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.

I have been really blessed with a tremendous wife. Just took me twenty plus years to
really recognise it! The poem tells a little of the story of our 30 years together.


LIFE WITH THE WIFE

We met at a camp, some thirty-two years ago,
What life was to bring, little then did we know.
Yes, there was a spark, that brought us together,
A mutual attraction - more than just the weather!

Maybe more notice, of the weather should have been taken,
For just a few days later, the City of Wellington was shaken,
By the ‘Wahine Storm’, the like of which is so rarely seen,
A hurricane! Prophetic of our marriage, could it have been?

Still, two years later in the month of May,
Kathy and David married, on a cloudy day.
In Palmerston North Baptist, our vows were said,
The journey of marriage, lay tantalisingly ahead.

Two years on, after tripping right around the world,
Exploring our roots. In Britain, they were unfurled.
We came home, ready to start our family of four,
Two sons soon, followed later, by two sons more.

So twenty years of our marriage, it did pass,
Oh me, oh my, the time! How it does go fast!
Me, taking the male path of ‘girls, gold and glory’,
The wife ‘at home with the kids’, you know the story.

Turning my back on God, over this time,
The vibes between us, they ceased to rhyme.
Resulting in tears, flavouring the baking you see,
Kathy gently sobbing, while making muffins for me.

By now our business, we had lost,
In stormy seas, vigorously tossed,
But then, I did come to the Lord,
For Kathy, that did strike a chord.

To Tauranga City, here we came,
Life never again, to be the same.
The Lord developed new love in me,
For Him, my wife, and all the family.

Over the years since then, our relationship’s improved,
As the conflicts of the past, the Lord He has soothed.
Kathy graciously forgave me of my wrong,
On a new foot, life is now going along.

During the last ten years we have grown close together,
Finding strength in each other, whatever the weather.
So now, as we jointly share, life’s hopes and dream,
Our relationship’s blossomed - you know what I mean.

Not to say that we never, ever disagree!
That ‘perfect’ couple, I have yet to see!
But we are learning to respect each other’s opinions,
So opening our marriage to exciting new dimensions.

Valuing our differences, to paint a finer picture,
Our thought processes, an interesting mixture,
For women think differently, as all men know,
Frustrating sometimes, but helps us to grow!

As we go through turbulent times once more,
My God - no, not again! I am losing the score!
But this time, with God and Kathy on my case,
I’m no longer alone, in running life’s race.

‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’,
We face things together, our love ever growing,
Amazing the miracle that God has done,
For we enter life’s battles, victory won.

So, looking back on those first twenty years,
Could have avoided the flow of Kathy’s tears.
If only then, I had been willing to talk with the wife,
Would have banished earlier, much strife in our life!

Now, as we cuddle together, under the covers at night,
Here, ‘in the best bed in the world’, it is our delight,
To share together, all the adventures of the day,
And so our love blossoms - Lord, long may it stay.

Looking forward to the future, with excitement and hope,
For the Lord’s on our side, with problems we can cope.
Our maturing love, gently tightens the bonds of unity,
In the service of Jesus, we’re fulfilling our destiny.