STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                         </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#33CCFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>BILLY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT ADDITIONS</B></FONT><B>    </B></div> <div> <B>                                                                    </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000" background="044fab83.jpg"> <bR> <div> ''FADED LOVE''</div> <bR> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-117/fadedlove.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> <B>SOUND CONTROL</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK">GUESTBOOK</A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BILLYS FOOD FOR THOUGHT ADDITIONS"><B><U>BACK TO HOMEPAGE</U></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  <div align="center"> <div style="padding:0px; border:1px solid #999999; width:235px; margin: 0px;background-color:#F2F4FA;"> <form action="http://pub2.bravenet.com/elist/add.php" method="post" style="margin:0px;"> <div style="background-color:#DBE0F5;padding:3px;font:12px arial;color:black;"><b>Join the Mailing List</b></div> <div style="margin:10px; font: 11px arial; color: black; text-align:right;"> <div style="margin-bottom:5px;">Enter your name and email address below:</div> Name: <input type="text" name="ename" size="25" maxlength="60" /><br> Email: <input type="text" name="emailaddress" size="25" maxlength="100" /><br> <input type="radio" name="action" value="join" checked style="border: 0px;"/>Subscribe  <input type="radio" name="action" value="leave" style="border: 0px;" />Unsubscribe  <input type="hidden" name="usernum" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="126720699" /><input type="hidden" name="cpv" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="1" /> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="GO" /></div> <div align="center" style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a title="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" href="http://www.bravenet.com"><img src="http://assets.bravenet.com/cp/bn-elist.gif" alt="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" border="0"></a></div></form> </div></div>   </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04207073.jpg"> <div> <I>STRUCK BY LIGHTNING</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "I WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING" </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> I once was struck by lightning , with only awe of course, </div> <div> although it was quite frightning, I received no direct force. </div> <div> The Lord was watching over me as if it were by chance, </div> <div> I planted a little willow tree when it was just a branch. </div> <div> Now this special tree will play a role in my true story tale; </div> <div> where actions go unfolding in a dreadful storming gale! </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Below here I begin what I hope ne'er comes again, </div> <div> a power of destruction in it's breath, </div> <div> a storm that puffs and blows like a thing God only knows, </div> <div> and sometimes with the jaws of death. </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> So, I'm at my window staring... at the dark clouds coming fast;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> the skies were black and glaring as soot does in the ash. </div> <div> My children had gone fishing when the mid-day sun was bright, </div> <div> now I, in frightful wishing that they will be alright. </div> <div> The storm came nearer, nearer, as lightning lit the day, </div> <div> and thunder bolts drew clearer as they rumbled on my way. </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> And then I heard my boys with footsteps down the hall, </div> <div> in happy face and voice for they out-ran the squall. </div> <div> They dashed in with much hurry and now we all are safe, </div> <div> but wait a second, are we? for I found myself agape! </div> <div> For standing at the window I could see it each and all, </div> <div> and felt the mighty tremor that rattled every wall. </div> <div> And the blast that shook the building, just numbed me to the core, </div> <div> a force of light came wielding an awesome, dreadful roar! </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> From my viewpoint I was seeing through a maze of haze and rain, </div> <div> the phone-pole that was seething from a lightning bolt that came. </div> <div> Atop that treated pole sits a huge electric box, </div> <div> that transforms all it holds but now explodes in shock! </div> <div> A mighty force had entered a "bulls eye" in it's aim, </div> <div> and the source completely rendered a high humongous flame. </div> <div> And above that torrid stroke, came a ball of jet-black smoke, </div> <div> erupting like a cannon shot it's wad, </div> <div> that soared up overhead like an A-Bomb does instead, </div> <div> that showed the mighty wrath of God!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> And I saw the lightning streaks, like that the dragons make,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> but giganic at their peeks with destruction in their wake. </div> <div> they seem to seek each other out to wrinkle and entwine; </div> <div> circle 'round and hove about with glitter, sparks and shine. </div> <div> And stringers that are finger-like that slither in and out, </div> <div> like phosphorus glaze in ocean waves, they twinkled all about. </div> <div> And oh, so very fast were they with colors that they passed, </div> <div> a monumental moment gave a moment that will last! </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Then bands of brilliant lights unfold that turned from blue to white, </div> <div> and as they wiggled down the pole, intensified my fright. </div> <div> Then came some strands of red and gold, and back to white and gray, </div> <div> and when they reached the ground they came...heading where we stay! </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Now, here I must confess, I believed we're put to test, </div> <div> just place your trust in God,and He will do the rest. </div> <div> so I will shout without a doubt, we're thankful as can be; </div> <div> for I know it was God's plan to save my family,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 'cause in that path of peril grew a single little tree, </div> <div> that took the blow and stopped the flow of fire that came at me. </div> <div> 'Twas about one hundred feet where the awful blast occurred, </div> <div> and just across the street from the window where I stood. </div> <div> And can't you stop and wonder just how powerful that was, </div> <div> it surely made me ponder about the work God does. </div> <div> + + +<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> And it only took a minute for this fire-storm to abate </div> <div> but it will last a lifetime for my memory to relate. </div> <div> For I will not forget and we're happy as can be; </div> <div> our lives were surely spared by a weeping willow tree! </div> <div> William E. Hardison (c)</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="the_master_banker.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE MASTER BANKER">NEXT POEM</A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>