The D-104

Painting by Spike O’Dell
In the heart of nineteen thirty's gleam,  
Two hams dreamed a crystal clear dream.  
Astatic born, from passion, not motion,  
Crafted with care, the famed D-104 potion.

A microphone not just of metal and wire,  
But of voices carried, higher and higher.  
Introduced in an era of swing and of jazz,  D-104 microphone,
Its clarity cut through the buzz and the razz.

The D-104, oh, how it stood the test of time,  
In amateur shacks, its presence sublime.  
From broadcasting booths, its fame would spread,  
Professional voices, clearly, were led.

Astatic's creation, from humble start,  
Became an icon, in the audio art.  
The D-104 microphone, a legend in sound,  
Wherever communication is bound.

Decades on, its legacy clear,  
A testament to those who hold sound dear.  
The D-104, a marvel, a tool,  
In the history of audio, forever cool.

March 16, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Jesus Paid the Tax

In a world of hustle, in the ceaseless flow,
Find peace in the thought, let your heart glow.
Live, enjoy, relax, let your spirit soar,
For Jesus has paid the tax, worry no more.

Through trials and tribulations, in joy and in vex,
He carried our burdens, cleared our complex.
In Him, find solace, in Him, find grace,
With every step, in every place.

So breathe in the beauty, the wonder, the love,
Gifted from Him, from the heavens above.
Life's journey, now lighter, a path less complex,
For Jesus has paid, indeed, our tax.

March 16, 2024
Created by 
MarkWaldrop

The Beauty in Simplicity

In a world that rushes, fast and wide,
Where worries seem never to subside,
Take a moment, pause, and see,
The beauty in simplicity.

Enjoy the sunshine, the rain, the snow,
In every season, let your heart glow.
Live each day with purpose and grace,
Treasure each smile, each warm embrace.

Relax in the knowledge, so profound,
In Jesus' love, we are found.
He paid our tax, our debts, our cost,
Ensuring none of us is lost.

So lift your heart, and raise your voice,
In this freedom, let us rejoice.
For in His care, we're always found,
With love and grace, abundantly crowned.

March 15, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

In Morning’s Prime

In the dawn's early light, a rooster stands tall and fair,
"I may look calm," he declares with a glare.
"But in my head, I've pecked you three times,"
A secret battle, in morning's prime.

His feathers shimmer, his gaze, it burns,
With each cock-a-doodle-doo, the world turns.
A ruler of the roost, in his mind's eye,
Where victories are silent and enemies fly.

In the kingdom of feathers, straw, and seeds,
He battles giants in his deeds.
With a crown of red and a cloak of gold,
His story of bravery, silently told.

So next time you hear his morning call,
Remember the battles that befall.
For in his head, he's a warrior true,
In the quiet morning, his spirit flew.

A rooster bold, in sunlight's embrace,
Wears a calm mask upon his face.
But beneath the calm, a warrior resides,
In the heart of the barnyard, his courage hides.

March 15, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Mark of Grace

Beneath the ancient skies of old,  
Where stories are whispered, and legends told,  
A humble donkey, meek and mild,  
Found favor in the eyes of a child.  

"For your love, so pure and true,  
A mark of grace I bestow on you,"  
Spoke the Lord, with love so vast,  
A shadow of the cross, upon the donkey cast.  

Ever since that blessed day,  
The Jerusalem donkey bears the mark, they say,  
A sign of love from the divine,  
A symbol of grace, eternally to shine.  

Through fields and roads, the donkey treads,  
A living testament, its back bears threads  
Of a story of humility and care,  
A reminder of a love beyond compare.  

So let us remember, in our hearts and minds,  
The lesson of the donkey, and the love it finds.  
In humility and service, let us all partake,  
And carry our own crosses, for His name's sake.

March 13, 3024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Tender Love

In a meadow's gentle fold, under skies of blue,
A scene of tender love and care sweetly comes into view.
A momma donkey, coat of gray, in the sunlight's gentle sway,
Bends down low with love aglow, her baby's fears to allay.

The baby donkey, small and frail, upon the ground does lie,
His eyes a mirror of the world, wide beneath the open sky.
His mother's warmth, a shield, a charm, against the cool air's embrace,
In her snuggle, safe and sound, he finds his peaceful place.

With gentle nuzzles, soft and kind, she whispers love so true,
A language of the heart they speak, in the meadow's morning dew.
Together in this tranquil scene, where nature hums a lullaby,
A bond as strong as life itself, under the vast, embracing sky.

This picture of maternal grace, in nature's gentle hand,
Reminds us of the love that's found, across the animal land.
A momma donkey with her babe, in love's unspoken song,
In her care, he finds his strength, with her he belongs.

So let us learn from these gentle beasts, in their simple, loving way,
The power of a mother's love, to brighten any day.
For in each moment of tender care, a greater love is sown,
In the meadow of life, through warmth and strife, the seeds of love are grown.

March 13, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Simple Truth

In a world where dreams drift like dandelion seeds,
Where ambition's fire blazes, ignites one's deeds,
There's a simple truth, stark, in daylight's glow,
"If you ain't willin' to work for it, then don't let your complaints flow."

Through fields of effort, where sweat meets soil,
Where the hands get dirty, embroiled in toil,
Lies the harvest of hope, the fruits of strain,
For nothing worth having comes without a little pain.

So cast not your grievances into the wind,
For the winds of change, by work, are pinned.
Grasp the plow, set your sights, dive into the fray,
For the treasures of persistence are found in the sway.

The mountain of dreams, it's steep, it's tall,
But the view from the summit is worth the crawl.
So lace up your boots, set your heart to climb,
Let your actions speak, in rhythm and rhyme.

For the world has little for the idle, the still,
But opens its arms to those who will,
To carve their path, to stake their claim,
To write their story, to light their flame.

So if you stand at the crossroads, if you yearn for the sky,
Remember the mantra that never will die:
"If you ain't willin' to work for it, then let your dreams rest,
For it's in the forge of effort that our mettle's truly test."

March 13, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

In His Presence

In His Presence, I humbly stand  
There is no way to understand

I trust in His Word and the Blessings therein
It was through His Word I invited Jesus in

From that day forward God has been watching over me
Giving me Peace and Comfort with the ability to see

Thank you God for choosing me and setting me free
That I may share your love that others may see

March 13, 2024
MarkWaldrop

Blessings or Desires

In the quiet whispers of dawn, where shadows and light intertwine,
We often trade our blessings, for desires that misalign.
With hearts that yearn for more, in a world that's wide and vast,
We chase the fleeting shadows, forgetting gifts that truly last.

Our blessings, like the stars, are numerous and bright,
Yet we reach for earthly desires, lost in the night.
We forget the joy of simplicity, the peace that comes from within,
In pursuit of momentary pleasures, in a world so loud and grim.

Yet, every heart that wanders, in the end, seeks to find,
The true essence of happiness, a peace that's not defined
By the riches of the world, or the acclaim that fades away,
But in the moments of gratitude, where love and kindness stay.

Let us not trade our blessings, for gold that loses its sheen,
For in the whispers of the heart, lies a treasure unseen.
A contentment that flourishes, in the soil of grateful prayer,
A wealth that’s everlasting, beyond compare.

So let us hold our blessings close, and cherish them with care,
For in each moment of gratitude, we find a joy that's rare.
In the tapestry of life, let kindness be our desire,
A beacon of hope and love, that eternally inspires.

March 13, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop