Lyken L. Warren

S. Daytona, Florida

Born: June 27, 1924 in Watertown, Florida.
Parents: Lyken Warren Sr. and Emma Warren
Spouse: Helen Vera Warren
Children: 6
Education: Grade 11
Occupation: Retired
Memberships: Nashville Songwriters Assoc. Intl. CMA, BMI
Other writings: Many other poems and numerous songs recorded for airplay
Personal Note: I have more or less lived by the credo of my poem: "Time And How To Spend It"

IN YOUR PRESENCE

WERE IT IN MY POWER
I COULD BRING TO YOU THE SUN
BUT DARLING IN YOUR PRESENCE
IT'S BRILLIANCE WOULD BE GONE

I COULD BRING YOU PRETTY FLOWERS
THEY WOULD ONLY BOW THEIR HEADS
I COULD BRING YOU ALL THE STARS ABOVE
THEIR GLITTER WOULD BE DEAD

AND IN YOUR PRESENCE DARLING
THE MOON JUST WOULDN'T SHINE
AND IN YOUR PRESENCE DARLING
THE POEMS WOULD NOT RHYME

SO WHATEVER I AM NOW LOVE
THERE'S ONE THING SURE FOR ME
MY DARLING= IN YOUR PRESENCE
YOU MADE A KING OF ME.

TIME AND HOW TO SPEND IT

LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SPACE
THERE WAS NO CLOCK, THERE WAS NO TIME, NOR ANY MAN TO COUNT IT
THEN FROM THE VOID, DARK REACH OF SPACE, A WONDROUS GLOBE APPEARED
BUT STILL NO CLOCK, STILL NO TIME, AND STILL NO MAN TO COUNT IT
AND THEN FROM GOD, EARTH AND CLAY, CAME MAN AND TIME-BOTH FLEETING
THEN DAY AND NIGHT, DARK AND LIGHT, DIVIDED BY SUN'S GREETING

AND CAME THE NEED TO KEEP THE TIME, OF WHICH THERE SEEMS NO ENDING
AND SOME GREAT SAGE WITH DOUR WORD IS NOW A MESSAGE SENDING
HASTEN QUICKLY, LOSE NO TIME, THE END OF TIME IS PENDING
NOW YESTERDAYS ARE LONG AGO AND TOMORROW MAY NOT COME
SO TAKE EACH MOMENT AS A GIFT-FROM SUN TO SETTING SUN
BUT WASTE NO TIME WITH HURTFUL THOUGHTS SPEND NO TIME DESTRUCTIVE
FOR TIME YOU SEE IS A PRECIOUS THING, SO SPEND YOUR TIME CONSTRUCTIVE.

THOUGH I'M NO SAGE NOR LETTERED MAN, ONE THING I KNOW FOR CERTAIN
IT'S BEST TO SPEND TIME DAY BY DAY---UNTIL THAT FINAL CURTAIN!

Awakenings

Tis morning--half awareness--the soft patter of rain on my roof
Consciousness--realization--I have been granted one more day
As I pull the blinds and gaze out on the world a wonderful scene unfolds

And as the river flows and the meadow glows in the quietude after the
soft summer rain
All of God's little creatures chattering and singing at the dawning of
another glorious morning
My heart swells with anticipation of another day of learning

My eyes are filled with wonderment at the bounteous beauty of God's
creation my senses full to overflowing, and I am overcome in the
presence of such magnificence
And so I bow my head in humble silence that I be allowed to know and
see and feel-- and in some small way be a part of this
omnipotent scene!