Blacksburg

This week marked the second anniversary of the shootings in Virginia Tech. I wrote a couple of poems back then that are still appropriate for today.

IT’S Blacksburg in Virginia

It’s Blacksburg in Virginia in April of 07
And 32 new angles were welcomed into heaven
When heroines and heroes join victims newly born
In Blacksburg, in Virginia on the fateful April morn

Blacksburg in Virginia as the sun begins to rise
He walks across the campus – a death look in his eyes
Two shots ring out – 2 students fall – the shooter walks away
To think about what he has done and will do so yet today
He finishes the filming – mails the package to TV
By 10 o’clock a records set – the total 33

It’s Blacksburg in Virginia – Ambler Johnson Hall
The shooter walks from room to room saying nothing as they fall
He’s calm and quite collected – while students are all shocked
He knows he has a lot of time as all the doors are locked
He’s firing and reloading until the outside doors break down
Then calmly turns the gun on him – the 33rd goes down

There were heroes and heroines on this fateful day
Some blocked the doors – gave up their lives so others got away
It’s Blacksburg in Virginia in April of 07
And 32 new angles were welcomed into heaven

Mdailey
01/03/08

MY LITTLE GIRL’S IN BLACKSBURG

My little girl’s in Blacksburg
Through Momma’s many tears
We dropped her off a freshman
She’s been there now 3 years

My little girl’s in Blacksburg
She called most every week
To tells us all about her dreams
In the French she’s learned to speak

My little girl’s in Blacksburg
She loved that little town
She studied hard most every day
Just to wear that cap and gown

My little girl’s in Blacksburg
Through Momma’s many tears
I could barely hear her name called out
I could not believe my ears

My little girl’s in Blacksburg
She will graduate they say
In a special class of 32
Selected just today

MDAILEY
08/19/07

Holocaust - Days of Remembrance

Public law 96-388 established "Days of Remembrance" to commemorate the Holocaust, the state-sponsored systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany. The week of 19-26 April has been set aside as our Days of Remembrance. Please take some time to participate in events in your area and say a prayer that we never forget.

Holocaust – Day of Remembrance

They rounded us up one day in the rain
Herded us into a cattle-car train
We were just Jews, it was simple and plain
The pain – we must always remember

When the train stopped there were so many dead
Ushered into two groups, tears were all shed
Weak ones culled out and away they were led
That said – we must always remember

None of this ever has made any sense
Staying alive in good health our defense
We'd spend every day praying out by the fence
The suspense – we must always remember

At night we would gather and in silence we pray
Pray that we make it through one more day
What tomorrow would bring – no one could say
Today – we must always remember

Each morning we’d line up; they’d walk down the rows
Deciding who lives; deciding who goes
Each morning we’d pray that we weren’t one of those
God knows – we must always remember

And the stench in the camp from the ovens by noon
Reminded us all of our impending doom
Relief from this hell-hole could not come too soon
Repugn – we must always remember

There were thousands of us left back in the damp
In our bunks, in the ovens, or the cattle-car ramps
And surviving this ordeal left its own stamps
The camps – we must always remember

So each year we gather on Remembrance Day
To honor the loved ones who have passed away
And the horrible price that they had to pay
We pray – we will always remember

Mdailey
04/15/09

Holiday Grace

I wrote this for work but it works for any gathering.

Holiday Blessing

Dear heavenly Father,
We are gathered here today
To bow our heads in thanks to you,
Respectfully we pray
Thankful for the blessings
You have given to us here
Thankful for the friends and family
That supports us year to year
Thankful for the folks at work
We couldn’t do without
Thankful for the soldiers
Who defend us without doubt
And bless this food before us
And all we do today
We bow our heads in thanks to you
In silence now we pray

---Pause---

Amen

Mdailey
12/22/08

Ephesians 2

Last week's sermon at Ox Hill Baptist Church touched on Ephesians 2 - I wrote this to better remember the lesson it gave.

Ephesians 2

We haven’t earned all the love that you’ve shown
We all have been sinners as you’ve always known
But you stand by our side so that we’re not alone
Lord we thank you for that

Left on our own our lives go adrift
The serpent comes in and widens the rift
But you gave us Jesus, the greatest of gifts
Lord we thank you for that

We were spiritually dead because of our sins
Followed earthly desires at the smallest of whims
But you sent us Jesus, you sacrificed him
Lord we thank you for that

We deserve anger not your loving grace
For all our dishonor and all our disgrace
But you’ve taken us back to your loving place
Lord we thank you for that


Mdailey
04/02/09