Summary: These Limericks and Poems are sorted by Author from Bonanza Trail Riders.
Rating: G, Word Count: 2529
I found this in an old file; it was originally posted on Trails. I wrote the first part and Hart4Ben added to it, and we kept going.
AC1830 and Hart4Ben
Ponderosa Home
{AC1830}
Made from pine, from the trees that were felled
It stands tall, it stands strong, a sweet smell.
The father saw his dream
The boys stood and beamed
And oh the stories it could tell.
He needed to do things his way
No help was wanted that day
Flume and friendship no more
His morale out the door
He came home disillusioned and betrayed.
His father listened with care
His brothers a quiet pair
He told his sad tale
How he’d managed to fail
And he learned his family was there.
{Hart4Ben}
Sitting by a crackling fire
There are times it may inspire
A conversation deep
As doubts begin to creep
When embroiled in a situation dire.
What point does one’s moral obligation end?
Some ask how you can do this to an old friend?
What will you do?
I’ll think it through.
Might be a coward and to all I will bend.
{AC1830}
He sat by the bed and prayed
Hoping his son would stay
How many times
Had he feared for good-byes
“Pa? Really, I’m okay.”
{Hart4Ben}
Got to find a place for an out of town guest.
Pa, you know the Widow Hawkins’ place is best.
Clean towels and great food.
The only place that’s good.
Oh alright, Pa conceded, a wee bit stressed.
The people’s talk is more than enough for me.
I’ll have no smirks or innuendo from you three.
It was only a church picnic.
Adam, can you come real quick?
I’m with you Pa, right down the aisle I’ll be!
AC1830
Colors
Warm brown, umber, black
Colors of the earth beneath his feet
Warm brown, umber, black
Colors of the eyes that found their dream.
Flecks of gold fill the sky
Colors of the sunrise and sunset
Flecks of gold fill his eyes
Stalwart. as he watches and protects.
Azure, sapphire, crystal blue
Mountain lake, a jewel well known
Azure, sapphire, crystal blue
Eyes gently caring for all that roam.
Jade, olive, emerald, pine
Towering sentinels, strong in the wind
Jade, olive, emerald, pine
Eyes the color of the land, free as the wind.
Of Heart and Home
A tree is felled, and then another,
Lines in the dirt, the shape to mark
Muscles strained, by sweat smothered
Logs raised and set in light and dark
Love built the home around sons and patriarch.
He raised three sons, tall and true
All to live and breathe the land,
Daily lives to be renewed.
One has roamed, his dream so grand
Returns to home, his heart to stand.
Among the trees a home sits proud
Of wood and stone it stands
Warmth, laughter, love abound
Memories through the years have spanned
Love keeps them strong, bonded to their land.
A Haiku:
Autumn golds, reds, browns
Colorful leaves wafting down
Nature’s restful crown
===================
BettyHT
Daffodils on the Ponderosa
Daffodils blooming like a sea of gold in my valley
To plant flowers on a working ranch, Marie, my dear
When you did, I laughed at such frivolity
But now it lets my heart warm at memories so clear
Whenever Pa rides by here I’ve seen him stop to admire
These gorgeous yellow flowers with their hint of whimsy
I’ll draw a picture so he can gaze at each stately spire
Whenever he chooses to remember this golden sea
These purty yeller flowers make for a right fine walk
I can hear birds singing and bugs a buzzing away
Little rabbits hop about as long as we don’t talk
Sure happy Pa let Marie plant ‘em that long ago May
All these pretty yellow flowers here where no one can see
It’s a shame to waste them when they could do so much better
There’s enough for a big bouquet for Sue and one for Rosemary
Another for Beth and for Mary and a last one for Ginger.
If Adam Was Your Father
If you respect your father, love his hijinks, and think he’s just the best
You know when accepting a husband it’s one like him and reject all the rest
That would create a problem
If your father was Adam
A world wide search for one like him could be an impossible quest.
So actually be quite glad that Adam Cartwright wasn’t your father
To find a husband so strong, bold, and handsome would be such a bother
Can’t be that any man is out there
Who could ever hope to compare
You would have been destined to search the world ‘round and never find another.
Friends at Thanksgiving
Went to a Thanksgiving party to be with my old friends
We met and talked, ate and drank, ‘til the day ends
A chance to share those memories that bound our lives together
We liked each other as much as ever, still tight as friends forever
Sometimes celebration is with family from near and far
And love them all but there’s no choice in whom they are
Friends are there by choices and circumstances
Not family by blood but in my heart by unforeseen chances.
Limericks Four
Hoss’ Complaint
You’re a lucky one, Little Joe Cartwright, you are
Everyone knows it around here, and near and far.
Ya got looks and smarts
Always breaking girls’ hearts.
They sees me n Adam as fish eggs but you like caviar.
Joe’s Answer
Ya big galoot, none of what you say about me is true
You two got all the benefits a Cartwright is due
I’m smaller and shorter
Not as strong and younger
Of course, I’m cute, smart, brave, and a greater value.
Adam’s Lament
It does no good to complain about what’s already on the shelf
Nor does one do well to brag about creating a selfish vain self
We’ve got independence and free rein
We’re not treated like a birdbrain.
We avoided marriage too; all the fun with no chains on oneself.
Ben’s Refrain
Threes sons have I, as strong as the Ponderosa pines behind me
Each with qualities to admire but as different as any three could be
Grandchildren though I do need
Marriage is the word they won’t heed
Perhaps I should adopt a more agreeable son than these three!
Affairs of the Heart: The Broken-Hearted
My heart was born broken
In its depths, sadness reigned
Love has never awoken
Death at my birth left it stained
Gazing into a woman’s eyes
As Lotta knew when I kissed her
Never would she be my prize
As a good man, I was a poseur
Appealing an angel Annie O was
But I couldn’t let myself be tempted
Although I violated no rules or laws
Her life with me would be tormented
So many I lost to another
From Virginia to Margarita to Dolores
To friend or stranger or brother
Never the star, always the chorus
I thought marrying Laura was wise
But she hurt me worse than the others
No matter, she, I cannot despise,
We never were true lovers
I though Anne was my last chance
Kisses were sweet and promised more
We made the moves of a lovers’ dance
But another’s name was no simple error
Seen as suave and debonair by many
Educated and smarter than most
To be me, some would pay a pretty penny
But in my heart, I’m poor as a post
Will any woman ever come to me unbidden
To heal my heart and bring life to my dead soul?
For love, my pride has to be overridden
I told them I’d return when I reached my goal
I told my Sweetheart I make mistakes as many do
I asked for forgiveness to let us go forward
Yes, kisses are sweet and the promises true
Nuptials first before we go homeward
—————————-
Trying to write a haiku:
A Ride
Blue skies. Green meadows.
Gallop, bound over fences
Too much; now stitches.
I writing to tell you so we know where we sit.
It just so happens I don’t like apple pie.
and so I might save it up for you to try.I always wear my Sunday best clothes to school,
And I bring my best parasol to keep me cool.
Don’t go thinkin it has somethin to do with you.
So what, if I wear my best ribbons too.
I talk a lot about you at home,
that stupid horse you ride all alone.
The way you talk to the older men,
and the way they all listen, oh Lord it’s happening again.
You just annoy me with all that you do,
my Ma and Pa grin when I talk about you.
Why should they grin, I don’t care if you’re dead or alive,
But….you might just be careful on your first cattle drive.
Just a heads up – it is dark.
Fevered, weak, and sickly lay Ben Cartwright on that awful day.A voice rang out and in desperation he looked about to see.
The haunting voice came taunting, in his mind relentlessly taunting,
A sanity daunting taunting of things past and things to be,
Taunting, taunting no escape from suffering, death, and calamity.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
Conjured memories of dear Elizabeth, his ears pounded with her final breath.
The pall of death was all he could see.
Grief came crashing, like ocean waves crashing,
Fear and dread came crashing like a savage sea.
Crashing, crashing, his hopes and dreams dashing, dreams that would never be.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
Sweet Inger appeared next in his delirious vision; the voice scoffed at him in mad derision.
The arrow of death jolted him from his blessed reverie.
Grief came rolling, like a wagon wheel rolling,
Rolling his soul to dust as someday it would be.
Rolling, rolling, life keeps rolling, though his burdens great and heavy they be.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
His stunning wife, just wed anew, Ben gasped, the future now coming into his view.
The voice shrieked in pain, a thrashing steed he did see.
Grief came upon him crushing, like a millstone crushing,
His soul crushing though sons he had three.
Crushing, crushing, his withering soul crushing, despite owning the Ponderosa – Pine Tree.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
“Love for your son, your very first born, will leave your heart rent and sorely torn.
He wants not your empire!” The voice shouted with glee.
A heart destined for wandering, unsettled and wandering,
Perpetually wandering over the land and sea.
Wandering, wandering, continually wandering, “The prince of your kingdom he never will be!”
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
“His mother’s heart will be his guiding light; serving others, not self, his defining plight.
Not even a pure heart will save him”, the voice cried with disdain, “You’ll see!”
A father in grief drowning, miserably drowning,
To the depths drowning in a black sea.
Drowning, drowning, for no return shall there be.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
“His mother’s fiery spirit will become his fine art, and still he will be the delight of your heart.
His beloved wife and child”, the voice cackled shrill, “will suffer the same fate as your wives three.”
In grief his life burning, FOREVER burning,
With pain and vengeance burning, his heart will be.
Burning, burning, your heart will be churning, to watch your child suffer, suffer like thee.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
Then awaking with beaded brow and quaking heart, Ben gave his family a frightful start.
His fevered stupor giving way to a clear mind and eyes that truly see.
His heart began rejoicing, gladly rejoicing,
With sweet rejoicing to be with Marie, Adam, Hoss, and Joseph was he.
Rejoicing, rejoicing, in relief rejoicing, the voice now silent and the fateful mark nowhere to see.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
But later in the dark of night, on the lamplit wall appeared a horrific sight.
And the voice returned with frenzied fury despite Ben’s begging and pitiful plea.
The haunting voice came taunting, filling his mind with relentless taunting,
A sanity daunting taunting of things that would most assuredly come to be.
Taunting, taunting, determined and vaunting, no escaping the suffering, death, and calamity.
The mark of the Cartwright curse – a black letter “C”.
We were to use “green” in a poem for either Lorne or Ben.THE JOURNEY
Through his spyglass he looks for the lamp burning, the hope of his love.
Suddenly the world goes black save a pair of tiny, bright eyes.
One foot must go before the other forcing the darkness to a constant gray.
A journey begins.
Crystal blue eyes and a lilting voice beckon him to rejoin life and love.
He struggles, but allows the sunlight to flood in only to have his heart pierced again.
The light fades away, yet two pairs of eyes plead for him to hang on.
The journey continues.
Years pass, love seems elusive, but a spirit, wild and free, captures his heart.
Fate steals his joy and brings desperation and despair.
Green eyes haunt him and call him “Pa”.
Life journeys on.
First one foot, then another and eventually a way out of grief is seen.
Skies are blue and meadows are green once more.
Love is gone, but never leaves.
Cartwrights journey on.
Ghosts, goblins, and witches, their time’s drawing near.
Keep watch and beware, and hold those who are dear.
So be on your toes,
For one never knows,
What lurks in the shadows to scare you, I fear!
——————–
CELEBRATE!
A bit of Irish luck is what we’re hopin’ for
But it’s March and the wind just might blow off the door.
Hang on to your paddy hat
As we celebrate St. Pat
While the Guinness and Smithwicks and Harp we do pour!
Cheers, GlenandMe!
His lovely wives their crown
All gifts from above
Filled with life and love
Until struck downYears mellow the pain and grief
Time brightens the days bringing relief
Others stirred his heart
Gave hope but then depart
Cupid seems a thief
For some celebrate and hold fast
But we know a lot
Whose loves are quite fraught
Their hearts seem to yearn to the last!But don’t let your heart be dismayed
For we have Fanfic, tis our trade
Ben, Joe, Adam, Hoss
Will not suffer loss
Oh no, tis a joke I have made!
Feelings
Sun goes away
Cold nights to stay
Feelings change
As days go by
