Love And Family | Daniel Mark Picture Poems

Archive for the ‘Love and Family’ Category

For Valentine’s Day: A Love Poem Revisited

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

It’s Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s a poem for those in love, and those who want to be:

A Thousand Dreams

I have dreamed a thousand dreams

in vivid colors

with brilliant hue,

with still blue waters on golden sand,

with mountains rising from the land,

and endless flowers waving then

in gentle winds in summer sun.

I have dreamed a thousand dreams,

and you are there in every one.

I have seen the spectrum of rainbows cross the sky,

showing every color

to discerning eye.

I have touched the endless waves

of seas upon the shore-

a hypnotizing rhythm always changing yet the same

as it ever was before.

I have smelled the scents

of a million lovely flowers,

making beauty just by being,

dancing in a gentle breeze,

heeding not the passing hours.

I have heard the whispers

of the wind across the sand,

and I have felt a mountain move

when you held my hand.

And now I see it all so clear:

this is real and we are here,

touched by fortune, kissed by grace,

now as one in love’s sweet space.

And as I look upon your face,

a thousand dreams are now in view.

Kiss me now and hold me near:

All my dreams have now come true.

Tags: "daniel mark picture poems", anniversary poem, dream, dreams, gift, gifts, heirlooms, love, love poem, love poems, love poetry, passion, picture poems, poetry, Thousand dreams, Valentine, Valentine poem, Valentine's Day
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That You Remember Me Part II of II

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

This is Part II of two parts of a poem called “That You Remember Me.” This was written in reference to Alzheimer’s Disease, which afflicts so many people and their families. I wondered what it must be like to realize that one’s mind is becoming forgetful. The victim must fear being forgotten, just as they are forgetting. How frightening that must be. Please give generously to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

That You Remember Me

I love to watch a baseball game,

or listen to the birds.

I love to tell you secrets.

I love to hear your words.

I love for you to sit with me;

perhaps you’ll hold my hand

and tell me that you love me–

that I’ll understand.

My mind has ways of taking me

where I don’t want to go.

I know I know your name, you see;

just right now it’s hard for me

to think of things I really know,

and to know what really is

and what may not be so.

Though I might forget you,

it’s important that you see

just how much it means to me

that you remember me.

* * *

Posted in Family-Children, Health, Love and Family | No Comments »

Alzheimer’s Disease: That You Remember Me

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

That You Remember Me

Part one of two parts

I’ve learned so much throughout my life

I know it’s in there somewhere

but it’s hard to find it all.

It’s not that I’ve forgotten you,

or the things I said I’d do;

I remember everything

but it’s hidden somewhere I can’t see

just beyond my view.

You see, there is a shadow where

there didn’t used to be,

and sometimes when I look right there

it just confuses me.

I remember lovely flowers,

and songs I used to sing.

I remember springtime showers,

and rainbows they would bring.

I remember movies

and who would be the star,

but sometimes it’s so hard for me

to know just who you are.

Donate to Alzhiemer’s research.

Tags: "daniel mark picture poems", "poems of inspiration", Alzheimer's poem, Alzheimers disease, family, gifts, heirlooms, memorial poem for family member, poems, poetry, That You Remember Me
Posted in Health, Love and Family, Memorial Picture Poem | No Comments »

A Christmas Wish For You

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Here is a short holiday poem. We printed this poem on picture matting and we inserted a photograph of our daughters (previously used for a Christmas card) in the center, which is a nice and cheery way to greet holiday guests. Click on the photo to see it in a larger size. Comes in 10″ by 8 “.

A picture poem to greet your holiday guests.

A Christmas Wish for You

May the bells of Christmas ring

a song that never ends.

May the joyous sounds they make

bring peace to all our friends.

May the lights of Christmas bring

an everlasting glow.

May the love that fills our home

bring warmth to all we know.

May love and joy and peace be yours

now and evermore.

Tags: "daniel mark picture poems", "the power of words", Christmas, Christmas poem, Christmas wish, dream, family, friends, gift, gifts, happy, heirlooms, holiday, joy, neighbors, peace, picture poems, words
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Ron Santo: A True Hall of Famer. Thataway, Ronnie!

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

After too many years, and one year too late, Ron Santo is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died just over one year ago, and so he did not know during his lifetime that he had finally received major league baseball’s highest honor: to be elected and enshrined in the Hall of Fame. I hope he knows now! But more than baseball, he was an advocate for the children who suffer from the disease that he suffered from most of his life. He had Juvenile Diabetes, and during his career, few knew that he had to test his blood and give himself insulin multiple times a day in order to save his life and health. He committed his life to helping children who suffered from this disease, helping the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to raise over $ 60 million to support research to find a cure for it, and to help the children, all while undergoing two leg amputations and multiple other health issues. I am re-running this poem in honor of his Hall of Fame election. It is called “For Every Kid.” And thank you, Ron Santo, a true Hall of Famer!

For Every Kid

You played the nation’s greatest game

with talent and with fire,

reaching deep within yourself

yet always reaching so much higher.

It is a game learned by boys,

yet also played by men.

You played the game so you’d inspire

everyone to have some fun–

so men would play like boys again.

There was a joy to making catch

that others might not make,

or to drive the runner home

when victory was at stake.

Every game was a test

of stamina and will.

You always gave your very best:

you played with passion;

you played with skill;

stars may dim but never rest.

And when the games were over

and the crowds were getting thin,

you gave yourself to different cause,

more determined now than ever

to fight the fight and to win.

You saw the children suffer

from the burdens that you knew.

You gave your all the only way

that you knew how to do:

have a passion; set a goal;

make a plan; then pursue.

You knew their hurt; you knew their pain;

you knew the fear in each one’s brain.

You showed them courage;

you gave them hope.

You taught them how to live and cope;

you showed them that there was no shame.

You gave yourself; you gave your name:

you kept the kids in the game.

So thank you, Mr. Santo,

for everything you did:

for the game; for the Cubs;

and most of all–above it all–

for the love you showed for every kid.

You fought the fight every day

and still you played the game.

the Biggest Leagues have called you up:

You’re a star in every sense–

you’re in Heaven’s Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Ron Santo! All good things to his family!

Tags: "Hall of Fame", "poems of inspiration", "Ron Santo", "the power of words", baseball, chicago cubs, child, heirlooms, Juvenile Diabetes, love, memorial poetry, passion, picture poems, poetry
Posted in Family-Children, Health, Love and Family, Memorial Picture Poem, Sports | No Comments »

Steve Jobs: Organ Recipient / Gratitude to Donors of Life

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

So Hope Will Live (Part IV of IV)

Today we conclude So Hope Will Live. This is Part IV.

Boston College has a motto: “Ever to Excel.” It is adopted from Homer’s Iliad.

It is a great motto for a great university and for all of us,

because it encapsulates a pursuit that all of us should undertake.

Steve Jobs pursued excellence and his legacy will long remain so long as others do the same. And he was allowed to continue his pursuit of excellence even after a devastating diagnosis because of the intelligence and talents of medical professionals, and because of the generous gift of life from an organ donor.

As I said earlier, this poem was not written with Steve Jobs in mind, but it might express his sense of gratitude to his donor. We do know that while he was alive, he did thank his donor. This poem is written from the perspective of a recipient to his or her donor and family. Two families are now bonded in a way like no other.

Strangers are indeed now a family.

Donate Life. Your Life Will Go on Living.

So Hope Will Live Part IV of IV

Know that I am grateful

for the life you gave to me.

May my life give you light

wherever you might be.

And may my life bring comfort

from the pain that hurts you so;

we are strangers now a family,

wherever we may go.

And may the life that lives in me

shine a light so all can see

that life goes on, ironically,

when we choose to donate life,

so hope will live, eternally.

P.S. I have not yet read Walter Isaacson’s book entitled, simply, Steve Jobs, but I intend to.

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Posted in Health, Love and Family, Organ Donation | No Comments »

Steve Jobs: Organ Recipient Extraordinary Life Part III of IV

Friday, October 14th, 2011

The tributes to this remarkable man continue all over the internet. The following poem was not written with Steve Jobs in mind, but it might reflect the gratitude he felt for his donor.

Below you will see Part III of “So Hope Will Live.”

Donate Life! Be an organ donor.

So Hope Will Live (Part III of IV)

Your gift has given life to me –

a gift of love, born of pain –

joined by science, joined by fate -

a bond that bridges life and death –

a bond of love; a bond of pain -

a sad and strange irony –

a gift of life now given me,

and strangers now a family,

burdens borne with different names.

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Steve Jobs Part II: An Extraordinary Life; An Organ Recipient

Monday, October 10th, 2011

This is Part II of a poem called “So Hope Will Live,” which was written last year. It was not written with Steve Jobs in mind, but it is a poem written from the perspective of an organ recipient who is alive because of someone else’s gift. Donate Life: Your life will go on living. www.donatelife.org.

Part II of “So Hope Will Live:”

A part of you now lives in me

and we are joined like family –

not in blood and not in name,

different, yes, but yet the same –

joined in cause and common voice –

knowing that there is a choice

to donate life to someone else

so they may live their life again.

May each life be for all

a light ahead in driving rain.

Also, give to JDRF. For the children.

Tags: "a gift of life", "daniel mark picture poems", "donate life", "organ transplant", "poems of inspiration", Commemoration, extraordinary, gift, gifts, Health, heirlooms, legacies, memorial poetry, picture poems, poems, poetry, Steve Jobs
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JDRF Walk to Cure DiabetesToday

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

Today is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes in Chicago. Donate to help a child. Donate to help rid our world of the scourge of this disease. And thank you to Ron Santo for his efforts on behalf of this organization and on behalf of these children. www.jdrf.org (You can see a poem about Ron Santo in our News and Discussions (Blog), entitled “For Every Kid”.)

Tags: "daniel mark picture poems", "Hall of Fame", "Ron Santo", children with juvenile diabetes, JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes, legacies, picture poems
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Off (or Back) to College – ‘Tis the Season

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Back to School!

Well, it’s back to school time. All over the country, our students are preparing for another school year. It’s an exciting, scary, exhilarating and expensive time. Yet, these young people are the finest and best hope for a nation so in need of hope. We need to be there for them, and our nation needs to be there for them. ‘Nuff said. And thank you to the professors, adminstrators, office and maintenance staffs at all of our colleges and universities for helping to make the educational experiences and campuses the best they can be for these young people. I am re-running a poem that I first put up last fall, dedicated to our students.

For You, Our Child

You are the child of our love

and the vision in our dreams.

You are curious, strong and beautiful,

and filled with such potential.

We long to see you when we are old;

to know the places you have seen;

to know the wisdom you have known;

to see the changes life has made in you,

and the changes you have made

in a world in need

of so much change.

We have no words of wisdom,

for those must come from you.

But have a dream and have a mission,

and speak to yourself, often and calm,

and trust in the words you say to yourself

in quiet reflection, and let them inspire

your passion, your strength,

your wisdom, your fire.

We love you now and always will,

and we pray there are moments,

when you are still,

that we come to you in your mind

and comfort you and slow your hurried ways.

And we wish someday

you will come to us

when we are old

and tell us great things

you have done,

and tell us the memories

you have made

that will comfort you in the quiet moments

of your later days, as we find comfort and pride

in thoughts and memories of you.

Note: this poem is not presently etched or printed, but we can do so if you’d like to have it as a gift item. Send an email and we can discuss it. Thank You. And study hard and best wishes to our students.

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Posted in Education and Schools, Family-Children, Love and Family | No Comments »