FRIENDSHIP ONE

Though friendship is the route you take
To true love highway one.
The exits on that blessed road
Are labeled friendship won.

But settle not for pleasing paths
That lead true love astray .
You'll regret it once you settle
For friendship all the way .

As all such friendships known to man
Though lasting tried and true,
Cannot compare to one true love
Between just her and you.


Greenwolfe 1962

CLAY BOY AND RACHEL

They met at the pond on one summer day .
The girl named Rachel and the boy named Clay .
Clay Boy knew Rachel , and she was his dream
That's why he travels each day to the stream .
And there by the pond he waits every day .
There he saw Rachel , when she came to play .
Some say he sees her , where she used to roam .
Last time I saw her , we carried her home .

Greenwolfe 1962

THE WHIPPOORWILL

He comes to me each springtime now
And sings his loving song .
The memories he brings to me
Just make me sing along .

It was so many years ago
That I first heard him call .
The most blessed sound I ever heard ,
A wonder to recall .

It was the year he came to me ,
A love out of the blue .
He was the finest man I'd known
Who loved me oh so true .

I have no tears to shed just now .
The birdie sings so gay .
I guess I shed them long ago ,
The year he passed away .

But now I hear the whippoorwill
Who sang to both of us .
And though I have no wish to cry ,
Why do I make such fuss ?

I guess it's just my memories ,
They all come streaming back .
There are so many to recall
Sometimes I just lose track .

But here he is , the whippoorwill .
Reminding me again ,
Of how it was when he loved me
As I loved him back then .

These memories are all I have .
He left so long ago .
I guess it's just the whippoorwill
Who knows I miss him so .


Greenwolfe 1962

CROSSROADS

Each day you rise from sleeping
Your choices manifest .
Crossroads are before you
You know not which is best .

No guides but those created
By you in bygone days
To show you which road taken
Shall lead to better days .

Some souls are filled with answers ;
Still others , none at all .
Someone on some roads you take
May catch you when you fall .

Some roads are only darkness .
Others filled with light .
No matter which you've taken ,
No guarentee it's right .

But this is life's adventure .
Don't shudder at this choice .
God gives you all the answers .
Just hear His loving voice .

So , when you rise tomorrow ,
Your destiny's not cast .
Only changed by those you made
Far in your distant past .

Worry not of roads you took
For some will take you back .
The fear that makes you wonder
Will leave when on God's track .

When you round the final turn
Of roads you chose before ,
That road takes you home again
Or ends outside His door .


Copyright Randolph Greer

A GODLY MOTHER

I met her in my younger days

When I was nine or ten .

But she had grace enough for me

To notice even then .



I still recall her gentle ways

That made this world seem bright .

And I just knew if she was there

God's will would make things right .



She worked each day from dawn till dusk

To clean and darn and cook .

Her children just went on their way .

What ere she gave , they took .



But they were all the joy she knew .

She revelled in their success .

For they were what she came to do ,

Make sure they had no less .



She took the youngest by the hand

And carried one with her .

Then guided each as they walked home

A trek they did endure .



She did the same on Sunday morn .

Each time in joy or tears .

And when her children left their home ,

Alone she walked for years .



I saw her once beyond the years

That most might live and die .

And called on her to see if she

Was well as I passed by .



She slowly rose from her soft chair

And said , how I had "grown."

I asked if she had need of me

She seemed ," to be alone ."



"Oh no ," she said . "I've company .

For he'll be in that chair ."

But as I turned away she said ,

"The Lord , he sits right there ."



So I just smiled and waved goodby

The final time for sure .

I heard she died that very night .

God savors lives so pure .



Copyright 2010 Greenwolfe 1962

THE FOUR BY ONE RELAY

I bet you don't remember.
Their names are lost in yore.
Most don't know they lived at all,
The girls that I adore.

Forgotten, I endeavor,
To put their names in rhyme.
So they shall be remembered
Forever, from this time.

It's not so hard recalling
The tears I shed that day,
As they swam against a tide
The Germans sent their way.

It wasn't fair to ask them
To do what they'd not done.
Swim their fastest times of all,
The same for every one.

So it was for each in turn
Against the steroid tide.
Each girl forced to walk the plank,
They had no place to hide.

Kim went first, then Wendy swam,
And each girl did her best.
Both girls swam their fastest time.
But still, they couldn't rest.

In went Jill, then Shirley too,
And both swam faster still.
All the girls gave all they had,
As champions always will.

So when the race was over,
The steroid time was there.
They broke their own world record
But really didn't care.

On the board for all to see,
A time I won't forget.
The U. S. girls amazed them,
A new world record set.

All cheered for Kim and Wendy,
Both Jill and Shirley too.
Those who swam their fastest times.
Their names, I list for you.

I don't think you'll forget them.
You can't just write them off.
It's Peyton, Boglioli,
And Sterkel, Babashoff.

When they stood on the platform,
I wonder how they felt?
The Gods of Mount Olympus,
Most surely must have knelt.

It's sad most have forgotten,
Much to our nation's shame;
The deed that they accomplished,
Much less each Damsel's name.

But now you know their story,
Though written long ago.
The Montreal Olympics,
The German's tainted show.

It makes it much more cherished,
The gold they won that day.
I wonder where they are now,
The four by one relay?


Greenwolfe 1962

THE GARBAGE MAN

Near the window Mary sits
And watches as he nears.
The man she's always waited for
Lo all these many years.

As he stops his truck again
And climbs down from his seat;
Once again, this man she loves,
She surely has to greet.

So she grabs her bag again,
The one she keeps inside.
Hurries out to meet her man
Just like a brand new bride.

I keep my window open
To hear what may be said.
What makes this bride endeavor
To leave her marriage bed?

She asks how he is 'doing? '
He says, he's 'doing fine.'
She tells him she is 'sorry.'
It's much the same ole line.

He says, 'it's good' to see her.
She says she looks 'a fright.'
He says she's 'always lovely
In any morning light.'

I look and see her smiling
Just like she used to do.
I wonder how much longer
A love can stay brand new?

He says he'll see her 'next time.'
She says she'll see him 'then.'
And touches him so gently
As he climbs up and in.

He has no time to linger
It's like this every time.
No meeting of two lovers
Was ever so sublime.

Then I saw it once again,
The look I'd seen before.
The one I wish she gave me
When I walked out the door.

I climb between the covers
And wait for her return.
Pretending is a habit
I've long since had to learn.

Then soon enough she enters,
So quiet and discreet.
And then I feel a tugging,
Her pull upon the sheet.

The bed so gently moving,
Asleep I'd take no note.
She's always been this careful
And does it now by rote.

It's then, when she is settled,
When lying by my side;
She always finds forgiveness
From me down deep inside.

She always moves right over,
Her body close to mine.
And then I hear her sighing,
A sound that's so divine.

Her arms then curl around me,
Her breath upon my neck,
Her hand upon my shoulder,
Her kiss, a gentle peck.

I wonder how much longer?
I guess no one can say.
Perhaps, through my endeavor
There'll be no final day.

If that's so, until the end
I'll do the best I can.
Thankful to be as I am;
Her true love's, garbage man.


Greenwolfe 1962