The Music Isn't There

 

There was a time when I was young that life was oh, so grand                    

I’m sure I wasn’t worthy of such a perfect hand

I walked along the seashore, the moonlight on my hair

I woke at dawn and laughed and sang, I didn’t have a care.

The world spun round for me alone, and all good things were mine

I thought that it would never change, life always would be fine

But I don’t have to tell you ~ you know as well as I

Good things don’t last forever, we sometimes have to cry.

One day there came into my life a special kind of friend

I thought of nothing day and night but spending time with him
He said he’d love me always, and never would depart
Then he grew bored and went away, shattering my heart

And now I walk along the shore, the moonlight on my hair

I wake at dawn but when I sing, the music isn’t there

Neither is there laughter, nor does the earth still twirl

Nothing good is left for me; I’m just a lonely girl.

                                                                   ~pth 1981

Just One More Day

Please give me ‘til tomorrow

Before you go away

I’d beg, I’d steal or borrow

If only you would stay. 
                 

We’ve been so long together

Our hearts have grown that way

So what’s it matter whether

You stay just one more day?

Just give me ‘til tomorrow

To think and kneel and pray

To let go of the sorrow

That’s plaguing me today.

Then we’ll kiss and say goodbye

I’ll turn and walk away

I promise you I will not cry

Just give me one more day!

                                 pth~


This poem also appears in Page & Spine Literary
 Magazine and the book, Sweet Whispers of Youth

Sweet Whispers Of Love

 Do you love me?

I long to hear the words, but 

      you do not speak them.

Instead, you lavish me with “things,”

Don't you know that objects cannot
      satisfy the burning heart that
      yearns to hear 

Sweet whispers of love.

I pity you... for if you are not capable

      of expressing love, then

Perhaps you are also incapable of feeling it. 

                                                 pth~ 1980


This poem also appears in Page & Spine Literary
 Magazine and the book, Sweet Whispers of Youth

A Ghost From The Past

Somewhere in the shadowy beauty of a summer’s day,

Lingering in the humid air like a morning fog                               

Is a lovely memory of summers past.

Of barefoot days and carefree ways~

Of reveling in the wonder of

God’s perfect creation without really noticing;

Certain that youth would always be mine.

But as all things pass, so passes youth~ and now I am

Mired in a world of cares~ with no time to enjoy

The miracle I once took for granted.

But the memory lurks there still

Calling to me like a ghost from the past...

I cannot go back.

Ah, how I wish I could!

                                                 pth~

Remembering You

The days were warm and sunny

In August when we met;

I think it’s kind of funny

How the memory lingers yet

                                 

Of sandy hair and boyish grin

And dancing eyes of blue,

Of wit and charm and winning ways –

Yes, I remember you!

As days went by, we shared so much

Of life and love and dreams and such;

You made my world a rosy hue –

Ah, I remember you!

December brought its chilling winds

By now, we two were more than friends.

We made a snowman, trimmed the tree,

Sat by the fire, you sang to me.

The glory of the springtime brings

Green grass, a flower, a bird that sings.

This year I saw it all anew

Because I was in love with you.

Then summer came and went so fast;

Just like our love, it couldn’t last.

Your head was turned by someone new;

You went away – my heart did, too!

Once more it’s August warm and bright,

I think of you both day and night.

What can I say, what can I do?

It hurts so much remembering you!

                                         pth~

For Debbie~

How deep is my sorrow,

How intense is my pain?

How bleak looks tomorrow,

         Will there be only rain?

My sorrow is deeper than any sea

          And the pain is hard to bear;

How can another tomorrow be

          Knowing you won’t be there?

I miss your smile each morning
     Your loving touch at night,
The birds don't sing as sweetly,
     The sunshine's not as bright.

To be with you again, my love
     Would be my greatest fate,
But my heart goes right on beating
     While my soul longs for its mate! 

                                                         pth~

©2014 Peggy Toney Horton




 

But Didn't

Did you ever think at close of day

Of kindly words you meant to say—

                          But didn’t?

Do you ever think when day is done

Of errands kind you could have run—

                          But didn’t?

Do you ever think at daytime’s end

Of flowers bright you meant to send—

                          But didn’t?

Do you ever think when skies are red

Of hungry mouths you could have fed—

                          But didn’t?

Do you ever think at dawn of night

Of letters kind you meant to write—

                          But didn’t?

Do you ever think at life’s set of sun

You’ll think of deeds you could have done—

                          But didn’t?

                              ~Kathryn Thorne Bowsher