TonganoxieMirror.com

Editor's note: This week's poets are former Tonganoxie area resident Asa Kesinger, who lives in Lawrence, and Mike Vestal, Tonganoxie. The first three poems are by Kesinger.

Our Country Cottage

Our honeymoon has long been over

Since we became man and wife

We're fixing up the old homestead

Farming and enjoying country life

Farming is an interesting occupation

Always busy, you might say

Yet time to help friend or neighbor

And always time to pray

We work the fertile soil

And plant the tiny seeds

Then work like little beavers

To control the ugly weeds

We can the fruit and mend the fence

And rake the new mown hay

We've seen both drought and flood

Take our crops away

As we sit around the fireplace

And watch the sparks scamper up the flue

We discuss our task together

Just what we plan to do

We love to visit your beautiful city

And see the lights of red, yellow and green

But the landscape around our country cottage

Is nature's beauty you've never seen

To see the early-morning sun

Cast its rays of light

And hear the song of the birds

Or see them in their flight

To hear the roosters crowing

At the break of day

And see the cattle grazing

On a hill slope far away

Within our country cottage

That we so faithfully share

There's a treasure chest of memories

That we have hid here and there

Our picturesque country cottage

That we so much adore

And all our trust within the Lord

We ask for nothing more

Little Joe

Joe was very little

Too small the team would say

Always in the dugout

Seldom a chance to play

One run was all they needed

And wouldn't you know

The next one to bat

Would be Little Joe

Take him out

And put another in

We then would have

A better chance to win

Joe picked up a bat

And the rosin bag too

Then knocked out the dirt

From the spikes of his shoe

He laid down a bunt

And beat it out

We'll double him off

Was their shout

He looked the pitcher

Straight in the eye

Now don't let me steal

Was their cry

He ran for a second

And slid for the bag

The throw was high

And they missed the tag

We'll get you yet

The shortstop hissed

But he went to third

On a ball the catcher missed

Beginning the windup

Joe took a big lead

Then ran for home

Going at top speed

The pitch was low

And the tag was late

Little Joe was safe

As he slid on home plate

The game was over

They won that day

And all because

They let Little Joe play

The Old Picture Frame

At a public auction

That I was at one day

I saw an old picture frame

And heard the auctioneer say



Three dollars is the bid

Would anyone give more

A hand was raised high

And the bid then went to four

That's no bargain

I heard a stranger say

That frame is very old

And soon will decay

A boy continued bidding

With his hand raised high

For that old picture frame

He was determined to buy

Do I hear another bid

Was the auctioneer's yell

And with the gavel in his hand

I'm going to sell



The boy walked forward

From his crowded place

And took the old picture frame

With smile upon his face

Said he, to the stranger

This old frame that I hold

Is worth more to me

Than its weight in gold

'Tis true it has no beauty

And it looks old and bad

But the picture within it

Is my mother and dad

Vestal wrote the following poem in honor of Larry and Kathleen Smith's 50th wedding anniversary:

Your Golden Anniversary

Larry & Kathleen were meant to be,

God brought them together, it's plain to see.

They were very young, but so much in love,

They were married and blessed by the Lord above....

Larry & Kathleen had two handsome boys,

Their children are; their pride, their joy.

They grew up to be very outstanding men

Because of the love Larry and Kathleen had given them.

A few years later grandchildren they were given,

Those little children were a gift from heaven.

Grandchildren brought Larry & Kathleen such joy and laughter,

Helped them both live happily ever after....

I think the world of both of you

You're a special couple through & through.

We all gather together this your special day,

Helping you celebrate your Golden Anniversary today...