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.

Some people can inspire in the midst of terminal pain and suffering, My mate Basil was one of those.

BASIL

It comes to us all, once to die,
Our best to ignore it, we do try.
Don’t know how, nor when, nor where,
Until death, in the face, does us stare.

For most, the sands of time predictably flow,
Plenty of life, our ultimate destiny to know,
Three score years and ten, normally more,
The last few perhaps, may be a chore.

For some though, death comes as a shock,
A life snuffed out at the tick of a clock,
In the fiery inferno of a collapsing tower,
Or a car, ramming another at full power.

But our Basil was chosen for a different task,
A walk through sickness and pain was his ask.
God knew what an inspiration he would be,
And he surely was, both to you and to me.

Basil I have known for a good number of years,
A wise man, a prophet, somewhat given to tears,
A man well respected, both at church and at home,
Salt of the earth, with not too much hair to comb.

But it was only during this current year,
That Basil’s character became so clear,
Oh, what had I missed out on, in days now past,
In a busy life, where spending time, comes last.

Unless the house has been built on a firm foundation,
Trials and troubles easily lead to spiritual ruination.
But through his pain, the light of his Saviour did shine,
What I saw in his life, I would like to see in mine.

Of course, he did naturally ask the question,
“Why me Lord?” I did hear him mention.
Then his wry sense of humour would shine through,
As into perspective, his whole life came into view.

Basil has been an inspiration to us all,
Through his trials, he has walked tall,
The quiet man - thought he had little to offer,
In his ultimate test, came through to conquer.

Basil my mate, us you still inspire,
In that certain faith, we so desire.
I will miss you my friend, so Basil tears I now shed,
As I seek to follow the path, in which you have led.


David Tait: 4 October, 2001