Brenda Baker

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Category: Poems

  • A Gift of Light and Love

    by

    Christmas Clock 



    To Mom With Love
    A year has come to pass
    with Christmas fast upon us. 
    The angel above holds her Christmas clock,
    reminding me of you, Mom.

    The love between a mother and daughter
     steady as the hands of time. 

    The pieces of my heart 
    tied with a string of memories
    wrapped in red, white, and gold. 
    Christmas kept by ever busy hands.

    Not ready to let go, I held on tight.
    I helped you stand as you helped me,
    your love holding me up high.

    The gift of time not mine to keep 
    but to hold dear with the passing years.     

    I stand in the light of the Christmas tree
    and remember your love and trust in me.

    I see the light of your smile in theirs, now three and one.
     I hear your laugh from up high.
    Christmas your favourite time of year.

    My voice lost inside the memories, 
    my heart speaks in its stead.

    From my heart to yours, Mom.
    I hope you have a beautiful Christmas 
    surrounded by the angels,
    Roy's hand in yours.

    My gift tucked away for safekeeping.
    A gift of light and love 
    in times of sorrow
    and times of laughter. 

    For in my heart you will always be, Mom.
    In light,
     and in love. 


    




    




    During Mom’s time as a radio DJ in Labrador City, she would play every year on Christmas Eve to share her love of music and Christmas with friends and family. Mom always played Christmas in a Mining Town during her Christmas Eve show.
    




    For you, Mom, with love.
    




    


    




    Mom decorated her house from top to bottom, creating a Christmas wonderland that grew more beautiful with each passing year. A labour of love that left no room untouched. 
    




    Below is a short video I created during my visit to Mom’s in November 2023. Mom and I spent the afternoon cleaning and decorating her bar room for Christmas. We were pleased with our efforts.
    




    


    




    You may have noticed the clocks on the walls in the video. Mom’s collection of Christmas decorations could only be rivalled by her beautiful collection of clocks. My sisters and I loved finding the perfect clock to gift Mom for special occasions, including Christmas. During my visit in 2023, we gave Mom a Christmas clock that she had been admiring but would never buy for herself.
    




    So when I came across a clock ornament in November of this year, I knew it was going home with me. I placed the clock atop my tree with the angel, where it will be from this Christmas onward.
    




    And if Mom knew what was hiding inside the Christmas paper that morning, she never let on and took her time, unwrapping with the utmost care. Once unwrapped, Mom placed her Christmas clock in the dining room for everyone who came through the door to see. Mom would single it out with pride whenever a friend dropped by, for it was a gift from her daughters.
    




    




    




    




    




    Forever in our hearts. Forever loved. Forever with us.
    




    




    Your smile reflected in theirs, now thirty-four and twenty-eight.
    




    





    




    

    

    


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    A Waltz in Heaven
    



    

    by
    



    

    







    

    

    




                                
In loving memory of our beautiful mother.

Our light in the sea of ages, 
your hand showed us the way
through the storms and clear waters.




    





    Accordion Angel

    In heaven 
    you play for the angels who dance
    on heaven's floor.



    The angels we lost 
    too soon by your side. Together again,
    for we lost one more.



    One step and two.
    The three step underway with the angels,
    keeping step now too.



    Your smile 
    shoots once more across the horizon.
    A beacon of light 
    in the early morning fog.



    And the accordion
    plays one more waltz. This song for you, 
    Mom.
    Forever with love.



    The love you keep 
    up high. For heaven called 
    one more angel to his kingdom.



    The accordion drifting 
    in the early morning fog past heaven's gate
    where locks are no more.



    And the music
    in your soul of resounding might
    plays from above.




    

    




    




    A beautiful poem my aunt Emily wrote for Mom.
    




    




    




    A beautiful video my sister Beth created for Mom. In the video, my sister shares the many photos she gathered of Mom with family and friends.
    




    




    


    




    




    Mom shared her love of music with family and friends for as long as I can remember. And although Mom left her life as a radio DJ behind when she moved to Alberta, her deep love of music could never be dampened. Whenever you visited Mom, you were greeted by the musical sounds of Newfoundland and Mom’s ever-bright smile. Mom loved Newfoundland music and the accordion in particular, introducing the music of her home province to her friends in Alberta, the province she came to call home.
    




    


    




    




    If you click on the butterfly below, it will bring you to the radio interview where my sister Bernice shares memories of Mom during her time as a radio DJ in my home town of Labrador City.
    








    Forever in our hearts. Forever loved. Forever with us.
    




    





    




    

    

    


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    Writing My Way
    



    

    by
    



    

    







    A dream was born.
    
I was going to publish!
    
And a book no less.
    
But where to begin?
    

    Good question I thought.
    
The hours spent on Google
    
enough to make me weep.
    
I didn’t sign up for this!
    

    At last, I was ready –
    
or so I surmised.
    
Using one online service,
    
then another –
    

    

    only to start again.
    
Third time’s a charm they say!
    
So I dove right in
    
and got back to work.
    

    More hours on my laptop
    
jumping hurdles one by one.
    
At last, it seemed
    
my book was done.
    

    Ah – the joy!
    
The hours worth their weight in gold.
    
But then came the “look inside”.
    
My baby a mess inside its pages!
    

    What to do next?
    
I raised my arms,
    
about to give up.
    
The matter out of my hands.
    

    But it gnawed at my brain.
    
My baby deserved the best.
    
The hours spent on Google
    
enough to make me weep.
    

    At last, I had an idea!
    
The answer so simple.
    
So I dove right in
    
and got back to work.
    

    The hours worth their weight in gold –
    
my baby was perfect.
    
Ah – the joy!
    
My dream complete, and I weep.
    

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    

    As I’ve probably mentioned in an earlier post, my book looked as formatted on a Kindle, but I wasn’t happy with the “look inside” feature on amazon. At first, I was prepared to accept it – figuring there wasn’t much I could do about it. However, I’ve never been one to give up. So, I decided to see if it could actually be fixed. I’m happy to say that the “look inside” now looks great.
    

    To celebrate, I thought I’d share a fun and whimsical poem. Until next time, be kind to yourself.
    

    Finding Their Way Home – Kindle Edition
    

    Finding Their Way Home – Paperback
    

    




    

    

    


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    Love’s Promise
    



    

    by
    



    

    







     
    

    

    Two souls now joined in time,
    

    with love’s candle guiding them here.
    

    Their union sealed by faith,
    

    and kissed by Venus –
    

    Whispering a simple promise 
    

    to hold them forever in her arms.
    

    For love knows no ego or self,
    

    but seeks only to lift the other –
    

    

    Painting its colours across the sky
    

    in silver and white
    

    for all to celebrate
    

    love’s newest journey –
    

    

    An affirmation of love’s promise
    

    to stand firm in the calm, and in the storm.
    

    These two souls now complete,
    

    their hearts entrusted with care –
    

    Joined forever on this day 
    

    to write love’s next chapter.
    

    Each word filled with certainty,
    

    for love’s candle will always burn brightest.
    

    

    ©Brenda Baker ~ Caffeinated Ramblings 2017
    

     
    

    “Love embraces with tender arms. You are the purpose and the intent.”
    

     
    

    A poem written for my beautiful sister and her husband who were wed on July 22nd, 2017. This post is a celebration of their love.
    

    My sister is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, and is always so supportive of everyone around her. I probably don’t tell her enough, but I’m honored to call her my sister. Love you, sis!
    

    I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish my sister and new brother-in-law a life filled with joy and prosperity. For in love, we discover all the riches that this world has to offer. The infinite beauty of this world is found in the love within our hearts, and connects us all to one another.
    

    Love is a universal celebration of life. So please join me as I toast this beautiful union between my sister and brother-in-law. May they enjoy many years of celebration.
    

    Here’s to a beautiful couple! Congratulations, and cheers to you both!
    

     
    

    




    

    

    


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    Out to Lunch
    



    

    by
    



    

    







    

    Ladies in white hats
    

    and men laughing in wool suits.
    

    The captain ready to set sail.
    

    It’s a party on the twelve o’clock seas.
    

    An event not to be missed –
    

    If you have the soul to spare that is.
    

    The townsfolk paying their weekly dues.
    

    Empty promises don’t fill the coffers you see.
    

    And parties at sea don’t come cheap.
    

    Someone’s gotta pay the rising cost.
    

    Townsfolk raising their hands in despair.
    

    If only they could sail the high seas!
    

    

    Meals at home getting sparse 
    

    for a man sinking below the line,
    

    hands bleeding in a bid to survive.
    

    The gulls getting hungry now too.
    

    They’ll make a meal outta him yet.
    

    Ladies in white hats
    

    and men laughing in wool suits 
    

    placing their bids before long.
    

    A game not for the weak of heart.
    

    Another fool trying to stay afloat.
    

    The chosen few baring their teeth.
    

    For greed demands its pound of flesh.
    

    

    ©Brenda Baker ~ Caffeinated Ramblings 2017
    

    




    

    

    


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    Through the Years
    



    

    by
    



    

    







    

    When I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna be a princess.
    

    I’m gonna buy a castle 
    

    and live happily ever after…
    

    Well, maybe not. 
    

    But when I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna have lots of money.
    

    I’m gonna buy a mansion
    

    and live happily ever after.
    

    

    When I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna solve the world.
    

    I’m gonna travel its four corners
    

    and leave a greater mark than they…
    

    Well, maybe not. 
    

    But when I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna make a difference.
    

    I’m gonna do things right
    

    and travel the world on a shoestring.
    

    

    When I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna buy me a house.
    

    I’m gonna invest in my future
    

    and travel to Paris someday…
    

    Well, maybe not. 
    

    But when I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna invest in their future.
    

    I’m gonna raise them to care
    

    and not make the same mistakes as me.
    

    

    When I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna be ready for tomorrow.
    

    I’m gonna take another breath
    

    and accept my mistakes… 
    

    Well, mostly.
    

    When I grow up,
    

    I’m gonna count my blessings.
    

    I’m gonna welcome today –
    

    for it’s all we ever have.
    

    

    ©Brenda Baker ~ Caffeinated Ramblings 2017