In decades past in New Zealand, as in many countries I guess, it has not been the right thing for a ‘real man’ to be seen to be writing poetry, (except perhaps when trying to woo a lady!) so most of us haven’t. I can’t say that over the years I ever really had the inclination either, except for a couple of ‘moments of weakness’ when I was really feeling down and rhyming lines came into my mind.

All changed however at the dawn of the new millennium. I remember well, sitting at my computer, when the radical rhymes just flowing from my mind, through the keyboard and, almost magically it seemed, appearing on the screen. God was releasing a whole new dimension in my life. He never ceases to amaze me! It was the last thing I would have thought of doing myself!

Since then I have had lots of fun doing them, from time to time as the inspiration hits. Most take about a day to complete – 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, as is the rule in most things of life. I trust you may also derive a little pleasure from reading them too!

WIIIIIIIINTER
The weather has changed.....

THE CROOK CHOOK!
A meal gone wrong

INSPIRATION ZERO!
The title says it all! Deadline approaches!

LIFE IS FUN
Depression and loneliness are big problems today.

BLANK
My mind.

EASTER
The meaning?

DAY COMES, DAYS GO.....
Time speeding up?

THE MISSION
What is your lifes mission?

'Q'
Two major earthquakes in 17 days.

WORDPLAY
Words are both fun and meaningful.

WE CHOOSE
All too often we don't consider the long term consequences of our choices in life.

MY MUM IS 90!
The celebration of a monumental milestone in our family took place this weekend!

LOST AND FOUND
In God

ROGER
The big '0'

non(SENSE)
Mind abuzz!

U 2?
Not the band!

BUSY, BUSY
What is our priority?

CAN YOU WAIT?
Patience is a virtue

CHOICE
Today's choices affect our eternal destiny.

TO GO OR TO STAY?
Know not to outstay our welcome.

I WILL
A declaration.

CREATIVE!
Well, maybe!

NON-SENSE
Nothing to write!

LIFE
What to write?

CHOICES
Life's choices have consequences.

2009
A look ahead.

TICK TOCK
The clock stops for no man - or woman!

'USING'
Playing with words.

WHAT 2 WRITE?
Sometimes writing is not easy!

THE BUILDING
A story of waiting patiently for the Lord to act.

THIS WEEK
Not a good one!

DAVID'S RAMBLINGS
Brain getting rusty!

WAITING
We are not too keen on this in today's world!

GONE!
Death and grieving are part of life.

PLANNING AHEAD
What lies ahead in your life?

YES IT'S TRUE, GOD LOVES YOU!
An ode to those in ministry. (That's all of us!)

A PSALM
Of David (Tait) A cry of despair, trust and victory, during a time of difficulty in life.

MR BUMBLE
How can the bumble bee fly?

LIFE'S ROSES AND THORNS
Life is a challenge.

THE QUANDRY!
Have run out of ideas!

IN A HURRY!
In too much of a hurry?

LORD - HELP ME!
In difficult times we need to let the Lord have his way in our life!

NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN ANY MORE!
... if it's going to be like the church on earth!

TOMORROW
... inspiration will come.

CHRISTMAS TIME
... comes but once a year

LIFE!
It's funny how!

MUSING ABOUT MUSING
Musing can be hard work!

...EPT
Words ending in...

A DAVID MUSING
Very short

A MATTER OF TIME
A valuable commodity

A MINUTE IS A LONG TIME IN GOD
If we are listening.

ON THE WAY - NEARLY!
So much to do at the last minute.

FAITH
Learning to trust the Lord.

WHEN BAD THINGS ARE GOOD
Something to remember when things go wrong.

BASIL
A friend dies of cancer.

FAITH
A challenge to us all!

VICTORY!
In the journey of life.

DAYS OF ‘CHUNDER’!
36 long hours sailing upon the ocean.

BESIDE ME
A tribute to Kathy – my first poem ever!

BODY ‘Not So’ BEAUTIFUL?
The ravages of time strike us all.

LIFE WITH THE WIFE
Could fill the book! Abridged version.

YOU’RE STILL THERE
Even when the going’s tough!

DRIPS AND DROPS
A lesson from nature.

‘GRUTS’
A very private matter – all is revealed!

THE PATH
Slowed to a walk to learn this lesson.

GOD IS GOOD!
A tribute to my Dad.

ON THE RUN
Knew runners were mad? This proves it!

THE SHEEP AND THE GOAT!
All in the day’s work of a writer.

LIFE’S A LAWNMOWER, MATE!
The story of our family – warts and all!

SEVEN TIMES SHED FOR ME
What my Jesus did for me.

TO BEARD OR NOT TO BEARD?
The saga of the whiskers.

A GOOD MAN GOES TO HEAVEN?
Doesn’t he?

A FRIEND IS THERE
In a time of need.

'TIS ME'
A little about the unique mind of David.

When writing my book, ‘Eagles Fly High!’ I would go sometimes go up and stay at some
friends’ holiday home about half an hour north of where we live. This poem relates one
of my experiences there. Ironically, I eventually left the words I wrote out of the book
–saved them for another time. I thought the poem though, was worth leaving in.


THE SHEEP AND THE GOAT!

Before starting this story, I had better expand
On what I am doing here, in Bowentown land.
I came to write more of this book you see,
Without interruption, in peace and tranquillity.

My day started well, out of bed not too late,
In shorts and T-shirt, went down to the gate,
From there to go running, but what did I find,
Goodness gracious, my energy was left behind!

I plodded down the road at a snail’s pace,
Praying I wouldn’t meet a familiar face.
For vanity comes quickly, out there on the road,
Jogging an easy way, your friends so to goad.

There was a reason for my slowness you see,
For on the previous night, I had had no tea.
No meals indeed, on the day before that!
My body for me, would not go out to bat.

For I am fasting, seeking the Lord you know,
Praying for his inspiration to help me grow.
But in case you think I’m a super spiritual nut,
I’m also expecting now, a shrinking of the gut!

Next, sitting at my computer, uninspired,
Felt really down to it, suddenly so tired.
I was to write about ‘The Sheep and the Goats’ you see,
Expecting God’s revelation - that should have inspired me!

I looked at the computer, viewed the writing on the screen,
‘The Blood and the Lamb’, left from last night, it had been.
Then the computer, it asked me to save,
The answer no, was the one I gave!

In no time at all, I realised my mistake,
No corrective action, could I now make!
Gone forever, fifteen hundred words,
A day’s inspiration, lost to the birds.

I merely shrugged my shoulders, reacted very well,
Not like earlier days, when in anger I would dwell.
For the Lord had prompted me on the previous night
To print out a copy. Thanks to him, all would be right.

But I’m afraid I was still most unenthusiastic,
More hours of typing, don’t seem so fantastic!
For on my mind was ‘Life’s a Lawnmower Mate!’
So I sailed into it, all twelve verses did I create.

This philosophical piece took right through ’til lunch,
Not when fasting though, you’re not allowed to munch!
So I had a short walk, now taking time to ponder,
About my mistake, my sanity beginning to wonder.

A little happier now, for the poem was fun to write,
Too bad I have to work, so far on into the night.
I got down to it, typing my lost copy in,
Wasted hours really, but that was no sin.

The typing finished, took a wee drive,
To see the area, view how people thrive.
At 7pm I started again by gently rebooting the computer,
But ‘The Sheep and the Goats’, it came not one word nearer!

What would I do? Was my day to be a waste?
Because of one decision, that too made in haste.
But the Lord, he had another idea – you wait and see,
‘The Sheep and the Goats’, came flooding into me.

For hours I tapped furiously on the keys,
Fingers hard at work, like ten busy bees.
Five hours later, here it is - it’s finished!
My earlier despondency, quickly vanished!

Now it all goes to show, I guess,
The Lord can get us out of a mess.
On those days when everything goes wrong,
We can rely in Jesus, if to him we belong.