In the 1960's we lived in a new house on an old dirt road
It was my parents first home and they loved their abode

Our house was the first one built in one of the new additions
It was a small 5 room ranch home to continue family traditions

At the end of our street there was an old settlers dwelling
The first settler and many stories that are quite compelling

My older sister and I  thought that the house might be haunted
We tried to walk up there, but by my parents we were thwarted

John and Mary *** were the first settlers in my home town
But their home in 1980's was not saved and quickly torn down

They arrived in 1818, and built on Taylor and Rocky Ford
This huge home by their family was respectably adored

Now on that big old hill stands a Masonic Temple
Where many gather to the meetings they assemble

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Late one sultry summer night, about mid July my boyfriend and I
Were looking for a friends house, for that night we were quite high

Going down the road we saw a house that fit the description
Looking at  all the houses of style and the house inscription

It was a small white ranch home built after the turn of the century
Not a very stylish looking home that was built without cursory

Pulling into the lot, noticed it was dark and all the lights were out
Thought this was the house we walked in the front entrance about

Opened the entryway  saw many people not moving on the floor
They didn't stir when we came in and the scene looked of gore

The home had a huge living room and bodies were everywhere
And the little home it seemed to me, found to be in great disrepair

Hurried back to the truck and drove to the very next house.
It was the exact same and as we entered were quiet as a mouse.

Everyone was up and partying, singing and having a ball
Like nothing upsetting next door was ever going on at all

Didn't know what happened next door but that scene I won't forget
Those bodies all over the floor, not sympathetic I will never regret


Oct 2024 publication
All rights reserved
copyright2025

Five teens out joy riding on a country road
Pulling along side and now  having slowed

Driving around looking for something to do
What we were doing, we didn't have a clue

Motoring past many miles of empty pasture
We should have driven past that place faster

Driving closer to a strange site in the field
That old ditch should have been sealed

Drawn to the side of road and seeing wood sticking out of the turf.
Wondering what this little excursion to the edge of town was worth

We get out of the car and walk cautiously up to this site
We were so glad that outside was still blue and bright

It's a basement of a home that has been torn down from long ago.
What was down there we were quite scared and did not know

We decide to walk down those narrow wooden stairs
Wondering who were the former owners or heirs

But only walking the creepy stairs half way down
In that basement house, of my former home town

Heard a noise and saw something glistening at the bottom
For all we knew it could have been some rats or a possum

Scared we ran up the stairs jumped in the car to head back to town.
Could have been the ghosts, our trip upon them they would frown

We were all scared to death at what we heard and saw.
Never to return to explore as we all drew a long straw

Copyright 6/3/2025
All rights reserved
Published 2024 in a magazine

I grew up enjoying days on my grandparents farm
Their small 1830's home had tons of grand old charm

I would spend my days hiking my grandpa's home made trail
And love to listen to grandpa's talk of his many young days tale

Summer months spent catching minnows in the creek
And grandpa showing home movies from the past week

The evenings of summer grandpa would tell stories of ghosts
And he would talk of his strange stories, of those he'd boast

I once heard the voices of four gruff big men in uniform talking
A plan to get their horses, down the hallway they were marching

I'd lay in the grass on a quilt looking up at the stars or blue sky
In the evening catch lightening bugs in the muggy evenings of July

He talked of the former owner Baker Martin who died of old age
Because of him that one room felt cold and damp, but not of rage

On his farm I would gather eggs and many chickens I'd feed
Then off to to slop the hogs and cattle it was my good deed

I'd walk picking up Edison Battery Oil bottles on the RR Track
Glass telegraph insulators and RR spikes, where they never lack

In the winter we would ice skate for hours on grandpa's pond
And the summer we'd boat and fish, of many days I'm very fond

With the laundry I'd help grandma hang on the line
When were dry they smelled just like fresh cut pine

Grandpa would let the all the horses and cows out in the morning
And they'd run off to favorite places on the farm without warning

I'd head to the barn to play with all the kittens and cats
They could see me coming, through the barns wide slats

We'd also work to plant the many tasty crops for fall
Planting corn, beans, potatoes, and other veggies for all

Stringing beans, picking corn, tomatoes, and other foods
To put away to soothe the families very hungry moods

The chickens, pigs and cows were sent out to co op be prepared
Cut the tree's into firewood for our family that would be shared

Copyright 2025
All rights reserved

I'm almost to my middle 60's
Glad I'm past ten years of 50's

Wondering if my only one sibling
Has a thought or of me, is missing

I think of her quite often
Because I wish she'd soften

Father has passed, don't know what cause of death was
Mother may have too, and will never know the cause

My sister is to inherit our parents huge Florida house
Parents always would resort to treat me like a louse

My daughter and I , who are in pain and very ill
Wonder if any family memories of us are still

I had a stroke and I'm usually always in much pain
My daughter has an inoperable tumor in her brain

I try to make the best of all things
Each day I like to do some writings

In of her closet a library she is creating
Ordering new books that she is awaiting

I wonder if this is all our lives were meant to be
Our daily events seem to have few moments of glee

My daughter has been sick most of her life with a thing or another
No one came to see her, not aunt once not even her grandmother

For some reason my parents did not like me
Of me, they always wanted to be quite free

Parents always made me feel that others were more worthy
To impress them with things, I often did things in a hurry

I spend my days writing poetry and doing genealogy
While my daughter spends all hers in daily radiology

Time to smile and get on with rest of life
Without always feeling I'm under strife

Things for us could always be much worse
At least for now we don't need a live-in nurse.


Copyright 2025
All rights reserved.

In my tiny apartment I have many treasures that I've enjoyed
Things I've found dumped by the students not to be destroyed.

I don't have money to buy new, so everything I find is reused  
Things I found are, repaired, fresh painted and I'm amused

My apartment is full of memories I've created
So everything I've found is quite appreciated

Students go off and leave very nice things behind
Most things I find valuable and are nicely refined

I have found very nice solid wood furniture, most of it antiques
things that most people would not be interested in but are unique.

When my mother would come to visit she'd refer to my decor
As many things she would find at the local Habitat Restore.

But I've made the best of it and really enjoy what I found
And the contents of my apartment are quite useful and sound

Everything I've found has given me pleasure
But one mans trash, is another man's treasure!

Copyright 2025
All rights reserved

Time to cast off your bulky gear
of winter to prepare
for the timely arrival of Spring.

Nature is waking up
from its slumber
then soon the full Pink Moon
will illuminate.

Many like to clean away
the old fads of the year before,
readying to bring in the new.

The clocks have been set forward
and the lovely days
will eventually get longer.

Flowers and trees will quickly bloom
from the warm sun
along with cool and breezy showers.

Time for the kiddos
to splash around in puddles
in their rain coats and rain boots.

It’s also the time of year to shop
at the wonderful family-owned shoppes
at Crawfordsville.

For your best dressed looks,
and many beautiful fresh flowers
for the current season!

Published in the Crawfordsville, Indiana newspaper
Copyright
all rights reserved 2025