In battles fought, in scars they bear,
Veterans stand, a solemn prayer.
Freedom's price, they've truly known,
Their courage, a legacy sown.
Through wars and trials, they have stood,
A testament to brotherhood.
Our duty clear, to safeguard the gain,
For their sacrifice, not in vain.
Let gratitude be our heartfelt song,
For veterans brave, courageous and strong.
A pledge to keep the flame alight,
To honor them, both day and night.
MarkWaldrop
The greatness of a man, it’s not wealth or gold,
Not treasures amassed or fortunes bold.
But in the quiet strength he shows,
In the seeds of kindness that he sows.
It’s in his integrity, firm and bright,
A guiding star through the darkest night.
In words he speaks that ring with truth,
In wisdom shared with age and youth.
He leaves a mark on hearts, not things,
A legacy that compassion brings.
For riches fade, and fame grows dim,
But lives are changed because of him.
The measure of greatness is simple and clear,
In love that lingers year after year.
So may we seek not wealth or pride,
But honor that will long abide.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. " Bob Marley
You can’t love your country only when you win,
True patriotism roots much deeper within.
It’s holding fast through the thick and thin,
Through struggle and loss, through virtue and sin.
You can’t love your neighbors only when you agree,
When beliefs divide like a raging sea.
Love bridges gaps that words may not mend,
Reminding us all we’re kin, friend to friend.
In triumph or failure, in light or in shade,
The strength of true love never will fade.
For nations are built not on ease or consent,
But on unity forged from hearts unbent.
So stand by your country, your kin, your creed,
With love in the hard times—the times of true need.
For the greatest of honors, the noblest grace,
Is to love without judgment, to hold with embrace.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Some are headed home,
While others destined here to stay,
On Heaven’s wings, at sunset’s glow,
We rise, we soar, we drift away.
The skies alight with gentle grace,
A path beyond the end of day,
Where shadows fade, and sorrows cease,
And peace enfolds in soft array.
For those who stay, remember well,
In dreams and whispers, love remains
A silent bond, a sacred spell,
That bridges worlds, despite the chains.
But some are called, and some remain,
Each journey carved, each step our own,
Yet bound by heart, through joy and pain,
We walk apart but not alone.
So when the evening’s colors die,
And starlight graces dusk’s display,
Know that on Heaven’s wings we fly
Some of us home, some bound to stay.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Heaven is just a bark away,
A wagging tail, a joyful play.
Where paws leave prints in stardust skies,
And loving gazes never die.
A place where fetch goes on for miles,
And every day brings endless smiles.
A land where treats fall like the rain,
And old aches vanish, leaving no pain.
The fields are wide, the rivers clear,
With friends we’ve lost, now waiting here.
They run, they leap, they chase the day—
For heaven is just a bark away.
And though our hearts may ache with grief,
In memories, we find relief.
For love like theirs can never part,
It stays forever in our heart.
So when the night is calm and still,
I feel a warmth, a gentle thrill,
A whisper soft, from skies so gray
Heaven is just a bark away.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Love with a heart that’s open wide,
A warmth no hurt can hide.
Love fiercely, love deep,
In memories to keep.
Laugh like the world’s your stage,
Breaking free from life’s cage.
Let joy fill the air,
A moment pure and rare.
Live with courage and grace,
Boldly take your place.
Chase dreams, face fears,
Gather life’s souvenirs.
Give with hands that heal,
In kindness, find what’s real.
Share, don’t withhold,
In giving, hearts unfold.
So love, laugh, live, and give,
In these, find reason to truly live.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
I’m not a bad person; I just lost my way,
Led by shadows where I meant to stray.
I stumbled along with the wrong crowd’s call,
Not knowing I’d trip, not meaning to fall.
I was searching for somewhere to belong,
But the voices I followed led me wrong.
In moments of weakness, I made my choice,
Silencing reason, ignoring my voice.
But deep within, I still know who I am,
Not the broken shell or the misplaced plan.
I’ve learned from the dark, I’ve found the light,
And I’m standing now, ready to make things right.
Mistakes don’t define me, they’re not my name;
They’re echoes of lessons, not badges of shame.
I’m more than my missteps, more than my past—
A heart that is healing, a spirit steadfast.
So judge me not by where I’ve been,
But see where I’m going, what lies within.
For I’m not a bad person, I just lost my way,
And I’m finding myself with each new day.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
Our past doesn’t have to be our prison,
The chains of yesterday can break.
Mistakes and scars that left their mark
Are lessons learned, not paths to take.
Each dawn brings light, a chance to start,
To leave the shadows cast behind.
We’re free to step beyond regret,
With strength and peace in heart and mind.
The weight of guilt can fall away,
No burden must we carry on.
For grace renews what’s worn and weak,
And faith restores what’s almost gone.
The bars that held us fade in time,
As hope and love begin to grow.
Our past is not our final truth—
We’re more than what we used to know.
So rise with courage, bold and free,
No longer bound by loss or sin.
Our past may shape the lives we lead,
But it’s the future we begin.
Created by
MarkWaldrop
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