Behind closed doors - a Civil War,

Between my heart and mind;

God forgive me for my sins,

As I leave this world behind.

On Tender Thought

On tender thought
I think of you
Your kind heart
Your words so true.

A personality
You often share
Your great love
And time you spare.

Your sweet spirit
Soft spoken word
Your great presence
I’m pulled toward.

Now I must ask
On tender thought
Don’t stop sharing
Your kind heart.

Randa Lee Hanes
Written in 2004

Copyright ©2010 Randa Lee Hanes

The Blue Jays sing a song of Earth

The Blue Jays sing a song of earth –
But not as beautiful as mine
I look out the window and spring is gone –
But Summer will come in Time.

Yet Summer will leave
And Fall will come bringing Winter Along –
The Flowers will die – Leaves will fall –
Killing the Blue Jay’s Song.

The Cardinal Reds and Blue Jays come
They’ll fight for Sea and Land –
Like so many years ago –
With the British and Americans.

Now the Thaw has come
And the Birds are Back –
Some have Died – Some have been born –
The Song of the Blue Jay’s is Back.

Randa Lee Hanes
Written in the style of Emily Dickinson in 2004

Copyright ©2010 Randa Lee Hanes

A Drummer's Song

The drums roll
The symbols crash
The bass’ pound
A drummer’s song.

The timpani sounds
The snares beat
The bongos tap
A drummer’s song.

Without the drummer
The band would die
So don’t ever forget
The drummer’s song.

Randa Lee Hanes
Written in 2003

Copyright ©2010 Randa Lee Hanes

Irish Hills

The music rings
Through Irish hills
Fiddles, guitars, and banjos
Through lakes, streams,
And riverside mills.

Oh, the Irish lad
Sings the fiddler’s song
And climbs Irish hills
As the day is long.

The song of the drunken
Young Irish man
Is foolish and dumb
With rum in hand.

Upon the very top
Of an Irish hill
Is the Blarney Castle
With stone kissing will.

Randa Lee Hanes
Written in 2003

Copyright ©2010 Randa Lee Hanes

Grandpa

I remember some things about you
Like your face and m&m’s
Your little house and wiener dogs
And other odds and ends.

My heart is full of love for you
I never will forget
I didn’t get to say goodbye
My parents still regret.

Someday I’ll tell my children
How good you were to me
Their great-grandpa Ronnald Hanes
Was the best grandpa he could be.

~This poem is dedicated to my Grandpa Hanes who died when I was 5 years-old.

Randa Lee Hanes
Written in 2004

Copyright ©2010 Randa Lee Hanes

Grandma

You sent me home
After spoiling me rotten
You’ve passed on
But you’ll never be forgotten.

Homemade cookies
Candy and food
They always brought me up
No matter what my mood.

I look in the mirror
And see you there
But I could never be like you
With any small prayer.

I’ll love you forever
And miss you ‘til we meet again.

~This poem is dedicated to my Grandma Hanes, who died when I was 8. Her birthday is July 26th.


Randa Lee Hanes
Written in 2004

Copyright ©2009 Randa Lee Hanes