The love of my Mother

Raised up on love
In an old mountain shack
The oldest of six
Growing up at Gray’s Flat

While still in her teens
She married her man
Moved off of the mountain
Started their own little clan

Two girls she had
One after the other
But tragedy struck
Before I was their brother

Her oldest fell ill
And passed to the heavens
The pain in her heart
I can’t even imagine

A few short months later
She gave birth to a son
And I was a trial
From even day one

The doctors weren’t sure
If I would live through the night
But Mom, she was faithful
She never gave up the fight

A few years later
She gave birth to my brother
Our house was full
With the love of my Mother

Then and there after
Time and again
She has opened her home
And her heart to others in need

Great is her love
In the present, in the past
Love I have known
None other’s surpassed

Than that of my Mother’s

HAVE YOU EVER

Have you ever...

Pulled over in the darkest of the night
Just to look at the stars in the sky
Walked in the woods
Just to smell the pines
Sat by a brook
Just to take a long look
Leaned in close to your lover
Just to scent her aroma
Acted like a fool
Just to see her smile
Lay awake in bed
Just to watch her wake
Climbed to the top of the hill
Just to see the view
Spent the night a certain somewhere
Just to see the sun rise there
Climbed down a cliff
Just to hear the waves crash on the beach
Wait for hours
Just to hold a baby in your arms

All these things I have done and yet I have
Just began to enjoy this thing we call life

Have you ... ever

More Precious than Gold

Family is always there
But seldom do I see
With eyes in focus
On what they mean to me

Taken for granted
The time that we spend
Together for ever
Not so in the end

Love, joy and laughter
As our family grows
We spend our time together
The highs and the lows

Fathers and mothers
The young and the old
Time spent together
More precious than gold

There will come a time someday
When sorrow fills our hearts
Of those who must remain
When loved ones will depart

Time will take its toll
On even the closest to us
And death will have its end some day
Though it does not seem just

So focus on what you have today
Tomorrow is not a promise
Love your family here and now
Without count for what it costs

Family is just a word to me
And it includes so much more
Than just my blood relation
Though they are at the core

Friends I speak of also
The people closest to your heart
Love and laugh together
As if tomorrow you will part


John Pope May 17th 2012

Like a creek through the woods

Happy Anniversary Marla!
31 years, I deserve a medal ............ I'm kidding



Like a creek through the woods


31 years is a long time you see
A long time to be
Stuck with a guy
A guy like me

We've loved and we've laughed
We've fought and we've cried
We've stood by our kids
Our hearts filled with pride

Together or apart
Through the bad and the good
Love carries us onward
Like a creek through the woods

Our time grows shorter
And it won't be long
Weakness will replace 
Our bodies, once strong

Love in my heart
I will still feel
When I lean over and whisper
From my rocking chair

I love you

Today I gave away my daughter

From the babe in my arms
I'd shield from all harm
To freckles and curls
More precious than pearls

From the first time I heard
The four greatest words
From the heart of a child
Her face bright and so happy
The four greatest words
"I love you Daddy"

To her first day of school
We watched her go
With a skip in her step
And an innocent smile
Off on an adventure
If just for a while

From bouncing little pigtails
And those yucky little boys
To sitting on my lap
With her favorite toys

From Christmas at Grandma's
To birthdays with cake
From stuffed little babies
To the kitchen to bake

From good times to bad times
From laughing to tears
From sharing her excitement
To calming her fears

From spelling bees
And volleyball
To London and Haiti
To answer a call

From high school tests
And nights spent dreaming
To working through college
She found herself in the doing

From crushes to heart ache
From the wins and the loss
I have watched over and protected
Without thought for the cost

But my heart is full
On this greatest of days
From infant to bride
My baby girl fills me with pride

From today til forever
She commits her love to another
With a kiss and a ring
You are both bound together

To the man of her dreams
With this I do charge you
Show her your love
Everyday of your life

No matter the cost
No matter the strife
For my daughter is worth it
Together is life

Forgive me one and all
If my words seem one sided
A candle has dimmed
Though it remains lighted

Another candle is lit
And it burns oh so bright
Not a flicker but a flame
I saw in their eyes
As she took a new name

So today we celebrate
I, with all of my heart
Two hearts as one
Never to part

Today I gave away my daughter

John Pope April 28th 2012 

Tis the day before Christmas

Tis the day before Christmas
I'm still out on the road
West I am headed
Headed home with my load

Traffic is light
The weather is fair
My diesel's a hummin
In time I'll be there

When on the CB
What do I hear?
"The scale is wide open
For you, he's waitin up there"

I got some rest
Back in Kentucky
I feel just fine
But my logs weren't so lucky

So I dropped down a gear
And mashed on the gas
Flames shot from my stacks
And I didn't look back

I rolled down my window
"Merry Christmas" I hollered
As he jumped in his car
In hot pursuit he did follow

I bottomed her out
500 horses giving their all
But still he was gaining
"Got you now" he did call

When all of a sudden
Much to my surprise
Eight mean lookin reign deer
And Santa pulled up along side

He waved great big
And with a mischievous grin
Said "get home to your family
I'll take care of him"

He pulled on ahead
Like I was chained to one spot
Wish you could a seen it
That sleigh was runnin hot

With just a small gesture
From one gloved hand
They pulled a 180
Headin back the way they came

When they came back by me
Twas all I could do to hold the wheel
Eight pissed off reign deer
Breathing fire n spittin steel

I looked back in my mirror
To see Santa hold the line
With eight determined
Reign deer all of one mind

Now I'll just say this once
And take my advice
Don't play chicken with Santa
Wether you've been naughty or nice


John Pope December 24, 2011

A Picture in my Mind...

Grandpa on the front porch
Reading from the Book
Playing with his old sword
For me he spared a look

Grandma in the kitchen
Filling the stove with wood
To cook us up a breakfast
We knew would be so good

A bear of a man called Unk
Crippled leg n all
Propped up on a table
Tellin' stories so tall

Aunt Louise just sittin there
Her head shakin side to side
Her lips were pursed but a smile
I could see, deep inside

Uncle John n Aunt Sandy's girls
Running, screaming then playing dead
The giggling gave them away
Under covers on Aunt Ruth's bed

Me n Dad went fishing
In mountains tall n stout
Looking for those oh so tasty
Native rainbow trout

Uncle Jim file in hand
Sharpening a chain
Grinning at us boys a watchin
With grandpa's grin the same

I was watchin mom watch her brothers
when they practiced with the axe
Proud n tall I stood
My uncles were Lumberjacks

All just memories now
A picture in my mind
But if I listen closely I still hear
The wind whistling through the pines