References:
In 1968, as part of a poem that I wrote, I wrote these words about 1st class McCormick { who was in charge of breaking me} – “That I may better understand those things which are common, in some degree, to all – and that in understanding that I may shed the vale which dims and sometimes even blinds my vision”.
My involvement with the DBSA of San Diego:
I have been a member for over 23 years – I have had encounters with over 2000 individuals with a diagnosis, their friends or family, Doctors and therapist. [maybe missed 10 meetings during that time period]
I have facilitated over 400 groups.
I have given the opening statement over 700 times.
I was diagnosed at the age of 50 by Doctor Flood at the VA. His last words to me were: “You are Bi Polar – You are in need of immediate treatment – If you don’t receive treatment you will be forcibly institutionalized within two years”
I did not take his advice and instead joined the group and the following is an expression of what I learned during my years of experiences within the group.
Premises that I operate under;
We human beings Hear, See, Think, Feel, Behave & Decide using our past experiences. Experiences are used as filters based on their numbers & emotions.
I create growth orientated behaviors, experiences, with the direct intent of developing personality traits that mitigate the effects {symptoms} of Bipolarism.
Why behavioral? Because it’s the closest that I could come to “Learning” as I did when I was a child.
Further;
Mental illness is having a bright active mind and playing with bad “Toys”. “Bad Toys” = Anger, Fear, Guilt, Shame, Hate, Revenge, Doubt ++.
A big part of my reformation dealt with self indemnity. I was taught as a child that the “Real” me wasn’t my physical self [religious training] and that the real me was a soul or spirit. Kind of like being an Avatar.
This soul or spirit became an mental concoction and limited my connection with my physical self to the extent that when my Real Real self began to feel anxious I wasn’t acutely aware of it. Note; catching feelings at their inception is vital to being mentally sound and is not possible when one is trapped in their brain.
An exercise for the reader; Say “I like ice cream” three times — Now, when you used the word “I” was it a mind mouth experience or a whole person expression? This is important – When one sees themselves as being their thoughts then an disconnect has occurred and doors to mental illness are opened.
Described later in this text is an exercise that helped erase this false sense of self.
My approach takes a lot of time and effort but has been effective for me. All attempts at adjusting from a primarily “Cognitive” approach ended in failure or only small improvements.
An example of a created behavior; I take a roll of pennies and just before going to bed and shortly after getting up I will slide each one off of the counter into a cup while rehearsing whatever theme word that I have picked. Note; when I do this exercise I usually do it in a state of ignorance while being mindful of my real self [the word means nothing to me]. 50 pennies 2X a day = 3000 experiences in a month.
Another example: Years ago I had anger issues. I created a behavior that helped lead me away from those issues — I took a 20lb. bag of rice and put an address label with the word “ANGER” printed on it. I took the bag out for long “Walks”. Shifting the bag from arm to arm – Shoulder to shoulder. Not going so far that I wouldn’t bring it back.
The first time I did this and got home I felt a sense of release as I laid the bag on the floor. I left it on the floor and enjoyed stepping over it. By the 3rd time I came to the understanding that I had earned my Anger one grain at a time. After the 4th time we ate the rice and the anger had disappeared.
Another eye opening experience. In January of 05 my word of the month was “Patient”. As was the case, during this time period, I used that word as my “go to sleep mantra”. I rehearsed the word approximately 100,000 times, during that month, in a state of ignorance. The next month I rehearsed the next word of the month as my go to sleep mantra.
About 8 months later I was engaged in a task in a “Helter Skelter” fashion and risking injury — The word “Patient” popped into my mind and I changed my behavior. This is how my approach is meant to work.
Another real life experience that I did; Pulling up to the 1st stop sign when leaving home, I would look at the sign and inside myself I would say Present, Here, Now. So that in two years time, about 2300 experiences.
I have been keeping a real life diary with calendars — Since 2004 — At the beginning of each year I pick a word of the year — Every time I find a coin on the ground or see a car with a brake light out I remember the word – So, randomly, over a 100 times each year I have added another experiential brick to my reference library.
Each month I pick a word of the month and frequently used that word as my “Go to sleep” mantra.
Each day I pick a word of the day with “Rest” always being used on Wednesdays.
The possibilities are endless – Along with the mantras one can easily add many experiences each day. I have come a long ways towards dealing with my mental illness.
I learned a long time ago that I could learn something from a “Cognitive” method and 5 minutes later it would be gone. With a “Behavioral” approach I can do exercises no matter what state of mind I am in.
I am never at a loss – I can always do something for the future me – Depressed or Manic. I have added millions of small brick-like experiences [using my behavioral methods] to my referential library during the last 40 years and Depression, Mania and Anxiety are not serious issues to me.
Speaking of anxiety; I created a behavior that helped me with that. My assumption is that when I am in a state of anxiety that my Oxygen & Adrenaline levels are high. I begin to lower the Oxygen levels by taking 3 short breaths and then exhaling the air from my lungs and then I begin counting within myself. I count until I need to take a breath.
Note; This exercise does require some homework – I needed to know what the base line number was, so I practiced when I wasn’t feeling anxious [Note: This is real smart] – My average count was 17. In a state of anxiety my count got as high as 42. When high [over 17] each time the exercise is done I have depleted some of the Oxygen. I bring myself down to near 17 by repeating the exercise.
On the adrenaline part; the mindfulness comes into play – There is something calming about being whole. BREATHING
My real key in dealing with anxiety is catching it early. This was made possible when I began to recognise that I was a “WHOLE” entity. If Me inner self begins to be disturbed I am instantly aware of it. It is possible to turn a small anxiety to just a bump in the road if caught early.
I believe that the approach that I am developing will be “Nearly” “Universal”. It involves a “Commitment” to “Life” though.
My behavioral approach has been the engine that has carried me through to date and is frequently reformed, amended and tweaked. It now is much simpler, concise and effective.
Early on I rehearsed mantra’s {created experiences}
Some of them were; Serious, Mature, Adult, Man – repeated easily 0ne million times = 4 million experiences. Brilliant, Aggressive, Calm, Courageous – 600,000 times = 2.4 million experiences. Smile, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Love, Enjoy – 300,000 times = 1.8 million experiences. Calm, Cool, Collected, Quiet, Whole, Complete – 400,000 times = 2.4 million experiences. Plus many millions of Present, Here, Now, Wanted, Loved, Needed, Important, Special, Prepared, Preparing, Good, Able, Fun, Happy, Awake, Aware, Insightful, Patient, Tough. Bamboo [a story all of it’s own], ++++++++++++++++++++++.
Note: How I come up with the numbers — Example – “Patient” repeated 2 times in a second – 120 times in a minute – 7200 times in an hour – 72,000 times in ten hours
Further note: I do not – Cannot accomplish these numbers now sense I have interjected a pause in between each word.
Almost just as important is that while creating these mantras “experiences” I wasn’t “RELIVING” all of the painful “EXPERIENCES” that used to differ me so badly. I had begun to break the chains that past traumas held over me.
This is a lot like brain washing – my reasoning – if I live in a filthy physical environment, I have no trouble in washing myself and my clothes. We live in a filthy psychological environment {“Water Boarding” –How much do you know about that? My answer: Too much}- ergo, I wash my brain.
Something that I learned in learning to do the mantras was – that as I was going to sleep {a time when I would normally be starting another “Psychological” adventure} that I was able to brake the chain of rehearsed past events and how they interfered with me enjoying my life. If it adds to my life it gets remembered – if not, I already forgot it.
Something happened about 10 years ago, that’s points to how doing the mantra’s has helped me get my “Mind” back. This happened many times during the second year of commitment [2005]; I would wake up in the middle of the night and could not remember the “Word” that I was rehearsing. Even though I had rehearsed it previously over 20,000 times.
I would lay there and search for the “Word” – sometimes for over 20 minutes. Finding it was a real “Accomplishment”.
I now know that that practice of finding my self {Reorienting} under the most distracting conditions {only partially conscious} has been instrumental in my “Recovery”.
This has turned out to be really important to me and suggest that others may get as “Lost” as I frequently was. Having the patient ability of finding my way back to reality has been essential to me.
We human beings – hear, see, think, feel, behave, decide using our past experiences [referential material]. Past experiences contribute as filters to our present interpretation of reality based on their emotional content – numbers – or a combination of numbers and emotions.
By choosing to create massive numbers of small non-emotional [Often done in a state of ignorance {trying to be cognitive interferes with gaining new understandings}] experiences I both block interference from previous “Bad” experiences and I am able to tailor the extent and rate at which I “ALTER” my personality.
Note 1/18/22 I gave up on the word “Bold” after a week of rehearsals. LMF
This is important: While learning to do the mantra’s, “ME” upper brain would interfere with “Thoughts”. Some of them where worthy and merited consideration. Some of them where not. Note: I would stop the Mantra if the thought had merit and consider it – Then go back to the mantra. If the thought didn’t have merit I would dismiss the thought and continue the mantra.
If I allowed a thought to be rehearsed more than two or three times and I saw it as being harmful to “Me” future self I would cease rehearsing it.
This “Learning to X thoughts out” – like pushing a button on a keyboard – turned out to be a very helpful tool for the present me..
Note; rehearsing the word Aggressive 600,000 times caused me some issues.
I would not recommend to a person with Bipolar the use of SAMe. Particularly in conjunction with 5HTP, DMAE, 7-KETO, Turmeric and Gotu Kola.
Having just had that experience, it took all of my training and coping skills s to manage that evening [Saturday night through Sunday morning].
I would have some real concerns for anyone without my history and training and how they might fare through something like that. One hint, If one’s self concept is that of a mental entity [or imagined spiritual entity] then when their mind is assailed, Fatigued, deferred or overwhelmed then the doors to terrific mental disturbances are opened.
This isn’t the case with me – I am not my thoughts, feelings, moods, imagination, plans, dreams, hopes or desires – I am simply “Me”.
I don’t see what I do as being “Positive Affirmations”. That would incorporate a relatively high percentage of cognitive anticipation. The moment I engage the rational part of my brain [Being Bipolar – that just has too many variances] I become susceptible to failure, doubt, concerns and worries over anticipated outcomes.
Most of what I do is done in the same fashion of a dumb farmer {Incidentally, I am a “Dumb” Farmer} throwing seeds on to the ground and waiting for the sun, rain, good fortune and time to bring it into fruition. I have planted million seeds – You reap what you sow.
When I now arrive at a point when I am no longer in touch with or in control of reality [“Mental reality”] I have and am my psychical self.
Because I have created, in a behavioral fashion, a pathway back [created in the past during every form of psychological variances that I have ever experienced] I am able to “plug in a Mantra” and be productively occupied until I regain my cognitive functions.
No FEARS, WORRIES or CONCERNS.
Note: the following was intently left un-edited LMF 1/25/22′
After a Manic event {Picture me chasing 4 basketball player sized mugger’s [Stabbers – they had just stabbed a friend of mine in front of the Pool-hall] Robbers down a dark street with the butt of a Pool Cue in my hand} many years ago [one in which I could have been killed or seriously harmed]. I ask myself “What words, if I better understood them, would have had me conducting myself in a better fashion?”. I came up with Serious, Mature, Adult, Man. Note; The previous and following was done when I was primarily a mental entity 1/20/22 LMF.
I started that mantra that night. I went to sleep with it. When I woke up in the middle of the night I did it some more until I went to sleep again. When I woke up in the morning I did it until I had a reason to get out of bed. I did this for a whole year. I was “FUCKING” tired of getting hurt or screwing things up. Over 500,000 times “Two Million experiences”.
I did this during “ALL” stages of consciousness. It became “Automatic” and I needed no understanding to engage it. Kind of like Hansel & Gretel dropping shinny stones on the ground so that they could find their way back in the dark.
I am conscious of how I am experiencing “Now” and how that might affect the “Me’s” of my future. I try to promote {enhance} those experience’s that contribute to the possibility of my future self’s deeper involvement with “Life”. The other stuff that doesn’t help doesn’t get remembered……………….
Enhance – Years ago my Mother asked me to cut down a 4’by4’ patch of pencil thick Bamboo by the pump shed. I was to get $40 for the job. I spent a couple of hours cutting it down to a crew cut shape and decided to come back the next day to get the roots out. The next day I soon gave up “ROOTS” were more then I bargained for A month later, while passing the pump house, what was staring me in the eyes – a six foot tall patch of Bamboo. My first thought was — I’d like to have a personality like Bamboo — Chop me down to the roots and a month later I’m back in form. Yes, the word Bamboo has a special meaning to me.
I did and do have a “Plan” and sleep maintenance is a very high priority. My planning started almost forty years ago and became more refined eleven years ago and even more refined and effective four years ago.
The sleep is covered by two main things – 1st, the mantras – They are so solidly and deeply ingrained in my personal referential experience library that I am and have been able to access and utilize them no matter where the upper part of “ME” brain goes. They literally occupy and bore “ME” upper brain to sleep. My favorite “Go to sleep mantra” is; Serious, Mature, Adult, Man. When I use it now I am usually asleep within 5 minutes.
2nd, I use Melatonin [from Trader Joe’s – 500mcg, chewable, 100 for $4.00]. I have used Melatonin 18 times this month for sleep related purposes and 4 time for anxiety related purposes. I have used Melatonin 151 times so far this year for sleep [avg – one for every 2.2 days] and 18 times for anxiety related symptoms [avg – one for every 18.5 days]. I used Melatonin for sleep 1045 times during the last 9 years [ avg – one every 3.1 days] and Melatonin for anxiety related symptoms 162 times during the last 9 years [avg – one every 29 days].
Note; The numbers were recorded on my calendar.
Lance Farrar; another part of my “Plan” was and is to have a full and complete life – one with wonderful relationships and meaningful occupations. As it turns out I have gone through [weathered] six “MAJOR” and over a score of moderate life’s challenges during the last 8 years.
What has allowed me to maintain my course is awareness that by going down the man-icky path I risked losing this wonderful life that I have built. I will and have willingly sponsored {the use of Melatonin} “Mild” depressions to avoid “Earned” major depressions.
More; early on I sot to design and develop, what I considered to be, a “Complete” personality. This was and is being accomplished with the Mantras, plus – the daily, monthly and yearly entries into and on calendars, plus, a host of other experiential exercises that I create and use on a daily basis.
15 years ago and before I was almost exclusively a mental entity. The only times that I was truly aware of my “Real” self was when I was in pain caused by an injury, In a state of advanced Anxiety, Sick and just after having an organism.
When I did my mantras I did them in the upper parts of “MY” brain as fast as I could- ERGO, the large numbers of rehearsals.
Example; I had an experience recently of an entire night with an extremely “UN-Quiet” mind. I choose the word “FAITH” as my mantra and repeated it around 70,000 times in various states of consciousness and partial unconsciousness. I had a psychical experience with “NO” psychological ramifications.
About 15 years ago I transferred the “SEAT” of authority from my {At the time “MY” body was a possession} upper brain to the area of “ME” heart.
Note; I used the term “ME” instead of “MY” — “MY” is a possessive term and say’s “Ownership” and not “Person-hood”.
From that time forward I did my rehearsals from the area of “ME” heart while “EXPERIENCING” as much of “ME” Whole, Real, True and only self as I could.
Note; this real me was previously called “My” body.
Some would call this a form of “Mindfulness”. Hands, Feet, Arms, Stomach, Back, Butt, Legs, Arms, Face – That was the real “ME”, always here and now.
I had been ignoring the “Real” me for most of my life. Virtually all of my previous experiences of anxiety were a product of being locked in parts of “ME” upper brain and playing with “BAD” toys and ignoring the building tensions within “ME” real self..
On the subject of mindfulness: I have created an exercise that I have done 1000’s of times — While laying in bed and getting comfortable – From the area of my heart, silently, I state a proposition.
I start off with “This is who I am” and the answer is to experience my whole self. Then “This is what I am” followed with the same answer – experiencing my whole self. Then “This is where I am” followed by the same answer. Then “This is the real me” Followed by the same answer Then “This is enjoying me” followed with the same answer — There are many proposional statements that can be added all followed by the same answer – Experiencing one’s whole self. Words like: Happy me, Accepting me, Loving Me, The smart me, The good me, the prepared me. There are many other propulsions that can be used – It’s your garden – Plant what you like.
For me this has been a life saver – A mind saver – A useful grounding method.
VERY IMPORTANT On advice of a close and wonderful friend, Walter, I put a pause in between each rehearsal to many good and unexpected results. I cannot over estimate the value of putting that pause in between each word.
At group I said that 99.5% of the work that I do was done when I wasn’t in trouble. If anyone hopes to employ any of my methods only when and as they are “LOSING” it, I question how effective it might be. You can give it a try.
My goals are not only to be free from harmful excitements and depressions but to become as “OPERATIONAL” a human being as I possibly can be.
June 2nd 2023: Best explanation I can give of why I do what I do is — It puts me into a continual growth pattern — I am Hearing, Seeing, Thinking, Feeling , Deciding, Behaving using my past experiences — With over 20,000,000 added experiences during the last 40 years.
It is a “Life” style — planting seeds for the “Future” you – It’s your garden – you have 100’s of opportunity to plant some seeds — You reap what you sow.
Even bet – That the you that is to be here in 5 years will be Seeing, Hearing, Thinking, Behaving, Deciding, Feeling using their past experiences.
Note; I just got back from a trip to Parris Ca. . During the trip I found 3 coins and saw 11 cars with a brake light out. My word of the year is Authority – I added 14 remembrances — This is how I learned as a child.
P.S.
We live in a divided nation and world. I believe that my works represent good sense and morality – Something that the world sees as sorely lacking in the U.S..
My first poem titled “Loneliness” – written in 1967 – Written the day after a “Sponsored” emotional breakdown . This Break Down happened 10 months into my service in the U.S. Navy. My crime: I would not seek rank in the U.S. Navy. This decision not to seek rank had it’s roots from my experiences in “Boot Camp”. Company Commander, Chief Petty Officer Collins, was a violent alcoholic that liked “Beating” up boys. My last reference to him was at the side of a Red Brick building that I and another recruit were leaning against. His words to me were; “Collins is gone”. “He finally made the mistake of close fisting a recruit in front of wittiness’s.
1.
The gold sun in the morning
The yellow sun at noon
The red sun in the evening
This my sun, my warmth and my comfort
Then there’s the shade of a tree
And a pleasant breeze
The love of a girl
With my heart at ease
Oh! For curious conversation
And lingering melodies
For the warmth of that sun
And the shade of that tree
For the delight in her kiss
And the thrill of her want
My souls own existence would I impart
To that what warm being
Who would ease my heart
2.
These next words were written about a week later and were written about 1st class McCormick. He presided over my “Breaking”.
I think of him as the dust brought about by the wind
But I find myself with hands tied from behind
And my eyes held open
As to afford me the most irritation
I feel, that if there is to be a reason in his being,
That it might be – that I – may better understand
Those things which are common, in some degree, to all
And that in understanding that I may shed the veil
Which dims and sometimes even binds my vision
It is my prayer, that if there is to vestige of he or I,
That it be of progress – No matter how negative his approach
3.
This next poem titled “America 1970″ was written soon after witnessing a “Bar Brawl” in which lives were destroyed. This was also the time of the Vietnam War – The Chicago Police Riots – Heavy use of drugs by the youth. The previous generations words to us while they were killing us and keeping their jobs was; “Love it or leave it”.
I see a man upon the moon
For America he does stand
And then an angry, violent cop
A club within his hand
I see a friendly crowd
Gathered on a barroom floor
They’re bashing in a man’s head
Oh God I don’t know what for
I see men scream
I hear men cry
How can a man in Washington
Choose who is going to die?
A friend of mine has no cares
Of what is going to be
He spends his time expanding his mind
With a drug called LSD
The old folk’s know how it will be
When their dead and gone
While I’m still wondering, If tomorrow comes,
How we’ll carry on
It’s a kind of world I may not like
But I’ll have to take a part
I also realize It will have to change
Can you think of a better time to start?
4.
This poem was written in the early 70’s and is titled “Story Book World”
Story book world
Where have you gone?
Your pages are torn
Between pro and con
Your beautiful plot
has turned to decent
your actors are filled
with so much lament
Is it because a story
Is only a tale?
Or is it the actors
Their jobs they did fail?
Within ourselves
We might try to look
But life is to so very few
An open book
We ask with concern
Just what is our role
From what Well do we dip
To strengthen our soul?
For meaning in life
Is an illusive truth
And it is it’s evasiveness
That disturbs our youth
5.
This poem was written in the early 70’s and is titled “Self”
I wander along a mountain’s path
Look towards the sky above
I see a rugged snow clad peak
The conquest which I dream of
About me spread clovered slopes
So pleasant there to lie
Yet there’s that lofty mountain ridge
Set against the sky
With rapid breath and beat of heart
Excitement fills my head
Knowing that if I reach those mountain peaks
My conquest will be dead
But there’s another goal
I feel I must attain
It’s set off in some lonely corner
Locked within my brain
And for the key I’ll search to find
That which is inside my mind
It’s a blind man’s attempt to see
With the thought that it might take an eternity
6.
This was written in the early 70’s and is titled “Life”.
As I take a walk
Through days life
I lessen the burdens
Of mortal strife
Like some I’m looking
For a celestial goal
I’m looking for a cloud
On which to rest my soul
There’s got to be a place
Somewhere far from here
A place where the value of life
Is held a little dear
But why should on wait
To show life some concern
Why should one die
To find something he didn’t learn
Maybe there’s a point
Where everything stands still
Possibly there’s a top
To life’s Oh so steep hill
But as with every moment
Heart beat and all
Try as I may
Time I cannot stall
So, looking at today with just one thought in mind
With every tomorrow, I’ll try to find
A place in my life for everything I’ve learned
And try to treat that life with a little more concern
7.
This poem was written in 1980. . The title is “The Jungle”
We live in a time of powerful men
And their powerful words
We’re blamed for past faith
And the asked to believe the absurd
We’re expected to forget
Why bother forgive
Things fly by so fast
There’s no time to live
Confusion is so common
It’s accepted as norm
There are schools to adjust
As new realities form
We’re learning to change
To adjust and adapt
To put on a new personality
Like changing a hat
We’re led to the left
And then to the right
Our old folks are at peace
While our children fight
Yes folks, after you’ve heard
What I have to say
We’re living in a jungle
And there’s more on the way
So, just what’s the point?
Why bother to speak?
It’s that the future is for the fittest
And we’ll bury the weak
8.
The title to this next poem is “Donna” and is about a major love of my life.
We met, We loved, We fell in love,
We gave, We took, We touched,
We dreamed, We hurt, We kissed,
We grew, We were with, We were without,
We worked, We played,
We made much good love,
We tried, We fought, We joyed,
We cried, We lived, We died
Now I live and I’ keep the memories
9.
This poem was written in the mid 80’s. It’s about a women that I had known thru her work situation. She never appeared attractive until I had the chance to see her after she had been partying and had a smile on her face. The title is “Wallflower”.
A rose unexpressed
It’s beauty not quite clear
Until the sound of it’s laugher
Fell on this one’s ear
10.
This poem was written near the time of my Mother’s death and is titled is “My ignorant Mom”.
Mother didn’t understand many things.
Amongst them were Hatred, Fear, Drug use,
Smoking, Racism, Bigotry, Greed, Envy,
Jealousy, Suicide, Vengeance, Waste,
Depression and Sloth.
Would that we all were that ignorant.
11.
This poem was written in the mid 80’s and is titled “What am I”.
What am I?
How was I built?
Of loneliness and loss?
Of remorse and of guilt?
Is a man to be built
From sleeping on stone?
From struggle and strife
To always be alone?
If so, from where comes the sparkle
The smile on the face?
The strength in the arms
The will to run the race?
Man, whether constructed as monument on hill,
Or fern in forest deep
Needs more than hardship and hurt
To wake him from his sleep
Man needs from Woman – a touch
The warmth of an embrace
For they can reach through the ages
And put a smile on his face.
12.
This poem was written about 2006 and is titled “The Redwood Tree”. It’s about a support group {the dbsasandiego.org} that helped me put my life back together.
I want to share with you and your comunity a poem,, TThe Redwood Tree, that I wrote. My contact info is; Lance M. Farrar – PO. Box 2144 – Julian Ca. – 922036 – lanceviger1@gmail.com – [619] 318-1025
The Redwood tree
How tall can it grow
From the rules in it’s genes
Some three hundred feet or so
Blessed with sun, rain
And soil of good depth
Far below on God’s green earth
All other trees are left
It can live through the ages
And for millennia reign
It can blot out the sky
And treat gravity with disdain
Oh! But what about the wind
That mighty force
Many roots from the ground
The wind has divorced
If left to grow alone
My thoughts do suggest
That this giant Redwood tree
By it’s genes is not blessed
Buffeted by the wind
All alone to stand
Neither great height or old age
Is in this tree’s hand
Only with others
Governed by rules much the same
Can a tree of such majesty
Its destiny attain
Look about you and see
As against life’s winds you must cope
That in the welfare of those that stand with you
Lays your best hope
Seek out the young seedlings
Give them space and a good start
Nurture their development
And you’ll have peace in your heart
________________________
Lance M. Farrar
Copy – Post – Share
13.
This poem was written at the request of a friend that has a son in elementary school who has an assignment to write a poem about “Cookies”. I don’t think that it was used.
Mary wants my cookie
This cookie she will not get
It’s large and round and special
My favorite one you can bet
Girls are strange and funny
They want what belongs to me
Mary wants my cookie
And she wants me to give it to her for free
Oh! I know this can never happen
On this my mind is set
Besides I’m only ten years old
And I don’t even like girls yet
This poem was written for a Toast Masters speech in the early 80’s.
Who should sound the trumpet
And make the clarion call?
Who should sound the trumpet
And raise us one and all?
Raise us to our glory
To action against defeat
Who should sound the trumpet
And raise us to our feet
To our feet not to flight
But life’s best advocates be
Who should sound the trumpet?
Perhaps you and me.
14.
This was written to a love of mine who I knew was suffering during our separation.
The title is “What lost love is this”.
What lost love is this?
Why do I ask?”
Because I cannot see in your eyes
The lamps once lit for that which was once held
But hear only the howling of the wind
As it blows past he caverns of your empty heart
Feel forsaken not
For I am with you
As is the sprit which held my hand
And pushed my pen
And opened my eyes
To see you as I do now