Tag: Poetry

Gave You My Heart

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

 

I have posted this a couple times before.

I came home from work Friday night and Kim told me Deanna, one of her best friends and mentor, told her about a vision her daughter had. Her daughter just finished her freshman year of college and truly lives for Jesus.  Deanna said maybe Rob can turn her vision into a poem or a song. I took Kylie up to get her shower ready and sat down and this is what came out.

It is truly an inspiring vision and I hope my words do it justice.

Gave You My Heart

I gave you my heart and you walked away

You’re my dad, you were supposed to stay

I couldn’t keep it all together today

I grabbed what was left of my heart and walked to the beach

Walked far enough until your memory was out of reach

I screamed at you dad until I was too hoarse to speak

Then I saw a piece of sea glass so bright

It had such a mysterious light

It was like a piece of day in the darkest night

I bent down and dug with my free hand

There had to be more pieces under the sand

That’s when I felt the presence of another man

It was like a dream as my other hand held my heart

The one that you, dad, had ripped apart

Then I had a thought, this isn’t the end but a brand new start

I felt this man telling me to turn in his direction

But I couldn’t so I grabbed my sea glass collection

And I tried to hold a piece just right to see his reflection

I couldn’t turn around, I knew what he wanted me to do

I couldn’t give him my heart dad, I had given it to you

And I was scared he would walk away with it too

Then his hand touched my shoulder

My courage grew just a little bit bolder

My tears started to flow as I began to molder

I turned and as he reached for me I saw the scars on his hand

He looked at me and I knew he wasn’t just a man

That’s when I dropped my sea glass in the sand

I let him hold me for what seemed like an hour

I could feel his gentleness, as well as his power

I felt his love pour down on me like a summer shower

I whispered, “If I give you me heart will you walk away?”

He said “I’m your father. I’ve never left, I will always stay.”

I knew he was telling the truth so I gave my heart to him that day

(image credit: Kevin Carden Photography)

Busted Heart ( Hold On To Me) by For King and Country – 

Let Down Your Guard by JJ Heller – 

Every Beat Of My Broken Heart by Hawk Nelson – 

Take  A Broken Heart by V Rose – 

I Let My Heart Open by Charles Billinsgley –  

 

Here’s My Heart by Lauren Daigle – 

Friend Of A Wounded Heart by Point of Grace-  

Spend One Night In Heaven

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, miss my dad, poems, Poetry2 Comments

Dear God…

Hey God, I was wondering, kind of thinking

There’s a lot of people I’ve been missing

So I was wondering, kind of thinking, kind of praying

If I could have a sleepover, not that I’d be staying

I know I haven’t done anything for you to honor such a request

With all the wrong I’ve done, you have to be wondering what’s next

But, it’s just that I haven’t been myself

So know that this request is truly heartfelt

Maybe the thought will entertain you

Maybe you will see it the way I do

I know it is unrealistic, even highly unlikely

But I feel like I’m missing several parts of me

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So maybe if you will honor this one request

Maybe I’ll find the good side of me  I haven’t met

If I could spend one night in heaven

I would cherish every second given

I’d visit my grandparents and my dad

Thankful for every minute I would have

And then I would go visit all the ones

Who helped me be the man I’ve become

Maybe one more time I could love on my pets

And say some long overdue thanks to our vets

If I could have a sleepover, maybe I could say one last goodbye

If I could have a sleepover, maybe all the tears will dry

If I could say just one last farewell

If I love you, one more time I could tell

Then maybe my smile wouldn’t be pretend

Then maybe I could start living again

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So, what do you say God, can I have just one more night?

One more night to try to make all my regrets right

So, what do you say God, can I come to the promised land?

One more night to hold their hand

One more night to hear their voices

One more night to right some bad choices

One more night to listen to their stories

I promise I’ll listen and not be in a hurry

I won’t cause you any problems or disrupt what you do

God, I really, just one more time, want to tell them I love you

So, God, I will leave it all in your hands

And if you say no I will try to understand

But, God, wouldn’t it be such a blessin’

If I could spend one night in Heaven

Image result for if i could have one more day with youdad

What I Wouldn’t Give by We The Kings –

Drowning by Chris Young-

Five More Minutes by Scotty McCreery –

Even Though I’m Leaving by Luke Combs –

Other Side by Colton Dixon-

Covered In Chaos by Billy Lockington –

She Calls Me Pops

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, daughters, Fathers-Daughters, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

IMG_2916.JPG

I wrote this one awhile ago,  thought I would repost it in case the last one was too dark for you.

She calls me Pops

And I call her Dots

I say I love you lots

She just smiles and walks away

One of those games she likes to play

But I know she loves me, even if she doesn’t say

We were close through the early years

Over football we bonded through the cheers

When we lost, we even shared a few tears

Two peas in a pod, we were thick as thieves

At night I would be on my knees

Praying to God don’t let her change, please

But now she says this is what teenagers do, we rebel

I say, ” But you are not a teenager, you are only twelve.”

Then she does an uugggh or some kind of tribal yell

But I know this time is only temporary

Because I’ve been through it before, her sisters and me

So I let it go and wait for the time when she will see

That good old pops was smarter than she thinks

And not everything I do really stinks

Because it will be over before she blinks

Then one day on her wedding day

I will be the one who gives my dots away

We’ll be on the dance floor when the music starts to play

She’ll look at me and say “hello pops”

And I’ll smile at her and say “hello dots”

Maybe, just maybe,  she will say I love you lots

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Short Are The Years by Jason Crabb-  

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman-  

Fast by Luke Bryan –  

My Last Breath by Black Stone Cherry-  

Female by Keith Urban –  

Woman, Amen by Dierks Bentley –  

Gracie by Ben Folds-  

Love Not Hate: Love On Trial

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, God does not change, love, poems, Poetry11 Comments

So I posted this at 1030 this morning, and then I posted it to Facebook.  Now it is no longer on WordPress and it can not be found on Facebook.  I think the forces are out for people not to read this one.

Image result for different types of birds together

As with humans, the birds keep repeating history instead of learning from it. Catch up on their history with the links below.

Love, Not Hate: Part 1

Love, Not Hate: Part Two

Love, Not Hate: Christmas Eve

Love, Not Hate: A New Chapter

Love, Not Hate: A New World

Love, Not Hate: The Division

Love, Not Hate: The Reconciliation

Love, Not Hate: Tragedy At Mandalay Bay

Love, Not Hate: Continue To Love

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Some of the birds were in pain

Some of the birds cried in the rain

Another shooting, another tragedy

An opioid epidemic to escape reality

Nothing in their world was making sense

Every bird suspicious and on defense

One question asked by the birds of prey and the birds of love

Where is the eagle? Why has he abandoned us?

All of you were born with a heart to love

The cardinal, blue jay, vulture, warbler, the dove

But love has gone away over the last few years

While anxiety has increased, and with that fears

What can we do? The birds ask as depression looms large

Darkness has overcome the land as it seems no one is in charge

Then out of nowhere the eagle lands

Only to be taken into the trial to take his stand

“Where have you been?” the birds proclaim

“On vacation or don’t care,” his reputation they try to defame

They all throw words of hate at him, both birds large and small

The birds all say you said would love and stay and defend us all

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Then the eagle looks at the birds scattered around, clears his throat and boldly speaks

“Your schools, your courts, your homes and some of your churches, you asked me to leave

I say love all and teach acceptance

But you preach intolerance

While the poor become poorer and the rich become more prosperous

Have I ever said not to help the least of us?

I ask you to lend a hand, to help each other out

But you scream hate and racist remarks you shout

I ask you to pick a brother up when he is down

But you use your beaks and claws to stomp him in the ground

I ask you to protect each other with your lives

But you kill each other with words as sharp as knives

I ask you not to store possessions but to give to those in need

But instead of sharing most of you would rather bleed

I give each of you a light inside yourselves to change all of our kind

But each of you denies that light, instead, acting as if you are blind

You ask where have I been? I say I have never left

I will even go so far as to say you have never been more blessed

Image result for walk through the valley of death

But what have you done with all these blessings

That’s a good question, many of you will be left guessing

But some of you will recognize the truth

I have given it all to the elders to teach all the youth

Parkland, Las Vegas, El Paso, Dayton. When will it stop?

I tell you when you love and all this hate you drop

You place me here on trial

But you, my friends, are in denial

I was there when the bullets took your loved ones away

I was there when you cried those tears of pain

I was there when the questions came

I was there when it was I who you blamed

I was there even though you have asked me to leave

I was there in your moments of joy and your moments of grief

Image result for hope quotes during tragedy

I was there in the deaths of the battlefields

I was there, protecting you with my shield

I was there when it didn’t rain in your barren lands

I was there when food was bountiful in your hands

I was there in every misfortune and every blessing

I was there when your tongues cursed me and when they were professing

I was there in those moments you felt uninspired

Yes, I was there when those shots were fired

Now I have answered your question on where was I

And I have said that hate is the answer to the question why

But I leave you with this when you wonder if I am here at all

Where is the love? Where are you all birds big and small?

Where is the compassion, empathy, and kindness? Listen to what I say

Fight for love, do not let the land be taken over by the birds of prey!”

Image result for matthew 5:44

Why God by Austin French-

Where Is God by Michael Farren –

Questions by Tori Kelley-

Parkland by Duff McKagan-

Common by Maren Morris-

What If by India Arie –

Change by Mavis Staples-

1000 Promises by Building 429 –

 

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I Wish She Would’ve Kept Reading

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, divorce, music, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

Image result for book on night stand

There was her book on the night stand

The only thing she left of her and me

With nothing but a sigh and a broken heart

I opened to where she stopped, page two seventy three

Who could leave with a story unfinished?

It was just two days ago she said it must be fate

She was so excited about the characters

It was her life, she said she could relate

I opened it up and started to read

It was right there where she stopped, in black and white

Gina left Tommy for some mystery guy

She knew in her heart that she was right

But, God, oh, God how I wish she would’ve kept reading

It was just a few pages over, just a few pages more

That Gina ran into her  mystery guys arms

She said she left Tommy for good, she swore and swore

But then the guy asked, what have you done?

I’m married, I can’t leave my wife

Then Gina looked at him in disbelief

It was right then and there she thought she would die

God, oh God, how I wish she would’ve kept reading

Just a few more sentences, just a few more chapters

If she would’ve stayed just a little longer

All this sadness could’ve been laughter

I read more and more, page after page

I turned the pages until I got to chapter twenty five

When Gina knocked on Tommy’s door

When she begged Tommy to give her another try

I thought for a few words that their relationship

Had a chance, that it might actually survive

But  my eyes welled up when I read the last words

When Tommy closed the door and said goodbye

I wasn’t surprised when I heard a car pull in the driveway

I opened the door and she asked, will you ever forgive me?

The only thing I could do was give her the book

And say I wish you would’ve read past page two seventy three

God, oh God, how I wish you would’ve kept reading

I shut the door and walked away

God, oh God, I wish she would’ve kept reading

Image result for love leaving quotes

Better Homes And Gardens by Taking Back Sunday-

Beautiful Lies by Jana Kramer-

You And Me by Memphis May Fire-

Forever by Drew Jacobs-

Bitter by Citizen Soldier-

Back To Square One by Marty Mullins-

Who I Am To Stand In Your Way by Chester See-

Ashes Pt 2 by The Struts-

 

Your Hand To Hold

On By roberthansen1317In alz.org, Alzheimer's Disease, Christian life, poems, Poetry4 Comments

Image result for alzheimers

Forgive me, I know I haven’t been myself

Sometimes I feel like I’m somebody else

I’m trying to do all I can

It’s nice just to hold your hand

I know we have had some good years

But the memories slowly disappear

When I forget where I am

It’s nice just to hold your hand

I know many times I ask you to repeat

I appreciate how you humor me

Now I don’t know God’s plan

But I sure am thankful He gave me your hand

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Thank you for remembering the foods I like

And for making my darkness so bright

Thank you for remembering who I am

I know I love holding your hand

One day my brain will forget to tell my heart to beat

I’ll be gone and you’ll no longer be with me

I’ll wait patiently in Heaven so grand

Until again I can hold your hand

Image result for alzheimers

Remember For Me by Gordon Mote-

Throw Me A Party by Rita Wilson-

While He Still Knows Who I Am by Kenny Chesney –

Remember Me by Chris Mann-

Blank Stares by Jay Allen –

 

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Playing For The Crickets

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

 

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Out here playing for the crickets

Cause no one will buy any tickets

I’ve got a chorus of bullfrogs playing bass

Hundred lightning bugs lighting up the place

My dog’s tail beats an old metal trash can as if playing drums

He’s a little off beat but he sure knows how to stick out his tongue

A stray cat chimes in with a melody

An old dog barks because we disturb his sleep

An alligator joins in from the swamp

I like how he stomps, I pray he doesn’t chomp

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A thousand mosquitoes buzz overhead

I better play one they like or they might sting me dead

I play one about that old muddy creek

And they fly away content, leaving us in peace

I play another about a summer love that I let slip away

A raccoon decides to join the crowd before the night turns to day

I close the night with a few of my greatest hits

Then my butt tells me it’s tired of the sits

So I stand and thank my band and take a bow

My show is over and I look at the crowd

I thank the raccoon and the crickets

That’s all there is because no one will buy any ticketsImage result for lightning bugs in swamp

Time To Relocate (This Place So Full Of Hate)

On By roberthansen1317In Be The Change, Christian life, dare to be different, poems, Poetry, this will change your life, With God anything is possible2 Comments

Image result for change your heart to change the world

Time to relocate

This place so full of hate

Some say it’s a sneak attack

But the signs were there from way back

Those that can see are blind

Sitting idly by, wasting time

Don’t look down, walk the tightrope

Falling in despair, giving up hope

They say that can’t happen here

Wake up people, it’s your worst fear

This place is falling apart

It’s time for a jump start

This place so full of hate

It’s time to relocate

Image result for you can change the world

Talk a big game but nothing getting done

Everyone looking out for number one

Be sure to get out your selfie stick

Smile now, smile now, click click click

Take a good long look at your eyes

Yes, take a look as you start to realize

Your smile, your smile is fake

Yeah, it’s time to relocate

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Shoot your gun, claim it’s self defense

It’s not too late to get on your knees and repent

Blame the world as you burn down your city

Can’t make a decision, hire another committee

Let the few decide for the rest of us

Final decision, nothing left to discuss

But I have a brain and I see how this world operates

This place full of hate, It’s time to relocate

Image result for change your heart to change the world

White against black against red against brown

I shake my head as I see what’s going down

Don’t change the channel, don’t let it make you numb

We can change the world if we learn to love as one

They say don’t discriminate as they discriminate

It’s crazy man, we so full of hate, time to relocate

Reach out, take my hand

It’s time United we stand

It’s not the color of our skin

It’s about what we believe within

Time to change the way we are

Forgive and erase those scars

Stitch up our hearts, move on from the past

Aren’t you tired of seeing the same old broadcast?

All this hate, that’s what I’m sick of

Time to open your heart to love

Let’s make this world a better place

Look in the mirror, do you like that face?

It’s about love, not hate

Let’s go, time to relocate

Image result for bible verses on changing the world

My mind tells me this is so insane

You blame me, I blame you, we blame…

Around in circles on this merry go round

Same situation just a different town

Got a problem, throw money at it or just ignore

How long are we going to fight this losing war

We have bombs going off right in our back yard

Man, it really shouldn’t be this hard

It’s time we relocate

It’s time we end this hate

They scream to be silent but I still have a voice

To love is a choice. To love is a choice

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This World Is So F*d Up (Never Giving Up On It by Michael Franti –

I’ve Decided by 7eventh Time Down –

Love by Imagine Dragons –

Brother by The Brilliance-

Love Comes In All Colors by Youth For Christ –

Love Anyway by Tenth Avenue North –

Love Wins by Carrie Underwood-

Hey World ( Don’t Give Up ) by Michael Franti –

 

Birds of a Different Color – Christmas Eve

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas, Christmas music, Merry Christmas, poems, PoetryLeave a comment
cardinals, goldfinch, bluebird, nuthatch, chickadee:
art credit: James Hautman

It was Christmas Eve all through the land

All the birds stared in amazement at the Christmas tree so grand

The little birds could barely contain their excitement

The older birds looked on, filled with contentment

The eagle remembered how far they have come

He remembered all the work ALL the birds have done

Which made this day an even more special day

He took his place and said: “Birds, I have something to say”

Want to see one--not at a zoo--SOON!:
photo credit: Paula Krugerud Photography

“I’ll keep it short since tonight the little ones can’t be up late.”

“It has been a long time since we chose to love instead of hate.”

“It was a lot of work to repair our broken relationships.”

“As you all know, it hasn’t always gone to script.”

“We have learned from our mistakes, our experiences.”

“We have learned to work through our differences.”

“We have returned this land to the way it was created.”

“For that reason alone, tonight we ALL should be celebrated!”

“We are gathered here today because of the one who was born.”

“Who also died for us, tattered and torn.”

“As some of us birds are getting older,

We know we can’t carry this land on our shoulders.”

“We must teach the next generation

That love is the only way to rule this nation!”

All the birds started to sing

A beautiful sound that caused a gathering

All the animals from the forest came

The deer, the rabbit, the skunk and others you know by name

They gathered around the Christmas tree

They held hands and all sung with glee

The sound reached near and far

Then humans arrived, by foot and by car

They couldn’t believe their eyes

It was then they started to realize

Everything they thought they knew had to be ruled out

Because right there was a hawk singing with a field mouse

There was a bear beside a deer

There was a sheep standing by a wolf  with no fear

There was a fox right beside a hare

All these beautiful birds were there

They could hardly believe their ears

When the animals said: “There is nothing here to fear!”

“Yes, at one time we were all enemies!”

“We decided to let love rule our hearts until our eyes could see!”

Then the humans held each other’s hands

All the different people across the land

Blacks and whites, Muslim and Christian

All races, all people, could see the animals vision

The eagle then spoke once again:

“One last thing to say my friends.”

“To move forward you must move on from the past!”

“You have to live as last is first and first is last.”

“Let every man, every woman, every boy, every girl

Know what it’s like to have peace in this world!”

“Let ALL our voices join together as we sing Silent Night!”

Then they sang Joy To The World  and We Wish You A Merry Christmas

I can only say it’s all true, as I was there to witness

All the birds of a different color

Helped all the people discover

Instead of fighting they should ALL join hands

Because love is the only way to rule the land

Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a love filled night 

Image result for birds of a different color winter christmas tree

art credit: Peter Rabbit

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Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson –

Santa’s Wish (Teach The World) by The Tenors –

Better Together by Gaither Vocal Band –

Join With The Angels by Matthew West –

Rest In You Tonight by The Oak Ridge Boys –

Gather Round by Band Of Merrymakers –

The Night Before Christmas by Brandon Heath –

Wish List by 7eventh Time Down –

Silent Night by Pentatonix –


Christmas Will Come

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas, Christmas music, Christmas Will Come, Merry Christmas, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

Christmas will come

No matter what you’ve done

Whether you believe or not

It doesn’t matter if you forgot

He came to fulfill His obligation

There is no need for negotiation

Many said He wasn’t God, they lied

He was born, He lived, He was crucified

Christmas is about His birth

He came to show us our worth

Born with silver spoon or born in a slum

Have no doubt Christmas will come

It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor,

Find it in your heart or in a store

If you live in America or Tel Aviv

It doesn’t matter what you believe

If you have or haven’t heard of Him

Whether your light is bright or dim

Santa Claus is not the reason

That we celebrate this season

If you can buy ten gifts or none

Have no doubt,  Christmas will come

A long time ago on a cold December morn

A beautiful, wonderful baby boy was born

To save this world of our sin

And that death would not win

Many years after His manger birth

He taught of ways not of this earth

To get to Heaven He is the only way

He forgives the times we sinned today

With the pounding of a drum

Have no doubt, Christmas will come

When we are down, our spirits He will lift

In all our wants we only need one gift

That was given to us free of charge

The cost of His death for me was too large

For me to live, this gift I must accept

I will live for Him, I will never forget

With the softness of a hum

Have no doubt, Christmas will come

Lights, trees, ornaments, presents

Christmas coming did not represent

Love came down, a star shined bright

Darkness was overtaken by His light

It doesn’t matter where you’re from

My dear friends, Christmas will come

Do you believe?

Do you deceive?

Some may try to stop it or delay

But you can’t stop His birthday

No matter how far away you run

Jesus Christ is here, He did come

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done

Have no doubt, Christmas did come

Christ Is Come by Jeremy Camp – 

Christmas Is Coming by Jason Gray – 

All Things Collide by Brad & Rebekah – 

You’re Here by Francesca Battistelli – 

Even So Come by Kristian Stanfill – 

The King Is Coming by Newsboys – 

That Day Is Coming by The Collingsworth Family – 

Come Lord Jesus by Dustin Kensrue – 

For All The World by Phillips, Craig and Dean –