Ben Burroughs

In my heart there is a corner... where my choicest dreams are stored... and I keep them there within me... with the other hopes I hoard...I can always call upon them... when I'm sad and life is blue... and they never fail to help me... to go on with faith anew... and the joys that my dreams give me... never seem to fade away... and they work like wondrous magic... spreading cheer throughout each day... and if I desire travel... I can journey to a star... for my dreams will always take me... off to places that are far... I can be a knight in armor... or a multimillionaire... just by calling on my daydreams... that are free of all despair.

Certain things do I hold sacred ... objects that are near and dear ... special things aglow with memory ... bringing joy and untold cheer ... flowers crushed in faded pages ... of an old and worn-out book ... torn and brittle leaves that linger ... taken from a favorite nook ... tarnished things from childhood's playground ... fragments of a bygone day ... things so seldom resurrected ... full of life though hid away ... ancient toys broken and ragged ... baby shoes so very sweet ... these are things that I hold precious ... more and more each time we meet ... treasures that have little value ... but with them I would not part ... for they are the priceless objects ... near and dear unto my heart.

Turn to God when thing go wrong...and nothing turns out right... turn to Him when all is dark... and He'll show you the light... and when it seems... like all your friends... have faded and have gone... turn to God. He is your Friend... your everlasting dawn... lean upon His arm if you... should falter by the way... and He'll make your aching heart... feel happy, light and gay... talk with Him when all alone... and He'll be at your side... only ask Him and He'll stay... and with you He'll abide... make a friend of Him who cares... for all who are oppressed... take Him in your deepest soul... and by His joys be blessed.

Forever I will love you... and that's a long, long time... throughout the years ahead I'll try... adding reason to life's rhyme... I'll live each minute God allows... for you and you alone... and wherever we may go... I'll make a peaceful zone... eternally I'll want you... your kiss and warm smile... all of your sorrows and your woes... I'll try to reconcile... endlessly I will respect... the things you try to do... and when the rains begin to fall... I'll fashion skies of blue... when you cry out for tenderness... I'll always be there... to hold you and enfold you... to show how much I care... incessantly you'll know... forever I will love you... and follow where you go.

I look forward to the moment ... when I'll hold you in my arms ... I anticipate the second ... when I'll share your loving charms ... I await with eager longing ... the tenderness and bliss ... that will soothe my anxious being ... every time we share a kiss ... I will count each empty minute ... till I'm once again with you ... for the time I spend alone, dear ... is a time when I am blue ... and I'll try to push the hours ... so they quickly fly away ... so that time will swiftly travel ... and I'll once again be gay ... that is how I feel, my darling ... and I guess I'll always be ... so completely lost without you ... for you are my ecstasy.

Dear God I need you always ... through-out each night and day ... only with you near me ... can I make my way ... to be without you dear God ... would to be all at sea ... Tossing about like wild waves ... drifting hopelessly ... dear God to me you are ... a warm and tender loving friend ... who never runs when trouble comes ... but stays until the end ... however great the problem ... your guidance sees me through .. things are not impossible .. as long as I have ... dear God be with me always ... through stormy skies or fair ... I can bridge each precipice ... as long as you are there ... with You life is a sweet thing ... joy is not hard to find ... dear God you're sorely needed ... by all of mankind ... so it is and always will be ... until the last notes fade ... dear God I need You always ... if I'm to make the grade.

Let us be ever mindful of... the spiritual good of others... for the Master has declared... beneath it all we're brothers... let us go forth grateful each day... for treasures that we hold... I'm writing of the precious things... that can't be bought with gold... let us not miss the little things... that punctuate this life... the charm of Mother Nature... that alleviates much strife... the wonder of the wild wide sea... kissing a sandy shore... the fields and streams and forests.. we need them evermore... let us give a friendly smile... to others whom we meet... I'm sure this is one way to turn... the bitter into sweet... there's so much hatred in this world... and so we all should try... to lessen the burden... of those who have to cry... thus we should all be mindful... of mankind's spiritual need... put self in the background... help others to succeed.

People talk about love's wonder... and what it's all about... I'll add my own opinion... beyong a shadow of a doubt... when most people talk of love... they speak of passion's fire... as being the true assence when... seeking their heart's desire... this is where people are wrong.. love is much more than this... first and foremost in their minds... is the sexual bliss... but when the thrill gets old we find... they always rue the day... for their love was a false love... and false things fly away... whereas those who have a courtship... sharing the good and bad... for the most part will end up... a happy mom and dad... for true love is sharing... passion as well as strife... only those who work for it... can find happiness in life.

I kiss tender blushing roses... when I kiss your lips good night... and I hold a bit of heaven... every time I hold you tight... and my eyes behold the wonder... of the stars that light the skies... for I see the stars reflected... in the glow of your eyes... when you speak I hear sonatas... soft and gentle and sincere... yes, there's music all around me... when you talk to me my dear... walking with you is a sojourn... to a land of golden dreams... where I find the joy I'm seeking... sweet fulfillment of my schemes... you make life a thing of beauty... and your love is most sublime... for the things you are will go on... till the very end of time.

Most people seem to measure... success in terms of gold.. to them accomplishment is based... on what folks have and hold... now this in part may hold some truth... but I do not agree... for there are many other things... which spell success to me... I have a great respect for those... who weather pain and strife... by standing on their own two feet... to mold a happy life... the ones who take the good and bad... in one unbroken stride... they represent success to me... because they never hide... the average folks who live and love... making our country strong... who never down their fellowmen... because they know it's wrong... they are the most successful... who watch their children play... and do their best to help the ones... who stumble on the way.

The harvest moon played peek-a-boo... while friendly stars shone bright... the world seemed like a wonderland... that brisk November night... and fleecy clouds road on the breeze... and roamed in heavens blue... like herds of ghostly cattle... for mortal eyes to view... moonbeams danced softly through the trees... to touch my face with bliss... and I was filled with sheer delight... to feel their tender kiss... for company my shadow was... a most endearing friend... that left me only when the moonlight... declined to descend... before me stretched the barren fields... dotted with shocks of corn... that served to make my heart believe... they were meant to adorn... and as I journeyed onward... I felt a thrill divine... for here beneath the harvest moon.. it seemed the world was mine.

No one is a stranger... unless I make them so... I can paint the world with sunshine... or dark clouds of woe... dear Lord make me sensitive... to the feelings of those I meet... and when a person is in need... please make me not retreat... let me help them all I can... I must not refuse them aid.. for if I do the joys I know... will surely quickly fade.. grant me understanding... a kind which is soul deep... so I can be a friend of man... and his friendship keep... for I believe the woes we feel... while going through this life... are mostly our own doing... we create our own strife... whether I know a person... or whether I know him not... let me share good will with him... whatever be his lot... for no one is a stranger... let all of us know this... make life a place of gladness... and not a dark abyss.

I'm thankful for the hours... spent in your embrace... because of you I can wear... a smile upon my face... I'm thankful for your kisses... so tender and so sweet... just the touch of your warm lips... makes my life complete... I'm thankful for the way you love... truly beyond compare.. I am blessed to be the one... with such a love to share... I could go on and on and on... with wondrous things about you... but I will sum it up with this... I could not live without you... so many are the little things... priceless and divine... and I'll be yours and yours alone... as long as you are mine.

Who has the great audacity... to say that I am old... even though a trace of silver.. has invaded hair of gold... it is true my face is wrinkled... and a furrow lines my brow... but my smile is warm and tender... as the good Lord will allow... though my walk is somewhat slower... than perchance it used to be... still I travel on life's highway... without aid and fancy free... and my laughter is undaunted... like a bird upon the wing... I have faith in each tomorrow... and my heart can always sing... how can you who lack what I have... be so brazen and so bold... that you even chance to utter... such as I am growing old.

Oh it's a toilsome pathway ... life is a rocky road .. mankind needs the Master ... if he's to bear the load ... many struggle onward ... 'neath heavy weights of care ... but God is ever near us ... always willing to share ... He gives us His golden love ... yes day after day ... through a prayer He will guide us ... when we have lost our way ... mankind is fortunate to have ... a great recourse like this ... to help him on the road when life ... is void of blessed bliss ... often I have wandered ... in the sad state of despair ... in dire need of a helping hand ... and God was always there ... it's wonderful to know that ... we never are alone ... God is close beside us ... if to Him we atone ... so when the path is toilsome ... sincerely pray to God ... and in a matter of a while ... the road will be smoother to trod.

Anyone who plays with fire ... I suppose never has learned ... that the ones who fool with fire .. are the ones who will be burned ... when controlled it is a blessing .. and a God-send to mankind ... giving profound joy and comfort ... with a special peace of mind ... unrestrained fire is wicked ... causing untold grief and pain .. it can snuff out human beings .. and destroy a vast domain .. it depends on how we use it ... whether it is bad or good .. fire is a force for evil .. if it isn't understood ... and so we should all endeavor .. to learn much about its ways ... for if we practice safety rules .. I know we'll find it pays.

Every man who keeps a family ... is a ruler in his right ... lord and master of a homestead ... that depends upon his might ... there are children in his keeping ... who rely on his command ... so it is he who must be honest ... dealing with a righteous hand ... there's a queen always in waiting ... wearing gingham not silk gown ... with a plain gold ring for jewelry ... and a halo for a crown ... what a warm and tender feeling ... is derived from just the thought ... of a man who is the ruler ... of a wealth that can't be bought ... yes, of all the joy life offers ... nothing ever can compare ... to the love of wife and children ... greatest kingdom man can share.

Often in the still of evening... I am sad and I am blue ... for my thoughts stray from the present ... to the past when there was you ... in my reverie I wander ... trying to recapture bliss ... of the moments of enchantment ... when I shared your tender kiss ... hand in hand we walk together ... down the lane of yesterday ... and I recollect quite clearly ... how you always showed the way ... evening is a time of splendor ... thoughts of you fill quiet hours ... as I share the tender meaning ... that was ours 'neath heavenly bowers ... in a dream of warm embraces ... I am happy once again ... yet I'm well awere it's hopeless ... to live in the way back when ... so I put away my dream world ... returning to reality ... but when evening shadows lengthen ... I will roam the used to be.

I count on you to cheer me when ... I'm sad and life is blue ... for I know things will be all right ... if I will trust in you ... I place my faith in what you do ... and in each thing you say ... because I know beyond all else ... that you will find a way ... you have a magic tenderness ... that can erase my fears ... and that is why I cling to you ... through all my joys and tears ... in you I find my happiness ... you are the reason why ... I strive to do the things I must ... to climb a mountain high ... and I want you to know, my dear ... that you can count on me ... for anything and everything ... whatever comes to be.