Poetry Corner

A Greater Thing As They Go By A Soldier's Christmas It Was The Day Of Christmas It Is He

A Greater Thing (By Dorothy Myles)

There's so much trouble in the world today
No place to hide or run away

People striking out full of anger and hate
We'd better learn our lesson before it's too late

It's not about where you were born or choose to live
It's about helping the downtrodden and to those who struggle...give

There are many who suffer, so please lend a helping hand
Don't instigate and discriminate against your fellow man

We all want and need to share this world with one another
Every person should be looked at as a sister or a brother

Will we ever learn our lesson or will we continue to war
I don't want to think it was useless, the stripes that Jesus bore

He died upon the cross so that we all could be free
His love is supposed to live inside of you and me

I know we weren't created to strike out and kill
Our purpose on earth is for a stronger and better will

When we look up after the destruction to see what we've got
Living with pain and sorrow in ruins shouldn't be our earthly eternal lot

Let's not take matters into our own hands, for we know what hate can bring
Reach out in love, knowledge, wisdom and power... let's do a greater thing

As They Go By (By Dorothy Myles)

People walking and talking, I watch them as they go by
A cute girl hugged up in a sweater looking exactly like her cute guy
A goofy man in thin glasses looking up and down so sad and shy
My heart is touched by him he makes me want to cry
A mother scolding her son saying, "I saw you break that toy, don't lie"!
Two long weave, long legged ladies walking with their noses in the sky
A little girl in the food court asks "Can I have an apple pie?"
A Santa song plays from the heart of a guy
Wearing a green jingle bell tie
A handsome brother in blue and black suede looking well groomed, fine and fly
I stare and under my breath I say "ooooooh my, oh my, oh my"
A familiar face from across the way waves a friendly 'hi'
A chubby lady in spandex much too tight squishes and waddles by
A little boy running and screaming lit up like a firefly
A pretty girl in a tube top and sandals in December, I am wondering why
A young man in jeans and glasses wearing Karl Kanai
A red bandana matches his red eyes, looking so high
The mall has so many fascinating people I watch them as I go bye-bye

A Soldier's Christmas "Dedicated to Our Men in Uniform" (By Dorothy Myles)

The war pain was on, but you could see past the disguise
No cami colors could cover the shadows of death and sadness in his eyes

Silently wishing he was home and with his family
But here instead, cold and alone, fighting and invisible enemy

Bravely leading men and women to fight this war
Stomping out terrorism is the war that they fight for

He remembers the eyes of the young innocent children accustomed to fighting for more than 23 years
Some have no place for laughter and nothing left but dried up tears

Their land is hard and barren with not much food to eat
The cold has numbed their toes for many have no shoes on their feet

His children are home in a warm, cozy house get on their knees to pray
Tomorrow they'll sit and laugh as they open presents on Christmas Day

His son will enjoy the computer games, his daughter her Barbies
But the children in Afghanistan don't even have TVs

He reminisces about the smells baking in the oven
And later climbing into bed with his wife for some holiday lovin'

The distant sounds of gunfire awaken him from the dreams in his head
he rolls out this backpack and prepares his cot for bed

Someone in the shadows is singing an old Christmas tune
He wishes they could all be home with their families soon

He wonders what's next and where will they go from here
This war could last a decade or hopefully be over next year

Until that time he had to rest before this shift on first call
He'll stay till the end because he's fighting for 'freedom and justice for all'

In many a war my black people fought for America overseas
But when we returned to our country we were cut down at the knees

We fought for our lives then, as we fight for our life today
We may struggle within and without, but you can't take our freedom away

Our enemy within continues to come with a variety of names we know
Regardless of their birth name given, they still act like old "Jim Crow"

Our nation wars against terrorism, our civil liberties are at stake
"United we stand" that is correct, but equal? Please give me a break!

Our enemy outside our borders is like us in so many ways
A victim of our country, looking at liberty through a maze

Some countries, like the black man, have been torn down and brutalized
The ending we each must come to, I dare not summarize

I was born here and for my country I'll fight to the bitter end
I'm not my fellow countryman's foe. I am a true well-deserved friend

My heart mourns for blacks in prison who say they just ran out of luck
One poor soul even met his death being dragged down the street by a truck

Some have been shot, some beat, so many mentally torn down by humanity
Is there such a thing in this country as truly living free

We do our part as united we stand so divided we fall
When will the rest of the bargain be fulfilled? Liberty and justice for all

It Was the Day of Christmas (By Ayanna Patton)

T'was the day of Christmas all through the house,
there were so many people, there wasn't anywhere to sit down.
People visiting far and near,
wanting to share Christmas with us this year.

Aunties, uncles, cousins I have never seen before;
all of those faces walking through my front door.

Gifts in one hand and food in another;
behind Uncle Pete was my great, great grandmother.

So many children were playing and running around,
I hope they soon get tired and will decide to sit down.

My Christmas tree was so pretty as it stood 10 feet tall,
until one of those kids let the dog in and made it fall.

Broken ornaments lay on the floor;
I don't think I want Christmas at my house any more.

I'll get a broom and clean this mess up;
after I finish the last of the eggnog that is left in my cup.

I guess I'll start to serve dinner before it gets too late,
I hope they eat and leave because tonight I have a date.

Eat 'em up! Move 'em out!
I wanted to shout.
But I then remembered that wasn't what Christmas is about.

Turkey, ham, dressing, potato salad, cakes and pies,
I was so stuffed I almost cried.

The food tasted so delicious and great,
I'm glad I remembered to take my X-Lax before I ate.

After eating and cleaning, we all sat down and talked by the fire;
I never knew so many in my family could be such big liars.

People started to leave, we gave our farewell hugs and kisses,
saying out loud that this was really our best Christmas.

Quiet, it is. Everyone is gone.
I can't believe it! I'm home alone.

Oh my God! Did I put my kids out too?
Oh! I just remembered they're in their room playing PlayStation 2.

As I get into my bed and turn off the light,
I say "Merry Christmas to you all and I will rest well tonight."

It Is He ( By Pastor George Thomas)

There is someone we can call on in the dark and midnight hour.
There is someone we can call on in whose hand rests all the power.
There is someone we can call on who can take away our pain.
There is someone we can call on in the sunshine and the rain.
There is someone we can call on in our sorrow and our shame.
There is someone we can call on who bore the burden of our blame.
There is someone we can call on who will lead and be our guide.
There is someone we can call on by whose word we must abide.
There is someone we can call on in our sickness and our stress.
There is someone we can call on when the weights of life depress.
There is someone we can call on in our sorrow and our grief.
There is someone we can call on who is quick to give relief.
There is someone we can call on when the winds of this world blow.
There is someone we can call on in our misery and woe.
There is someone we can call on, one the Bible tells us so.
There is someone we can call on in our joyful times of glee.
There is someone we can call on, the Lord Jesus it is He.
There is someone who goes with us where the murky waters flow.
There is someone who goes with us to that place we'd fear to go.
There is someone who can wake us from that deep and woeful sleep.
There is someone who shall call us as a shepherd calls His sheep.
There is someone who can thrill us by the way He calls our name.
There is someone who can heal us, both the walking and the lame.
There is someone that can lift us from our sickness and the grave.
There is someone who can comfort, both the fearful and the brave.
There is one who came to save us from death and misery.
There is only one could do that, and Christ Jesus it is He.
O'er 60 years I knew a saint,
Though sick she was she would not faint.
Her faith no earthly woe could shake,
She knew that Christ would not forsake.
So pleasant memories fill our soul.
We knew that Heaven was her goal.
Oh fleshly veil your purpose served,
Should leave no trusting soul unnerved.
For ‘tis one purpose to earth we've come,
To pass our love and faith to some.
And when that task and work is done,
Return to Christ the risen Son.

On December 4, 2001, Myra Lee Smith passed. She was 79 years old and resided in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mrs. Smith was the aunt of Jackson Advocate Associate Publisher Alice Tisdale. During Mrs. Smith's funeral, the Eulogy was delivered by her youngest brother, Pastor George Thomas of St. Paul AME Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Pastor Thomas read a poem he wrote, which was "written in reflection on the life of his sister." This poem has meaning for all Christians and is published here as a way to share with many others the beautiful message of Pastor George Thomas.