This poem explains why I'm a faithful worker in Watson Community Outreach:
HEAVEN'S GIFTS
By Kay Gibson
As I reached into my box of gifts sent from heaven,
I scooted aside my talents,
"writing a play",
"designing a quilt",
"painting a landscape",
and pulled out LOVE.
God whispered, "You must not keep this gift, you must give it away."
Puzzled, but obedient, I attempted my first acts of charity;
I gave food to the hungry, I helped clothe the poor.
Suddenly, I realized why LOVE is the greatest gift.
The gift of LOVE is never ending;
the more I give it away, the more it comes back to me.
Now, for an undocumented bit of history:
WHEN LEWIS & CLARK CAME THROUGH WATSON
By Kay Gibson
When Lewis & Clark came through Watson,
they stayed for quite a spell.
When Lewis & Clark came through Watson,
Ah, the stories they had to tell.
They complained about giant skeeters,
But Watson's population was few.
When the skeeters met the new guys,
they dang near ate the whole crew.
I told them of the arrowhead plant;
the bulbs could be cooked to eat.
But Little Charles Garst gave them tators,
and they passed up my native treat.
When Lewis & Clark came through Watson,
the buffalo roamed free.
But the boys spotted all the dogs,
so they roasted two or three.
They wanted to make friends with us natives;
they gave us tobacco and red coats.
Tony Shirley dug them Indian turnips;
it's probably still burning their throats.
Gary Easley took them morel hunting;
Emma fried them up for the big thugs.
But alas, the crew all got sick,
cause Emma only checks ONCE for bugs.
The Watson Quilters sewed them quilts,
to keep them warm along the trail.
Ern & Jody Ellison gave them sweet corn;
no way this mission could fail.
Lewis & Clark were from the East,
all were greenhorns you know.
They wanted to stay in Watson,
but up the Muddy, they had to go.
Lewis turned to Clark,
"Which way do we go to set sail?"
Anne Wakefield jumped on her John Deere,
and mowed them out a trail.
Lewis & Clark's supplies were scant,
so many items they did seek.
So Gib Holmes gave them a benefit,
and we sent them on up the creek.
That Creek and I
By Kay Gibson
When I wade again into my childhood,
that creek trickles into my memory.
Those sun sprinkled days dance and twist in my mind,
like that creek wound through my life and brought ripples of joy.
That creek and I were playful, meandering around the bends of existence.
Sometimes, that creek and I would whisper.
Sometimes, we roared, but were never stagnant.
We rambled on until our mud and laughter
splashed into the river.
KILLER FROST
By Kay Gibson
It slipped stealthily in
through the night.
Its icy touch
attacked at dawn.
It left the earth unproductive
blackening each blossom;
the dead lay scattered.
It left Indian summer
dreaming of tomatoes
hanging ripe on the vine.
THE KING
By Kay Gibson
Immortal Son of God
worshipped by kings
envied by kings
Exalted by heaven and earth
Yet humble enough
to be born in a barn.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
By Kay Gibson - A Hunter and Fisherman's Wife
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
A partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry,
and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Five ring-neck pheasants, four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick,
two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....
six snow geese no longer flying, five ring-neck pheasants, four mallards for dressing,
three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..
Seven ducks to marinate, six snow gees no longer flying, five ring-neck pheasants,
four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Eight ruffled grouse to clean, seven ducks to marinate, six snow geese no longer flying,
five ring-neck pheasants, four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry,
and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Nine pounds of deer for jerky, eight ruffled grouse to clean, seven ducks to marinate,
six snow gees no longer flying, five ring-neck pheasants, four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick,
two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
ten catfish for frying, nine pounds of deer for jerky, eight ruffled grouse to clean,
seven ducks to marinate, six snow geese no longer flying, five ring-neck pheasants, four mallards for dressing,
three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..
eleven carp for scoring, ten catfish for frying, nine pounds of deer for jerky,
eight ruffled grouse to clean, seven ducks to marinate, six snow gees no longer flying, five ring-neck pheasants,
four mallards for dressing, three wild turkeys to pick, two doves to fry, and a partridge to bake in pear sauce.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
too late; I've gone..... Hunting