When your mom gives you a hug after you had a hard day.
When your dad comes to spend time with you and play.
When Jesus stands by us to make sure we don't stray.

That is true love!

How your mom gives you a kiss on your rose red cheek.
How your dad wipes the tear that left a little streak.
How Jesus makes us fit in so we don't look like a freak.

That is true love!

Where your mom embarrasses you but your love for her stays strong.
Where your dad watches over you to make you do no wrong.
Where Jesus holds us tight so we know where we belong.

That is true love!

Why your mom would bring to school your forgotten math book.
Why your dad would take the time to teach you how to cook.
Why Jesus had the heart to catch us on his hook.

That is true love!

What your mom has done to help you find the most perfect wife.
What your dad went through to keep you safe your entire life.
What Jesus did to keep us far from strife.

That is true love.

~N. W. Ballew

I was sitting in my seat,
bored to death in class.
When I started to imagine,
and hopefully make time pass.

I stared blankly at my teacher,
and bursted out in smile.
For he'd become a monkey,
teaching English all the while.

When class was done and Math was next,
Miss Martha tip-toed in.
I couldn't hear a word she'd said,
a mouse she was with a grin.

I got in trouble from laughing so much,
and was dragged to the principal's lair.
On the way, I saw Miss Eve running.
She was a horse, well, actually a mare.

One teacher just walked right past me,
his neck was so long I swear.
I wanted to laugh cause he'd become a giraffe,
but he was really the size of a bear.

I went in the principal's office.
And sat down, as polite as could be.
He started to talk but it seemed like a bark,
and there sat a dog before me.

I went down to lunch after being excused,
and let out a mighty gasp.
The lunch lady was a shark with very sharp teeth,
so I left quickly with the meal in my grasp.

With my belly full I turned to my work,
and went to the corner of the library.
A group of kids were making a fuss,
buzzing beetles making me wary.


The librarian stared with his big round eyes,
and hushed the chatty group.
He flapped his arms at the non-listening bunch,
like a wise old owl in a swoop.

I left to rinse my face in the bathroom,
and I glanced into the mirror.
I was shocked to see a handsome fox,
staring at me in the clear.

I washed my face and it had vanished from my sight,
I was back to my old self, alright!
With my mind I'd made my day the best it could be
the little creative fox, that's me!

~N. W. Ballew

Let's congratulate and celebrate,
for you are turning 50.
And after all the cake's been ate,
digestion would be nifty.

You may think you're over the hill,
but you've still got half way to go.
You may need to write your will,
yet you aren't really moving that slow.

You may not have that many gifts,
but you have got a lot of love.
It comes and stays but not in shifts,
and mostly comes from God above.

You've been a good father for so many years,
and hopefully you will continue this.
So I think we should give you three cheers,
and let your wife give you a big kiss.

Well, we grant you a happy birthday,
and another fifty years to come.
So let there be no more delay,
let's start to party, but hold the rum.

~N. W. Ballew

What can the heart do to prevent fear?
How can the mind hold back a tear?

The soul above all is most reliable,
it strengthens us each day.
With the Holy Spirit's help from the Bible,
which helps to guide our way.

When does the heart make a very wise choice?
Why would the mind put down a just voice?

The soul of course is as brave as a horse,
galloping mightily on.
It speaks out from the source using calm force,
but is still graceful as a swan.

To whom could the heart reach out and give a hand?
Where would the mind be lead to give his land?

The soul will remain by our side to the end,
so it can remind us again and again.
The heart and mind will forever stay within,
but the soul can conquer a thousand men.

~N. W. Ballew

I explode from the water shooting high into the sky,
twirl around, dive back down, looking very sly.

I flap my tail, splashing water everywhere.
I love flipping around, doing tricks here and there.

I play with my friends, we race between waves.
We do what we please, we're nobody's slaves.

We chase a school of fish, shaped like a ball.
I fill my belly, knowing I ate the most of all.

We swim away from a bunch of sharks lurking a ways away.
I send some clicks and sounds, and finish my play.

I take a nap, shutting off half of my brain,
while the other half is awake so I can never be slain.

After I rest, I swim around the bay and explore,
discovering coral and shells near the shore.

An empty coke can floats by my head and I snort with rage in disgust.
I swim deep down and past a old plane that is fully covered in rust.

Not paying attention to my surrounding and humming peacefully,
I almost get tangled in a net as humans raised it with a pulley.

I return to the reef and lay down in my bed of seaweed.
An arrow punctures my stomach and I bleed.

This is how dolphins die now and then,
so stop all the poaching and all of the sin.

~N. W. Ballew

I cannot find my cat,
He must be hiding out.
I cannot find my hat,
I think its somewhere 'bout.

I cannot find my Wii,
My brother must've taken it.
I cannot find my tea,
my mother must've drinkin' it.

I cannot find my coat,
the one with a dark yellow stain.
I cannot find my boat,
It may have floated off again.

I cannot find my mind.
Oh, actually it's still right here.
I cannot find my dime,
the one I lost, my goodness dear.

I cannot find my phone,
why do things keep vanishing.
I cannot find my bone.
Find it soon? My dog's wishing.

I cannot find my ape.
Oh wait, I don't even have one.
I cannot find my cape,
Without it my costume's undone.

I cannot find my mat,
where in the world could it be.
I cannot find my cat,
I lose a lot of things you see.

~N. W. Ballew

We were there at the beginning of time.
When God made us we were just fine.

Over the years we lived in peace.
Humans just stayed away and had their feast.

But then the humans grew smarter and devious.
In doing so, they started to ruin us.

The four of us watched in pain,
as we were polluted, trashed, and wasted in vain.

We tried to give them a sign,
but they just keep ignoring us all the time.

So then we got angry and even more sad.
Humans made air, water, earth and fire go mad!

But then there were some who tried to changed,
they reduced their waste which was quite strange.

More and more, those humans stopped,
and thought about a new way to adopt.

They made a difference in their everyday life,
while recalling the creator who wants us to thrive.

We four elements, are a gift to be treasured,
So make your decisions with wisdom that's measured.

~N.W. Ballew

I was going to cook you in a pan,
but then you bought me some ham.

I was going to put you in the freezer,
but then you gave me a malteser.

I was going to boil you in a stew,
but then you gave me something to chew.

I was going to make you into a roast,
but then you made me french toast.

I was going to have you steamed,
but then you shouted and screamed.

I was going to have you fried,
but then you went and cried.

By now, I don't think I really want you gone.
You are my little duck, and a very good companion.

~N.W. Ballew

I wake with the warmth of my mother by my side.
We trot along the field, starting a slow stride.

I gallop to a creek and refresh my throat.
My soft brown fur keeps me warm like a coat.

The beams of the sun shine down on my back.
I take in a breath, there is nothing I lack.

The smell of the flowers and the pine scented trees,
flow into my body, as lovely as a breeze.

I rear as my friends come to me to play,
we jump around, wagging our heads, laughing all day.

My mane waves gently and my tail flaps around.
We race up a hill, and then trot back down.

I neigh as the sun touches the edge of the mountain,
and splashes the land with colors like a fountain.

I part with my friends, skipping about the grassy wave.
I reach my mother and we cuddle in our cave.

I look at my mother and see love in her eyes,
I grin and fall asleep against my mother's thighs.

~N.W. Ballew

As the sun dims, and the night begins.
The stars all alight, oh so bright.

The silver rays of the moon,
shine on the city with doom.

Yet, there is beauty in the orb,
which all creatures enjoy and absorb.

And while the town lies asleep,
dreaming dreams and counting sheep.

A shooting star would shimmer by,
making a scratch in the night sky.

And when the rooster crows to tell,
the sun is rising and the moon had fell.

The moon away, another day,
is beginning, the moon is dimming

~N. W. Ballew