Knial R. Bateman

Springfield, Missouri, USA

(b) April 9, 1916, Sparta Missouri, (p) Andrew and Ida Bateman. (m) Jeweldene Osburn, Oct. 7, 1953. (ch) Donna and Debi. (ed) High School, ICS, LUTC at SMS college. (occ Life Underwriter thirty nine years. (memb) Church of Christ, Masonic Lodge, International Society of Poets Lifetime Member. (hon) World of Poetry awards 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991. 1000 dollar Grand Price winner; Poet Laureate Fall Literary Awards 1990 ''VISIONS ANTHOLOGY'', Iliad Press, Cader Publishing Ltd. ANTHOLOGIES 1992, 1993, 1994, by NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY. Total sixteen Anthologies by six Publishers. Writes to create word paintings and emotions in the minds of readers, first published 1931.

Daughter

I walked beside the mountain streams,
Adored the mystic starlit sky
And built my castles in my dreams
As endless time was passing by.
A zephyr whispered in my ear
Of secrets hidden along the way,
To be discovered some distant year
And guide my footsteps every day.
They told of wonderful things to be,
The night wind, stars and sky;
I wish I had known they were telling me
You would be my Daughter by and by.
Perhaps it was their sly intent
When they made this vow to me;
A flower from heaven shall be sent
To warm your heart eternally.
Because of you, my world is made divine
And shadows will never linger near.
God picked the brightest star and made it mine
to love and cherish always, "Daughter Dear".

Harmony

One Christmas eve on German soil,
A group of soldiers sang
The seasons' lovely songs
Until the court yard rang.
Some German people gathered
To hear the soldiers sing.
A little hesitant at first,
They edged into the ring.
Ladies voices joined the chorus
There in the fading light
And German diction blended in,
The song was "Silent Night."
The words they sang were different,
The meaning, just the same.
There in the midst of war they sang
The Hymns of Praise unto His Name.
All men, if they be friend or foe,
In Christ become as one.
I heard these softly spoken words,
"Lord God, Thy Will Be Done."

Ode To A Friend

I have stood at the peak of a mountain high,
Looked down on the world below;
I have seen the beauty of a starlit sky
And the sunset's golden afterglow.
I have seen the fury of the raging sea
And searched for the rainbow's end
But the greatest treasure of all to me,
Is to grip the hand of a special friend.