Christmas
by Ted L Glines

Toss out your darkly woes
let nothing in but light,
for joy rebirths our sorry world
on this lovely Christmas night.

“The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.”

See the little children
peek peek peek to see
excitement gleaming in their eyes,
what did Santa bring for thee?

“Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.”

Granny swaddles in afghan
smiling old and loving tears,
proud of all her memories,
family Christmas through the years.

“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King.
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.”

Soldiers wearing Christmas hats
wishing they could be with you
warmed by all the hugs you send
and they are sending you hugs, too.

“O  little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.”

Invite a homeless person
to share your hearth tonight,
learn what joy is all about
by purely giving love and light.

“Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.”

Jolly is a state of mind,
no room for darkly fright,
we drink a toast to life and love
no CNN for us tonight.

“For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o'  kindness yet
For auld lang syne!”

I love you oh so dearly,
you cherished friend of mine,
I wish you Splendid Christmas
and a New Year so sublime!

Clicks
by Ted L Glines

Damn those brats with their toy clickers
mocking my fright - giggles and snickers
they would not laugh nor long abide
if they met the reason why I  hide.

It all began in a seacoast village
wracked by mist and toxic spillage
when something moved down deep in the ground
where naught but worms should dare abound
and the sound of chanting thrummed the night
only abating in the dawning light
and deep in the shadows where the death-clock ticks
just out of sight - the sound of clicks
clicking of claws never seen on earth
wielded by something of alien  birth
hunting the night for fearful food
and spawning its own young awful brood.

Many's the night I shivered in bed
while close outside something ghastly fed
screams were silenced - crunching and ripping
my mind's eye saw its fangs all dripping
and I knew the coming of cold grey dawn
would reveal someone else disappeared and gone.

I rue the night when I uttered the spell
which invited in this Thing to dwell
for it follows me now I know full well
that there is no hope - no one to tell.

I managed to flee from there to here
but the chanting follows and I live in fear
and I cringe at the sound that I know too well
the greeting clicks of this spawn from hell.

Damn those brats with their toy clickers
mocking my fright with giggles and snickers
they will not laugh nor long abide
when they meet the reason why I hide.

Soldiers' Christmas
by  Ted L Glines
 
Creeping  through  the silent night,
Things that move are  things of fright,
Sleigh  bells never ringing now
Angels seldom singing now,
Nothing  comes to make their season bright.
 
(Chorus)
Ring the bells  and praise the Lord
For our soldiers' love outpoured,
Post their names upon your tree
As  they fight to keep us free,
Remember ... their gift  forevermore.
 
Helicopters -  guns and tanks
Moving  now in guarded ranks,
Not a bit  of Christmas cheer
That  must wait 'til Home next year,
Since their only  present is your “Thanks.”
 
(Chorus)
Ring  the bells and praise the Lord
For our soldiers'  love outpoured,
Post their names upon your tree
As  they fight to keep us free,
Remember ... their gift  forevermore.
 
Now with many  flags  unfurled
Boys and girls from 'round the world
Lift their voices - battle cry
Bound  to win or bound to die
Brave young heros all - to chaos  hurled.
 
(Chorus)
Ring the bells and praise the Lord
For  our soldiers' love outpoured,
Post their names upon  your tree
As  they fight to keep us free,
Remember ... their gift  forevermore.
 
Here at home  with  Christmas cheer
In this fun time of the year,
Let's  pause  now from what we've planned,
Singing songs - with praises ... and
Send  a loving hug to soldiers dear.
 
(Chorus)
Ring  the bells and praise the Lord
For our soldiers'  love  outpoured,
Post their names upon your  tree
As they fight to keep us free,
Remember ... their gift forevermore.

-----

Cleobatra
by Wendy Baral Cooper

Cleobatra is a pretty little girl,
Sent to BatWorld as her toes wouldn’t curl.
An Egyptian fruit bat eating peaches,
Apples, mangoes, anything she reaches.

Sleeping in a hammock which hangs from above
Hanging out at night with a new family to love.
Come by to see her, bring some food
But she sleeps all day so don’t be rude
Flys at night with the other bats
But she is so pretty and not a bit fat.
Cleo is now happy as she hangs about
With a cage so big she doesn’t need to be out.

You too can adopt a bat
For your family
Doesn’t cost a lot but
It’s not free.


Author's Note:Cleobatra was sent to Bat World by an Arizona zoo. The young bat sustained permanent toe injuries from hanging onto the stiff wire that was used for her caging, and she was no longer able to hang upside-down. Not having the resources to care for an invalid bat, the zoo staff decided to send her to Bat World Sanctuary.
At Bat World Cleobatra discovered that she could easily hang upside-down on the soft netting, vines and limbs that decorated the inside of the flight cage. In no time at all she was "hanging out" with over 20 other Egyptian fruit bats that live in a simulated indoor forest at Bat World.

The flight cage floor is thickly padded in case a bat falls, but another adaptation has been added to the cage for Cleo. Soft mesh hammocks hang from the ceiling throughout the flight cage to allow Cleo to rest her toes. Her favorite hammock is beside a large fruit dish.


Cleobatra is lively and active at night, munching on fresh pieces of melons, apples, pears, peaches, mangos, grapes and figs that fill over a dozen dishes throughout the flight cage. She particularly enjoys "fruit kabob" night, when whole peeled apples and mangos are skewered onto kabobs and hung from the flight cage ceiling. Cleobatra seems to take delight in hanging directly on an apple, teasing the other bats by nibbling off small pieces while hogging it all to herself.

For a fee you can adopt a bat. The money is used to provide for their care. Contact Bat World Sanctuary at http://www.batworld.org/main/main.html