The Open Page

2008-05-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Do you see her?
up in that tree
what she’s feeling
is alive and free.
Just sitting there
without a care,
wind flowing gently
through her hair.
Lots of people stop
and stare!
Look really closely
can it be? Yes! yes,
that girl is ME!

by Sadie Good

In Protest of Growing Old

2008-05-03T14:20:00.001-07:00

I do not want to grow old
I do not want to be told
“Granny, sit there in your chair.
Do not go anywhere!”
I do not want recyclable knees.
Or teeth that talk back when I sneeze.
I do not want draperies for skin
Or prickly steel wool on my chin.
Daughter, dear, with parts like
new
I’d rather grow young like you.

K.D.

Jackass Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness photo by Ralph Nichols

2008-05-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

A Christian's Hope by Emily Croft

2008-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Lord will save me
And be my light.
Strength is my key
When I’m given to fright.

When I read Your Word,
Please deepen my sight;
Your truths will I gird;
It’s my deepest delight.

When Heaven’s gates will raise,
We’ll all go marching in.
His holy name we’ll praise,
Away with all our sin!

Easter - The Rhymes by AnnaRose Chaney

2008-05-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

This is the day
When Jesus was born
A joyful time
A loving rhyme.

This is the day
Jesus was crucified
A heart breaking time
An unpleasant rhyme.

This is the day
Jesus arose
a wonderful time
a singing rhyme!

Choices by Mrs. Melanie Rairigh

2008-05-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

We are but passing ships in
the ocean of life.
Greetings of love or
greetings of strife?
A single word or act of kindness
Can enlighten a heart
from blindness.

Just as ships send out ripples
as they move along.
Each smile or frown
that we pass on
Affects those who observe them around.

Who taught us of love?
The Almighty is He,
Who gave us His Son
To die on a tree.

Holiday in the Park by Darren Shull

2008-05-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

It is Monday morning and it’s Labor Day. Today is going to be all over-
time pay. I hop in my truck and off to Yosemite I go, But the traffic
is so bad you really got to drive slow. While driving in the Park there
are a few things you learn. You better watch out when you go
around the turns. For if you’re not careful, you just might find One
of those giant RVs across the yellow lines, And that’s not all, you
just might meet. You’ll find one of those stupid tourists stopped in the
street. They stop to take a picture or just to read a map. You wish
you can give them a giant slap. For they are all on vacation, and
they forgot to
pack their brains, It is enough to drive you totally insane.
About the time you want to go postal and run them all over
You got to stop and think it all over. If it wasn’t for those poor
unfortunate slobs You wouldn’t even have this job, So you take a
deep breath and count to ten, and then try to start all over again.

Sunrise in Yosemite by Darren Shull

2008-04-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

As I watch the night turns to day, The darken sky turn a bluish-
gray.

Silhouettes of mountain and trees, Are the only things at this time
you can see. Then an orange glow on the horizon appear, As the
stars slowly disappear. The meadow glistens in the morning light,
Like the start once did that earlier that night. Herd of deer graze
on the dew covered grass, As they drink from a river that is clear
as glass. Wild flowers of all kind, In colors that will blow your
mind. Just beyond the meadow stands Lambert Dome, Where
the yellow belly marmot makes his home. There he will be
sunning himself in the sun’s rays, Before he goes and hides the
rest of the day. People come from world wide, Just to hike it
country side. From the majestic water falls in the valley below, To
the high mountain peaks covered in snow. From the giant
redwood trees to Hetch Hetchy, You will scarcely find a prettier
place to be, Than a sunrise in Yosemite.

Arch Rock Cabo San Lucas Sunrise photo by William Brown

2008-04-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Dolphin off coast of Cabo San Lucas photo by William Brown

2008-04-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Maui Pineapple field photo by William Brown

2008-04-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

Puerta Vallarta sunset heading out to sea photo by William Brown

2008-04-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

Maui Sea Turtle photo by William Brown

2008-04-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hoof Beats of Life on Paper by Grace A. Cassady

2008-04-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hoof beats of life on paper galloping wild and free.
Hoof beats of life on paper, Oh! What a wonderful sound!
Hoof beats of life on paper; they are quickly covering ground.
Running so free like a madman.
As fast as the wind or the waves.
Galloping, galloping, galloping.
Coming around again.
Run for your lives, they are coming!
Stand still and watch the wake.
Galloping, galloping, galloping.
Heart beats as fast as hoof beats.
And now they are fading away.
Somewhere off in the distance,
Hoof beats are fading away.

A Tribute to Kara Perea by Sadie Good

2008-04-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

We are friends –
u cry … I cry
u laugh … I laugh
u goof off … I goof off
u smile … I smile
u jump off a bridge …..
I’m sure gonna miss u!

Joe the Black Bear Cub by Tracey Anthonijsz

2008-04-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

There was a black bear cub, he was afraid of the dark
He lived in a place called Yosemite Park

His mother would tell him, “Joe, you’ll be alright”
But that did not help, once it was night

He peeked from his cave, and saw the bright moon
He ran back to his mother, and prayed for light, soon

But mother was asleep, and Joe was not yet sleepy
And the sounds of the night made Joe get weepy

He heard a hoot owl and a coyote or two
Mother was still sleeping, what could Joe do?

He heard a loud crack, right outside the cave
And for the first time, Joe became brave

He decided to go look and see what it was
When he got outside, he saw giant paws

He followed them up to see to whom they belonged
He saw they were his father’s, for whom Joe had longed

“Father you’re back”, cried Joe in surprise
Mother awoke when she heard Joe’s cries

They hugged as a family, for the first time in awhile
It warmed mother’s heart to see her Joe smile

No longer would Joe fear the dark
And he felt right at home in Yosemite Park

The Twig by Geneva Callegari

2008-04-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Tiny trusting fingers
Innocent eyes
Smiles of delight
Shrieks of surprise

Deep concentration
Learning to tie
Trying to be brave
Trying not to cry

Disappointment
Disbelief
Mothers arms
Sweet relief

Christmas magic
Santa’s beard
Overcoming
Childhood fear

The first friend
Learning to share
Treasured possessions
Learning to care

The first heartbreak
Lost hope
Bouncing back
Learning to cope

With life’s complexity
Innocence fading
Carrying on
Undaunted expectancy

In the year of the child

Meditation by Geneva Callegari

2008-04-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

In a garden of tranquility
Beyond the realm of time
In an inner glowing aura
Of the meditating mind

Cobwebs are swept away
And cares of the world
Are left behind

A lovely secret door
And nerves stretching taut
As a violin string
Can unwind
And allow the spirit to soar

To the pure white sand
Of a far away beach
Beneath the swaying Palms
And the slow heartbeat of peace
Is felt as a soothing balm

And fragrant Orchids bloom
In exquisite perfusion
Who is there to say
It’s only an illusion?

Celebration of Life by Geneva Callegari

2008-04-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

A subtle hint of first light
heralds the coming dawn
and with salient stealth
creeps across the eiderdown

Disturbing the pattern of brain wave
where dreams hold sway
and stealing away the night
to present a fresh day

A reluctant stirring of senses
and sudden awareness of the gift
what joy to view the morning light
the pulse of life full tilt

What joy, though aching bones protest
Will this one be like all the rest?
no, pure and untarnished yet
no bitter dregs of sad regret

What gift to offer in return?
What promises to keep
fulfilled at sunset, satisfied
praise be no call to weep

A virgin mountain to climb
with body and with spirit
The song of life can still be heard
with all who will to hear it

Oh not to waken on the morrow
With deeds undone and words unsaid
with bridges burned, no turning back
the hands of time for what we lack
and regret the loss with profound sorrow
of yesterday that’s dead

For a day in time, no greater treasure
so pay the debt in fullest measure
For the day is lost, we find in shock
in measured minutes counted by the clock

This day may be the last
for time is passing fast
So fling the window open wide
and bid the morning come inside

Me and My Girlfriend by Juan L. Gonzales

2008-04-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, me and my girlfriend
We went up to the mountains
To play around a little
And do a bit of something
And before I knew it
She had me cutting some wood

Well at first I admit, I kind of liked it
Though my back was breaking
I couldn’t stop it
‘Cause my sweet mama, she was helping me too

Well, I was just about done
When my neighbor came over
He said “You’ve done a good job
Maybe someday you’ll come over.”
He had a lot full of trees
And he wanted them gone… yeah

Well, me and my girlfriend
We went up to the mountains
To play around a little
And do a bit of something
And before I knew it
She had me cutting some wood

Well, me and my girlfriend
We went up to the mountains
To play around a little
And do a bit of something

And before I knew it
We were cutting some wood
Yeah, before I knew it
We were cutting some wood……….end

Bunny Rabbits

2008-04-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Bunny rabbits hop to
and fro.
If I were a bunny I
would go…

… to a hole. Celiana
…under a tree. Claire
… to the store to buy carrots. Atumn
… to a rabbit nest. Gabby
… to a video store. Landon
... under a lady bug. Ryan
… into my house. Brooklyn
…to a dance contest. Megan
… to the zoo. Skylar
… to a tree house. Jade
… under a bush. Madison
... into the forest. Raquel
… into my hole. Quenton

by Mariposa Kiwanis Preschool Academy
(adapted from the Mailbox, Circle Time Parade)

Ode to Lisa by Kirk Ramos

2008-04-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Gentle as the zephyr
Brilliant as the sun
Absolute in its purity
Is that which flows from her soul

Bountiful as the ocean
Radiant as the moon
Sparkling as the mountain spring
Is that which flows from her heart

Captivating as the lightning bolt
Passionate as the flame
Resolute as the semperviren
Is that which is her love

My Pony's Nap by a. Kerkling

2008-04-11T14:08:00.002-07:00

Every day sun or shady
She lay in the spot where perhaps
The sun maybe would shine --
Taking her nap -- in expectation sublime.
If it happened to rain she might
rise fairly early from her nap
But -- she daily visited her spot --
to take her nap !

My Cat by d. chaney

2008-04-11T14:08:00.001-07:00

Pitter patter, Pitter patter
Pitter, pitter, pat
Velvet paws gliding silent
Leaping on my lap.

Arms outstretched, claws extent
Kneading me like dough
Piston action back and forth
Purring softly, slow.

Begging, pleading for a pet
Standing on back toes
Sidling up to nudge my face
Kiss upon my nose.

Stroking, stroking head to tail
Purring double time
Like a motor revving up
In ecstasy and rhyme.

So euphoric is my cat
Curled upon my lap
Gently purring as he sleeps
Contented little nap!

Golden Years by d. chaney

2008-04-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

For Grandpa Bill & Grandmas Bertha & Theresa

I’ve grown old, my eyes are dim
My hair has turned to gray
I may not hear distinctly
Sometimes I lose my way.
Time keeps on its forward march
My body loses strength
All the days ordained for me
Have drawn upon their length.

Yet what you see before you
Is just the outside shell
Beneath the wearing substance
there’s much that I could tell.
For I remember details
The child I used to be
And there are wondrous stories
In my mind’s eye I see.

Though my body’s lost its youth
My heart is as before
And all the things you dream of
are in my hopes still more.
I yearn to stay productive
Contribute to the end
I haven’t lost my need for love
Nor gentle hands to mend.

And there are words of wisdom
Because of all the years
I see the path before you
would spare you many tears.
Please look beneath the wrinkles
The crippled hands and feet
For I have much to offer
Each time we’re blessed to meet.