IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES

Coming down to the wire, the 4/28 Poem-A-Day prompt is: complete the phrase IMPORTANT "BLANK"

IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES G. Smith (BMI) ——-|||——|||—— I went to Newnan High, You went to La Grange; I was a little shy, You thought that was a little strange. I lived outside of town, You lived off Main; My dad plowed the ground, Yours scheduled the trains. How our paths crossed, I still don’t know; But I’d be lost, As you well know.

Important differences, Between me and you, There aren’t that many, Maybe one or two; But we go over them, Like we always do, Those important differences, Between me and you.

We went to college, Two opposite schools, One for knowledge, The other for cool. You and your Tigers, Me and my Tide; No way we’d fight for, The other side; Still, we stayed in touch, Despite losses and wins; And when we we got home, We picked up again.

Despite, Important differences, Between you and me; There aren’t that many, Maybe two or three; As long as we keep ’em, So we both can see, Those important diffences, Between you and me.

Southern Presbyterian, Southern Baptist Church, I won’t leave you worrying, Standing in the lurch; You won’t leave me here, Standing on my own; Neither one of us, Will ever be alone.

Important diffences, Between the two of us; Don’t really matter, Aren’t worth the fuss; If you won’t carry on, Then I won’t cuss (dag-dummit), Those important differences, Bind the two of us, Roll Tide, Those important differences, Bind the two of us. * * * * * Two more days of the April Poem-A-Day Challenge will be posted with rest of 'em at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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TAKEOFF

The 4/27 Poem-A-Day prompt prompt is TAKE OFF (or TAKEOFF)

TAKEOFF G. Smith (BMI) ——/——

How many feet of lumber? How much concrete to pour? How many yards of carpet? How many square feet of hardwood floor?

How many piles of ceramic tiles? What color do you think? The light for the dining room, Grass in the yard, and don’t forget the kitchen sink.

How many pounds of nails. How many pounds of screws? Granite or solid surface counters? The choice is up to you.

How many squares of roofing? How many gallons of paint? Howany brushes and rollers? Are we done yet? No, we ain’t.

Bricks and sticks, Are all it takes, To frame and build a house; But it takes more, Than windows and doors, To turn a house into a home, a home To turn a house into a home.

How many electrical outlets? How many feet of wire? How many feet of plumbing pipe? How many hammers and saws and wrenches and pliers?

How deep is the foundation? How high the ridge line above? How many hours of labor? How much a labor of love?

Bricks and sticks, Are all it takes, To frame and build a house; But it takes more, Than windows and doors, To turn a house into a home, a home To turn a house into a home.

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LOVE OR OBSESSION

The last 2-fer-Tuesday prompt in the Poem-A-Day Challenge is the annual "favorite": LOVE &/or ANTI-LOVE

LOVE OR OBSESSION G. Smith (BMI) ====•==== It started out so simply, A smile across the way, A sparkle in your laughter, What else was there to say.

Soon it was the two of us, There was no one else for me; I thought you felt the same way, But the clues were hard to see.

And it’s a razor thin line, Between ours and mine, Between ours and mine, Between us and mine. Now it’s time make a confession; Love? Or obsession? Love? Or obsession?

Where have you been? Who’s on the phone? What are you doing? Are you going alone?

What did she want? What did they need? Tell them I’ve got plans, You’re going with me.

And it’ss a razor thin line, Between us and mine; Between us and mine, Between us and mine. Am I a man or a possession? Love? Or obsession? Love? Or obsession?

Room to breathe, Doesn’t mean I’ll leave; And it’s a razor thin line between, Love; Or obsession. ----*---- You guessed it: writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

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RESTRAINT

The 4/25 Poem-A-Day prompt is EXERCISE.

I exercised my writing hand and came up with the following...

RESTRAINT G. Smith (BMI) •=====•=====• It happens every morning, On my way out the door, I say I’ll see you this evening, Like I did the day before. Maybe she’ll say something, But most times she won’t. I want to ask why she doesn’t; But every day I don’t.

At lunch I call to say hello, Ask her how how day is going. She’ll say fine, and wonder why, I feel like I should know, and She hangs up, cutting me off, And I look at the phone in my hand; Was it something I said? Or didn’t say? I don’t understand.

But I, Exercise restraint, Mind my words and bite my tongue, Exercise a little self control, Not like I did when I was young. Yeah, I learned a long time ago, You can’t unsay some words; You can’t say others often enough, But you know which ones get heard.

I let her know I’m done with work, And I’m about to head on home; Do I need to stop along the way, She simply answers, “No.” After dinner before she heads to bed, She asks why we don’t talk; And I’m left a little speechless, I’m left a bit in shock.

But I, Exercise restraint, Mind my words and bite my tongue, Exercise a little self control, Not like I did when I was young. Yeah, I learned a long time ago, You can’t unsay some words; You can’t say others often enough, But you know which ones get heard.

Yeah, I learned a long time ago, You can’t unsay some words; And you can say others often enough; But you know which ones get heard. ***** Exercise your curiosity if so inclined and check out this and others at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

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REFOUND

The 4/24 Poem-A-Day prompt (from writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides), was LOST & REGAINED Here's a song I found~

REFOUND G. Smith (BMI) =====+===== Have you made a mistake, You wish you could unmake? Well I did, when I let you go? I knew then and there, That I’d always care, It seemed the right thing to do even so.

Time seemed to crawl, I was climbing the walls, And bouncing around on my own. Then I opened my door, And you were there, like before; And you asked me if I was alone,

And love refound me When I refound you, Another chance, another shot at the prize. I’ve been set free, I feel you have been, too; I can tell by the light in your eyes.

So let’s dance in the rain, Heal each other’s pain, And make up for the years that have passed. I gave my share, It should be clear how I care, And how long true love can last.

And love refound me When I refound you, Another chance, another shot at the prize. I’ve been set free, I feel you have been, too; I can tell by the light in your eyes.

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AN OLD PAIR OF BOOTS

The Poem-A-Day prompt for 4/23: FOOTWEAR

AN OLD PAIR OF BOOTS G. Smith (BMI) #====#====# Like an old pair of boots, I'm broken-in fine, I go better with beer, Than some fancy French wine;

Like an old pair of boots, I'm a little bit scuffed, Just comes with the territory, Being tough in the rough.

Like an old pair of boots, I fit her just so; Dressed up or dressed down, I'm always ready to go

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STAR CROSSED

Two in one day?

4/22: STAR(BLANK)

STAR CROSSED (c) 2016 G. Smith (BMI) ========###======== You were going your way, I was going mine, And if we’s never, ever met, I’d’ve been just fine.

At least that’s what I tell myself, Now that you and I are through; But truth be told, it’s just not so; I’m better ’cause of you.

But we were star crossed, Right from the start, It seemed like we fit, Till we fell apart. Star crossed, like Romeo and Juliet, I may find somebody else, But I’m not looking yet.

They say it’s better to burn out, Than to just fade away, Better to have loved and lost, If only for a day.

I don’t think they have a clue, What they’re talking about, Maybe it just keeps ’em all, From having any doubts

We were star crossed, Right from the start, It seemed like we fit, Till we fell apart. Star crossed, like Romeo and Juliet, I may find somebody else, But I’m not looking yet.

You were going your way, I was going mine, And if we’d never, ever met, I’d’ve been just fine. If we’d never, ever met, I’d’ve been just fine.

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STARS ON THE WATER

The 4/22 Poem-A-Day prompt is complete the phrase:STAR (BLANK)

So, with a nod, and apologies, to Rodney Crowell...

STARS ON THE WATER G. Smith (BMI) ====€==== When the sun goes down, And the night is still, Before the moon comes around, I'll sit on the hill, And look at the lake, Laid out below, Wondering what in the world, Made you go, made you go; What in the world made you go?

Over on the far side, Just beyond the trees, The sounds of the town, Drift in on the breeze. It's quiet over here, Maybe too much so, I wonder what in the world Made you go, made you go; What in the world made you go?

But I'm not alone, Though it might look that way, There are plenty of folks Around in the day. And at night, it cools off, I turn up my collar, Then it's just me and the Stars on the water,

I'm doing alright, You might be happy to know, But tell me, what in the world, Made you go, made you go? What in the world made you go? ***** Check it ALL out at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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THE BLUE HIGHWAYS

The Poem-A-Day prompt for 4/21 was to write something to or about or in response to another poem... So this one's "to" Robert Frost’s THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

THE BLUE HIGHWAYS G. Smith (BMI) ———-//———- The summer after high school, I packed up my old jeep, And headed off for parts unknown, No promises to keep.

I made my rounds to say so long, And as I left my granddad’s drive, He stopped me at the curb and gave me, These words of advice.

When you come to the fork in the road, Take it; When you’re faced with a tough decision, Make it; When given the choice between the two Stay on highway the maps color blue, They’ll get you wherever you’re going to With some sights along the way. Sure the red roads may run a bit straighter, And the speed limit be a bit faster, But the views on blues will be greater And the memories of what you pass will last, The memories will last..

The sun was high in that southern sky, The radio up and the windows down, A left onto Broad, a right onto Main, I took one more spin through town.

I drove on towards the sunset, Till the countryside was new, And when the road t-boned, I was not alone, I knew what to do.

When I come to the fork in the road, Take it; When I’m faced with a tough decision, Make it; When given the choice between the two I’ll stay on highway the maps color blue, They’ll get megoingever I’m going to With some sights along the way. Sure the red roads may run a bit straighter, And the speed limit be a bit faster, But the views on blues will be greater And the memories of what I passed have lasted, The memories still last.

The words my granddad said that day, Are the commonest of sense, The guide me along so many ways; His advice made all the difference.

When you come to the fork in the road, Take it; When you’re faced with a tough decision, Make it; When given the choice between the two Stay on highway the maps color blue, They’ll get you wherever you’re going to With some sights along the way. Sure the red roads may run a bit straighter, And the speed limit be a bit faster, But the views on blues will be greater And the memories of what you pass will last, The memories will last..

****** With apologies to Robert Frost and Yogi Berra – perhaps the first time both of these names have appeared in the same sentence. :- .

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JUST BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T

The 4/20 Poem-A-Day prompt: UNSAID

So... It goes without saying...

JUST BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T G. Smith (BMI) #===#===#===# I'm up every morning, Well before dawn; Feed the dog, get the paper, Put the coffee pot on. When it's ready, she's up, And pours a cup of her own, Without speaking a word, Like she's home all alone. Then I'm off to work, I tell her, "Have a great day," "You, too," is about The only thing that she has to say.

I come in from work Sometimes she's not there; I chase the dog down from His favorite chair. When she gets in, she's tired, And worn out, And doesn't want to tell me What it's all about. When I tell her I love her, She just nods, and may choose, To respond with just two words, "You, too."

Just because she doesn't say it, Doesn't mean it's not so; We've been together long enough I guess she thinks that I know. Sometimes she's so quiet, It makes me wonder, even though, Just because she doesn't say it, Doesn't mean it's not so.

By nine-thirty its bed time, She's asleep before ten, No "Good night", no, " Sleep tight", Just quiet again. If it's unsaid, is it unheard, Is it assumed to be so? I know what I think, But it's still good to know. I get up every morning, Well before dawn; Feed the dog, get the paper, Then put the coffee pot on.

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