It was in the spring of 1942. I was a student in the seventh- and eighth- grade glass of Miss Alice Walters in the Freeman South Dakota Grade School. World War II was raging in Europe and the South Pacific islands. Everyone who had brothers in the service was preoccupied with the horror of the war and the safety of their brothers. I had three in North Africa and Europe. My teacher used this scenario as a backdrop to teach us how to write essays and poetry. I don’t remember much of what I wrote, but it was good enough to please her critical criteria for poetry writing. She was an excellent teacher, and many years later when I began my student teaching, I followed her example using many of her methods, endeavoring to create a love for the English language, especially those words which described the beauty of the world in which we lived.
That was some 60 years ago, but she taught me well. I still have an abiding affection for nature and the words that paint vivid word pictures. Over the ensuing years of my formal education and my teacher training I found many occasions to describe poetically what I saw and observed in the world about me - clouds the sky, flowers and the myriad species of wild creatures were likely subjects for my pen to describe nature and humankind. In my later years I found that poetry lent itself well to me to give expression to my views of Christian living and the importance of recognizing the great creator in he economy of living.
It was in the spring of 2001 that I penned the lines of my poem “Good Morning Mr. Sun” while sitting outside in the early morning, watching a beautiful sunrise. I observed the bright rays of the sun and the awakening of the world to a new day in response to the beautiful sunrise. The words of the poem satisfied the judges of the International Society of Poets in a national poetry competition. I would like to share that poem with you for my May memoir.
Good Morning Mr. Sun
I suppose you have a full day planned today
There are cocks to waken
Birds to start up in their morning serenade
I’m sure there are rosebuds to open
Clouds that would look great with a sliver lining...
Wow! It makes me tired just thinking about all you must do
OK, there are sleepyheads to call to consciousness
Many puppies still snoozing who haven’t commenced their barking
There are dewdrops waiting to glisten with the first of your rays
Oh! I must not forget
There is this pond that needs a great sun cloud reflection
