This document is a collection of poems written by Ed Welch titled "Poems for Dad". It contains over 40 poems on a wide variety of topics from nature to family to reflections. The poems range in length from a few lines to a couple stanzas. The introduction explains that the collection of poems is dedicated to the author's father and that poetry allows one to express themselves and potentially minister to others.

1. Poems for Dad
By
Ed Welch
Ed Welch © 2009
1

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................3
THE PAIL......................................................................................................................................................4
FRIENDSHIP ................................................................................................................................................9
TRAIN OF FEAR........................................................................................................................................10
SHIPS PASSING IN THE DAY.................................................................................................................11
DEEP LIKE A RIVER................................................................................................................................12
KING'S CANYON IN THE SPRING........................................................................................................13
THE SUBMARINE .....................................................................................................................................15
REDWOOD GROVE..................................................................................................................................16
CHIEF SUNG AH TA HA..........................................................................................................................17
REFLECTIONS ON CLOUDS..................................................................................................................18
THE GREEN EVENT.................................................................................................................................19
HORIZON....................................................................................................................................................20
OFTEN TRIALS .........................................................................................................................................21
PORPOISE...................................................................................................................................................22
ROSE ............................................................................................................................................................23
MAN'S DAYS ..............................................................................................................................................24
ROSES IN HER TOES ...............................................................................................................................25
DON'T STARE ............................................................................................................................................26
REFLECTIONS ON FALL........................................................................................................................27
GLISTENING IN THE SUNLIGHT.........................................................................................................28
WILDERNESS ............................................................................................................................................29
COLD WEATHER WARM HEARTS......................................................................................................30
TREASURE TROVE ..................................................................................................................................31
COFFEE.......................................................................................................................................................34
REFLECTIONS ON SPRING ...................................................................................................................35
THE MILLENNIUM, TOMORROW'S FRONTIER..............................................................................36
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FARMS..........................................................................................................37
THE TEACHER..........................................................................................................................................38
BLUE SKY AND CLOUDS AT NIGHT ...................................................................................................39
THE CAMP FIRE .......................................................................................................................................40
MOTHER-IN-LAW ....................................................................................................................................41
DAD ..............................................................................................................................................................42
HEART SURGERY ....................................................................................................................................43
Ed Welch © 2009 2

3. INTRODUCTION
"Poems for Dad" is for my Dad who carried his pail well.
Poetry is an expression that comes out of the soul to be received by the soul
of others. It comes out of experience, observations, and from inspiration. Its
purpose many times is to minister to the poet. Sometimes it ministers to
others.
Ed Welch © 2009 3

4. THE PAIL
By
My dad (Edward G. Welch) was helping with chores around the Turner
Ranch in Arcata, California. He was slopping hogs and filling the water
barrel on the porch for the ranch hands; he had an attitude problem (he was
about eleven years old). Rosemary Cornwall, his grand-mother, was
cooking at the time, as she often did. She sat him down in the kitchen. My
dad told me what he remembered. I put the story into poetic form, some
details may be inaccurate (e.g. it is not clear that her mother died on the trail
to California). Rosemary Cornwall stressed the importance of doing things
right and taking care concerning attitude and approach to life and work. She
stressed the effect we have on others by what we do now. This story had
tremendous effect on my dad; he told me that he had a pail assigned to him
while in the Navy and he took great pride with it. Her story reminded him
about the importance of doing things right, with the right attitude, and the
importance of what we do now has a great effect on the future.
Feed the chickens,
slop the hogs,
water on the stoop,
what do they want next?
"Eddy come and sit down,
this glass of milk will drown
your thirst.
Eddy have some cake
to satisfy your taste."
Into the farmhouse, angry Eddy did stomp.
Into the smell of
cake,
bread,
and pies,
angry Eddy
with all pomp
did stomp.
Ed Welch © 2009 4

5. Milk after cake,
or was it,
cake after milk,
or was it,
anyway . . .
Angry Eddy soothed
by delicious enfolding aromas,
Eddy at last soothed
settled in to listening.
"Eddy."
She said
with slow unstoppable
resolve,
with gentle
ponderable
truth
her story evolved.
"I was about your age,
about eleven,
when from my heaven,
by wagon my family
began to travel.
'California'
dad said to mom,
'in Eureka
we will discover it, mom.'
Torn from friends,
I was in a fit,
angry I went,
my wrath I did vent.
Fetch the water,
feed the ox,
a pox,
I thought.
Ed Welch © 2009 5

6. Day by day,
night by night,
baked by sun,
frozen by moon light,
we did wend.
Lost in dust,
drenched in storm,
lost on a trail full of bones,
I did atone.
Wolves, Indians, and bears,
fear was everywhere.
Water so precious,
so rare,
mom's fever
raged as a fire.
Water did cool
the fire, but her pool
of reserve ebbed,
until in bed
her soul ascended.
Water no where,
mouths blister,
oxen stumble,
men fumble.
Heat,
dirt,
dust,
sand,
so much land,
so little water.
Ed Welch © 2009 6

7. Each pail of water
was life's starter,
was life's sustainer,
was life's cleanser.
Each drop lost
was life lost.
Oh, the difficulty,
the travail,
traveling,
to no avail,
as in some jail!
She cried,
'Mom, what would have been
if I had tried?'
Eddy, what does the pail
mean to the men at the porch rail?
Eddy, what does the pail
mean to the hogs in their jail?
Take care how you carry
the pail,
the drops you ferry
are precious."
Seven cycles of seasons spent,
in completion of time,
Eddy to the Navy went.
Grandma said to Eddy,
before he left Eureka,
"Eddy, your pail
is full
carry it well,
do not spill.
Ed Welch © 2009 7

8. Freely you receive,
freely give
Ed Welch © 2009 8

9. FRIENDSHIP
Two friends on a
dark and dreary day
paused on their way,
passing the time away.
Suspended in time,
two ships afloat on a sea sublime,
joined by the sea of time.
The sun overhead warm and full
bathing the sea and ships, full
of goods destined for other shores,
Together with sails down,
in the elixir of friendship they drown.
Memories of distant shores
were used to shore.
Two friends on a
dark and dreary day,
paused on their way,
warmed in the sun
of remembered fun.
Ed Welch © 2009 9

10. TRAIN OF FEAR
I climb
into the train of fear
that travels the tracks of despair
that go to nowhere.
Clickity clack,
what was that?
Who?
Who?
Who will take me off
this train of fear?
Who?
Who?
Who will take me off
these tracks of despair?
Pull the cord.
Pull the cord.
Pull the cord
that binds me to Christ.
Jesus stop this train,
take me off these tracks.
On Christ
the Solid Rock
I land.
In the peace
of Jesus Christ
I make my stand.
Ed Welch © 2009 10

11. SHIPS PASSING IN THE DAY
A bright and cheerful day,
two ships pause on their way,
with cargoes destined for distant shores,
two ships suspended in time.
Both captains shared:
"Twas a dark and dreary night
the waves of adversity
tossed us, causing a fright.
Alone we fought those waves,
yet we lost both life boats."
Said the captain of one.
"Twas a dark and dreary night
the waves of adversity
tossed us, causing a fright.
Alone we fought those waves,
yet we lost both sails."
Said the captain of the second.
"Four sails I have,
two to you I give."
"Four life boats I have,
two to you I give."
Tied to the common sea,
with cargoes destined for distant shores,
the same waves of adversity they shared.
Their good fortune, they shared.
How alone are two ships
that pass in the night.
Ed Welch © 2009 11

12. DEEP LIKE A RIVER
It flows as a deep river
from the throne,
as a deep eternal pool,
running deep as eternity
through our lives.
It sparkles and shimmers
in the light from His presence,
as water over river rocks.
A spray raises a rainbow,
over the falls,
the river falling loudly,
joyously.
It flows on,
providing life,
and more abundant life.
The rocks are our sins,
the sparkles are
the beauty of God's cover.
The falls are the gulf
of our separation.
Living waters show forth
the greatness,
power,
love,
and joy of God's grace.
Life grows where the Divine water flows.
Lord, send forth Your
water,
keep us in the channel of Your grace.
Ed Welch © 2009 12

13. KING'S CANYON IN THE SPRING
From the top,
the King's Canyon
floor showed
a sky blue ribbon,
also a rushing was heard.
Little did we realize,
at the river's side,
the overpowering
vibration.
Cool droplets danced
around us teasing,
wanting us to
join in their joy.
"Isn't this great and beautiful?"
We yelled.
"I can barely hear you",
we yelled back.
Snow and rain suspended
in an alpine meadow,
"for eons of time",
they thought.
With joyous energy,
singing the praise
of their release,
each
drop
raced downward.
Ed Welch © 2009 13

14. Each torrent
and
drop
joined
to clamor
all the louder.
We looked at each other
in silence,
seeing,
feeling,
hearing.
With regret,
we left.
Today the memory
of that time
and place
we give to you
"I can barely hear you",
we yell back.
Ed Welch © 2009 14

15. THE SUBMARINE
To Submariners
One hundred and twenty men,
the number of the apostle times ten,
descend into the sea joined
by a band of black steel.
Silently conducting their duty each did report.
Each depended on the others support.
Silently, alone, searching shores,
God alone knows who and where they are.
Ed Welch © 2009 15

16. REDWOOD GROVE
Reddish brown felt pushing
to the sky;
Green lace covering
a brown carpet;
Shafts of white smoke
at angle broke
to
illuminate
a
green lace floor;
Calming rush of water over stone;
Life's aroma enveloping this grove;
Stirring my soul to whisper,
"My God!
It is good to worship in Your cathedral!"
Ed Welch © 2009 16

17. CHIEF SUNG AH TA HA
Years have passed and many times
I remember sitting near camp fire embers,
Chief Sung Ah Ta Ha, over a hundred years.
The Sioux had adopted their chief,
the white eyes thought he was a thief.
Tales and memories were the only things
he stole to give future generations,
precious jewels hidden deep in his heart.
Twice he had seen Chief Geronimo in bonds,
all Indians were bound, I felt his deep sadness.
Years and a way of life died, but memories live in the
heart,
yesterdays that come alive in part,
memories of clear skies, warm sun, buffalo on the
plains,
and traveling to other hunting grounds.
Even more, I remember a wise, warm, and true friend
Ed Welch © 2009 17

18. REFLECTIONS ON CLOUDS
Clouds moving stately
in whimsical shapes,
white and gray on blue
at noon day,
yellow, purple, pink, and gold
at beginning and end of day
passing so stately
on their way.
A strange sight,
storm clouds at sea
raining as hard as can be,
watching in the sun
on gentle swells,
at peace,
this strange sight,
clouds as in a fight,
pounding the sea,
storming as hard as can be.
Ed Welch © 2009 18

19. THE GREEN EVENT
To the crew aboard the Gudgeon and
To events that are hard to explain
Eerie,
black,
no up,
no down,
no horizon,
on surface,
from Subic
to Pacific Guam,
the screws did pound.
Black waves washed luminous flecks on deck,
a luminous green cloud was suspended there, in limbo.
We headed toward this green cloud surrounded by black velvet.
The green was cool, full of micro specs of green light over us.
Left some where in space and time,
the screws pounded and churned,
in the black behind our back,
as homeward we turned,
to familiar shapes,
to horizon,
to down,
to up.
Ed Welch © 2009 19

20. HORIZON
At sea
all was black
as can be
No horizon
as far
as the eye
could see
Flecks of light
washed the deck
and a trail of flecks
lit our wake
A luminous white cloud
with flecks of white
dancing around,
like a plow
through dark rich earth,
our ship pushed
Streaming behind
a winding luminous chain
on the black velvet of night
Ed Welch © 2009 20

21. OFTEN TRIALS
Often trials come like a flock
of birds round about,
loudly chirping,
taking our attention off the path.
Its not that they don't come,
but where we are walking
and with Whom.
Its a good time to share
with Jesus our concerns
and entrusts our concerns
into His care.
Ed Welch © 2009 21

22. PORPOISE
With purpose
Between
Marcus
and
Midway
There was
A school
Of porpoise
Kids
At recess
Turned
My frown
Upside-down
Ed Welch © 2009 22

23. ROSE
Earth's smell
Gnarled trunk
Supporting an emerald path
Protected with brown spears
Mysterious gift
Wrapped in emerald leaves
Sun's fingers
Unwrapping this gift
Revealing its treasure
Colors of sunset
and
Fragrance spreading
Layered colored clouds
In circle form
Fragrance of love
Born from above
Ed Welch © 2009 23

24. MAN'S DAYS
Man's days are few,
they are points in eternity.
He frets and is in a stew,
wondering is there any certainty.
Some think life's a parade
and some think its a magazine.
He feels he has to meet the grade
and should be treated to a limousine.
Life seems like a mist,
but there is a twist.
Life signifies something,
its not just some fling.
We must try our best
because this is a test.
Our allegiance is the clue,
it determines where we spend eternity.
Ed Welch © 2009 24

25. ROSES IN HER TOES
With roses in her toes
and roses in her nose,
she makes a sight
wherever she goes.
Ed Welch © 2009 25

26. DON'T STARE
Our sister stood poised on a chair.
Our mom taught us not to stare.
So when the bear ate the chair,
we didn't stare,
we got out of there.
Ed Welch © 2009 26

27. REFLECTIONS ON FALL
Delicate veins of smoke,
sporting,
leaves of
copper,
bronze,
garnet,
gold,
and ruby,
reveal an impenetrable woods.
Copper,
bronze,
garnet,
gold,
and ruby leaves
floating,
drifting,
dancing,
and tumbling
in a lively breeze,
create a colorful rag.
Delicate veins of smoke revealing nests,
against a gray and blue sky,
of colorful creatures that fly
and are long gone.
And,
yet there remain emeralds,
standing against a gray and blue sky,
that yield to God's mantle of righteousness.
Ed Welch © 2009 27

28. GLISTENING IN THE SUNLIGHT
After a freezing - windy night
of rain, sleet, and snow
I awoke to a field of snow
with earthen colored trees
covered with crystals of light
glistening in the sunlight
brown, reddish brown, and golden
branches and twigs wrapped in silver
set against a blue topaz sky
glistening in the sunlight
Ed Welch © 2009 28

29. WILDERNESS
Heat by day
cold by night
thirst
hunger
water in the rock
honey on the comb
stumbling forward
to new ground
circling
clinging
reality
mystery
a maze
amazed
learning
discerning
observing
testing
trial
peril
from self-strength
to God’s strength
Ed Welch © 2009 29

30. COLD WEATHER WARM HEARTS
New England in winter is cold
yet
There are many with a warm hearth
and a warm heart
Conversations of family
and friends
Bring a tropical breeze
to gray skies
Even the ice
and snow
Glow with warmth
From warm hearths
and warm hearts
Ed Welch © 2009 30

31. TREASURE TROVE
Up a hill of stones
behind a large rusty hinged gate
that grates
Flecks of rust
litter the ground
a sign of man’s fate
An invisible path
covered with dead
autumn leaves
beginning to rot
Covered with dew
A very dark hue
Against a gray sky
rises a building
falling due to gravity
Windows of darkness
What nest
lurks there
Doors for giants
mournfully open
echoing footsteps
as a horse in a starless night
in a covered bridge
Clocking receding into infinity
A maze
of dark portraits
staring straight ahead
at each other
some at me
Who can they be
Ed Welch © 2009 31

32. heaviness
dread
I want to hide in bed
press ahead
past darkened
doors
Ah, a light
on the floor
from under an intricately carved door
A gleaming brass handle
The golden key is in its silver lock
Is this the treasure room
The door
opens
quietly
A warm
musty
smell
A dragon
breathing fire
No
Its a large
comfortable chair
and a fire in its fire place
A mahogany table
sturdy
but very old
moving with fighting dragons
and flying firebirds
dancing on its sides
Ed Welch © 2009 32

33. An ancient book
on the table
with old cracked black leather
with an intricate
embossed
golden design
With ease
the book
opens
What
an
ancient treasure
Its aged
pages yellowed
Fading ink
revealing
“In the beginning was the Word . . . “ KJV
along with many other golden mysteries
Ed Welch © 2009 33

34. COFFEE
First cup of coffee in the morning
the container really doesn’t matter
but plainer seems better
No cream
no sugar
strong Colombian coffee
Freshly brewed
hot
and aromatic
A fresh Danish
crispy golden brown
with apricot and cheese
First prayer
in the morning is important
the more direct seems better
Fresh
sincere
straight from the heart
A reading from the Bible
meditated upon
prayerfully and lovingly applied
Have a great morning
a great day
and a greater hereafter
Ed Welch © 2009 34

35. REFLECTIONS ON SPRING
This morning
was spring
Birds have returned
their songs of joy can be heard
Trees of gray
support green, red, or purple lace
Grass carpeting now is vibrant green
sporting yellow dandelions of spring
Blue-gray slate rock walls still stand
colored with lichen of green, orange, and some red
Blue warm topaz sky with golden wispy clouds
with a fresh breeze from the seas
Laughing daffodils
with bright yellow frills
And a sunset of gold bathing this place
causing me to appreciate Your grace
Ed Welch © 2009 35

36. THE MILLENNIUM, TOMORROW'S FRONTIER
To tomorrow’s frontiersmen
The past year is gone.
A new millennium is about to dawn.
Lessons that have been learned
Provide a platform during tomorrow's term.
Greater than lessons learned
Is God's presence that we have not earned.
Thus, we are prepared
For tomorrow's frontier
Ed Welch © 2009 36

37. FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FARMS
To Pennsylvania family and friends
At one AM cows are milked.
The sun rises to begin a hot summer day.
Silage corn, sweet corn, alfalfa hay, and farms are nestled
in a large valley of gentle Pennsylvania hills.
Air is full of the smell of dark rich earth, success, and life.
Barn is cleaned; calves and cows are fed, cows are milked;
silage is stored; everything is inspected and evaluated;
and friends bring a few pies and a cake over.
Yet, the Mr. and Mrs. have time to help family and friends.
A picnic is proposed and accepted with a drive to the neighbors.
Hot dogs and hamburgers are sizzling on the grill
and kids are running around.
Dinner is served: hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade catsup, chips,
chili, potato salad, sweet corn, and ripe seedless watermelon.
Later ice cream, pies, and cake are served.
The sun sets slowly.
Fireflies dance a jig and spiders do a slow ballet under large trees.
The summer heat turns comfortably cool while conversation
of family and friends send a gentle breeze over darkened green
fields
Ed Welch © 2009 37

38. THE TEACHER
For teachers and mentors
I am seeing those who look
a little like me
a long time ago.
They seek to find a way.
I had needed someone to show me
where to walk day by day.
How will they find the way today?
Am I willing to share?
There are more questions than I can bear.
I decided to draw near
and to share the why,
the how,
the when,
and the where.
Understanding responded to wisdom.
Life's fire flowed within my entire being.
Ed Welch © 2009 38

39. BLUE SKY AND CLOUDS AT NIGHT
To: Red tide, blue phosphorescence, and my wife
Red tide happens sometimes in San Diego.
Its reddish brown in the Pacific surf along Torrey Pines Beach during the
day.
However, during the dark night we see the red tide glowing sky blue when
under pressure.
Blue sky resting at the top of the black wave and frothing clouds and blue
sky when the wave breaks.
The dark sand glow sky blue as we step together on the beach.
The black sand glows sky blue when I write, “I love you.”
Ed Welch © 2009 39

40. THE CAMP FIRE
For Jeanette, my wife
It was dark and cold all about
when a fire caught my attention
and held my desire.
I came into the circle of your life.
Your light and colors
change,
you hold my gaze.
I love your beauty and dancing grace.
Your light gives me the ability
to look into the darkness of the night
to make things right.
Your dancing beauty holds my gaze.
You give me warmth
and light
in the middle of the night.
You warm my heart and soul.
I keep coming back to the comfort
and
warmth of your embrace.
Ed Welch © 2009 40

41. MOTHER-IN-LAW
To Pinky, my mother-in-law
At six my mother passed away.
She was buried on a cold drizzling day.
Yet, the future held consolation, sun, and light.
Through my wife, my love, I met Pinky.
Pinky was at a distance, the mother of my wife.
As life flowed on, my mother-in-law drew closer.
Through her being there, support, humor, and listening my
shell evaporated.
Pinky also became a mother to me.
Ed Welch © 2009 41

42. DAD
To my Dad
This giant had a hold of my hand.
His hand engulfed mine.
He taught me discipline and truth.
When I was around him, I was relaxed and glad.
By his side, he taught me to work hard
And “to do now the best I know how”.
He introduced me to God.
When I was married and had my own son and daughter,
Dad and I became friends and co-workers for the Lord.
Even more, we became brothers as sons of God, our Dad.
Recently Dad took the little hand of my dad.
Ed Welch © 2009 42

43. HEART SURGERY
To my wife Jeanette
Last month my wife had heart surgery.
We were brought even closer.
In the weeks following her surgery,
I had a different type of surgery.
Before her surgery, I would be upset
about getting her something she asked for.
I thought she can get up and get it herself;
after all, I get what I want.
However, I would get up and
get what she wanted out of my love for her.
In the last few weeks,
I noticed a weight change.
An attitude was removed.
Now I have this peace and joy
doing what she wants and meeting her needs.
It's a huge weight off my chest.
Ed Welch © 2009 43