The gene pool arrives!
Gammy and grandpo hosting
kids and grandkids
a family of American Eagles
and eaglets

Generations in turn
learning to fly
and flying away
but coming back
home
the family farm
a hundred thirty years and counting

Eagles, eaglets
dreams coming true
Priests, professors, designers and politicians
(Now there’s a nest plumb full!)
creating
soaring
landing
watching
listening
doing

Her love grew
for each one
and also for me
How could that be
that love can expand so
and do it again and again

At each stage
suckling to cup
baby food to burger
cooing and gurgling
to standing on a stage, reciting
first toddling steps
to running races
first day of school
to graduation exercises
mother mode was supreme
is supreme

School district train wreck
finances askew
teachers on the walk
somebody needs courage
plant a flag
draw a line in the sand
know how to add, subtract
understand

Soldiers have their trenches
where many a battle is fought
and those who lay the pipes and cables
and those who dig the footings
all are part of the soil

With farmers it is food
enabled by the soil
don’t you dare call it dirt
it’s mysterious and fascinating
we’re discovering more and more

Growing, producing food
is a noble call for certain
after air and water we need it
all the days of our lives

Sunday morning, routine as usual
church
Grandpa puttin on his blue suit
suspendered pants, but with a belt
uniform for church
Grandma all ready
colorful dress, perfume
ker choo!
My nose didn’t like perfume!
In the car
me drivin’

11 years old
but experienced
at 4 and 5 I earned my wings
settin’ on Grandpa’s lap
steering tractors and the big truck

By 7 I reached the pedals
Big guy now! Well, sorta!
But never a cause for worry
Grandpa gave me the reins

Emotions ride hard and high
about Christmas, family
and being together
Mom’s and kids and grandkids
tender dads, kisses and hugs
caring that was born and grows
always

So highways and byways
trains and planes and even ships
take folks in and deliver
People pouring home

Take snapshots of drivers
purposed, driven
to make it home for Christmas!

Bathed by music, church programs
food and presents folks are blessed and blessings
in their Christmas garb and doings
It is a time for sharing

Next slide, Lieutenant Perry, U.S. Army
“Take this test and we’ll test your mettle.”
Bingo! Top of the class!
Off to learn artillery!
Next stop Fort Knox and tanks:
Figure out rockets trajectory
do the math
We want rockets on tanks to hit their targets
Invasion in Europe is in the plans.
So he did.  They did.
and then down for a marriage license!

My life turned a corner
a big one
and I surrendered to her
and she to me

Ah, not 100 per cent at once!
Actually, I’m still working on it
but we’ve come a long way
Fifty years worth of trying
and getting better

Some forty years ago
I turned another corner
went forward, actually
and gave my life to Jesus
I surrendered again
Ah, not 100% at once
Actually, I’m still working on it
but I think I’ve come a long way
and getting better

He came to one board meeting
straight from being
a patient in the hospital…
Always alert, listening with energy
sometimes eyes a twinkling
I would catch that look
and know
something was cooking, coming

Often a humorous arrow
flaming to the heart
and laughter would fill the room
How many votes?
A thousand or two?
Thought through issues
discussed from different angles
But in the end agreement
a team player

A common thing
this blankie time
for little ones round the world
Something about a softness
a shield
to sense the world’s in place

Late winter, early spring,
last year’s corn stubble does its thing
capturing the blowing snow
trapped, it is a blankie, a “B”
protecting winter wheat

Often falling silently in the night
it piles like feathers over the fields
gently tucking in the rich black soil
something about a softness
a shield
to sense the world’s in place

We get little packages
in the most personal of ways
results of brief encounters
resulting in new life, birth

The little ones grow quickly
we count them weeks at first
then months
then oh so soon, in years

They grow in our hearts
in places we didn’t know we had
but become stamped so firmly
we savor moments with them always

Night time clouds
darken areas
but one knows the sun is coming
Rather we are spinning towards it
our earth rolling around
it will be our turn

To think, to do
a thousand things or two
eating, reading, planning,
on the move
blended with quiet moments

Just this moment I’m captured
remembering
watching the sun come up, holding
Evie, newborn grandchild,
while her mom is busy in the kitchen
Evie and I watch, but have to turn
as the sun gets brighter and brighter still

From 20’s to 80’s in ages
growing up in eras so different
music and styles far apart
yet here they were
captured for a moment
at a Farm Bureau directors meeting

A heartfelt prayer by the octagenarian
appreciative of those who keep us safe
and have, each generation
Grounded in faith
ever so full of thanksgiving
a tender moment

Young Ag leaders
jumping in, eyes flashing
energy pouring at eight in the evening!
Facing the present and future firing
thinking solutions, actions, wow!

A special farmer story
the wise ones know
and then invest themselves
in the treasured fields

Gerald Compton did that
I know
His family
his faith
his farming
his friends

His time here
went into those fields
I’m thinking he was a treasure
invested in us all

Sometimes gentle
from childhood times…
I remember my step dad
lugging me up to bed
I was nine
and car travel made me sleepy
Good guy that he was
his strong arms scooped me up
and he carried me up the stairs
tucked me in

Many were the times
Sunday dinner finished
we sat at table and talked
debated, taking sides,
then half time
changed sides
and began again!

We spent a lot of time
our heads under a hood
looking at car engines
changing plugs and points
and other things
or lying on our backs
repairing u joints
or a hundred other things beneath

Special times were building
we lived in a good old house
frame solid, but needing change
to hold a growing family
We always talked when working….

Along life’s highway I grew up
bounded out of college, married,
and started my career
farming
24/7 at first
not knowing any better
He got tired
went home to rest
and I went on
day and night
His forte was patience
with me

We plowed and tilled and planted
tended and then came harvest
sun up to sun down and longer
we brought the harvest home

Maybe it’s a little bit of heaven
pared down to a pair
Outside oneself
feelings extended
exposed
but safe
Like a snapshot
capturing a moment

The friends arrive
and set to the task
harvest, 2011

Wave after wave
they work
running the big machines
pouring grain into trucks
and into bins
food for the many
fuel for some
and fiber for others

The farm population swells
ever so briefly
as corn fields signal
breezes waving the tall summer bronzed stalks
slipping away the kernels
against the coming winter

Long days in the fields
machines laboring hour after hour
the men and women cling to their tasks
until the last fruits are captured
stored

O dark thirty finds the folks
gathered at harvest tables
bowls of food passing
events of the day shared
feet under the tables
true friends
sharing the fuel for tomorrow
and tomorrow

John Deere Diesel
One hundred horses!
Big scoop on the front
that can lift and push

Twist goes the key to start
and a soft and low roar commences
down goes the clutch pedal
and into fifth gear goes a lever
give here a little ‘rabbit’
and ease out on the clutch
We’re moving!
Raise the scoop a bit
and wiggle the bucket back and forth
Wow! This is fun!

Around the farm we go
Keller and grandpa cruising,
then stopping to load her up
with a giant pile of branches
Back to the brush pile
and let the scoop unload
Back up, and here we go again!

Each room in our house,
is her expression in fact
In shape, in color, in texture,
her art, laid out for all to drink

Take the laundry, sewing room,
where she cuts and sews and fashions
curtains, clothes, and more
each inch is her design, her choice

The windows look upon
her gardens, her flowers, her shrubs, her trees
but wait! That’s another book! Back, I say, inside,
Through the door and into the bedroom
ours for forty years

The bed, the spread, the pillow cases,
the floors, the walls, the ceiling,
are her, expressed in
shape, in color, texture

The bath? Of course we share it
maybe 90/10, but that’s okay!
I’m a farmer, don’t you know,
my world is ‘outcomes based’
and what comes out, is finely treasured

I’ll skip the other bedrooms
suffice to say they’re hers
to move on down the stairs

Kitchen? The pine wood floor
the cabinet doors, the sink, the fridge
each knife, each spoon, each cup
knows her hands upon them

Casper Weinberger comes to mind.
A man of chosen words
moving daily on the world stage
comportment solid, reassuring

I met a local man last night
who had a common thing with Casper
He retired to care for his wife
Stepped away from career,
to care
To live in service for the one he loved
who, in serious illness, needed help

It would be good to have a category
for men and women who do that
who live in service to the one they love
when that person faces decline and death

Along the way she grew
and suddenly became a woman
so quickly, it happened

Comes a day
grand as grand can be
folks in their finest gather round
to witness vows being taken
Relatives, friends, friends of friends
associates of various ilk
watch the procession
of bride and groom
and particular people.

Mother has been seated
sealing the aisle for good
Slowly, one step at a time
the decked out attendants come
take their places
and now the bride, with her dad, dad, daddy!

Daddy!
I’m frightened!
Hold me tight!
Never let me go!

The little girl is there
in a thousand memories held
Slowly down the aisle they come
daughter holding dad’s arm light

And then the question comes:
Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
He knows the words to be spoken.
What am I doing? Giving my precious daughter away?
Will he love her and protect her
even better than I?

“Her mother and I”, spoken at last,
and he lifts her vail
gives her a kiss
then sits with his bride.

By far the best
in my book at least
are the ‘rose colored glasses’
that friends use on each other
photo shop, is nothing new!
It’s been used on me
on you
for many years

No blemishes there
no loss of hair, or muss
no shapes that mar
or take away
from love in action
“I see you”
said a chief to a general
way out west one day
The men knew each other’s souls
and respected each other down deep

I saw it just yesterday
when my wife, the daughter
jumped up to get her dad a spoon
She could think his thoughts
and sense his problem
and she moved immediately in lovingkindness

I saw it just yesterday
when my wife, the mom
whipped up an awesome cake
She could think his thoughts, our son
and connected with him and his family
she moved immediately in lovingkindness

I see it so many days
when my wife, the person
is moving as His hands
within the impulses of lovingkindness

Sun shining
breezes blowing
view of fields and byways passing
My journey takes me northward

Minnesota in my radio
music mends my spirits
Bach, Mendelsonn, more
fill my car with sound

I’m prone to sing along
operatic melodies flowing
sometimes I help direct
in a stumbling humbling way

Then the piece is over
silence fills the room
a voice is saying something
commenting on the music
on the master
on the times and places

Lynne Warfel’s in the room
her voice assured, knowing
so very much ’bout music
and it’s good

Names like Rachmaninoff,
oh so many names
from ages past
their music stands the test of time
their scores are still the living
breathing music
that carries us, sends us
closer to… something

Commitment to the Lord
Savior, Immanuel
commitment to serve
together, they pondered
they prayed

People with problems
hurting, needing help
mundane things like money
making things work
important things like structures
whose in charge,
what’s the plan
Should we build it

Men in the trenches
not by demand
but drawn by love
stepping out
spending time
doing the work of leading

Men under fire
often a hidden sort
subtle, but there
a ‘prowling to and fro’ enemy
War.
Ugly war
A fight for men’s souls

Happened to me last week,
far from the farm and home
On the shore of Puget Sound
I sat down next to a fellow

He was well groomed and poised
Might say,
“Comfortable in his own skin”
Conversation began
in a casual way
and then just sort of ‘took off.
We bonded.
Ideas flowed and clicked
about the world around us
Two men, one black, one white,
but inside, becoming brothers

Christianity’s like that
giving links
the core in loving Jesus
Histories can be different
but the today
the going forward
can make a bond that holds

We know
‘the rest of the story’
therein lies value
like treasure buried
in a field
causing the discoverer
to sell all they own
to buy the field
buy the treasure

Some are close
for many years
my learning grows from them
I’ve watched them
can you see
in many different places

I’ve seen them laugh
I’ve seen them cry
I’ve seen them study hard
I’ve seen them ponder
and sometimes not know
sometimes ‘click’ out loud

Some are moments
along the way
Serendipity, you might say
I’d like to give a taste of both

My farming family
Hank and Ad
Ida and Alfred and more
Don and Dorothy
Jake and Lilly
Lou and Arlie for a few
Then there’s mentors
folks I’d copy
like Stan and Marie
Bob and Dee
Dale and Virginia too
Kenny and Lorna Mae

Fold in church
loving folks
like Ralph and Georgia
Paul and Jessie
Bill and Virginia
Dick and Ruth
Carl and June
Herschal and Wilma
Ken and Taschia
Jim and Lydia
Gary and Carolyn
Dick and Marge
Al and Margaret
and so many many more

Salting the earth
with their values
flavoring, oh so richly
the meaning of life and living

Once was a toddler
looking up
giving hugs that warmed some hearts
Still she leaps
and hugs some folks
some day she’ll knock them down!

Her mind is growing quickly
she likes
she doesn’t
She sings and dances
she reads and listens
and yes she talks!
Her laughter is so beautiful
Oh, so many ways
she fills the days with good
with blessing

This place…
From ceiling color
to spider web
from every crack or scratch
on every floor
From every wall where pictures hang
Every window
Every door

She knows this place…

These people
From parents who begat her
Held her, marveled at her birth
and loved her ever more deeply
through the years
To husband, lover
friend companion
To each child born
Sought and welcomed
Loved in turn forever
From topmost hair
to their toes
She knows them

Someone holds her hand
warmth passes between them

The hand that has touched
since our life began
now squeezes ours
“I’m here”, the message sings

Our hand caresses her brow
smooths the gray hairs back
the moments pass so quickly
yet, time seems to slow to a stop

“Mom”, we say again and again.
“I love you, mom.”
Is all we can say.
Our hearts get stuck
high in our throats.

A nurse comes in
to offer help
whatever can be done
to aid in comfort
for mom and us
“Blessed art those”
comes to mind,
for those who try to help.

Room settings at Jan’s
found out of doors
speak imaginations
worked into being

While God created flowers
Jan puts them together
in most pleasing ways
to ‘talk’ to us with pleasure
to color our days

She challenges limits
and pushes still farther
to sculpt from the prairie
a garden so grand
it’s tops in the land!

I’ve been touched by death along the way
Grandpa Warfel, on a hospital bed
my sister and I had been brought
so his final wishes could be spoken
In my mind’s eye, still
at age 13 then,
I picture clearly I laid my head on his chest
as he spoke what he wanted to say
I could feel his heart beating
and knew he hadn’t long

Grandma, then grandpa Hinton
were next to go, although
they always seemed far away
I didn’t see them much
and wasn’t close at all to them
So I remember their funerals
but both in a surreal kind of way

Then came Grandma Warfel, 96
passing in her sleep one night
Having visited with childhood friends the day before
laughing, remembering, she slipped away
Her simple wisdom remains in me
in so many different expressions

Then came Papaw, my step dad,
so much like my biological father, I’m told.
Neat guy! So bright! Great vocabulary!
Fun! We worked together learning farming
until illness pulled him away, slowly declining
Parkinson’s. A tough one.
I sat with him through the night
pneumonia challenging each breath
stopped, but his heart kept beating!
I quickly stepped across the hall
where my exhausted mom was sleeping
and we stood by his side
as a nurse listened to his heart
two long minutes, and it stopped.
I stepped out into the hallway
and looked out a window south
to watch the sun rising, beautifully…

Documents streamed from typewriters
and then from word processors
putting down in black and white
lives coming, passing
deeds and contracts and taxes
forms filled out and witnessed
to wit

Ah, it was good
to be a part
to share with a gentleman
and be encouraged
man to man affection, respect
passed along with the papers

When the created come together
as the creator did purpose
with His blessing
and the blessing of the family
the blessing of community
the blessing of the church
and the blessing of society
youthful passion can certainly soar

The mysteries of creation
‘Male and female He created them.
In His own image He created them.
And it was good.’
in discovery, giving to each other
create moments of passion blessed

From those unions
a child is given
and love that knew no bounds
grows, stretches, grows again with the child

Someday
the child is grown
and meets another
and the magic, the mystery
brings a grandchild

This season of concerts
of music swathing us
wrapping us in emotions and hope
lifting us up higher and higher
has that moment, when,
the concert finished
the songbooks are closed
so often the soloist folds the book to her heart
and there’s just a moment
stillness reigns

The creation of the piece
the discipline, practice of the performers,
the presentation, the gift to those who come
(Oh Come Let Us Adore Him)
the fleeting bonding of performer and listener
all have come together in time

But then it is over
Seconds pass, but just a few
and then comes the applause
people on their feet
Thundering, rolling waves of applause –
Well done! Bravo! Yes!

At first I thought it odd
that an accountant could be so tender
but then I met her dad
got to know him deeply
from trips together near and far
(three weeks in the Antarctic far!)
As we plumbed each other
I found the tender heart
expressed in care for students
long outside the classroom
A love for his mom
that was gripping
a love for his wife
a love for his daughter
impressive
indeed, a tender man
and indeed, an impeccable accountant

Through and through
an honest fellow
what you see
is what you get
a gift, is he,
in many ways
to me, to thee
and our community

Nine decades now
his hands on the plow
he’s preached to sidewalk pounders
about the vagaries of growing
the crops and animals
that feed the nation
freeing most to other work

One moment shines
for fifty years
he sires a sweet corn feat
“Champaign Rotary Sweet Corn Roast”
is him there is no doubt
He sets aside an acre
researches best genetics
plants and tends the very best corn
than picks it, cooks it, shares it free
to Rotary, church and friends

A little one
can easily say
“I love you mommy!”
“I love you daddy!”
and be as sincere as possible
But the depth and height and breadth are short
captured by the numbered birthdays

Adolescence takes some steps
bouncing here and there
between a great big ‘self
and discovering others
with hormones being thrown in
Then “I love you” may get said
to someone of opposite sex
but again, though sincere,
the measuring stick is short.

In college years
our subject moves out
into the partway world
Not at home
but not on own
tethered still, by needs
Hormones roar
demanding attention
so we may find each other
And liking that
along the way
may venture forth the words again
“I love you.”

Three little words
that can carry two worlds
yours and mine
to mist away the other worlds
A hand holds a hand
two people hug
and hold
And the world goes away
for a precious moment

The Good Book puts it this way:
“The two shall become one” There you have it.
Linked forever, come what may

Jan…

Becky…

Kathryn…

Jane…

Jessie…

Joanne…

Ruth…

Bitsy…

Jen…

Kate…

Mom…

Gammy…

Granny…

She has been a rib
Close to my heart
All of the way
Morning, noon, and night
Day after day
Year after year

From coed to gammy
Her counsel’s always firm
In her yes
And in her no
Honesty, integrity, have been her mark
Hard to think
Nigh impossible
To ponder life without her

While shaping my life
She has fostered others
Giving them life
Birthing, feeding, caring

So many touches
So many people
Along the way….

Business?
Hundreds
Success!
Young agents trained
Peer fellowship shared

Emotions need to get out
we’re really not made to keep them
in the right places
at the right times
we need to share them

A tightness in the throat
something is gripping us
and tears welling up
then falling like rain
is how we’re made
how we need to be

“In His own image he made them,
male and female He made them’…
So a part of God
is in each one of us
Mysteries do abound
and mothers were there
from the beginning

I sat in church
my beloved close beside me
I watched a family
two rows in front
sitting close together
father, mother, young son at ease
the father put his arm
around his beloved’s shoulders
(again, a common sort of thing in church)
and then the son
aged six or so
reached high for him
and put his little arm around his mom too

Permission shone
to all who saw
to all who drank it in

Permission is a God blessed gift
precious beyond measure

God the father
Awesome God
stretches us so greatly
can be intimidating
(and maybe should be)

In remembrance of Him
I lifted a cup to my lips
an emblem of life
poured out for us…, for me

Not my will, but thine, He said
then submitted himself to die

In remembrance of Sharon
words of love were spoken
recognition of a life invested
caring for Christ
caring for others

In peace, she slipped from this life
to a place prepared for her
promised, by a waiting Savior

I know a piece of love
I’ve seen some people wear it
they move in gracious ways
blessing those around them

I know a piece of love
I’ve heard the songs proclaim it
men, women, using words
that circle round about it

Sure, she can be a queen
but the word is much larger, not confined
held captive by parentage, nobility
and, Sure,
“In the beginning, He created them.
Male and female he created them.
In His own image, He created them.”

Lady brings together
beauty
mystery
complexity
class
poise
female
and often, mother

City streets
streaming traffic
mom and I on the curb
Her hand tight on mine
I was her prize
but you know what?
She was mine…too!
I just hadn’t thought about it yet

Years in passing
teen years came
and a girl became a girl
Beautiful smile
energetic lass
could run and throw and catch
but a switch was thrown
and things were different
one day I held her hand
others giggled
LW + JB
she smiled

Awake, but not really,
connecting dots is hard
needles come and go
tv’s show their paths
moving in very private places

Nurses pay us tention
knowing what to do
and when
and why
and where
and then
Doctors pop in and out
Stars of stage and screens
Skills hard to imagine
in their hands and brains
Tools hard to imagine
extend their reach
harm us less
and speed the way to recovery

Who knows?
Some day they might be captured on pages of the months
riding atop some 35 squares the month and year somewhere

I know it’s so, you see,
as I recently did
Drove fourteen hundred miles
smoother than you can believe

Concern, big time,
was in the seat beside me
A big thing, concern
about a daughter being challenged
‘Auto-immune disease’
the doctors call it
and indeed it is a challenge
a lot of “I don’t know’ in there

Mile after mile, I went
wide awake and alert
hour after hour, I went
moving with the traffic

Cued they come to take their seats
Strange hats with tassels
gowns all pressed just so
The end of a journey, they sit

Dignitaries gather
up high on a stage
Folks with titles
Offices gained
they look upon the graduates
they look upon the families and friends

Tall, tall cotton graduation day
graduation ceremonies
Lifetime memories marking

Time was,
I wore the gowns
graduated
but I came back
to do it again, and again

Maybe 40 more or so
I’ve been there
now on the officer side
Trustee
Chairman of the Board
I shake their hands
“Congratulations!”
“Well done!” I say.
Four hundred at a clip.

Of all these times
one stands out
with very special meaning.

There is a young lady
I watched grow up
along with siblings three
Actually, I remember her parents getting married
It’s been a while ago….

Beautiful child
beautiful young lady
but that’s not half the story

Her mind is keen
perception fine
in measuring situations
knowing people
in intuitive ways
she often knows them better
than straight line me
who tends to be
the last to sense some subtleties

Her judgment solid
time and again
she is the rock so firm
in sticking to
what she knows as ‘right’
matching knowledge with action