were braced against the fence, and they were all vomiting violently. Grandma was also alarmed. She mixed some concoction that she gave them to drink to stop the vomiting. After a while, it stopped. They were all seated on the couch inside, side by side. Granma again repeated, “Who ate my bananas?” This time, all three heads bobbed up and down vigorously. “Aha!” said Grandma. “I don’t think you three will ever take anything again without first asking.” They all looked up sheepishly and deliberately crossed their hearts.

  FOSTERING CARE

  There was three but what they did not know

  There was another that made four

  Mother went into the hospital pregnant for sure

  But when she came out she was alone people across the way heard her moan

  She left a little one behind could not feed another just could not take more

  She bowed her head and stood there leaning against the closed door

  She slowly crumpled and lay there on the floor her hands on her stomach

  It hurt so bad to leave a little one you carried it is a crime just being poor

  Left to a future of which you are not sure

  Her hands were tied she tried to undo the restraints

  A futile feat she tried to defeat

  Little Patricia went into foster care

  She was not satisfied for a moment while there

  She was curious and continually asked the question why me

  There was more to her and she was going to find out she had no fear

  She tried for a couple of months maybe some years

  Until reunited at last the missing links of the chain she found

  She solved a puzzle and a mystery with her insistence and diligence

  Her biological mother clasps her hands and prays

  Lord release me from this shame and all this pain

  She is forgiven and is showered with wide hugs and lavish kisses

  WISDOM OF ADOPTION

  Her husband had a dairy farm in the country

  Whenever he leaves on Monday morning

  He usually stays gone until Friday evening

  It was during one of these absences that she ran into

  An old flame from her high school days

  They were happy to see each other to be together

  Their hearts fluttered wildly as they got closer and closer

  She said no but it was weak as she moved her lips closer to his

  She lost the will to resist the serpent intervened and won

  The delicate forbidden fruit was lasciviously devoured

  They smacked their lips savoring the last delectable morsel

  It was a few weeks later she started to have morning sickness

  Then to her surprise she started to put on weight

  In dismay she realized what was happening she had two children

  All these happenings she kept a secret from her husband

  She wore girdles and loose clothing and exposed herself little

  They had not had relations in a while and she knew the worst

  She gave birth alone early one morning she cleaned the baby

  Wrapped it in a blanket and placed it on the steps at her front door

  Shortly after her oldest daughter who was leaving for school

  Discovered the baby and ran back to tell her mother

  They called the police who handled it like an abandoned child

  They in turn called the Department of Children’s Affairs

  The baby was taken to the hospital where she spent several days

  Every day the biological mother visited the child and spent a lot of time with her

  One day the children’s officer came in unexpectedly and

  Saw her feeding the baby from her swollen breasts; she looked at her and saw the

  Pain in the mother’s eyes. It was then that she broke down and told her the story

  The officer was sympathetic and promised to do what she could to ease her pain

  The child was up for adoption, and she helped her to fill out the

  Paperwork. It went before the courts, and she was award
ed custody

  She was so happy the baby was taken home and welcomed by all the family

  Her husband loved the child with a passion and welcomed it as his own

  The truth is only known by two people: the children’s officer and the mother

  For now the web is not tangled; the family lives in perfect harmony.

  NECESSARY ERRANDS

  Back in the day there was one girl who used to

  hang out with

  Our inner circle of friends she lived with her mother and stepfather

  For the time being she is named Sheila

  One day she was not in a particularly good mood and was indignant

  She said my mother sends me all the way across town

  To buy things available up the street

  This happens all the time whenever I am out of school

  It would take me ten to fifteen minutes to walk up the street

  It takes me anywhere from one to two hours to take the bus and go across town

  They are the same things same brand

  Same milk same bread same biscuits same everything

  I know whenever she is about to send me out

  She has that look in her eye and keeps glancing at Father

  Who is getting all the special treatment?

  Whenever I get home from these errands

  She is most times just getting out of the shower

  All fresh and bubbly she is like a different person she is light and happy

  She makes my ears hurt from her high soprano singing

  Then she asked you guys what do you think they do?

  We had already formed opinions as to what happened while she is away

  But none of us opened our mouths none would say

  If all the world was doing whatever they do

  There would be less crime hostility and wars on the earth

  Because the whole world would be in love

  And would be making love testing it or making out

  You could stay across the globe and hear shouts moans and groans

  Of blissful accomplishment as they blast the fabric of the stratosphere

  And it would not hurt the ear this joyful experience to hear

  I HEAR VOICES

  Let the voices of the Egyptian people be heard

  As it echoes resounding around the hearts of people everywhere

  It carries a painful and insistent message which we all hear

  The quiet dignity and beauty of its people step aside

  A monster emerges and rears its ugly head

  Then moves forward and takes its insistent stand

  The beginning in a chain of events to achieve their goal

  Of social economical and political stability

  They bonded to bring justice to themselves

  As peace was ushered into a seat along the sidelines

  They raised their shoes in defiance against a monarchy and oppression

  They have had enough of this decay and decline

  They overcame the fear that suppressed their will

  Which triggered their consciousness and set them in motion

  They will fight for a way of life for which they longed and dreamed

  Their daring ambitious resolve of knowledge and resource

  Is at the forefront as they push forward to fulfill an agenda

  To oust those who do not do what needs to be done

  Activated reaction as they work to avoid the pain of humility

  Now the pro and anti meet and there is confusion mayhem and chaos

  For all those gathered there in the street and at Liberation Square

  FOR POSTERITY

  You have just taken your virtual tour of the world

  This realm in which we live

  You have visited interesting and fascinating places

  Along with the tedious and boring

  Visited the good and the bad

  Experience love and hate

  The many different routes of unusual fate

  You have dwelled in the hearts and minds of its people

  Experienced the things they do

  The games they play

  Your curiosity is at its height

  It is human nature to know

  This stokes our intuition

  We yearn to learn more

  So we can feed the insatiable appetite

  Of our inquisition

  So we hoard our treasure of knowledge

  Which will not be concealed?

  This we will pass to all descendants

  And future generations

  JUST LOVE

  When hearts are young then thoughts are free

  There is beauty in everything I see

  Insistent rhythm consistent beats for me

  Propelling me on to be what I want to be

  Breaking the shackles setting me free

  Love wonderful love pouring out of me

  Do not ever go away don’t let me be

  Everywhere I look everything I see

  Remind me of you looking back at me

  I will be your servant I will kneel on my knee

  To be in your arms intoxicated and free

  You are my life the pin up on my wall

  I pamper and spoil you at your every call

  You the fluttering wind invading my quivering sails

  Great wide divide I am travelling with you right by my side

  Harmonious sounds vast blue waters the most wonderful hue

  Uncharted course sailing just room for two

  Where the sky meets the sea that’s where we will be

  No tracking of the endlessness of time

  Just serenading symphony of love-filled hearts

  Our eyes engage reflections of love that’s all we see

  PARTY TIME

  In this rare tropical sunset

  Let us dance bring on the sweat

  Until the starry night comes

  When the sun hides itself from the moon

  Bodies moving swaying striking electrifying

  Sweet music playing loud and blaring

  As the tempest rise in our eager souls

  Revolving psychedelic spotlight bright

  Transient migration of love in star-filled night

  Spotlight of ourselves

  Which we hide out of sight

  As we build castles of dreams in the starry night

  Our world is small or so it seems

  In our everlasting castle of humongous dreams

  Dancing together hearts filled with desire

  Heated bodies infused urgent emotion

  Under midnight concealment of darkness

  Wild abandoned we found it we got it

  The sweetest the nicest and the best

  PEACEFUL PEACE

  Bring peace unto mankind and earthly life

  With ingredient of serenity your number one spice

  Small sips of vintage wine amid all the strife