Kirjahaku

My Family 6-6-1990 There is exulted exhilaration, Such as the U.S. Olympic hockey team, Winning the 1980 gold medal; or, Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters in 1986. Then, there's the higher plane of existence; Molly; Mark; Susan; Kelly; Where our family resides. Our marriage is there, too; and, So, too, our friends. Life lived, and experienced, In a sustained state of near perfection; In its essence. Life is a gift, to every humble soul; A blessing, beyond words; Beyond emotions; More mysterious than heaven, earth and the oceans. Each blessing, One of life's sustaining potions.

Country Boy captures the breadth and depth of life in the political world of Washington, DC, with his soul mate, Molly; a father helping to raise a young son; observing human nature at home and at work through the eyes of a simple country boy who found, in joy and sorrow, that he had a gift for writing. His poems express the joys, concerns, hopes and dreams of life as it is lived day-to-day. His words are as powerful and relevant today as when they were written in 1977. As one of Mark's friends wrote about the poems in an earlier volume, "Each poem has a different feeling, a different energy, yet they come together to represent some very fine work." Another wrote, "These are beautiful, thoughtful poems. You have a gift." And, another, "The depth of spiritual awareness is awesome".

Country Boy captures the breadth and depth of life in the political world of Washington, DC, with his soul mate, Molly; a father helping to raise a young son; observing human nature at home and at work through the eyes of a simple country boy who found, in joy and sorrow, that he had a gift for writing. His poems express the joys, concerns, hopes and dreams of life as it is lived day-to-day. His words are as powerful and relevant today as when they were written in 1977. As one of Mark's friends wrote about the poems in an earlier volume, "Each poem has a different feeling, a different energy, yet they come together to represent some very fine work." Another wrote, "These are beautiful, thoughtful poems. You have a gift." And, another, "The depth of spiritual awareness is awesome".

OCountry Boy Rides AgainO is a continuation of poems in OCountry BoyO published in March, 2018. OCountry BoyO presented the authorOs poems written in 1977. OCountry Boy Rides AgainO are the authorOs poems penned in the years, 1978 - 1981. The authorOs primary goal, upon retiring from the day-to-day working world in 2016, was to organize and self-publish his fifty years of written poetry for twelve people. His wife: Molly; his children: Mark, Jr., Susan and Kelly; and: his eight grandchildren: Samuel, Bradley, Eloise, Karen, Miles, John, Cate and Patrick. As Mark stated, OThese twelve individual blessings are the heart and soul of my reason for living.O It is preserving his poetry for his immediate family and a few friends that has motivated him to self-publish. The author also stated, OOf course, should I be OdiscoveredO and become one of AmericaOs most beloved poets, I will not be surprised!O

OCountry Boy Rides AgainO is a continuation of poems in OCountry BoyO published in March, 2018. OCountry BoyO presented the authorOs poems written in 1977. OCountry Boy Rides AgainO are the authorOs poems penned in the years, 1978 - 1981. The authorOs primary goal, upon retiring from the day-to-day working world in 2016, was to organize and self-publish his fifty years of written poetry for twelve people. His wife: Molly; his children: Mark, Jr., Susan and Kelly; and: his eight grandchildren: Samuel, Bradley, Eloise, Karen, Miles, John, Cate and Patrick. As Mark stated, OThese twelve individual blessings are the heart and soul of my reason for living.O It is preserving his poetry for his immediate family and a few friends that has motivated him to self-publish. The author also stated, OOf course, should I be OdiscoveredO and become one of AmericaOs most beloved poets, I will not be surprised!O

OThe Road AheadO comprises the poems Mark Decker wrote in the years 1982 & 1983. These began some of the happiest years of his life, after a tumultuous decade of the 70Os. The 70Os were a time of graduating from college, moving to Washington, working in the White House, trying to establish a career, law school, Watergate, learning how to manage/juggle career and family. In the early 80Os, we find him happily married to his bride Molly, with two children - Mark (7) and Susan (1.5). Included with the poetry, interspersed throughout the poems, are images - some old, some newer - that the author pulled from his pictures and other items that bring back happy memories and which he hopes you will like as well.

OThe Road AheadO comprises the poems Mark Decker wrote in the years 1982 & 1983. These began some of the happiest years of his life, after a tumultuous decade of the 70Os. The 70Os were a time of graduating from college, moving to Washington, working in the White House, trying to establish a career, law school, Watergate, learning how to manage/juggle career and family. In the early 80Os, we find him happily married to his bride Molly, with two children - Mark (7) and Susan (1.5). Included with the poetry, interspersed throughout the poems, are images - some old, some newer - that the author pulled from his pictures and other items that bring back happy memories and which he hopes you will like as well.

An Eagle Soars When I was young, a boy, in elementary and high school, I had broad wings; I flew like a hawk; High and graceful, gliding, riding all the thermals. I had domain over my territory. Then, came college, I was lost; A round peg in a square hole. Somehow, my wings were clipped; I mostly wandered, like Siddhartha, aimlessly For sixty months; I did not fly; I mostly crawled. Then, I met the love of my life, who told me I could fly; That she had watched me fly, and it was a beautiful sight. Ok, I thought, and I told her I was a sparrow; She told me ?no, you are an eagle?. I told her, ?Ok, let's say I?m a robin?; No?, she said, ?you are an eagle.? Ok, I said, I am a dove;? Again, she told me I flew like an eagle. I agreed, and said I was a hawk; She told me, ?no, you are not a hawk; you are an eagle?. Ok, I told her I was an eagle; and, I told her I could fly again; She told me ?eagles don't fly, they soar; Now, soar?.

An Eagle Soars When I was young, a boy, in elementary and high school, I had broad wings; I flew like a hawk; High and graceful, gliding, riding all the thermals. I had domain over my territory. Then, came college, I was lost; A round peg in a square hole. Somehow, my wings were clipped; I mostly wandered, like Siddhartha, aimlessly For sixty months; I did not fly; I mostly crawled. Then, I met the love of my life, who told me I could fly; That she had watched me fly, and it was a beautiful sight. Ok, I thought, and I told her I was a sparrow; She told me "no, you are an eagle". I told her, "Ok, let's say I'm a robin"; "No", she said, "you are an eagle." "Ok, I said, I am a dove;" Again, she told me I flew like an eagle. I agreed, and said I was a hawk; She told me, "no, you are not a hawk; you are an eagle". Ok, I told her I was an eagle; and, I told her I could fly again; She told me "eagles don't fly, they soar; Now, soar".

This is the third book in the "Watershed Years" series that contains poems the author wrote in years 1992 -1997. His thrid, and last, child - Kelly McEwan Decker - was born in 1990. This joy and starting a new career as an investment banker were the major new themes of his life.