Our Writers

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POET'S CORNER

                                                     Ernie Mikesell

                                                                 

These poems were printed in an Army publication at the end of the 2nd World War.  The second poem was written by our Ernie Mikesell. 

 

   

TEXAS BOY IN WASHINGTON

         by Robert M. Corker

 

 How I wish I were in Texas

Where the moon is shining bright

So I could be with one I Love

On this coming night.

 

But  here I am in Washington

Among the tall pine trees

All white with snow as cold winds blow

And I'm just about to freeze.

 

I don't much like the climate here,

The atmosphere so high,

I never hear the birdies sing

The Texas lullaby.

 

So take me back to Texas,

 Among the honey bees.

Where I can hear the birdies sing

Those Texas melodies

 

WASHINGTON BOY IN TEXAS

by Ernest Mikesell 748th, PAFS

 

How I wish I were in Washington

Where the snow makes life look bright

So I could be with the one I love

This coming Christmas night.

 

But here I am in Texas

Among the cactus and mesquite

All gray with dust as hard winds blow

And dying from the heat.

 

I don't much like the climate here

The atmosphere is low

And as for hearing the birdies sing

I have seen not one -- I know.

This poem was written by our Thelma Florence Mikesell when she was sweet sixteen

JUST NOT UNDERSTOOD 

She has reached the reached the age of sweet sixteen

    Just blossoming to womanhood.

One of the prettiest girl's I've seen,

    But she is just not understood.

Her world right now is most complex.

    She'd end it all, if she could.

There is nothing left but a shattered wreck--

    She is just not understood.

The heartbreaking tears that were shed last night

    Should have melted a statue of wood,

But frowns of disproval gave light to the fact

    She is just not understood.

The crisis she faces is surely great;

   They could prevent it--they should.

Tomorrow night is that "special date".

   Oh! if they just understood.

Just look in the closet at that bunch of clothes--

   Not one dress could bolster her mood.

They all had been worn at least once or twice;

    She wished that they understood.

Must she be disgraced by hand-me-down clothes,

    (Althoug:h the dresses were good);

She wanted a new one, like all of the rest.

    But nobody understood.

When her mother brought out her priceless pearls,

    And her sister a velvet hood,

They looked very nice with her dress, indeed!

    She knew now, they HAD understood

 

  

            Betty Lou Mikesell, 1944 at age 19.

 This poem about World War II was printed in a Spokane, Washington newspaper about 1944

 Northwest Verse

    Belgium

 By Betty Lou Mikesell

 

They tore the burning torch of freedom from her gentle hand

   And wove the bloody carpet for her feet.

They threw the cloak of murder 'round her shoulders bent.

   And gave her rotten soil to eat.

 

They doped her honest soul with cunning lies;

     Then, not satisfied, they killed her faithful sons.

Put a girth of iron slavery 'round her slender waist;

   Steel shackles on her children, sparing none.

 

They cried with glittering splendor to her deafened ears.

   "A new life is what we bring to you, be joyful, slaves."

They cried "Heil your new saviour," and boasted of his power.

     And made her kneel to his rants and raves.

 

But in that near-by day, when the deeds of man are judged,

   She will stand there and in her quiet manner say,

   "Oh Lord, you saw them in their day of 'power',

Now in yours do with them what you may".

 

 

        Beverly Binder Baker

Written by Beverly Ann Binder Baker April 9, 2000 In memory of my father Eddie J. Binder 

 

 MY FATHER, MY FRIEND

 

From the beginning you taught me how to be strong,

even though the road was often quite long.

You taught me to stand up for what is right,

grasp on to life and hold on tight.

YOU ARE MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY FRIEND

 

You are the only true father figure my two sons ever had.

Thank you so much, you are the greatest of dads.

You were the best cheerleader our teams ever had,

with peanuts and sunflower seeds ready at hand.

YOU ARE MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY FRIEND.

 

Your encouraging ways made people stop and listen,

to someone whose smile like the sun always glistened.

You spread your love and acceptance to strangers and friends

this is true

You never hesitated to help bring life back to new. 

YOU ARE MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY FRIEND 

 

We will never forget during a game the referee did call,

when you ran on the field trying to get the best pictures of all.

Many an umpire would ask you to move,

but you held to your place like your seat was glued.

YOU ARE MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY FRIEND.

 

You stood up for me when a wrong had been done,

and wouldn't back down until there was none.

You gave me a great gift being able to help others too.

I will carry and pass on this legacy - this I will do.

YOU ARE MY FATHER, YOU ARE MY FRIEND 

 

I have come here today to not say goodbye

because I know your spirit will surely never die.

We will never truly be apart

as long as I always carry you inside my heart.

Your memory will never fade, this I intend

because you will always be

MY FATHER & MY FRIEND.