Laura M. Voss

Bellflower, CA, USA

I was born on a farm in Iowa. I was the youngest of nine brothers and sisters. I wrote some poems when I went to school. I attended Ames High School at Ames, Iowa and worked for the Iowa State Highway Commission in Ames, Iowa. After I met my husband and married, I went to work at the Hydraulees Laboratory at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. I worked while he attended medical school there. After he finished his Internship and his Residency, he started to practice in Bellflower, California. I went to work in his office. I attended First Baptist Church in Bellflower where I helped decorate tables and helped with the nursery and children’s classes. I am a 50 year member of the Women's Club of Belleflower. I enjoyed cooking and baby-sitting my grandchildren. I am now 85 years of age. Writing poems and sharing them makes me happy.

IN MEMORY OF "OUR MOTHERS"

Mother dear has left us
To go to her "Home on High",
Her little house is empty
But it’s memories can never die.
She asked God to end her suffering
When her pain was more than she could bear
She told us "goodbye" as if she knew
He would answer her last prayer.
Even tho’ her face showed marked suffering
The love of God shown in her eyes;
She knew the best this old world offered
Could not compare with "Paradise."
Her life just seemed to blossom forth
Like the flowers she loved so much;
Since she is gone they seem to fade
We know they need her touch.
She sacrificed so much for us
Through all our growing years;
When disappointments came a long
Her prayers were said through tears.
She over looked all our mistakes
No matter how bad they seemed;
And if success has come our way
Those sweet brown eyes just beamed.
She talked many things over with us
Before she went away;
She stressed, "be good to others-
Do something for someone every day."
She didn’t leave us a fortune
Like those you read about every day;
But she did leave the "Word of God,"
Worth more than we can say.

LETS HAVE PEACE

We’ve found a little remedy
That might set this old world straight,
Be concerned about other’s sorrows
Try to get rid of confusion and hate.

Don’t be one to pinch your pennies
When there’s chance to help a fellow out;
Above all tell him your experience with faith
If he gets to know Christ, he’ll have no doubt.

If we’ll be kind to family and friends
The reward comes back beyond measures;
There may be money spent on effort put forth
But the joy derived is your pleasure.

Suppose you could make a mind
By cheating on a business deal;
You’ll have to answer for that later on
No matter how good is made you feel.
Sometime its really tempting
To step on someone’s toes,
Or gossip about your very best friend
But remember Christ always knows.

If we could do something every day
For those who need some care,
Then if those people could do the same
It would be the answer to our every prayer.

Above all, lets love one another
And always learn to forgive;
No matter how you feel inside
I will make the world a better place to live

If we are disturbed about what’s happening today
And wish the sound of guns would cease;
Remember confusion was not brought on by God.
He has always promised peace.