POEMS, PRAYERS, PROTESTS AND STORIES
By Alice Ouellette
*****
Poems,
Prayers, Protests And Stories
Published by Alice Ouellette at
Smashwords
Copyright 2009 by Alice Ouellette
All rights
reserved. For copy permission
please direct all inquiries to
Ouellette3@sbcglobal.net
*****
This book is dedicated to my family.
*****
A
Mothers Prayer
An
Iced Caramel Latte
A
Prayer For My Daughter
A
Simple Prayer
Band
Together
Blue
Skies
Dear
Mr. President
Ellie
The Tree
From
My Window
Getting
Off Track
He
Knows You Can Read
Important
Like Me
It’s
Christmas Time Again
Mr.
Tree’s Plea
My
Daily Walk
My
God Shall Supply All Your Need
My
Interpretation Of The Twenty Third Psalm
My
Life Story
On
Foreign Soil
Send
Me An Umbrella
Sometimes
I Wonder
Standing
In The Rain
The
Christmas Bell
The
Hunter
The
Land Of Competition
There’s
No Magic In War
The
Reason He Came
There’s
Only One
Wishing
The World A Merry Christmas
With
Our Words
Zoo
McPhee And The Tree
*****
Dear heavenly Father this morning I seek,
Some strength from you because I'm feeling weak.
I feel so small when life's problems I face.
Sometimes I think that I'm losing this race.
I am just a mere human and so I need your help.
There have been so many times when I have felt,
If I didn't have you Lord I'd never make it.
Times when my courage has really been shaken.
Then when I prayed and I felt your touch,
That really helped me so very much.
So now I am asking for all of the others,
Especially Lord for my fellow mothers.
Who are just like me and are trying to do,
This wonderful job that you've asked them to.
I know at times we all do find it hard,
Times when we watch our kids play in the yard.
To let them learn and to let them grow,
And teach them all of the things they should know.
Please help us to watch over them with great care.
Help us teach them to pray and teach them to share.
Dear Lord now I have just one final request.
Help us to have faith so that we can rest.
I know that you love all our little ones too.
But it's up to us to tell them you do.
*****
One day a while back when my daughter was sick.
I had to cheer her up and it had to be quick.
I thought an Iced Caramel Coolatta just might do the trick.
Not some frozen ice cream bar served on a stick.
Yes that is her favorite when we are out.
I am quite sure of it, there is no doubt.
So I started up the stairs to tell her about,
My terrific idea as I started to shout.
So then she perked up and said, it is getting late.
Being so sick is the one thing I hate.
And it has been a while since I really ate.
Pork rice and ribs too, that would be great.
I'll tell you it really did make me feel glad.
She actually liked an idea that I had.
Now I think that she is not looking so sad.
Sometimes I worry and that can be bad.
I get to the donut shop and can't remember what kind.
It's no wonder that people can't make up their mind.
Just the right thing on the menu was so hard to find.
The girl said please hurry I'm falling behind.
I'd like to make a call to be sure if I might.
That's a Caramel Coffee Coolatta honey right?
No Mom, it's an Iced Caramel Latte with Whip Cream Delight.
So the lady says, would you like that to be regular or light?
That had me puzzled and before I could say,
Why did you ask that she hands me a tray.
Then gives me this coffee collar and goes away.
I knew I had blown it but I'd make it okay.
Then she hands me hot coffee in a very large cup.
I'm so sorry, I said as I held the drink up.
It seems with this large coffee now you are stuck.
I guess my voice was blocked out by that truck.
So I swallowed real hard and tried to be nice.
I repeated, I'm so sorry to say this but I asked for ice.
Could you please exchange this no matter the price.
She said, just give back the coffee and that will suffice.
The Chinese dinner was ready when I got there.
When I got home she was combing her hair.
She took a big sip and then started to stare.
And offered me kindly her dinner to share.
A little while later I went up to talk to her a bit.
I glanced over to where her cup did sit.
Looks like that drink surely wasn't a hit.
Oh it was pumpkin Mom, so I couldn't drink it.
*****
With your great power Lord, my daughter please heal.
It is much better that she needs to feel.
Oh Father, I love you so please hear my cry,
From that place where you're dwelling way up in the sky.
You see Lord some germs have tried to make her sick.
I know you can help her so please make it quick.
You see Lord I think that sometimes she has doubt.
Whether you really love her and can help her out.
So much has happened to her in the past,
Sometimes she's thinking that she'll never last.
What she needs now is faith and lots of hope,
And lots of courage so her dreams can float.
So I trust Lord that soon she'll be up on her feet,
And she will be asking for something to eat.
Then I will go get her whatever she wants.
From fast food places or restaurants.
So if you could please just let her know,
It is part of my job here to help her grow.
I don't want to control her or hurt her feelings,
Or just stick my nose into all of her dealings.
I just want to help her in any way that I can,
To always be there and lend her a hand.
So now Lord I thank you, I thank you so much.
But what she needs now Lord the most is your touch.
*****
Dear Lord if you're listening,
I want you to know.
This isn't exactly,
How I want things to go.
You see I had dreams,
Of good things to come.
But now I've been hurt,
And I feel sort of numb.
And so if you could Lord,
Please hear my prayer.
And send me some help,
To show that you care.
Send me some faith Lord,
And love if you can.
And thanks in advance Lord.
Signed, your greatest fan.
*****
Band together people, let your voice be heard.
Love your neighbor as yourself is what it says right in his word.
We are not divided we are all one people.
Put your faith in God, not in the church steeple.
We're all brothers and sisters in God's eyes.
So don't listen to those people who are peddling lies.
They will tell you that you're different and they'll say that you should hate.
But a world full of turmoil, that is not our fate.
Color's only skin deep so don't listen to the lie.
That says you should hate them and I'll tell you why.
Things can be different now, our future we can change.
If the thinking in our heads we will rearrange.
Love has no borders, love has no race.
Please do not judge them by the color of their face.
Let's tell the world we can all be free,
From the prejudice, the hate and the poverty.
So band together people, we can do what's right.
It really doesn't matter if you're black or white.
There is plenty for everyone if we can share.
If the ones who have so much will just show they care.
*****
Blue skies are flying silently over head.
Sunshine is falling, glistening on my bed.
Every child on earth has enough to eat.
The heart of every creature has a happy beat.
I've heard that all of the good things we can see,
Were once just thoughts that came to be.
If that is true then let's think about peace,
And how all the world's prisoners will be released.
If wishes are things that can be had,
I wish for the good instead of the bad.
That every man would help his brother,
And every child would have a mother.
But the thing that I want most and what I'd like to see,
Is the day when we all are one big family.
*****
A great many years ago when things were like this,
And rumors of war were starting to hiss.
Yes, it makes me sad nowadays when I hear,
That our people did fight and shed so many tears.
It was freedom that our ancestors won,
And we all know what they lost was a ton.
So many people, their blood it was spilled,
In those terrible times when they all were killed.
So when I hear all the arguments and see all the strife,
I think we should remember, those men paid with their lives.
Really there is one thing that we should have learned.
We should not waste all the freedom they earned.
Our men are courageous, of that there's no doubt,
But policing the world is not what we're about.
We say we are peaceful, we say we are kind,
And then go to war and leave morals behind.
We send in our armies all over the world,
And then we are shocked when their insults are hurled.
Their people are precious as much as ours,
And they are not aliens living on Mars.
Just because we are mighty and we have guns,
That does not mean that we should be the ones,
To go sticking our noses where they don't belong,
And try to decide who is right and who's wrong.
We say to our children, use your words in conflict,
It's not right to steal, to fight and to hit.
Then they turn their heads and the first thing they know,
It is right back to war that we tell them to go.
So please Mr. President I respectfully ask,
That you would consider this important task.
And don't ask how many and don't ask them where,
So then you'll be able to stop losing hair.
You'll be able to sleep and you won't lose your job,
If you'd just get control of that Washington mob.
Please tell all your generals to tell all their men,
Now you can come home and start living again.
*****
This is a story about a young tree.
Who knew in her heart she would one day be free.
Mommy she said, I want to be like the others.
Her mother replied, who do you mean dear your sisters and brothers?
No she said, Mom I want to be human,
And run in the field and see what they're doing.
Oh my dear girl who has put such an idea in your head?
Was it something I did or something I said?
No Mom, it's just that a tree always stands.
I want to go play and I want to have hands.
Sometimes I think that I would just like to sit,
And then lie down and rest for a bit.
Well child I really do feel bad for you.
I don't think that there's anything that we can do.
She said, that's okay Mom please don't you worry.
It's not like I am in that much of a hurry.
I'll just keep hoping and I will pray,
That I will be just like the people someday.
Who live out their lives and they don't even know,
What it's like to be out here and freeze in the snow.
So she just kept hoping as the days went by.
Till one day she thought of a new thing to try.
She imagined herself as a pretty young girl,
With a pretty new dress and her hair in a curl.
Then she kept on thinking about it each day.
And after each session of thinking she'd pray;
Dear God can you do this, I know you are able.
I know you are real and you're not just a fable.
Please do let me try it at least for one hour.
And then to become human he did allow her.
So God made her human and he answered back,
Okay but of minutes you'll have to keep track.
And so right away with that condition she went.
Then as a human girl one hour she spent.
When she got back she thought Mom didn't know,
Just where she went and where she did go.
Then out of nowhere her mom started to say;
Now I noticed you were looking so strange today.
So please tell me what has happened to you.
Mom I had this feeling that somehow you knew.
About what God had done and what it felt like,
When I ran all around and then I rode a bike.
There was this family that is living nearby,
And their little girl said I could have a try.
I told her that we live a little ways down the street,
And how I had seen her and hoped we would meet.
I really like them Mom, they were so nice.
I'd like to go back again just once or twice.
So now I know that it really is true,
That God can do anything you ask him to.
So I asked him to send me back just one more time.
He said, sure if you want to then that would be fine.
She said yes God and I know I will never forget.
Then I will be happy and I'll be all set.
But then he said Ellie there's just one more thing.
When you are human I want you to sing.
He said, I want you to look for this beautiful place.
If you go there and sing then you will see my face.
It's called a church and it's a very tall building and easy to see.
There are things in the church that remind people of me.
You see down to earth long ago I sent my Son.
And after he left they all knew what he'd done.
He did make a way for all people to go,
Way up to heaven and stay here you know.
That is the reason I want you to sing.
So then you can tell them the good news you bring.
The message of God's love so then they can come too,
If only they will just listen to you.
You'll sing of salvation and when you sing your song,
It will tell them that with me is where they belong.
And Ellie, I love you and I love them too.
Remember to tell them how you know it's true.
They might not believe you at least not at first.
Although I know for the truth some of them thirst.
After a while they will know you and see,
What they want is what you have and it is free.
So maybe in some of them their faith will rise.
And they will look up here and to their surprise.
They'll know in their hearts that if I did this for you,
That I can do miracles for them too.
*****
The beauty I see from my window,
A thousand words could not say.
Thank God I can reach for my camera,
Forever preserved it will stay.
Someday I'll look back,
At this time in my life.
And see some of the beauty,
That was there with the strife.
Yes, life can be challenging this we all know.
Because sometimes things don't go,
Like we want them to though.
But don't you lose hope,
And don't you give in,
And try to stay humble,
When you finally win.
Then ask for forgiveness and joy when you pray.
And take comfort that always,
By your side he will stay.
*****
Well now dear Lord if I have your attention,
There are a few things that I would like to mention.
I don't have a car or a house or a pension.
When always I thought that I was your extension.
I must have somehow gotten far off the track.
I'll have to try hard now to find my way back.
I guess that's what happens when our faith is slack.
Before long there are many things that we lack.
We don't have much patience and we don't have much money.
Our lives are a mess and now that isn't funny.
We long for those days when we had milk and honey.
Those beautiful days when the weather was sunny.
So won't you please help me to find my way,
And send me your guidance and blessings I pray.
I'll try really hard this time and every day,
I won't forget to say thank you and ask you to stay,
Right here at the center where you do belong.
You are most important and you make me strong.
And then when I do fail you will be along,
To say you forgive and give me a new song.
*****
Now there is no need for you to be blue.
It says in his word just what you should do.
He knows that sometimes the blind lead the blind.
But if you are looking, the truth you will find.
He knows that some people will hurt you in spite,
And then you must struggle to do what is right.
Be he didn't leave you behind with no clue,
Like all of the animals down at the zoo.
Some people are saying the Bible is just an old fable.
Like all of those stories about Cain and Able.
But they are not stories, it's history they tell.
Like the Samaritan lady Jesus met at the well.
If you listen and pray he will give you the key.
Get down on your knees and then you will see.
If you ask for his help, in you he'll confide.
All you need now is his Holy Spirit inside.
So then you will see it is not just a book.
Instructions on living are there if you look.
Then once you start learning, you'll want to know more.
It's not like those other books down at the store.
Yet some will still wonder and some will refuse.
Some will intentionally throw out all the clues.
They'll follow some real estate guru instead.
With promise of riches he'll fill up their heads.
Some will go crazy and some will fight.
Because they are hiding, they can't stand the light.
Once in a dream, I could hear the Lord talking.
He said, being a Christian can be just like walking.
When you start out you may fall a lot.
But that's because you are only a tot.
Then with some practice you do get better.
After a while you're a real jet setter.
Before you know it you're starting to run.
And then after a while you will be having fun.
Then there are times when you may start to stray.
You get too distracted and forget to pray.
God gave you instructions, they're all in his word.
It's not just some fairytale book like you heard.
Just everyday, be sure you read some.
And before you know it your race will be won.
*****
I haven't got time for tea.
I'm extremely busy you see.
There is just so much to do.
So I don't have time to listen to you.
I am very important you see.
And everyone wants to be me.
I am so perfect from head to toe.
So just don't bother me now you can go,
And see me on your TV set.
That is as close as you can get.
You know I am a great big star.
I don't know how I got this far.
I was just a regular Joe.
People ignored me and it was as though,
They didn't realize just who I was.
But you see that was only because,
I hadn't reached my full potential.
Now I am feeling presidential.
So I can't be bothered with how you feel.
And whether or not you can afford a meal.
So this is how you'll get to be.
If you are ever important like me.
*****
It's Christmas time again,
Forget your worries then,
Let the celebration begin.
Green trees we will trim.
Snow is falling now.
Let us show you how,
To find your peace within.
Rid yourself of sin.
It's Christmas time again.
Forget your worries then,
Hear why Jesus came.
Why we praise his name.
He can help you now.
If you will allow,
His words inside your heart.
That is where it starts.
It's Christmas time again.
Forget your worries then,
Let's all have some fun.
The work has all been done.
The Savior he was born,
That day on Christmas morn.
His message is for all,
Who answer to his call.
It's Christmas time again.
Forget your worries. Amen.
*****
I have this friend who is very nice.
He came to ask me for advice.
It happened just the other day,
While I was sleeping he did say.
Hello he said in a friendly voice.
I have to ask you, I have no choice.
Let me introduce myself, my name is Mr. Tree.
My people need some help right now, they're killing us you see.
We talked for what seemed like hours and I looked at him and said,
This really can't be happening, I thought I was in bed.
And while we talked he told me all the details of his plan.
It sounded very simple so I said, I'll do all I can.
You have to tell your people how important that we are.
We take in the carbon monoxide that comes out of a car.
Sometimes I wish that I could shout,
It's what you need that we give out.
That's the reason they should care,
Because to survive they do need air.
So if you would just let trees live,
Lots of oxygen they would give.
We all happily could co-exist,
But there is something that you missed.
You should not cut down trees in haste.
And wood is not something to waste.
Living things deserve your care,
And this planet we all share.
Just then I heard a tapping sound.
And there was not a soul around.
So I fell back asleep but then,
I thought I heard the noise again.
So I opened up the window shade.
A little brown bird said; no attention have you paid.
That wasn't just a dream you know.
And now I think that you should go,
And write it down and don't forget,
To tell the world and then I bet.
The world will be a better place.
And you'll help save the human race,
And all the trees, the birds and bees.
Then God will bless you when he sees.
That all the world is doing great.
If there is one thing he does hate,
It's when you make the world a mess,
Because the trees are less and less.
So now my story it must end,
But to all of you I send,
My best wishes for success,
Green trees, fresh air and happiness.
*****
The road disappears right from under my feet.
My lips are blistering from the intensity of heat.
Wondering aimlessly day after day,
Waiting to hear the words you will say.
My journey seems endless and sometimes a bore,
Still I never know what my life has in store.
Tomorrow's unreachable and yesterday's gone.
My life's like the sun shining down on our lawn.
It's the same every morning and then every night.
It quietly slips away and then goes out of sight.
But when I wake up then it all starts again.
I begin every day with a prayer and Amen.
*****
MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED
But my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory ...(Philippians 4:19 KJV)
But now my friends that is not the whole story.
Dear people he's given us his only Son.
He brought us salvation when his job was done.
With him he brought down here his Holy Spirit.
There is no good reason that you should fear it.
His Spirit is gentle and he is kind.
And no where else in this world will you find,
A better way for you to hear God's voice.
He'll only come to you is it's your choice.
For you to obey him, he will never force.
If you want God's power then he will be your source.
If you read the story, he told them to wait.
He said just be waiting there inside the gate.
Then one day his disciples were endued with power.
And he did encourage them hour by hour.