Follow leaders, but don’t follow blindly.
Disagree with opponents, but do so kindly.
Look critically at different points of view.
Cast your ballot as seems right to you.
After the election, work cooperatively
to build your country and community.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
I am reposting this as we are getting close to US election day, and mail-in balloting is about to begin. Cheryl
There is no relief
in the master of grief,
Ambition who has no soul…
He offers only a goal.
He lashes and goads
into stony roads
of passion and desire
where every step is higher.
Upward go I, though I grieve,
to heights I must achieve.
Ambition’s wanton slave,
I climb toward my grave,
and Ambition, I can swear,
has planned me tasks for there!
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
A poem written during my high school years. I woke at 4:30 one morning with this poem on my mind, and wrote it down from memory.
Nobody shares
my sorrows…
nobody cares!
Nothing repairs
my broken body…
nobody cares
about my pain.
Society tears
my heart out.
Nobody wears
my shoes.
Everyone stares
when I am angry,
everyone glares
when I demand my rights.
Everyone swears
that I am wrong.
Nobody cares
about the law!
Nothing repairs
my broken heart,
no one shares
my lonely nights.
No one dares
to get close to me,
nobody’s there
to dry my tears!
No one cares
about my good intentions,
no one shares
my utopian dreams,
no one dares
to champion my cause.
All my prayers
go unanswered.
Everyone fares
better without me.
Nobody cares!
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
This poem is an effort to portray the thoughts of a person who suffers from depression. In extreme depression, the person may feel hopeless, that the world is against him, and may be suicidal. Some are suffering from physical pain or are reacting to tragedies in their lives.
I have known two people who commited suicide. One had a wife and young children. One was a middle-aged man who had been an intelligent, popular friend when we were in high school. I have wondered many times what thoughts were in the mind of someone who would take their own life.
Costs today are skyrocketing.
Look how much the plumber’s pocketing!
Technology is changing way too fast!
Let’s continue doing thngs as we did in the past.
Singers today sound like sick cats!
Why do parents let kids dress like that?
Nothing these days is made to last.
Quality and service are things of the past!
You won’t hear me making remarks like this;
I may be over the hill, but I try to resist!
Well, you might hear me say a thing or two,
but only when I’m sure that it’s true!
Reprinted from Life in Inspiring Places
Copyright© 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
This will be the last post for a while. I will be taking a break, doing some computer maintenance, and catching up on neglected tasks. When I return, I will need to reduce computer time to give my eyes more rest. All the best! Stay safe and be happy! ❤ ❤ ❤ Cheryl
Infants & Toddlers
An afternoon nap,
learning how to walk and talk,
a warm hug from Mom.
Childhood
Watch cartoons with Dad,
birthdays and school days,
take care of your pets.
Middle School
Talk on your smart phone,
sleepovers and soccer games,
a new ten-speed bike.
High School
A date to the dance,
college entrance exam grades,
part-time job, first car.
University
Seeking vocation,
finding the perfect soul-mate,
looking for a job.
Adulthood
Building a career,
establishing a family,
children growing up.
Middle Age
Secure and stable,
serving the community,
children succeeding.
Senior Citizen
Love your grandchildren,
mentor next generation,
work on bucket list.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Time for reflection…
a small space for solitude
brings me peace of mind.
Reprinted from Life in Inspiring Places
Copyright© 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
Thirty years ago,
I drank from the Fountain of Youth
discovered by Spanish explorer,
Juan Ponce De Leon,
in St. Augustine, Florida.
The only change I noticed
was the taste of sulfur in the water!
My hair continued to turn gray;
the wrinkles deepened in my face.
If there were a Fairy Godmother
granting wishes to all who drink the water
at the Fountain of Youth,
I wouldn’t wish for hair dye
or a face lift or clothes
from the trendy store in the mall.
I wouldn’t ask to be fluent
in the latest slang…
These things can’t bring back youth!
If there were a Fairy Godmother
granting wishes to all who drink the water
at the Fountain of Youth,
I’d ask to have a youthful outlook…
Curiosity to continue learning,
Idealism to envision a better future,
Creativity to express our dreams.
Passion to work for positive change.
Yes, Fairy Godmother,
I wish to THINK young!
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
A gold foil candy box
was my treasure chest;
candy was a sweet gift,
but the box was the best!
I filled it with love letters
and treasured photos
collected over a period
of five years or so.
I carried the box around
for more than fifty years.
This year, the box fell apart,
and I didn’t shed any tears.
I looked at the photos,
read the letters once more,
put them all in the trash,
and walked out the door.
We moved to our new house,
vowing we’d never move again.
Memories fade, but the photos
and letters are burned on my brain.
I remember a boy with slicked-back
hair and a crooked grin
and a handsome football player
who wanted me to marry him.
Then there was a fearless boy
who helped me learn to drive
and several others who
passed through my life.
I put the box away
when I married at eighteen…
and now the mementos are gone,
but the memories remain.
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
As vapor in clouds
condenses and turns to rain,
so may I adapt.
As wind carries seeds
to faraway locations,
let me move forward.
As soil welcomes seeds,
may my mind be receptive
to new ideas.
May sunshine relentlessly
enlighten me, mind and soul!
Copyright© 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
If I say I made my own luck, it may not be so.
Maybe someone helped me, and I didn’t know.
When I fell on my face, I could have been
sabotaged by someone I thought was my friend.
Though I’ve tried to help my fellow man
and do good deeds whenever I can,
I know I’ve made enemies inadvertently,
and maybe helped others in ways I can’t see.
I’m sure there were times that I was blind
to the needs of others; it weighs on my mind.
I’m sure I wasted energy trying to see
if somebody else was out to get me.
Life’s about making the world a better place;
it’s not about fighting to win the race
to the top of the ladder or to the bank
or sacrificing integrity for power or rank.
I take compliments with a grain of salt,
and being blamed doesn’t mean I’m at fault.
The opinions of others have merit, but…
it’s sometimes better to go with your gut!
If I’m out there seeking a pat on the back,
It may be best to forget about that!
Accolades I receive may not be
the most reliable measure of my humanity.
Reprinted from Life in Inspiring Places
Copyright© 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
