Trick or Treat!

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1. Pumpkins, ghosts, and witches hats, 

clowns and cowboys and black cats,

Football players, majorettes, 

kittens, dogs, and cuddly pets,

Dinosaurs and furry bears, 

elephants and rabbit ears.

a fairy princess or a queen; 

COSTUMES made for Halloween.

2. Chocolate bars and lollipops, 

CANDY corn and lemon drops.

Caramel apples, good to eat, with children crying, “Trick or Treat!”

3. PARTIES, games, and family fun, 

yummy treats for everyone,

Donuts and hot chocolate too, 

served with a prize for best costume.

Trick or treating with good friends, 

laughter until evening ends.

4. Later cuddled with a book 

Mother reads in cozy nook;

Pirates, sailors, Peter Pan; 

stories of a distant land.

Hugs and kisses late at night.  

DREAMS of every sweet delight.

5. Waking feeling warm and snug, 

greeted with a cozy hug.

MEMORIES of the previous night; 

trick or treating by starlight.

Looking forward to next year, 

when Halloween again is here.

Children dream while they’re asleep 

the joy of crying, “Trick or Treat!”

Colored Lights

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1. Gazing through an airplane window

at the darkened sky,

colored city LIGHTS all sparkled

from my view on high.

A beautiful array of colors

twinkling in the night;

every shade and cheerful hue

was shining in my sight.

2. Earlier while soaring up

through fluffy CLOUDS above,

I envisioned flying like a

peaceful white winged dove.

Once above the clouds

the sun was shining clear and bright.

I was almost blinded by its

piercing dazzling light.

3. NIGHTTIME now had fallen

and such peace covered the land.

With daytime tasks completed,

evening promised no demand.

4. I envisioned GATHERINGS

of people as they sat

enjoying special meals

and a quiet friendly chat,

sipping cocktails bright with color,

coffee, or hot tea,

by a fire, or with refreshments

near a shady tree.

5. Whether underneath the STARS

or in a cozy space,

the colored city lights would

warm and cheer most any place.

Some, enjoying music,

or a movie later on,

would settle down to rest a bit

before the day was done.

I enjoy recalling,

while soaring up so high,

the brightly colored city lights

I viewed down through the sky!

Escape From Your Problems

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1. Escape from your problems most every day

when you are at home or while you’re away.

Go to your car, and then DRIVE around

into the city or a cozy town.

If it is a small town, relax with great ease

and let the surroundings refresh you with peace.

2. Notice how people don’t hurry about. 

They try not to worry, to quarrel or shout.

When passing by HOUSES on your pleasant ride,

image what people are doing inside.

3. If you can see smoke rise from chimneys above,

visualize MEALS being prepared with love.

When choosing an alternate city instead,

enjoy the attractions to which you are led,

like colorful restaurants with tasty cuisines,

theaters, plays, and intriguing museums.

4. These are some things that can help us escape

from all of our problems when they escalate.

Pastimes like these bring expedient RELEASE

from worries, ensuring that they quickly cease.

5. If you cannot travel, I think you will find

that you can seek refuges within your MIND.

At times they are even more beautiful there

and only require you become aware.

So try to escape from your worries each day,

and you will be freed in a wonderful way!

“Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,

think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

When Sunshine Beams in Autumn

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1. When sunshine beams in autumn 

it will warm and cheer your heart,

adding a bright spark 

to every new day that you start.

Latter summer days 

can leave us sad to see them go,

but soon the autumn days 

will bathe us in their PEACEFUL glow.

2. All the seasons have 

their special features that attract,

with a unique MESSAGE

that they visually enact.

We would all be wise to learn 

their lessons and absorb

the various types of healing 

that they easily restore.

3. Summer slows us down 

and helps us to recuperate.

Relaxing in the evening, 

in the morning we sleep late.

Autumn keeps us busy 

as the HOLIDAYS draw near,

while we spend some extra time 

with those we hold most dear.

4. In wintertime we HIBERNATE 

and spend more time alone,

sitting by a fire or reading 

in our cozy home.

Finally when springtime comes 

we shed our warm cocoon,

spread our wings and fly, 

and like a lovely flower bloom.

5. Every season has a way 

of helping us to grow

into an INSTRUMENT through which 

God’s grace can freely flow.

He has blessed us with 

such splendid seasons from our birth,

but in the autumn 

bursts of glorious color fill the earth!

Meet Mama Bear

1. Hello my friends who greet me here.  

My name is Mama Bear.

If you will lend an ear 
I have some things I’d like to share.

I just perked some fresh coffee, 

so come sit and rest a bit

on my cozy kitchen chair, 

as we relax and sip.

Considering myself 
a bit old fashioned, I would say,

it has brought me great CONTENTMENT, 

in a special way.

2. I enjoy my family, friends, 

and comfortable HOME,

which has always seemed to

nullify the need to roam.

I’ve found in life the very things 

I’ve frequently searched for

were often not much farther than 

my very own front door.

Take a little journey with me 

into daily life,

and I will show you ways 
to help and minimize your strife.

In order to release our minds 

from needless doubt and care,

the secret is, of other people’s needs

to be aware.

3. Some of you may have your family 

living right at home,

while others, it is plausible, 

are living all alone.

No matter what your status, 

there will always be someone

whose needs that you can focus on, 

when all your chores are done.

Doing things for FAMILY 
helps to brighten up their day,

like preparing dinner 
or a lovely pastry tray.

4. Keeping our home tidy 
is for me a great delight,

from the early morning 
until stars twinkle at night.

There is nothing more relaxing 

than to come home to

a comfy cozy house that seems 

to warm you through and through. 

You might enjoy these stories 
that I have here on my shelf.

They’ll bring you CHEER and comfort, 

and I wrote them all myself!

Most of the titles, you will see, 

begin with Mama Bear.

So when you’re sad or lonely, 
come and find me waiting there.

5. My daily ventures and routines 

will surely comfort you,

suggesting cheerful ways 
to brighten everything you do.

My wish is that your life is filled 

with happiness and HEALTH,

and that contentment truly is 

your very greatest wealth.

Have a lovely day, 
and may each one right from the start
reserve a little place for me,
down deep within your heart!

The Bear Family: Poetic Reflections
for the Young at Heart 
by Marsha Santos Click Here