From the Heart: Poetry Derived from Life's Trials and Tribulations

by Glenn Madden

Overview

This book of mixed poetry by a single author brings reading pleasure to a variety of conasaours from the devoted hopeless romantic to the humor seeking mischievous side in all of us. Some of these poems were real events, some speculatory, but all are spectacular!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468525519
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	12/16/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	84
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Upon reading short story homework during elementary school in the 1960”s Glenn’s father Milan commented” you’re going to have to be a writer someday.” When asked why Milan replied” Because you have a very vivid imagination and you’re gifted in transferring that into text.” Glenn always worked with his hands until the following list of medical issues prevent him from a physical career. August 15, 2001: got run over, spiral fracture of left femur with massive tissue damage, dislocated right hip .March 2002: double pneumonia, coma, large stroke leaving him 100% paralyzed on left side.2004: diagnosed with pancreatitis. June 7, 2008: removed 50% of pancreas,25% of stomach, parts of upper intestines, and gall bladder. Other issues from 2001 to date include 3 hernias, 1 ruptured disc with extensive nerve damage. In 2010 Glenn’s family encouraged him to write poetry, for which he seems to have talent. So here we are. He hopes you enjoy his work and welcomes your feedback. Be sure to watch book stores in the near future for the auto biography about Glenn’s roller coaster of medical mishaps over an 8 year period. It will leave you wondering how much can a person take?

Read an Excerpt

From The Heart

Poetry Derived from Life's Trials and Tribulations

---

By Glenn Madden

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Glenn Madden
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-2550-2

---

Chapter One

      Who Is Mother?


    Mother never comes first, she always puts herself last.
    With all I've done wrong she never dwells on the past.
    When my heart is broken she puts it in a cast;
    Her love is infinite and always delivered fast.
    She takes from herself and gives to me;
    Without her love how empty I would be.
    I can get you to look but I can't make you see,
    How painful it will be when God sets her free.
    These are a few lines where there should be a book,
    About the Angel inside if you were to look.
    Compassion is a meal that she always cooks;
    She's full of it, even in the tiny nooks.
    From the beginning, inside I always knew,
    She isn't a worker, she is the whole crew.
    She loves me unconditionally even in lieu,
    Of some of the stupid things that I do.
    If this poem applies to your mom too,
    Read it to her sometime when she's blue.
    Tell her you love her 1 million times two;
    20 million times she'll return this love to you.


    Fact or fiction?


      Memories

    Memory is a gift that is very special to me;
    Some of them I embrace, others I flee.
    My first love, my worst love, which one will appear?
    Will it be the one I hate or one that I hold dear?
    Sometimes I can't control what jumps into my head;
    The dog I loved and lost, or the one that bit me and wished was
      dead.
    The first vehicle I owned, a Chevy pickup, medium blue;
    Oh my precious Chevy the memories I have about you.
    My first son, the second, and finally the third;
    The joy they have brought me cannot be put into words.
    Memories of my ex-wife I try to forget;
    That relationship was doomed from the day that we met.
    The memory of my first love is very special to me;
    We are friends of 35 years and always will be.
    I remember pancreatitis, go online and research the pain;
    These memories are deeply imbedded into my brain.
    I enjoy my memories each and every day;
    If a bad one appears I quickly put it away;
    Then replace it with a good one filled with happiness and joy;
    Only the good memories are the ones that I consciously employ.

    Fact or fiction?


      The Truth Behind the Lies

    The first year was all right, the following seven a disaster;
    She couldn't let us be equal she had to be my master.
    In the Publics eyes she always put on a superb show;
    A perfect little angel her halo would glow.
    She should've won actress of the year for the performances she put on;
    But I knew once we were alone the angel would be long gone.
    Yes I used to drink a lot and every time I'd open a beer;
    I'd get the evil eye but with an audience she'd keep it in first gear.
    Again when we were alone she'd go into overdrive;
    Poke a stick at any drunk and anger is sure to arrive.
    Me being drunk and not in control was not an excuse;
    However, she didn't drink and was sober when she gave me her
      abuse.
    Who cast the first stone? I honestly don't know;
    I'm positive of one thing I wasn't the only one throwing verbal
      blows.
    More than once I recall her brother say" will you leave that *>#@^&<*
      guy alone";
    Even her brother couldn't get her off her almighty throne.
    The next day was the time I dreaded, one thing was for certain;
    She would start where she left off, my eardrums would again be
      hurting.
    The "next days' I was sober and I clearly remember these;

    It was always her starting back in, not happy until I was on my
      knees.
    To exercise total dominance was first on her agenda;
    That's the fastest way to get an alcoholic to go on a bender.
    I don't know how I made it eight years without hitting that rattle
      snake;
    She knew I'd never do it, full advantage she did take.
    "I'm not through with you yet!" she'd say, her finger in my face;
    She'd back me into a corner with no escape and zero space.
    She always accused me of cheating, that was one of her big things;
    I never did! She's the one who ended up having a fling;
    She left me for another man to go where the grass was greener;
    For repayment to this guy I prayed she'd get even meaner.
    Because of our child we had to communicate much of the time;
    I've apologized 100 times for my 50% of the crime.
    She has always claimed 100% of this was my fault;
    God knows half the time it was she who launched a verbal assault.
    Because arrogance and avoidance are her strongest traits;
    An apology for her part I sadly will forever wait.

    Fact or fiction?


      LAUGH MASTER BARRY

    This poem will be hard to write, it's about one of my very best
      friends,
    Who left behind a wife and son when his life came to a premature
      end.
    To say he was a good friend would be understatement of the year,
    As I sit now and think of him, I'm holding back the tears.
    For a more unique individual you can search but never will find,
    Rough and tough around the edges, but inside so loving and kind.
    He never did anything for himself; all that he did was for others;
    His nonchalant exterior was nothing more than a cover.
    You didn't have to see him to know he was in the crowd;
    He was always laughing, his laugh unmistakable and loud.
    It was so infectious people referred to him as "The guy with the
      laugh";
    He'd have you laughing so hard you thought your guts would split
      in half.
    When I first met him I thought" There's something wrong with this
      guy",
    But after 15 minutes with him I laughed so hard that I cried.
    When I met him I was going through one of the hardest times in
      my life;
    A nasty separation and divorce from my first wife.

    We worked together and many mornings I arrived with my head
      hanging low,
    That's when Barry would announce "I won't allow this", and started
      putting on a show.
    He would keep it going until he made me forget all about my
      troubles;
    It was just he and I floating outside of my problems in a bubble.
    He also knew when my problems were more than I could handle,
    In times of darkness his words of comfort were my candle.
    At age 18 his wisdom was way beyond his years,
    In a haze of sorrow and disappointment he made me see clear.
    He showed me that I wasn't a lowlife, but instead my ex-wife;
    He gave me self-confidence and helped restart my life.
    That was 26 years ago and every year our friendship grew,
    I wish you weren't gone Barry, how I love and miss you.

    Fact or fiction?


      Laurie

    I have me a girl named Laurie; and with her name comes this little
      story.
    In January 1987 on my way home from work; all dirty and smelly
      and looking like a jerk.
    I met a nice blonde beside Route 101; I thought to myself we could
      have some fun.
    At first I suppose it was a physical attraction; later I learned there
      was another reaction.
    As well as having a real nice behind; she was smart, sensitive,
      loving and kind.
    I found as we got to know each other; we really grew to love one
      another.
    Now she wears a ring, she is my wife; she is no doubt the love of
      my life.
    My vision is that we grow old together; with the sun, the moon and
      the ever-changing weather.
    To the end we will have a happy life; going to our graves as husband
      and wife.

    Fact or fiction?


      Love

    Even though it's storming I've found sunshine in my day;
    When I think of her the thunder stays, yet the rain goes away.
    Since the moment we connected my life is worth much more;
    I thought I knew what love was but didn't; now I'm positively sure.
    It's about being in peace in a world full of hate;
    How gifted I am having found my soul mate.
    Millions wander the earth and never do find;
    The one in a billion, so loving, so kind.
    They don't know what they're missing until they experience this;
    This thing we call love brings total harmony and bliss.
    Usually one loves more than the other, perfect balance not quite there;
    Don't measure this balance, it's pointless just give your fair share.
    Let out all of your love, those around you will be gifted;
    Before you know it the curse of hate will be forever lifted.
    I believe to experience this thing we call love
    You must believe in the power that lies up above.
    This power is 100% love, that's why you must go;
    If you choose not to true love you'll never know.

    Fact or fiction?


      Humor?

    I don't know for sure but I did hear a rumor,
    That one of my strong points is my sick sense of humor.
    I'm really not sure so you are the judge,
    Is this poem at all funny, or does it stink like butt fudge?
    If you're afraid of a little cursing, you'd best turn the page,
    I'd hate to send you into a do-gooder rage.
    If you do like this poem, it shows you don't have much class,
    If you don't like this poem, then you can kiss my hairy ass.
    I've never been much about being prim and proper,
    I'm about as refined as pure dirt, not pure copper.
    To me, pull my finger never ever gets old,
    If you find this not funny your sense of humor has gone cold.
    So warm up your sense of humor, laughter will keep you much
      younger.
    Quest to expand your humor; it is for this that you must hunger.
    Seeing a drunken fall on his face always gives me a good laugh,
    Stumbling and bumbling, as coordinated as a newborn calf.
    Now go have another drink, then go puke on yourself;
    This used to be me until I put drinking on the shelf!
    I made an ass of myself at least once a week,
    I'd get so liquored up, one time I even got beat up by a geek.
    My drunken friends and I would contest who's the biggest ass clown,
    We were all so beer buzzed, we didn't know the difference between
      a verb and a noun.
    I no longer compete in the race of disgrace,
    I seem to have evolved, for alcohol I no longer have taste.
    So next time you feel like seeing something amusing,
    Hang out with your friends sober when they're all out boozing!

    Fact or fiction?


      EVOLUTION

    I've been fighting it for 20 years but I finally started to evolve,
    In a world of computers and technology, many problems this did
      solve.
    It never would've happened without the help of my 3 sons and my wife;
    I never would've guessed how much easier technology makes my life.
    This poem is the perfect example of the evolution of my work,
    I'm using voice recognition; I used to write by hand like a jerk.
    Speaking into a microphone is so fast; I get four times as much done.
    Now this goes so quickly, I have four times as much fun.
    Old school guys will tell you, this technology makes you lazy.
    I used to be old school, but that theory is straight up crazy.
    I've always worked with my hands; this poetry is my second job,
    My real job is building houses with my best friend Bob.
    When I was old school I said only pussies use cordless tools,
    Then I tripped on my cord, fell off a roof, and felt like a fool.
    After you break your leg for being afraid to change,
    You must begin to evolve even though it's strange.
    I learned another lesson when I saw my first nail gun;
    I said I could outwork it, oh my God that was dumb.
    Bob showed me up again and I was feeling like a jerk.
    Bob said "It's time to evolve old school no longer works".
    He worked just as hard as I, but what I didn't know
    He was getting a lot more done, my production was quite slow.
    We had to work side-by-side for him to prove to me this,
    In the beginning I'll be honest, I really was quite pissed.
    I guess pissed is the wrong word, I was really just ashamed.
    Regarding our lack of production, it was really I to blame.
    It was then that Bob taught me technology is my friend,
    Now armed with technology in the future I will blend.
    Thank you Bob, my wife, and my three boys;
    With a 170% rise in profits, it's time for some new toys!

    Fact or fiction?


    Marriage

    The first time sucked with a capital S; it was the worst eight years
      of my life I guess.
    I promised myself I'd never do it again; a promise I intended to
      keep until the end.
    Through hell I'd been with my first wife; she stomped on my heart
      and ruined my life.
    When some time had passed I met someone new; it started as a
      spark but quickly grew.
    I felt comfort and peace when I was with her; my broken hearted
      past became nothing but a blur.
    She was definitely sent down from heaven above; she taught me to
      heal, to grow, and to love.
    In height she only measures four foot eight; I'm tall, she's short, but
      she is still my perfect mate.
    With our strengths and weaknesses we balance the scale; this is one
      of many reasons that our union will never fail.
    In the past 20 years we've had our mountains to climb; problems
      like others that I care not to define.
    We'd resolve the problem and get back to work; the storm was over,
      no more being a jerk.
    So close to perfect is the picture that I paint; because it's the truth,
      she really is a saint.

    My respect for her is truly immense; my love for her is increasingly
      intense.
    After 20 years am I bored? Not in the least; if love was food I have
      a feast
    As fine as she is and all that she gives: there's not another woman
      I'd rather be with.
    As for our love it is 100 times plenty; and I'm really looking forward
      to the next 20.

    Fact or fiction?


      Jackie Mom

    I've got me two mothers; can't be replaced by no others.
    No one else could stand as true; as these two mothers do.
    This poem is for mother Jackie; a mother I love dearly by cracky.
    When I get up her dander; is when I give her daughter a slander.
    Right in front of her face; this is not the right place.
    I know everyone bickers; Jackie's forgiveness is forever quicker.
    For once not thinking of myself; she should be bronzed and featured
      on a shelf.
    Her love for Laurie is so strong; for me to come between them is
      wrong.
    So here's to Jackie's love; you are headed to heaven above.
    When your love gets there; I hope God will hear prayer;
    Forgiving me of all of my "*>?"; Over the years Jackie has put up
      with it.
    I make it a hard road to ride; but Jackie always takes it in stride.
    Could there be a better mother-in-law? I think not, her love is
    without flaw.
    So I say that I love you; and for daughter Laurie that goes times two.

    Fact or fiction?

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from From The Heart by Glenn Madden Copyright © 2012 by Glenn Madden. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

Contents

1. Who Is Mother?....................1
2. Memories....................3
3. The Truth Behind The Lies....................5
4. Laugh Master Barry....................9
5. Laurie....................13
6. Love....................15
7. Humor?....................17
8. Evolution....................21
9. Marriage....................25
10. Jackie Mom....................29
11. Big Boy Sandbox....................31
12. Ode To Aunt Jaye....................35
13. The Chain Saw....................37
14. Me And My Beer....................39
15. Johnny Drives The Bus....................43
16. Happy Birthday....................47
17. The Doctor....................49
18. Bully....................53
19. Welcome To Life, Lacee....................57
20. Soul Doctor Beth....................59
21. It Could Have Been Worse....................63
22. Redneck Winter Blues....................67