College Life

Another poem: Apparently I like writing longer poems. This one was also written the same as "This Path of Life" for an investigator on my mission who liked poetry:

A mother's love
For her child
Is unlike any other
Or so I've been told

Once I knew a story
Of a Father wise and pure
They say He loves His children
More perfect that a mother (Isaiah 49:15-16)

As we all know, children grow
And oft times go astray
But whenever they wish to come back
We always help them find their way

This Father that I spoke of before
Is mine and yours in heav'n above
But where is He? And why are we
Here on this Earth with pain and grief?

Well here is where the story continues
Our Father raised us, til our spirits grew
But still we lacked a few things
A body like His and our "Master's Degree"

Here on this Earth is college life
Where we have to learn all on our own
A place to learn to be
All that we can and learn to grow

But we haven't been left
With nothing to help
He's given us a few
Very special tools

A Bible and a Book of Mormon
Serve together as textbooks
And prophets today that know
Our needs are our professors.

But this is not all
We have been given
We have two more tools
More special than these


Any time we need to call
And ask for help or guidance
All we have to really do is
Get on our knees and pray

The Holy Ghost He's sent
To answer us, and act
As a tutor in anything
That we might need.

And with all these tools
We cannot fail for One
Has come before us
Christ our Savior.

He's taken all our courses
Knows the answers all by heart
And when we need that extra help
He's always there to guide us.

Now sometimes, by chance or fault
We may hurt another
We aim to please but sometimes fail
To show others how much we really care

But even as a mother
When once child hurts another
You may feel sad, to see one hurt
But still you love them both

And so it is with our Father above
When we by chance mess up and fail
His love is still there, perfect and pure
And to those we may hurt He cares for them
Just as He does for you and me.

While on this path of college life
We make mistakes to learn and grow
But when we pass, no matter how long
He's waiting for you with arms open wide

This Path of Life

A poem I found that I had written on my mission, we had an investigator who liked poetry so we wrote poems to put together for her:

This path of life
Is full of strife
Dark clouds can blind
And confuse our mind

Over rocks and boulders
We may stumble
"Oh why this heavy burden on my shoulders?"
I oft times hear myself mumble

Oh why can't I
Find peace? I cry
I can't go on anymore
This life has made me much too sore

And just when life seems at its blackest
Something registers within my soul
"Come unto me and I'll give you rest"
If only rest could be my goal

I fall to my knees
And then I see
This path I've led
Is paved ahead

Someone must have walked before
I look around to see behind me
My Savior stood there and here He bore
Me up and carried me from hence to thee

In all my times of darkest trial
My Savior walked the extra mile
He waited to rejoice in all I could do
Before He picked me up and made me like new

So do I regret these times of affliction?
And why He waited so long to come save me?
Not at all, for my life is not fiction
I learned and I grew to be all I can be

Carols and such

So a few things to cover that I think all goes together, but maybe not for you. First off, we went to "The Forgotten Carols" last night and I've seen it before and LOVE the songs- or at least some of them. In it Michael McLean, or John, reminds "Connie Lou" that everyone has their very own "Carol". I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sing, but have never been successful at writing any songs. I claim my poetry sucks but the truth is, it only sometimes does, but it never seems to be good, like song quality. But I was inspired from last night's show to give it a try one more time. (A few side notes: I'm going to try and use some connections I have already to try and work on a singing career... send in some demos I already have- make a few more... who knows? Maybe something will come of it. I'm going to take some acting classes, if they're available- though I'll likely have to drive to Salt Lake for them and record some more! :) I love recording!) So I got home and started brainstorming for my carol... Result- well I got the brainstorming done to make a poem- but not a carol.

One of my strongest experiences where I felt closest to the Savior was during a heart-break. I had actually been warned of a heartache, but thought I knew what kind and thought I could prepare for it. But I don't think anything could have possibly prepared me for the heartache I endured. It happened after a relationship- one of the more common causes for heartbreak. I felt like I couldn't turn to my parents for sympathy because I knew they were happy it was over. There were a lot of things I hadn't shared with others and so there really was only ONE person I could turn to. I never had a favorite hymn before that time and now it is "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" I LOVE the melody- slightly sad, but not depressing- still uplifting. I can add my own vocal stylings to it when I sing. And I love the words:

Where Can I turn for peace,
Where is my solace
when other sources cease to make me whole.
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul
Where, when my aching grows,
Where when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching,
In my Gethsemane,
Savior and Friend
Gentle the peace he finds
for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind
Love without end.

And now the poem I came up with, with this song as my inspiration. I have not proofread it, so any friendly comments or critiques to improve it would be appreciated. My goal is to keep writing poetry that eventually I can turn into songs (and to also get better at composing on the piano as well...).

Only He

Through stormy trials
And serious heartache
He it is who knows my soul
He alone can heal

In the darkest hour
My heart has ever known
One alone, knew the answer
The peace my heart could not fathom

Through tears of grief
And zombie-like phases
Going through motions
Because my heart was not whole

“It takes time to fix a broken heart”
They said, but time seemed to elude me
Time was not the answer
It was He who fixed me up

In His eyes, I’m perfect
I’m worth more than gold
It is not my fault, this heartache came
So He has made me whole

Now the future lies, unsure
But with Him by my side
I know it will be beyond compare
To my previous love affairs

With His blood so freely spilt
He paid the price of my broken heart
He has fixed it once, and He will again
And keep me safe in His arms

For in His arms I need not fear
Of ever being left alone
I need no man to dry my tears
For my Savior will always be there

I need no man… but still I long to find
A man who has learned like I
To call the Savior friend
And lean on Him through all time