



Hometown Reflections
Southern Exposure
First Mother's Day Away
Granddaddy's Reflections
Hometown Reflections
(On Gleason, Tennessee)
As I sit on my porch on
a warm summer’s eve
At peace with the sun
going down
My mind wanders back to
my childhood days
Growing up in a small
southern town
It was a town where you
knew everyone
And where you liked most
everybody you knew
A town where families
helped others in need
And where others were
there to help you
It was a time when kids
going to school
Were actually encouraged
to pray
And you didn’t worry
about offending someone
If you chose to observe
Christmas day.
It was a time where
deals were made
And then sealed by two
men shaking hands
And a place where
nothing was valued more
Than the character and
the word of a man.
It was also a time of
warm summer days
That now seem - so very
long ago
Days filled with friends
- baseball and bible
school
And Saturday afternoon
picture shows
As a place to live
during one’s early years
A better place could
never be found
I am pleased to say that
I was born right here
In this great little
Tennessee town
Jim Johnson
Southern Exposure
The chirping of crickets
On a quiet summers eve
The hoot of the owl
The wind through the
trees
The warmth of the
sunshine
When the rain’s come and
gone
The smell of cut grass
From a freshly mowed
lawn
A special dinner on
Sunday
When the preacher came
by
Fried chicken and
dumplings
Mom’s apple pie
A car ride in the
country
On a Sunday afternoon
A tender first kiss
Under a star circled
moon
Getting up early
To go fishing with dad
We caught next to
nothing
But what fun we had
Growing up with family
Spending time with
friends
The joy of one’s youth
All too soon ends.
The flickering of
fireflies
After the sun has gone
down
Precious memories of
childhood
In a small southern town
Jim Johnson
First Mother's Day Away
Now it’s only been a
little while
Since you passed away
Only about a year has
passed
But now it’s Mother’s
Day
How do I find a way to
tell you?
What words do I use to
say?
Just how much we all
miss you
On this - your most
special day
Now, you aren’t here to
get my flowers
And you aren’t here to
take my call
And you aren't here for
me to tell you
"You're the best mother
of them all"
Today, the words I need
escape me
And the pain of
missing you is real
And it's so very hard to
find a way
To share the feelings we
all feel
But may this
simple message
In its short and simple
way,
Somehow let you know - we
all
still love you
On this - first Mother’s
Day away
Jim Johnson
Granddaddy’s Reflections
Listen now - my little one
To the words your
Granddad has to say
As I reflect upon your
visit with us
On this - your first
Thanksgiving day
I’m thinking that you
are - surely a miracle
Sent to earth - from God
above
To bring your parents
great joy and happiness
And teach them - how
much they both can
love
I can see their pride -
and their love for you
Now reflected in your
mother’s eyes
As I recall, long ago - how I once
held her
When she was
just about your size
And I recall your smile
- as I held you
And how very warm you
were to hold
And I think of how
special young babies are
As I find myself - now
growing old
And I wonder - what in
life awaits you?
As you grow from a child
- and then into a man
And I pray that God
will always smile on you
And always lend you a
helping hand
I wish you today – all
the best in life
May your days be filled
with laughter rather
than tears
And may you know your
granddaddy still loves
you
Even after - I have
fully lived out my
years.
So I thank you for this
- very special visit
And for blessing us in
this very special way
And for letting me feel
the depths – of a
grandfather’s love
When you came to visit
us here today
Jim
Johnson

Copyright © 2009 James H Johnson.
All rights reserved




