REMEMBERING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY MOTHER

 I have often thought of the path
my mother took in her life.
I watch with great intensity even
as a child, of the strain and sacrifice.

I watched how humble she was, even
though she was aware of her power.
She could request anything from God,
and God would respond within the hour.

It was amazing how little she asked for.
It was always for family and friends.
She was content with the spirit of God,
she lived for battling the devil and sin.

I often wondered why she never asked for
worldly things, big houses and diamond rings.
Why she prayed for her enemies as well as her friends.
She was preparing her soul to meet the King.

I am truly bless to have had a mother with
so many gifts, and to be able to remember her
footsteps.

Now all I have to do is walk in them...

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2013

A TRIBUTE TO MY WIFE (ELVIRA) ON MOTHERS DAY

Loving you these thirty-seven years
has instilled in me a great sense of
pride and urgency.


Being retired has it's  place, but I miss rushing
home from work to tell you about my day. You
would listen with such intensity.

I felt as though nothing else matters
in my life at that moment as I
bared my soul to you.

I watch with intensity as your eyes lit
up with joy and unbridled happiness
when you would hear good news.

When my spirit was low, you immediately
sense the need to console me and take
me to a quiet place.

I admire your sense of dedication to family,
it is manifested in everything that you do.
I truly adore you.

Your love is manifested in the love you
show when you are preparing food,
or chastising our son.

It is manifested in the love you have
for all of your family, friends and those
who are less fortunate.

Above all, it is manifested in your
Christian faith that provides the strength
that guides, sustains and protects us.

ABOUT HER FATHER'S BUSINESS (A MOTHERS DAY TRIBUTE)

Laboring day in and day out,
just enough time for praying.
Trying to put food in her babies mouth.

Not a mumbling word is she saying,
taking everything to God and Prayer.
The heavey load not seeming to matter.

Just trying to put food in her babies mouth.
Off she goes, rainy days, stormy weather,
aching bones with the bible in her strong hands.

Praying for her friends as well foe.
She is about her father's business, the
last thing on her mind was hunger for self.

She trusted that her babies would be fed,
so she kept on praying knowing that her
Heavenly Father would put food in her babies mouth.

and the winged creature of the air,

How much more will I provide for thee, whom I
have trusted with that which I have created. Did
I not adorn the Lillies of the field in all their glory.

My mother continued about her Heavenly Father's business.

The Late Rev. Carrie A. Gooding
Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2009

For she remembered what he said,  ifI provide
for the beast of the field, creature of the sea

LIFE IS TO BE LIVED (but you must move)

Life is to be lived to its fullest as long as
your mind works and your body moves.
Running fast, walking slow doesn't matter,
as long as you remain in the groove.

Age is a stepping stone to wisdom,
not a hindrance to the learning process.
If you have treated yourself well in the past,
you will fair well when engaged in life's test.

Endure the sweat and smelly socks,
the sore muscles of the arms and legs.
Rely on the grey matter between your ears,
the peaks and valleys you want have to dread.

How simple this must sound to the readers,
how encouraging this must be to the dedicated.
How elusive this can be to those who wait,
and rightfully so, to those who has procrastinated.

I repeat all of the above to myself each day,
it is not easy shutting down  Face Book and Twitter.
When I observe my wife on the treadmill for an hour,
I am reminded that I too, am not a quitter.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2013

FROM A MOLE HILL TO A MOUNTAIN (The price one pays for the abuse of the disenfranchised)

Families are starving,
children are dying
from senseless wars.

By those who would abuse them,
they are denied their homes
to return no more.

Dried up fields
and waterless wells,
with no seeds to sow.

After miles of traveling
over rugged terrain,
with no place to go.

Humanity surges forward, over
shadowed by the cruelty of man,
their cries for help falls on deaf ears.

But the end is near,
that which is a mountain
will be reduced to a mole hill.

That which was a mole hill
shall consume the mountain
and reign forever with love.

From the earth will come forth salt
and flavor shall return to the land,
but the valleys of the abusers shall
run red with the enemies blood.
 
Peace will forever be restored.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

"THE HEART THAT MENDS"

Moments of passion are fleeting,
that which we hold so dear.
Reaching aimlessly for carnal knowledge,
nothing we physically touch seem real.

Desirous we are of odious things,
the beast of the dark controls us.
Like children, we dream of life like toys,
that which gives us pleasure we trust.

Thoughts, we give not to our existence,
our true purpose of being.
So vigorously we pursue the wishes of the beast,
so elusive is the heart that mends.

The stark reality of your inner most dreams,
brings to life the terror and fear.
You have traveled so far, your energy is low,
your mind is foggy, nothing is clear.

Take a stand before the mirror of true reflection,
and face the beast that dwells within.
Seek clarity of purpose for yourself,
For elusive no more is the heart that mends.

By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Poetic Verses
Copyrighted 2012