Poems of the Past

Today I found my old box of papers from growing up. It contains old homework assignments, pamphlets from shows I was in, notes from events I attended, and most interesting, songs and poems I wrote as a kid.
Here are some of those poems. I wish they all had dates, but they don't, so I've tried to guess and write an estimate as to how old I was at the time of writing each one. Hope you enjoy :)

 The Birdie (App. Age 11)
There was a little birdie
That sat upon a tree
And watched the people go by
As happy as can be.
But then one day a lady,
Just like you and me,
Walked by very sadly,
So the birdie could see.
The birdie went to greet her,
So sad and depressed,
He just said "hello" and
Showed her his new nest.
He said, "You can be happy,
Happy just like me.
If you just enjoy life and
Love your family!"
But then the lady told him,
In such a sorrow tone,
"You see, I have no family
Of my own."
The little birdie listened,
For a good listener was he.
Now the birdie was sad,
As sad as sad could be.
He thought for a moment,
And went back to his tree.
He brought down his nest and said,
"Well, you can stay with me!"

*Here is a poem I wrote, probably around age 13. It's rather dark for young girl to write, but I've always loved it*
Don't cause me to stumble,
Only lift me up
Stop tearing my down,
Fill up my cup

I'm stranded and alone
'Cause you won't save
I'm quietly dying,
'Cause of how you behaved

Why let me suffer
Don't you love me?
Can you even see
That I am so needy

I need a hand
Please lift me high
You push me down
And tell me a lie

Say you're too busy
And push me away
Ignore my plea,
Wait 'til another day

So now I'm dying,
And it'll be your fault
As I take my last breath
And life comes to a halt

Now don't you wish
You had reached out
And answered the call
To my crying shout

I am now dead

The Quest for Love (App. Age 12) - This has always been one of my favorites.
Searching, reaching
Only beseeching
Where are you love?
Come from above
Love, don't hide,
Don't be disguised
I need you now
I'll find you, how?
Torn and tattered,
My heart shattered
Aching, throbbing,
My eyes, sobbing
Love's needed here
It's gone, I fear
Looking around
Love is not found
Could it be true?
Love comes from you?
Why, now I see!
God, you love me!
What's this feeling?
My heart's healing!
My quest complete.
Lord, guide my feet
But all along
You sang a song
Asked for my heart
As it fell apart
Now all is well,
From me, I fell
Into your arms
There are no harms
I have no quest
God, you're the best
My life is whole
You have my soul

 When my brother went off for his first semester of college, he suffered severe back pain. He had a ruptured, herniated disk (which would later be corrected through surgery) and could not sit or stand for more than half an hour before the pain became too much to bear. He would lie on his back on the floor in class and hold up a notebook to take notes. And he had always been such an active, daredevil guy, but no one at school could see that side of him. Anyway, I wrote this poem for him in school. We later sent it to him and he said it made him cry, a pretty big deal.

A Brave Brother (App. age 14)

He's out of the house, he's finally gone,
Though I thought I'd feel different, on that morning's dawn.
Now he's somewhere new, and struggles getting out of bed,
I'm sure some days he feels like he's dead.

Every day is a challenge, which he pushes through,
Though the pain strikes his back, and it's hard for him to do.
All the doctors visits, and trying to find relief,
But he's very good at disguising his grief.

He tries to get work done, and tries to have fun,
But he can't really sit, jump, stand, or run.
We know him to be athletic and sleep in a tree,
But there, the real Tyler Beasley, no one can see.

He is brave every day; he is strong and tough,
Knowing that tomorrow will be just as rough.
We knew him to be brave by doing crazy stunts,
But now he is brave by relying on what God wants.

The following poems are from an English class I took in 8th or 9th grade.

True Friend
Mightily true,
She shares her faith
Shared what she knew,
Presented strength
She kindly builds up,
Dwells close with the Lord
He fills her cup
With his great word.

Love Everlasting
True love is found
In God alone
When bells shall sound
And mercy shown.

Though hard to find,
Love is not hidden
If you keep in mind,
It is not forbidden

Search and endure
What troubles lie ahead
And you will be sure
To find love instead.

Then two shall meet
When love conquers defeat.

Winter's Kiss
Cold white snow
Warm burning wood
Family we know
Friends that we should

Christmas at last
Winter's finest day
Frigid days have passed
And kissed the year away

Beauty
They say, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
But everyone knows beauty dies as you get older.
Beauty is not for people alone
No, beauty, throughout the world, is shown.
Beauty in the cool breeze of a summer morning
Beauty in the fragrance of a rose it is adorning
Beauty in the sound of a child's laughter,
Beauty in the tears that come thereafter
There is beauty in mother's pie, of which we love
There is beauty in the heavens of our father above
Yes, beauty is not just nails and hair,
Beauty is God's creation, everywhere

Music
Music frees a trapped soul
Its melodies can comfort in times of sorrow,
The rhythm can lift a mourning heart
A song can express what you yourself cannot
And tell a story through the movement of notes
Music frees a trapped soul
Still music communicates to all
Yes, music frees a trapped soul
Music can free all souls.

My Imperfect Love
My love for God is hard to express.
He has saved me from myself and hell
Without Him, I would be a great mess,
But he has allowed me to shed my shell.

I love God with my entire being.
I love Him with song and words and movement.
I love Christ for the things I'm seeing,
And for allowing my great improvement.

But I am human and my love is flawed;
My love, unlike His, has imperfection.
His love makes up for mine, and I am awed,
And I can't help but show my affection.

I love my Savior with all my heart,
And I can't wait for eternity to start.

*I wrote this next poem late Christmas Eve and then read it in the morning to my family. They loved it so much that they insisted I read it when we go to both grandparents' houses for the entire families. I was so nervous as I read it, but it moved some family members to tears.*

The Meaning of Christmas (App. Age 12)

What is the meaning of Christmas?
Little kids may tell you
That it's about Santa Claus
And presents from him too.

Others may say it's all about
Having family and friends around
And love and peace and happiness
And joy to surround.

These things are all swell,
But let me just say,
They are not the true meaning of Christmas,
Of this glorious day.

The real meaning is this:
Christ, the Lord, maker of all,
Was born as flesh
Born in a stable or stall.

The beginning of His life,
Life on earth,
Was at this moment;
God's own birth.

And when you see a manger scene,
Also see Christ on a tree
Suffering for everyone
That one day we would be free.

Free from our sins,
All things we had done wrong,
And then you see the meaning
Of the angels' precious song.

This, I tell you, is the meaning of Christmas.

Easter (Age 9)
When we think of Easter,
We think of Easter eggs.
But when it passes by,
It's just nowhere in our heads.
So when you think of Easter,
Think of this, oh please do,
That Christ our Savior died,
But He rose for me and you.