An old tractor abandoned in the prairie,
Left to rust where the fields grow weary.
Nature claimed it in her quiet way,
Her roots and vines where engines lay.
Its paint now faded, metal worn thin,
With bark and trunk rooted deep within.
Too stubborn to move, too proud to break,
Bound by the roots no force could shake.
Once a tool for hands now still,
Held in the earth’s unmoving will.
A relic of toil, left as it stands—
Steel and wood, held in nature’s hands.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Be sure to hug the ones you love,
For moments pass like clouds above.
A gentle squeeze, a warm embrace,
Can turn a tear or light a face.
Life moves fast, like rivers flow,
In ways we often cannot know.
So hold them close, and let them see
The love you give so willingly.
A hug can say what words may hide,
A shelter strong, where hearts confide.
A simple act, yet deep and true,
A gift that lives inside of you.
So hug the ones you love today,
For time will never choose to stay.
In every touch, a memory spun
Be sure to hug each cherished one.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
There’s a peace that rests upon the skin,
A quiet calm, where life begins,
In gentle waves and soft repose,
A hush that through the body flows.
It’s found in silence, soft and deep,
In starry nights, in tranquil sleep,
A breeze that stirs the morning air,
A stillness free from weight or care.
But then there’s peace within the soul,
A sacred calm that makes us whole,
Not bound by sight, or touch, or sound,
A grace that lifts us from the ground.
This peace transcends the fleeting day,
It holds through storms that come our way,
A trust that quiets every fear,
A warmth that says, I’m always here.
One peace is felt, as breath drawn in,
A fleeting balm on weary skin,
The other, deep—a holy grace,
A shelter found in Love’s embrace.
Two kinds of peace, like day and night,
One seen, one hidden, yet both alight.
Together they bring hearts release,
The strength of flesh, the soul’s true peace.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
In a quiet place, Elmira’s hills,
Where Twain and Lewis rest so still,
Two friends, one white, one black, we find,
In the company of time entwined.
One born free, a farmer’s son,
The other born where rivers run,
Each path unique, yet crossing here
Bound by respect, and hearts sincere.
When Twain’s kin faced a runaway’s flight,
Lewis, unflinching, braved the night,
Saved them both, at risk of loss,
A soul undaunted, a friend embossed.
A bond grew deep through words and days,
Religion, faith, and simple ways;
Twain’s books inscribed with warm intent,
To Lewis’ hands each page was sent.
And when Huck’s tale resumed its bend,
Perhaps it was this faithful friend
That brought Jim forth, not fear or shame
A man, not just a shadowed name.
Years after, on New York’s street,
A black man, white man, calmly greet,
In Twain’s eye, no spectacle near,
Only respect, undimmed, sincere.
He’d pondered race, the frail divide,
How law and custom shaped its pride,
In Huck’s and Wilson’s tales so bold,
A truth laid bare, a fiction told.
Now here they lie, in Elmira’s fold,
Two lives interred as tales retold.
Mark and John, side by side, rest
In friendship’s bond, forever blessed.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Taken from an article written by
Harlow Arquette
Member of Strange and Curious Things, Facebook
What will it take, this fragile dream,
To calm the lands, let silence gleam?
Where desert sands and rivers flow,
Will seeds of peace find room to grow?
Years of sorrow, voices lost,
What price remains, what human cost?
Borders drawn by hands long gone,
Yet hearts still beat, and life goes on.
It takes the courage to forgive,
A chance for all to simply live.
To see beyond the lines and hate,
To let compassion navigate.
It takes a strength to pause and say
Let’s end the bloodshed here today.
To build a world where children play,
Not fearing bombs or endless fray.
The leaders’ hands, the people’s hearts,
Must work as one to make new starts.
With every prayer, each tear that falls,
The earth cries out, a voice that calls.
What will it take? Perhaps we know:
The will to stay, the strength to grow.
For in the soil of pain and loss,
May hope take root, and peace emboss.
So let us dream, and let us dare,
To plant the seeds with endless care.
For peace is more than just a cease
It’s every step toward lasting peace.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
I’m happy to say, as a kid I knew,
A few times like this, skies wide and blue.
Different hat, a dog at my side,
A horse beneath me, with nowhere to hide.
The world stretched open, quiet and grand,
With reins in my grip and dreams in my hand.
No rush, no noise, just hoofbeats’ song,
The sense of right where I belong.
I can still feel it, that gentle thrill,
The peace that held the air so still.
Exhilaration, pure and light,
A memory etched in morning light.
Different times, but the feeling remains
Freedom’s whisper across open plains.
Just a kid, yet knowing this bliss,
I’m happy to say, I’ve known times like this.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
There are two choices that must be made,
God chose every soul that He laid.
To walk in His light and grace so true,
We must choose Him, as children do.
With a heart so pure, and eyes that trust,
We embrace His love, for it is just.
In every moment, with each breath we take,
Choosing His path, for His love’s sake.
For blessings flow from Heaven’s gate,
To those who choose Him and patiently wait.
So with the innocence of a child’s embrace,
We choose His love, His mercy, His grace.
Two choosings made, both tried and true,
God chose us first, and we choose Him too.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
It’s not where you’ve been, but where you’ll go,
The dreams you chase, the seeds you sow.
The past may shape, but cannot bind,
For forward lies the road you’ll find.
Footprints fade on trails behind,
Their lessons stay, but don’t define.
Each sunrise brings a brand-new chance,
A step ahead, a forward glance.
So lift your gaze, let shadows fall,
It’s where you’re going, after all.
The journey’s yours to rise and steer,
A future bright, a path mad clear.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
There’s the way to do it, clear and right,
A path well-lit, in steady light.
A careful choice, a thoughtful turn,
Where wisdom guides, and lessons earn.
Then there’s the way not meant to be,
A winding road, no clarity.
The steps unsure, the outcome blurred,
A path where doubt and fear are stirred.
And then, the way you took that day,
The choice you made, come what may.
Looking back now, wish you’d known,
How seeds of regret could be sown.
But every way, each step we tread,
From things we wish were left unsaid,
Becomes a lesson, sharp and true
A guide to show what next to do.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Don’t try to break through to God,
Be still, let Him come to you
In quiet places, hearts are stirred,
His presence soft and true.
Stilling soul and mind, listen for His call,
An ever-calm, sweet voice that changes all.
Though the world may try to lead astray,
His peace descends as you humbly pray.
For in the silent, sacred space,
His love flows deep, His gentle grace.
Be patient, still, and you will see
God’s love unfolds, eternally free.
Created by
MarkWaldrop