Phone Call From A Friend

Phone Call From A Friend
By Larry Linville

A good friend called me up today.
We didn’t have too much to say.
Our business issues soon were done
but our talking had just begun.

We’d had long talks in our past
which always gave us both a blast.
Some things were from deep inside
where our greatest thoughts reside.

Today we picked up from where we stopped
right at the point where we had dropped.
Talked about family and how work was going
and how each others spirit was growing.

We laughed at so many funny things
and how we fell when we tried our wings.
We explored the things which we were reading
and where God seemed to be leading.

Although he lives many miles away
we seemed to both play and pray
although neither wanted to hang up the phone
again our relationship had grown.

Soon I’ll see this friend face to face
and we’ll pick up our talk at the same place
where it was when we say goodbye
as a new conversation God will supply

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Least of These

I will include this poem in my sermon on Sunday.
It is based on Matthew 25:31-46.


The Least Of These
By Larry Linville

I was hungry. . .
For food and you gave me groceries
For attention and you listened to me
For justice and you helped me write letters
I was thirsty. . .
For knowledge and you tutored me
For achievement and you encouraged me
For safe water and you helped dig a well

I was naked . . .
With my mask removed and you accepted me
Emotionally and you helped me look inside myself
Morally and you led me by example

I was a stranger. . .
In a new community and you made me feel at home
At your church and you introduced me to others
I was sick
And you prayed for my healing
And you visited me in the hospital
And you brought a meal to our family

I was in prison
To my fears and you helped calm my fears
To my limitations and you helped me see new options
And you visited me and wrote letters

I am the least of these and I am Jesus

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Speaking Engagements Sought

I keep trying to find opportunities to speak to groups on the subject of poetry and my book in particular. My first goal is to recover my investment in getting my book published. I still have a long way to go. Once I reach this goal, I will have another book ready to go. I have now written over 230 poems so there is surely a second book in there.

I've been asking persons to try to get me opportunities to speak at civic groups, church groups or any other group that needs a program. I have had to find programs in several different civic groups and I know it is difficult.

I would love to speak about how I got into poetry and share poems in the book as well as other poems which are not in the book.

Of course, I would hope to get a chance to sell a few books, but if that didn't happen, I would enjoy sharing this new passion in my life.

If you have contact with such a group or if you know someone who is, I would appreciate it if you would suggest me as a program.

WD-40 Or Fight

WD-40 Or Fight
Larry Linville

He shared some good news with the guys.
To most of them it was a surprise.
Their coffee group looked for the latest
and felt that made them the greatest.

At their age aches and pains are not new
and they always welcome a new view.
He said, “I’ve found some good new, guys,
I promise it’s not a bunch of lies.”

They always proclaimed it is true
‘cause so many tried to fool you.
They looked around and then they winked.
Other than that nobody blinked.

“Have you tried WD-40?” he inquired.
He knew they would all be very inspired.
“My arthritis has quit hurting me,
and no other reason that could be.”

Because they respected this good friend
they tried very hard to comprehend.
And each rushed out to a hardware store
and bought a can to spray on their sore.

Now they gather for coffee each day
and pass around a can and spray.
It costs them quite a bit of money
And really makes the coffee taste funny.

Part of Me

Part of Me
By Larry Linville

Part of me
Clings to the small child she was
A decade ago
Pushing her in a swing
Making her laugh until she hiccupped
Kissing her “boo-boos”
And applying a band-aid
Watching cartoons on TV
When I’d rather see a ballgame

Part of me
Feels like it was just yesterday
Listening to the piano
And those monotonous scales
With the starting and stopping
And those clashing notes
Watching her hit the T-ball
Wondering if she’d run toward first or third
And
As a taller girl
Getting rebounds and shooting the basketball

Part of me
Can’t realize
She’s comes so far
As an all-state musician
An accomplished pianist
An inspired Christian
Who knows her goals
For her life ahead

Part of me
Sees her parents in her
Sacrificing and sharing
In bad times and good
Nurturing the talents she inherited
As she mirrored them both
Providing a home where church was central
And serving
Was a response to God’s grace

Part of me
Is trying to capture
How I felt as a Senior
Excited to take life’s next step
On my own
Scared and yet determined
To fulfill my “call”

Part of me
Can hardly wait
To watch her grow
And take her place
As an outstanding citizen
With accomplishments galore

All of me
Overflows at the gift of love
I receive from her
By who she is
And what she will become
To bring so much to so many

And, all of me
Thanks God
She’s
Part of me.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Autumn Leaves

The Autumn Leaves
By Larry Linville

The autumn leaves begin to turn
as they have always done each year.
The reds and yellows lead the way
then the others start to appear.

There are so many colors
and a variety of hues
that seem to take our breath away
at the panoramic views.

You’d think with all these colors
they would clash with other trees.
But they form a huge masterpiece
as they gently move in the breeze.

Why do people differ from trees
as we let our colors divide.
We could also be a masterpiece
if we’d allow God’s love to reside.

I guess the trees just depend on God
to bring out His beauty His way.
If we would just be like the trees
we’d be a beautiful bouquet

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.