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.

This is my very first poem, written during a really hard period in my life. For we had
lost our business and I was fighting desperately, ultimately unsuccessfully, to stave off
bankruptcy. Written in the days before I became a Christian, (it took bankruptcy to do
that – some of us are slow learners!) but I was starting to look at what really are the
important things in life.


BESIDE ME

When I look back on all we have done together,
Picking the daffodils in the wind and the rain,
I am so grateful that whatever the weather,
And bearing the back that gives you pain,
You have walked beside me.

At times it has been a lot of fun,
We have laughed, cried and had the odd thrill.
But more often you have had to run,
To race, to get the job done, but still,
You have walked beside me.

And now, when my life has collapsed around my ears,
Your strength has helped me to keep my sanity,
When I have been down and experienced new fears, While I have suffered great blows
to my vanity,
You have walked beside me.

I have worked so hard all these years,
To yours and the family’s cost.
It is hard sometimes to fight back the tears,
Yet no matter how much we have lost,
You have walked beside me.

Your beauty has always drawn me to you
Like the bee to the flower of the honeysuckle tree,
To me I know you have always been true
While surely, sometimes you have wanted to be free,
You have walked beside me.

And though life at times seems bitter, twisted and curled,
Your love gives me strength to go on fighting.
I am just the luckiest man in all the world,
To have your name next to mine in writing.
You have walked beside me.

And now as I have to rebuild my life’
To meet new challenges, to reach new goals.
How blessed I am to have you as my wife,
To know that however the countryside rolls,
You will walk beside me.