my poems

Edwin Arnold Brenholtz

Here is no slavish following
of customs or of rules
no filthy fancy wallowing
in sensual stys or pools
********
Here is the human groping
towards the God-like thought
Here is the heart that's hoping
all evil comes to naught
*********
Here shall be words to cherish
when life seems dark and drear
May they cause doubt to perish
and bring thy heaven near
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This touch is not a masters
to set the world aflame
nor can words ward disaster
from those who love my name
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But in the hours of leasure
they may perchance bring joy
to those who've known woes seizure
of days he'd fain enjoy
**********
So since surcease they're bringing
of pain ee'n as I write
May their sweet, rhythmic, ringing
set others ills to flight

SOLDIERLY

The glory of a solider and a soldier's not a saint
Is the way he does his duty without grumbling or complaint:

His work is not always pleasant,but he does it rain or shine,

And he grabs a bit of glory when he's fighting in the line,

But the lesson that he teaches everyday to me an' you

is the way to do a duty that we do not like to do.
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Any sort of chap can whistle when his work is mostly fun;

A hundred wants the pleasant job to every sturdy one

That will grab the dreary duty an' the mean an' lowly task

Or the drab an' cheerless service that life often has to ask

But someone has to do it,and the test for me an' you

Is the way we face the labor thar we do not like to do
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Now it isn't very pleasant standin' guard out in the rain

But it is in the line of duty, an' no soldier will complain

An' there isn't any soldier but what some times hates his work

When the dress parade is over, an' perhaps he'd like to shirk

But he's there to follow orders, not to pick an' choose his post

An' he sometimes shines the finest at the job he hates the most.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's be soldiers in the struggle,let's be loyal through an' through

Life is going to give us duties that perhaps we will hate to do.

There will be little sacrifices that we will not like to make,

There will be many task unpleasant that will fall for us to take

An' although we all would rather take the work that brings applause

Lets forget our wims and fancies an' labor just for the cause
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by E.A. Brenholtz

---

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Wish We Ever

Edwin Arnold Brenholtz

---

In the middle of winter,
we wish for the spring
Just to be rid of cold
and hear the birds sing
On the first day of spring
we get tired to the heart
and just wish sweet summer
would bid her depart
E'een foretaste of fine summer
with sultry days heat
"Oh good Lord" send us winter
we haste to repeat
In the middle of winter---
But Zounds! that's the place
where we started our wishing
at galloping pace
So from childhood to age--
from cradle to grave
we just wish and we want
and we want and we crave
for the things we've not,
whatsoever our lot
and with single exception,
much less than we've got
for of heat and of cold,
of the wet and the dry
of location too low
and location too high
we still grumble and growl
till we're worn out and old
But whoever heard us wishing
for less of bright gold?
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Lady Birds Bed Time