All poems contained on this page were
written by and are the property of Betty Lee

Sally's Friend

Lonely little Sally oft sat in the window
Wishing she was bigger, a lot bigger, so
That she could join the other kids at play,
Instead of watching, like she did every day.

"But every time I ask, they just laugh at me;
The other kids up the street are too small for me
The big kids say that I'm too little to jump rope."
So there she sat, all alone, with very little hope,

"I wish there was someone around just the size of me
So I wouldn't always be so awfully, awfully lonely.
I need someone to share my dolls and my little dishes,
Someone who would like to hear all my secret wishes."

Many, many lonely hours little Sal did spend.
It seemed as if she'd never, ever have a friend,
But then one day, her daddy bought a puppy for her.
Her loneliness was soon replaced by a little ball of fur.

She spent many, many weeks teaching Muff to mind.
All the hours of emptiness were soon left far behind.
Soon they were inseparable, this funny little pair,
Muff with her honey coat, Sal with her golden hair.

They even slept together in little Sally's bed,
The pup next to her feet, way down beneath the spread.
Muff has long since gone, her life came to an end,
But Sal remembers vividly her furry little friend.

circa 1957

He Didn't Say Good-bye

He called me on the telephone,
said he'd be a while coming home.
I said," O.K., but don't be too late."
He said, "I won't; I have a date."
A half hour later the news was spread.
He had been wounded in the head.
Two hours later his life had ceased
For the bullet his brain had creased.
He left without saying good-bye.
Why? Why did he have to die?

Nov. 10, 1958

Dedicated to Hal, not just my big brother, but my idol.
Dec. 26, 1935 - Nov. 6, 1958
Brother, I shall always remember you dearly, as long as I have a mind.
Thank you for that long talk we had that last morning as you drove me to school.
Your words shall never be forgotten; I kept my promise to you,
as I'm sure you know. Love you always and forever.

A Teens Thoughts On Aging

When I am passing the years away
And see my children going their way.
When my children have their mates
And their children are going on dates,
When my hair's all turned to grey,
I'll be wishing that youth could stay.
For, I fear Old Man Time, you see,
I've seen what he could do to me.
Today my life is very fine and good.
I can walk upright, as people should.
I can see the stars above and silvery moon;
I can hear singing birds and the cry of the loon.
Today my life is fine and good, oh yes!
What about tomorrow ? I can only guess.

circa 1962

Night Questions

Alone in the night, she often lies in their bed
The covers pulled up all the way to her head.
She lies there and wonders about things gone by.
She can't understand the how or the why.

What happened to them along life's trail?
Just what did she do Just where did she fail?
Where on earth can she put all of the blame?
Why can't love always be just the same?

The covers she ruffles up, the bed rearranges.
What ever happened to bring about changes?
All through these years, she's been his wife.
They've struggled and toiled to overcome strife.

They've been through joy and through sorrow.
Is there, for them, any real hope for tomorrow?
Where's all the feeling that they used to share?
Why can't they show that they really still care?

The feelings that they used to show for each other
Like a great fire, now have begun to smother.
Can they ever go back to where they were long ago?
She wonders and questions but she really doesn't know.

Is it something she did or something she said?
Again she starts tossing about in their bed.
He lies there sleeping, unaware of her feeling,
While she lies there and stares at the ceiling.

Does he still feel the way that he used to?
Sometimes his answer just doesn't come through.
Have they taken each other too much for granted?
Have the seeds of indifference in them been planted?

Is there anything left that can make it okay?
Or will they just drift on from day to day?
What can she do to make him care once again,
The way that he used to way back then?

What can she do to bring out his desire?
Can she ever go back and relight his fire?
If he's glad she's his wife, as oft he's said,
Then why doesn't he show her, here in their bed?

Why can't their bodies agree with their minds?
What is there back there that they left behind?
Have they grown too fond, like an old pair of shoes?
Or is it, perhaps, they've outgrown their youths?

circa 1975

An Adult Student Questions

What am I doing here with all these young sprouts,
Lugging around schoolbooks,working math problems out,
Sitting through long lectures,taking notes along the way
Hoping I can remember what was said yesterday,
Rushing from class to class trying to get straight "A"s,
Pushing myself to the limit, isn't there a better way?
How do these kids stand it, this running forth and back,
Trying to earn a sheepskin, filling credits that they lack?
What can I prove to myself that I didn't know before?
Except that sitting here all day sure makes my backside sore!

circa 1984

Open Letter to Jim

Dear Jim,
You don't really know me,
but we met at the doctor's office today.
I could tell from your voice you were nervous,
though you pretended to be gay.
We had quite a talk while we sat in the dark,
waiting for our eyes to dilate.
We laughed about the gurgling plumbing
and other things during our long wait.

Then the doctor called you into the next room
and I sat there all alone.
I heard him tell you he had no miracles
for your eyesight, and then a groan.
I hadn't meant to listen to what he said,
but both doors were open wide.
I wished then I knew you so you could lean on me.
I just sat and cried.

No, Jim, I don't know you, though
I've seen you before, some place, long ago.
It's strange how easily we talked
to each other though your last name I don't know
But I could tell that you're a nice guy
from the way you talked to me today.
Our relationship was brief and casual,
but Jim, I pray that miracle comes your way!

circa 1975

A Survivor
(a cinquain)

The world
tried to break me;
it pushed and shoved like hell,
but, I am much like tempered steel,
unbent.

circa 1984

Memory

It happened long ago, so the calender says,
But it happened yesterday according to my memory.
Why is it I can't remember what was said last week,
But I can clearly recall every detail of that night?
Why is it that terror is stored in indelible ink,
But happiness is often written with number three graphite?
Where is the rationality to this system of recording
The historical data of one's life?
It makes no sense to me that pain is etched in stone
In the memory banks of my cerebral files,
But the pleasurable times must be searched for
And grasped piecemeal
Then reassembled like a jig-saw puzzle.
Why is it the human computer is selective this way
And does not give mankind parallel retrospection?
For if we had the capacity to recall all data equally,
We might discover that one piece is insignificant to the whole,
That when we tallied up the good and subtracted the vile,
We might find that our lives have been far richer than we recall.

circa 1985

Visions of a Child
(a cinquain)

Reddish
hair and brown eyes,
a radiant smile and
tiny hugs, I remember so
fondly.

circa 1984

On Meeting Calvin Cool in the Coffee Shop

Something bumped my arm as I waited in line,
and
a
strange
sensation
ran
down
my
spine.
As I turned and saw you at my elbow,
I poured scalding coffee on my frozen feet.
Inhalation halted mid-cycle,
goosebump crowded goosebump.
Sinews stiffened.
My heart skipped a beat.
Saline beads squeezed from pores like juice from a lemon.
My knees knocked like shutters in the wind.
Suppressed memories came flooding into view,
vivid visions of that night when you
left
handprints on my body,
rips in my clothes
and scars on my mind.
You bastard!
You cold, calculating, clever, perverted reptile!
I wish you well,
a
very
deep
one,
and
may
your
organ
rot
in
Hell!

circa 1983

Remember Halloween Night

Hark ! Hark ! Hear the dogs barking.
Hear the hooties high in the trees.
See the black cat scampering by.
Feel the quiver in your knees.

See the pumpkins in the windows.
Hear the creaking close behind.
Feel your heart begin to race
As you get scared out of your mind.

Smell the ripe apples in your bag
And the popcorn and the candy.
Remember the garb you wore
When you were a dapper dandy.

See the witches in the moonlight
And webs made by a spider.
Remember the smell of the donuts,
The taste of fresh apple cider,

The sheet that changed your sis
Into a most ghastly sight,
And burned cork smeared on faces.
Hark ! Remember Halloween night!

circa 1973

Birthdays

Birthdays come and birthdays go.
You have but one each year,
And for that fact you should be
Glad and give a great big cheer!

For if you had two cakes each year
They'd soon add up, like gold.
They'd weigh upon your hips
And you'd be twice as old!

circa 1976

The La Cross Story

It was right around Christmas in 1951
That the whole La Cross story was begun,
When a fellow named Le Roy took a wife.
He chose a real "Honey" to share his life.
They started out a pair on Delaware Street.
Then the next year came a babe so sweet.
Denise, she was christened, and to their joy
Next thing they knew they expected a boy.
They moved to Broad Street, number one-hundred-nine
Where diapers continued to fill the clothesline.
After Louie came Sharon and Ella Rose too.
Then along came Belinda. who was nicknamed Boo-Boo.
The apartment grew crowded; it was too small,
So, they bought the house; they needed it all!
Next the twins, Harriet and Harold came.
Then a darling young lady called Lorraine.
Now wait a minute, let's not cheat her!
Go back one babe and add charming Peter.
Melissa was their next gift from heaven.
Then Tina brought the total up to eleven.
In the meantime, Sharon married Tom Brown;
They now have little Ben and Brian around.
In '74 Denise and Jim Grimmer were wed.
Now Ella's engaged to a nice guy named Ed.
There have been cuts and bruises and falls,
Broken bones and illnesses by them all.
But amidst all the troubles, you can see,
There has been a lot of laughter and glee.
The story is complete now,(well up to this date)
But subject to change by the other eight.
It's twenty-five years since the start of all this,
And to think it all started with just one kiss!

December 26,1976

A Mother's Memories
(a cinquain)

Growth marks
on closet doors,
staples in bedroom walls,
the signs of children everywhere,
now gone.

circa 1984

Please sign my dreambook, so I know you dropped by to visit.

Thank you for visiting with us, and come back again soon.

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Background made from an owl graphic sent to me by
a House Of Love And Support sister-friend, Pammie B.

copyright 1997-2005 by Betty Lee, Glens Falls, NY