Nancy

Wayne's Original Poems

Nancy
by Wayne Hinton, around 1961-62

How can you look so pretty there,
On each and every day?
Do you not have a conscience, love?
How can you be so gay?

You, sitting there in loveliness,
Each day in that same chair
You've sat in for so long it seems,
Give me a feeling rare!

You're being far too selfish, dear.
You know you should not be.
You ought to spread your beauty 'round!
Come! Share a bit with me!

Many Letters

Many Letters

by Wayne Hinton, in late 1962

I've written many letters, love,
But none you'll ever see.
I've written many letters, my dear,
And mailed each back to me.

For when I sit her all alone,
No matter where or when,
Reminders of the days we shared
Seep slowly, surely in.

I fear our love is gone for good.
Who is the one to blame?
Did I do something wrong, my dear? (name withheld)
Keep happiness away?
Perhaps I thought more of myself
And did you harm that way.

Do you remember how we'd sit
And dream the nights away?
My thoughts were full those nights of you,
The wife I'd have some day.

Your paintings were so beautiful
As on the walls they hung.
They could have graced our home, I thought,
As could those songs you'd sung.
Why did those dreams come to an end?
Why did they fail so soon?
I ask these questions often, love,
While gazing at the moon.

My heart grows faint; my legs get weak
Each time I think of thee.
I lack the pluck to write to you.
I'm writing this to me.

The Kitten

The Kitten

by Wayne Hinton
(Not one of my better efforts, but I think it had a message to me at the time. And, no, it is not about a cat.)

Did you ever watch a kitten,
One that's not too old,
As it finds a new adventure
And studies each detail?
The sight may not intrigue you,
But to me it means a lot.
For, you see, upon occasion,
It was not too long ago
I had a pert, young kitten
And tried to raise it well.

You may not like sad stories.
If not, I beg you leave
For this may be the saddest
That I shall ever write.
It began one summer evening.
I found her in the road.
And took her, fed her, loved her
Trained her the best I knew.

I'm sure that kitten loved me, too.
She told me so each day
As she cuddled beside me
And purred so soft and low.
I wanted her to grow up
Into a strong old cat
So full of strength and wisdom
And also warmth and love
So no one could deny her
The praise she so deserved.

And now on with my story;
The one I started to tell
About how I watched this kitten
One day when she was at play
And began to climb a sofa.
She struggled to reach the top.
She took some pride upon her
As high atop she stood.
You must believe what follows
I thought was for her good.

I'm sure you know what pride is
And the dangers of too much.
I also know pride's powers
But the kitten could not know.
She had to be taught a lesson;
She had to learn it well.
It could not be forgotten
She had won her fight.
I knew defeat must come again,
So I knocked her from her perch.

Help would have been a hindrance
To the lesson I thought she'd learn.
So sure I was she'd fight once more
To regain her once known heights.
But this time she did not struggle.
No, she was not dead,
Though it might have been a blessing
Since she never fought again.
She chose a life that's lower
And I must bear the blame.

Don't think that I'd desert her.
I never will do that
Although it does seem hopeless
That I can right my wrong.
I have tried once to do it.
I laid her on the peak
And thought she would be pleased there.
She quickly proved me wrong.
Oh, how can I tell my kitten
I'm sorry!

Vanity

Vanity

by Wayne Hinton

Why do you fight, vain world?
You can never last.
God has made us different, imperfect.
Only He can last.

Develop your bombs, strive for peace
Which never will be seen.
But, until we become one in God,
We shall be forever lean.

Lay down your arms and pick up His;
Aid your fellow man;
Damn your wars - forget them.
Through Him you can win.

(I only got a "B" on this one; I think it was "A" work, myself.)

Number One

(I find it hard to believe that I wrote this one, but it is possible. I simply don't know. It is in my handwriting without credit to anyone.)

Number One

Whenever a fellow
With marriage ties binding him
Observes that his spouse
Is forever reminding him
About his mistakes
From the least to the worst of them.
He's likely to figure
That she was the worst of them.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time

(I don't know if this is original or not, but I think I wrote it a long time ago. I found it in my archives and it is in my handwriting, but that doesn't really prove I wrote it.)

Once upon a time,
A boy went to see a girl.
That's possible.

They had dinner together.
That's possible.

After dinner they went for a ride.
That's possible.

The car stalled on a lonely road.
That's probable.

The boy took the girl home as safe as she was when they left.
That's possible.
Once upon a time!

Mourning - 1999

Mourning
by Wayne Hinton. 1999

Why do you cry to no avail
When someone you love has gone?
Why does it take so long for you
To weep - then travel on?

In time, we all must die, it's true.
But must it be like this?
When I die, don't mourn for me,
Just kiss me a gentle kiss.

I'll remember all of you when I am gone -
Each love and hate we shared.
Remember me, also, is all I ask -
Even if you never really cared.

I'll be better off than you -
That is, after I'm dead.
Remembrances of my tragic death
Will never fill my head.

But you will have the memories,
Lodged within your soul,
Of how my life was good, or bad,
And stopped short of its goal.

So please don't cry to no avail
When I or a love has gone.
But trust us to the hands of God.
Bless us -- then move on.

Written by Wayne Hinton
(I don't remember the occasion - it might well have been early 1963 when a very close friend died in a car accident. I just can't be sure.)