Thursday, October 16, 2014

A Poet's Wife Died


A Poet’s Wife Died
By Thomas Newton


I could see she was laying on her back in bed with her arms calmly folded across her stomach in the dim light.  It looks as if she is not breathing.  I turn on the light and can see her plainly.  Oh G-d she is NOT breathing!!!
Maybe it’s just a coma?  I look into her calm face and see her wide open clear eyes staring straight up into the heavens.  I shine my penlight into her right eye--no pupil movement.  I touch her cold hand.  She is dead.  I kiss her cold forehead in farewell.  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of G-d, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. --II Corinthians 5:1 

I remember some of her last quotes:

“All my muscles have atrophied.”

“Tom, just leave me alone and let me die.”

“Just let me lay here on the floor until I have enough strength to get up into 
  the bed by myself.”

THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THE SLOW RECOVERY…

“Tom, thank you for lowering my bed so I can get in and out of it easily  
  from my wheelchair.”

“Tom, I don‘t have any money and I don’t own anything.” 
  --A soul is worth 10,000 worlds and you have led many people to the Lord      and eternal life.  You have a magnificent mansion in the New Jerusalem.  
THE CALL TO 911, THE TOUCHING FUNERAL, THE BIG EMPTY HOUSE…


I arranged a medley of 8 songs to honor her and to ease my pain: 

1.  Stardust by Nat King Cole  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjU6ZjrQulc&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDjU6ZjrQulc) 

2.  Twilight Time by The Platters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvRe_pt9XHo&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DwvRe_pt9XHo)

3.  Deep Purple by Nino Tempo & April Stevens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkVqCS64joo&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DIkVqCS64joo)

4.  Night by Jackie Wilson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ctJX8qmfM&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dh_ctJX8qmfM)

WATCHED THE MOVIE “DOCTOR  ZHIVAGO“…
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI8F4W/?tag=gocous-20&hvadid=47540274184&hvpos=1o3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12167513138942129505&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1pq12tkixj_b 

5.  Somewhere  My Love by The Ray Conniff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thF1ah78a3M&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DthF1ah78a3M)

WATCHED THE MOVIE “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE”…
http://www.amazon.com/Message-Bottle-Kevin-Costner/dp/B004GF2TJK

6.  I’ll Still Love You Then by Anna Nordell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMvncCXfXNY&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhMvncCXfXNY)

7.  Love Is A Many Splendored Thing by The Four Aces http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDtxiNwDS8&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGnDtxiNwDS8)

Some of her ashes were spread to the wind.  Perhaps you can reach out and touch her as she floats past.

8.  Look For Me by Sharon Rose http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej4CrgjGxng


Friday, March 03, 2006

Requiem for the Greatest Generation

Requiem for the Greatest Generation

Sixty-three years ago the main Army doctor
at Fort Ringgold, Texas said, “Go tell Captain Newton
that his wife is bleeding to death and that his son was born
two months premature and is not expected to live.”

But God’s Jewish servant, Captain Weiker, the assistant
Army doctor, came and saved both of our lives
through innovative and truly inspired medical procedures.

Later on in World War II he attempted to save hundreds
of other hopeless cases and was driven insane
by the overwhelming suffering he witnessed.

There are 15 members of the Newton family
who would not exist today had it not been for
Captain Weiker.

Today we are gathered to morn the loss of my mother,
Clarice Newton, one more member of the Greatest Generation.
She and they accomplished great things and suffered greatly.
The world is much poorer without them.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Glory In The Air




















GLORY IN THE AIR

How great are his signs! --Daniel 4:3

You are ethereal. My faith is weak.
Just show me that You really are there--
An eagle, butterfly, a lightning streak,
Or just a shapely cloud up in the air.
The San Francisco ticket agent frowned.
I told my story: late, I rushed on plane,
I sat in only empty seat around,
My ticket Dallas/Boston, can’t explain.
The jet took off and turned and headed West?
I’m on the wrong plane! Out my window’s quite
A sight--the shadow of my plane, I’m impressed,
And round the plane a rainbow clear and bright.
“What do you think of it?” “I will not mince
My words, for it was just coincidence.”

Glory from the air

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Zama American High School Class of 1960

ZAMA AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1960

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships
on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter
in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All these moments
will be lost in time, like tears in rain. --Roy Batty, Blade Runner

All I desired was to share my life
With Someone. From a child among the snow
And shattered dreams and Hitler's people's strife
To swampland sunsets and ship's deck below,
From Splendor in the Grass on a starlit
Hilltop in Japan to the agony
And joy of my first poem's birth, from hit
Songs, dancing cheek to cheek, and fantasy
To my first major failure and demeaning
Job, from blue duffel bag to house and land
And two-car garage; my thoughts are parading
Past empty seats in the reviewing stand.
From each of us the light of glory shone.
Is each of us uniquely all alone?

Page 74 of The Conservative Rebellion by Thomas Newton