Poetry from the Heart

By Carolyn Crawford

This poetry book will keep you wondering what the next poem may contain. Will it be about a memory of parents or about another newborn in your extended family? What are some of the experiences that make a family bond?

Most poems are about experiences the author has had with friends or family members. However, the book also contains thoughts on nature and sacred subjects that are dear to her heart. Some poems may make you laugh, and they are true experiences. Love is felt as many are read. Appreciation of the wonders of the world is seen in simple descriptions as she observes and writes about them.

You will get to know the author personally as you read the section About Me. Perhaps some of the poems will trigger memories in your life and help you realize that you too have cause to rejoice of the many special times you have had with your loved ones.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781532009914

Carolyn Crawford

CAROLYN BENNETT CRAWFORD was born on a farm in Winder, Idaho. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary ducation and a minor in music. She taught school for thirty-two years and a children’s choir for twenty-four years. She has received awards in her teaching and received the Zonta International Women of Achievement award. She is in the Snake River Fine Arts Hall of Fame. She has traveled to many places in the world, loves all cultures, and speaks Spanish. She is married to Dr. Edward Crawford, and they have six children, twenty-three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2016 Carolyn B. Crawford.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-0990-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-0991-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016918124

iUniverse rev. date: 12/08/2016

Contents

Section 1

Grandparents/Parents

Section 2

Children & Grandchildren

Section 3

Family

Section 4

Friends

Section 5

Nature

Section 6

Sacred

Section 7

Patriotic/Holiday

Section 8

School

Section 9

About Me

dedication.jpgdedication%20image%202.jpg

Epigraph

A favorite author of mine, Robert Frost, wrote Stopping by Woods

on a Snowy Evening. I relate to his last lines of that poem:

…..I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.

Foreword

What an insightful and delightful treasure! Our dear friend and poet, Carolyn Crawford has captured for us in lyric, song, and decades of living, the beauty of nature, and the essence of love. Interwoven with stories of family, friends and glimpses of the past, readers young and old are gently drawn into the journey of one good woman’s heart.

When invited to skim over Carolyn’s life collection of writings and poems, I (as will you) found skimming impossible. Poems she describes as simple – not only bring her joy; they offer each of us a clearer view and greater understanding of life well lived. The brush that God uses, Grandma’s garden, season’s kaleidoscope, the portrait of a blessing, my life is a song, and the school house by the road invite each of us to appreciate life as it is, and feel what it can yet become.

Someone once said, the further we look back the more clearly we can see the future.

If you are lucky enough to be related to Carolyn you will see yourself reflected within these pages. And if you are blessed enough to experience the Bennett Crawford legacy; you will find Wings to fly and Roots to bring you safely home.

—Marilyn Whyte, Author of Reasons to Remember,

Life’s Interruptions, and more

Acknowledgment

Thanks to my family members and friends

who are loved and gave me something to

write about.

Also a heartfelt thanks to God for His beautiful

creations that give me peace.

Introduction

The poems in this book are about things that I love. I begin with my family members and write about special activities that we’ve had together or humorous experiences that we have had individually.

Friends have touched my life in many ways that gave me cause to express in poetry. I wish I had more time to write about all of my friends.

Nature gives me the spiritual uplift that I need each day. I am grateful that I live in a four-season climate to observe and enjoy the changes each season brings.

Many of my poems were written with music for fun or by request for special occasions.

Hopefully those who read this book will know that I have no favorites. Everyone is special to me.

Section 1

Grandparents/Parents

The Sentinel

It stands there as a sentinel

To remind us of our past.

Hands worked hard to make it strong

Wanting it to last.

Through summers, winters, falls, and springs,

Through wind, and sun and rain,

And even snow that piled so deep;

He made sure it would remain.

It stood there in a valley

Near hills and mountains high;

And gentle folk were neighbors

They were kind to passers-by

It saw them live their lives

As God would want them to:

"Doing unto others

As you would have them do to you."

Generations now have passed

Since that first small hammered nail;

Times have changed in many ways –

More than anyone can tell.

It watches cars whiz by on freeways

Unaware of something grand;

It searches for familiar faces

That now dot all the land.

By Carolyn Bennett Crawford

(Great-granddaughter of Thomas Bennett,

who built the barn by the side of the freeway.)

August 3, 1995

Talented Parents

Oh, you are the best, the best in the West!

You were the winners all the way.

You sing and you play, you came all the way,

From County to Region, then State.

Your rhythm is great –We’d like to celebrate

Because you’re the best in the land.

Oh, you are the best, the best in the West!

You were the winners all the way.

May 21, 1976

Dads Are Special Too

Mother’s Day is when we honor

Those who gave us birth;

They are so dear to us

None sweeter is on earth.

There’s one who helps our Mom

And loves her and is true;

We’ll all agree on one thing

That dads are special too.

We need our Mother’s hand

To guide us where we walk,

But also need those special times

We sit with Dad and talk.

He’ll give you all he has

To help along the way;

Sometimes it’s just advice

That gets us through the day.

Moms are special, Oh, so special,

But dads are special too.

June 19, 1977

Grandma Went a Fishin'

Grandma went a fishin’

When she was eighty-five;

She used to go with her brother, Carol

When he was still alive.

Grandpa wouldn’t go with her,

It was a waste of time,

So she went on without him

And left him home behind.

She never even got

To catch one little fish,

‘Cause she got stuck in mud

More than you’d ever wish.

She started hiking through the fields,

But clods were way too big;

So she used her thumb and hitchhiked,

And soon there came a rig.

She found a telephone and called,

I’m stuck, she said to him;

So Grandpa came to help

And fishies still do swim.

November 7, 2000

Grandpa's Afternoon Snack

Grandpa is a worker -

He works from morn ‘til night;

He weeds the garden, mows the lawn;

All things are done just right.

Grandma always cooks for him

Three square meals and snacks.

One day she went to town,

And took a while getting back.

Grandpa soon came in from work;

He was as hungry as a bear.

He spied a tiny loaf of bread

With ribbon tied with care.

Bread and milk, that’s what I’ll have.

So he got the milk and cup.

He tried and tried with all his might

He could not soak it up!

But he persevered and pretty soon

Ate all that shiny loaf of lead.

Grandma came and was so mad –

He had eaten her varnished bread!

November 8, 2000

Grandma & Grandpa Bennett

It’s fun to come