Free Poetically

By David W. Watkins

What we learn from life, its loves, its dreams and stories, as filtered through our hearts can be exposed for others to see.
Line by line, I live and write my own way to being, Free Poetically.
Through a series of heartfelt and raw poetry, ranging from love, loss, God, man, and country, David W. Watkins walks us through his life in verses of prose. From the joy of being a grandparent, to love’s heartbreak and ceaseless joy, his words are profound messages of a life lived, and what it means to be human.

About the Author
David W. Watkins likes to say he was educated by the United State Marine Corps, Jesus, a buckbrush, and a belt. He has been self-employed for over forty years and has been an eight-term elected official. A father and papa, he loves to tell jokes to his children and grandchildren. He says of himself, “I may not be the number-one perfect man, but I’m way ahead of whoever number two is.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Dec 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888126684

Book preview

THE PLACE HOLLOWED OUT

When born, the occupied space in the human mind is comparatively empty considering immediately the five human senses begin sending signals for processing and storage, and suddenly, memories generated by those around us and referred to us as what we are taught become the decisions of behavior, that is, things we did, what we do, and what we ought.

A different moment for every human being, but in due time we learn the process of choice. We’re convinced one plus one is two by the outside teacher, and acceptance is taught by an inner voice. A mind that comprehends stars hundreds of thousands of miles away but can appreciate raindrops. Calculates, speculates, contemplates but doesn’t know where a simple breeze starts or stops.

So the spaces where numbers, letter arrangements, emotions, and memories about love or hate provide chemical storage in each of us and are individually controlled as we influence our fate. Chemist, electrician, doctors, surgeons, undeniably the choices can make us weep or sing. Filling that place hollowed out in our mind with what we choose and whatever our life brings.

Only a few will read what was intended to mean so much to so many, but you may simply reject it. Go ahead read the political, the humor, the love, but don’t be surprised if it touches your spirit. The heart disclosed in this writing contains information for that place hollowed out in every mind. It may be only one simple inspiring little poem, perhaps hidden, but that’s for you to find.

Introduction

I was born backward and slapped in the face

and having been in seventeen countries with the United States Marine Corps

You might say I have been all over the place

And this is your chance, at my life, to take a look

To see how a liar, a thief, a proud, arrogant, self-centered, egotistical man

could be loved, and how I came to write this book.

You see the writings are not just rhymey little sentences for you to sing along and appreciate.

But secretly carving, if in only one other person on this earth

the key to just holding hands and sharing your life, before it is too late.

Yes, I would like to make some of you laugh, maybe just before you go to sleep

or recognize that we made some of the same mistakes

and come to grips with the fact that we all have obligations we should keep

These writings reflect the view of a sixty-some-year-old man, although I am still just a kid

a little politics, family, a few jokes

and when you are done reading, you still ain’t gonna know about the ornery things I did.

So I hope you get the picture that I want to share, and I’ll bet it don’t take more than an hour

Pay attention, don’t just laugh

’Cause the real goal is to touch the hearts that can see the evidence of a much higher power

You may read this, laugh a little, then throw it away or maybe put it on a shelf

chances are if you have lived at all

some of the things written here in could be written or said about yourself.

Enjoy

POLITICS

Religious Politics

Three men of the cloth, preachers I say, believers and teachers of the word,

got together on Thursday nights as friends, just honest cards to play, so I heard.

A penny or a buck, all in fun, no harm done, it was only a game and surely not a sin.

And if any member of the parish got word, they vowed they would never wage money again.

A hand was dealt to the preacher one night such as never before, he had to bet more than a penny

He ignored the raised eyebrows and the gasp of breath as he carefully laid down a Twenty.

The priest and the rabbi thought just this one time for joy they had to play through.

The pressure, whether sporting or moral, was on, because they both had a good hand too.

Cash on the table, cards close in hand, who could it be with three raps on the door.

The sheriff stepped in, declared arrest, gathered the money and with a smile asked if there was more

Though excuses were made, the game had been played, the three losers would appear in court.

For the sake of their work, this infraction, they begged, could it be kept from the public report.

In court just a few, the clerk, bailiff, and the judge, the priest, rabbi, and preacher appear in shame

but to make a point, when the judge called them up, he addressed them by title, not by name.

Rabbi, of all people, were you gambling? the judge asked. Your word I will take as fact.

He prayed, Lord, forgive me, then looked at the judge and said no, crossed fingers behind his back.

You’re excused, the judge said, I can’t believe you could lie, as he called for the priest with a sigh.

Father, were you gambling? Surely. you’re honest, I trust your plea, now look me in the eye.

Under his breath, something about Hail Mary, That’s ridiculous, my plea is the same as the Jew.

Then you are dismissed, leaving the preacher in shock that his friends could lie as though it were true.

Now the preacher faced the judge, and he was determined he would not lie like his friends

In fear, he dreaded the question, So, preacher, were you gambling? the judge demanded of him

It was too late for prayer, to defile himself for pleasure and now a dreadful day of gloom.

But the courtroom was empty, so, turning to the judge, he simply replied, Your Honor, with whom?

Case dismissed

Old story set to rhyme

POLITICAL LOYALTY

Four senators made a pact concerning death that should one of them be taken, the two remaining would carry out one particular wish. To put in the grave a certain amount of money, so the world would have to say, he took it with him.

So the four senators, rich men I’d say, having lived long enough, they considered their ends.

No secrets to hide, husbands with good wives, one might say the very best of friends.

You can’t take it with you, so certain it is, but the saying they were determined to defy.

Lives of pleasure, so money did not matter, and there was no one to care or ask why.

They all took an oath that whoever died first, the three others, one third of his estate,

would be put in the casket, as it was being locked or their own souls forever they would hate.

Sure enough, the day came, the older died, and the three others what had to be done they knew.

Each box one third of a million they placed, as promised, for they were friends, each loyal and true

Tears wiped away, in just a few days, the three were sharing old stories while having a drink

when one of them was quiet, so the others asked, What’s on your mind, Senator, what do you think?

Slowly, he spoke, no story or joke, on emotion he choked, head bowed, "A confession I must make.

Three hundred thousand I put in the box as agreed but thirty-three thousand for myself I just had to take."

No burst of rage as one might expect, rather a silence that shouted what a shame.

When another sobbed saying, "It wasn’t for me and except for two more