Matthew Cole

   The Chair and the Call

Up from the chair, Matthew arose,
From the hum that held him in its throes.
A vibrating seat that would not release,
Bound to its fifteen minutes of peace.

It buzzed and it whirred, a steady refrain,
A comfort, a habit, a gentle chain.
Holding him there in its timed embrace,
Keeping him fixed in one small place.

But something within said, “Now is the hour,”
A whisper of freedom, a stirring of power.
So up he stood, though the chair still called,
No longer content to remain installed.

For life is not lived in cycles confined,
Nor purpose fulfilled by a resting mind.
Sometimes we rise, though comfort is near,
To answer a call we’re meant to hear.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV)
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…”

For God’s Honor and Glory
Mark C Waldrop

🍪 National Cookie Day 🍪

🍪 National Cookie Day 🍪

What is your favorite cookie today?
A question sweet in every way.
Chocolate chip or lemon bite,
Warm and gooey, pure delight.

Oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle spice,
Peanut butter—oh so nice.
Sugar cookies dressed so bright,
Sprinkles sparkling in the light.

Truth be told, if I may strike,
I never met a cookie I didn’t like.
Big or small, soft or crisp,
Each one brings a little bliss.

So grab a treat and celebrate,
Life’s simple joys that taste so great.
On Cookie Day, come what may
Let happiness be baked today. 🍪💛

Yum Yum Yum
MarkWaldrop

Stuff

                 Stuff

I’ve got so much stuff
old memories and dust,
things I once needed,
and things I bought just… because.

I look at it now and scratch my head
Why did I keep this?
What was I thinking ahead?

The kids don’t want it
not the knick-knacks, not the chair,
not the lamp from ‘84,
not my souvenir underwear.

So someday when I’m gone
and they sort through it all,
they’ll donate half to charity
and maybe keep… a photo on the wall.

And if you’re wandering aisles
at Goodwill or Salvation Army
and see something odd that makes you laugh
well… that just might be part of me.

So take it with a smile,
or leave it where it stands
just know I lived a good life
(and bought way too much in clearance bins).

And when I’m finally home
where no earthly clutter follows,
I’ll leave behind the shelves and drawers
and trade them for peace—and golden hollows.

But if you ever find my treasures
priced ninety-nine cents or two
smile, friend…
because somewhere I’m laughing, too.

Mark C. Waldrop 🪶

What Must We Do

      What Must We Do

Violence begets violence—so cycles repeat,
Old wounds reopen on every street.
Anger returns where love once stood,
And peace is buried beneath what “should.”

What must we do in a world torn apart,
To mend the flesh and heal the heart?
We cannot strike and hope for calm,
Nor shout and pray for quiet balm.

We must begin where hatred ends
With open hands and listening friends.
With courage not to raise the fist,
But build a world where none are missed.

We teach our children not with fear,
But with the truth: all lives are dear.
We speak for those who have no say,
And walk with those cast far away.

Forgiveness is a heavy stone,
But it can raise a brighter home.
Justice wrapped in mercy’s thread
Can weave new paths where blood once bled.

So what must we do? We choose to start
With softer voice and braver heart.
For peace is not a passive dream,
But fierce and real—andours to redeem.

MarkWaldrop

April Fools

It’s April Fools’ Day—don’t be led astray,
Believe nothing you hear, in no kind of way.
Trust no fisherman, with tales long and bold,
Their stories grow taller each time they’re told.

Today is a jest, but so is the year,
Deception and laughter walk hand in hand here.
Just like any other day, truth wears a disguise,
With a wink in its eye and mischief that flies.

So laugh at the lies, and cherish the jest,
For sometimes the fibs are simply the best.
But if someone says they caught “one this big,”—
Just smile and nod… and call out their gig.

MarkWaldrop

Truth

Reason falters when emotions dance,
And truth is dulled by the thirst of chance.
We join the wild crowd, swept along
For in the chaos, we feel we belong.

A cause embraced, no matter the cost,
Feeds the ego, though truth is lost.
It lifts our minds, ignites our pride,
While truth stands quiet, pushed aside.

But still, a whisper calls us near:
“Be still, and let your soul draw clear.”
For when the heart finds holy peace,
The noise of self and strife will cease.

Calm your soul, and still your mind
The light of Truth you soon will find.
Hold fast to Jesus, pure and bright,
And walk forever in His light.

For His Honor and Glory
MarkWaldrop

The Rose Smiles

The rose smiles in silence, soft and serene,
A whisper of grace in shades of green.
Its petals unfold, a quiet embrace,
A masterpiece born of time and space.

Its beauty paints the world anew,
A crimson blush, a golden hue.
Without a word, it speaks to the heart,
A timeless language, a work of art.

No need for voices, no need for sound,
Its presence alone is beauty unbound.
A silent teacher, its lesson is clear—
Grace blooms quietly, for all who draw near.

MarkWaldrop