I turned the wrong way on a one way street
Bright headlights were a clue
Whatever happened way down there
It was obvious that they were through
 
They’re all coming back…this was a fact
And I’m facing all of their grills
An inevitable confrontation was about to happen
A clash of motorized wills
 
I was so sure that I was right
The turn was so easy to make
The place I needed so badly to go
Was the logical road to take
 
All this opposition to my direction
Like a wave was about to break
The proof in the pudding…
To my directorial decision…
Was an erroneous conclusion to make!
 
David Kettler
 
Notes: Working near two large one way streets downtown, we often see people…probably distracted by texting…turn the wrong way on the one way street. Usually it’s more funny than calamity, just a lot of honking and red faces. Sometimes it’s worse though.
​

        Choppy Sea
 
Treading water on a choppy sea
Thought maybe it was only me
If only once I could be free
Tranquil water I could see
 
Adrift the waves just seem to mount
Ocean water fills my mouth
Desperate more than I can count
Hopes and dreams all headed south
 
One more wave will take its toll
One more problem flood my soul
My senses now begin to dull
As my lungs are reaching full
 
I need a lifeboat, need an arm
A strong hand to pull me out
I came so near to buy the farm
Hope is needed…not more doubt
 
Suddenly I’m lifted up
Air is breathed into my soul
I deeply drink salvation’s cup
Thinking what was nearly stole
 
Now I venture back to sea
Knowing that is where I live
Hoping some little help to be
Helping hand that I might give
 
 
       David Kettler
         Written 04/20/17
 
Note:
This poem was inspired by dear friends going through tough times.

Bless all who bless
With blessing so rare
Who give all they have…
With nothing to spare
 
Exaggerate the good
Understate the bad
Shoulder the sorrow
Broadcast the glad
 
Bless those in the light
Who have faith through the dark
Who relish the right
While igniting the spark
 
Lovers of day
Who push back the night
Watch what they say
Fight the good fight
 
Bless the doers-
Not just the talkers
The climbers & helpers
Not cynics and mockers
 
Bless the achievers who think
 And dreamers who dream
The hopeful who hope
And planners who scheme
 
Thanks be to they
Who are a light on a hill
Who shine on us all
Who are still shining still
 
A good representation
Of our generation
Love fills their deeds…
Hope… their imagination
 
Those who see
The good in us all
Shine their bright light
Down the darkest of hall
 
Emphasize the right
That is right with the world
Dodging the mud
That so often is hurled
 
So bless those who bless
With the Love they possess
And share what they’ve found
With every caress
 
 
David Kettler
May 30th 2017
 
Note: This was inspired by Scott Hazelrigg who most certainly blessed all who were fortunate enough to be near him.

When I look in the mirror
I see my oldest brother
My late dear old dad
Even my sainted mother
 
It’s tough to deny
The tree from which I fell
Talking to my cousin
Even rings a bell
 
The receding hairline
The funny little smile
Corny jokes and ribbing pokes
Malarkey by the mile
 
I look through piles of photos
My boys all look the same
They all just seem to look alike
except for Darren’s mane!
 
His spiked up little flattop
Is easy to pick out
It looks like Grandpa Ed
Of this there is no doubt
 
Everything is relative
The genes all there in line
It really is impossible
To deny those genes are mine!
 
 My siblings all just think the same
And oft will give a wink
When prompted in the slightest
We know just how they think
 
Like Dad like Mom like dear old granny
Reactions are the same
Our brains all tuned in one accord
We broadcast the same proclaim
 
We cannot deny the way we are
The place in which we live
Whether we were given a mind like a trap
Or more like a leaking sieve
 
Passing on our genes are we
Our heritage long will live,
In the final count we then will see…
It all was relative!                    

​David Kettler, 4/20/15
 
Notes: This was such a hoot to write! I am so amazed to see not only my wife’s qualities in my sons, but also my In-laws, Grand-Parents, and even Great Grand-Parents! The Kettlers are not a particularly close bunch, especially with our cousins. However, when you finally do get together with them, there is a commonality that can’t be denied.

A small window of time
That’s all we are
A brilliant sunrise
A falling star
 
The burst of orange
The morning sky
Just a moment
Before heaven’s cry
 
The setting sun
Its final show
Takes our breath away
As we see it go
 
A small window of time
From birth to death
A sacred gift
From breath to breath
 
Lifting the shade
Won’t cost a dime
For a priceless view
From the window of time
 
David Kettler
 

Two become one and it’s kinda tough
The most amazing journey can sometimes be rough
High is so high, the low’s we get through
The journey of all journey’s starts with “I DO”
 
Love is the key-Love is the rock
Love is the answer to friendship’s knock
Other ties pass, things that might bind
Love’s the foundation, underneath we will find
 
Two become one, through thick and thru thin
Reconciliation…again and again
Ties that grow stronger-ties of the soul
Bind all the more, when Love is the goal
 
Two become one the amalgam of trust
Through piles of riches or financial bust
It takes some time this walk of love
Wise as a serpent, kind as a dove
 
One becomes two-the other way around!
Preston will be twice the man
From Sarah having found!
Sarah as well…heeding the call…
if she gets anymore hyper…
Lord help us all!
 
So two become one and one becomes two
Multiplying joy till the journey is through
Just grasp her hand and you grasp his too
Say from your heart…my love yes I DO!
 
I do today, I do for tomorrow
I do in the sunshine- I do in the sorrow
I do for a lifetime- I do for right now
We’ll hold the Lords hand…He’ll show us how
 
David Kettler

Wring out the very last drop, I say
The joy, the life, the mirth
Wring it out for all your worth
This sojourn here on earth
 
Do not let the grave contain
The talent God gave you
Wring it out for all to see
A life with purpose true
 
Don’t leave behind an ounce of joy
Don’t leave behind your dreams
Don’t leave behind the promises
Of what your future seems
 
Pour it out, this life you live
Wring it dry, my friend
Live it to the full extent
…and love the story’s end
 
On the poor bestow your goods
 To the hungry give your bread
Lift the burden of a friend
Don’t add more weight instead
 
Risk it, do it… take the chance
Don’t let the endeavor die
Wring it out for all your worth
Until the cloth is dry
 
When all is said and all is done
Our talents did we use
For glory to the One above
Or did we just refuse?
 
If somehow fear or ugly pride
Begins to work within
It holds us back from giving more
When blessing we could win!
 
And when they lay us in the dust
And life on earth is o’er
We then will know the truth is this…
“We could have wrung out more”
 
 
       David Kettler  
       April 28th 2016
 
Notes: I wrote this poem both as a spiritual poem and a poem for everyday life. After just finishing one of the best conventions I have ever been to in 56 years, I think I like it better as a spiritual poem! At the last meeting on Sunday, someone had picked up Patty Rittenhouse and brought her to Buttonwillow. As she sat with all her co-workers, she had the hugest smile on her face the whole time! I thought about how she had wrung out the very last drop of her life in the worthiest of causes and yet she was bubbling over with pure joy! Wrung out, yet so full…somehow it made so much sense.

I am but a vapor
My time will soon be gone
The carousel will then be stopped
This ride that I am on
 
I am but a flower
The petals they do fall
A bending rose that does proclaim
The coming of the fall
 
I am but a voice
That spoke a word today
The echo in a canyon
You hear then goes away
 
I am but a grain of sand
The tide will wash and roll
Significant for just a while
But time will take its toll
 
My life is but a vapor
The noise a kettle makes
Heat applied this little ride
Is all the effort takes
 
As I go I’ll let you know
This ride I have been on
So brief at best…
It has been blessed
Tho vapor soon is gone
 
 
David Kettler
March 17th 2017
 

 I’ve often fished, the wrong side of the boat
With an empty heart and a tattered old fishing coat
It always seemed right, a sure thing to me
If I just gave it more time, it was surely meant to be
 
Our ship will come in, our dreams will set sail
Just around the corner from heartache and from fail
Why is the net empty, we’ve worked hard all night?
What have we done wrong, what have we done right?
 
The difference often is, the side that we are on
Fishing on the wrong side from sunset until dawn
Ignoring the voice that says “Try the other side”
From the glaring truth, I sometimes try and hide
 
An empty boat is proof enough, the holding tank is dry
Empty nets don’t feed the soul, no matter how we try
Looking at another’s boat only feeds the pain
They are reaping sunshine, while all we know is rain
 
Until one day we realize, our nets about to break
What we thought was so much lack is more than we can take
Right where we were fishing, was a whole new school of thought
Just on the other side, a boatload has been caught
 
The other boats around, look on with envy now
What you thought was empty, is filled from stern to bow
So find the spot you wish to fish and keep your dreams afloat
Don’t forget to cast your net…on the right side of the boat
 
      David Kettler   
 
   Note:
This was written during a pity party. Those parties are not very much fun, there is always only one guest and the conversation is depressing.
The important part was to realize that while I am bemoaning my current situation with self-inflicted pity, someone is looking at my boat with envy at the boatload of fishes that I don’t even see. Someone once said, “The spout that pours blessing into our lives is only as big as the spout of thanksgiving that pours out of our lives for the things that we already have.” 

 
 
                  Dead Little Bird
 
A dead little bird, alone on the ground
No open window, no entrance was found
The light in his eye slowly burns out
No riding the wind- no flying about
 
The rude awakening of glass that was there
The wall, so transparent-no need to beware
So inviting the room seemed to be inside
So fatal the secret the room had to hide
 
The bird now is helpless to flee from its plight
Enemies circle and wait for the night
Once free and alone on the wing of its flight
The sad little bird is a sad little sight
 
Beware little one as you flutter about
Of things transparent… that leave only doubt
Much better the wing on the wind to be found
Than a dead little bird…alone on the ground
 
David Kettler
 
Notes: Two days ago we were startled by a loud bang on our window. After looking outside, we saw a beautiful robin lying on the patio while taking its last few breaths. We were very sad and almost bemoaned our crystal clean windows that faked the poor thing out!
​