Potts Inn Museum Outreach in Johnson County

The Outreach Program has begun, even though we have not recieved official word on our Humanities Council grant.  Today I did a program at the Johnson County Senior Activity Center in Clarksville.  What a warm reception I received!  People were eager to learn about Potts Inn and the Potts Family!  In addition to a few stories, I facilitated a "Show and Tell" session where participants bring an item: postcard, award, medal, interesting object, and share it's significance. 

Here's what Mrs. Doris Caplinger had to share:  "My Silver Plaque award and a book that has a poem in it [that I wrote].   The highest ranked award you can earn in Poetry Writing for my Poem of Babies [and] a selection of my poems I wrote for you to have."

Well, I for one am so happy to receive them!  I plan to publish them here, with Mrs. Caplinger's permission:

Each poem is represented here exactly as Mrs. Caplinger wrote it.

Thankfulness

Each moring when I awake

I look into the sky

I thank the Lord I thank my friends

That I am still alive.

If ever I should be cruel

To my family or other people,

I pray to the Lord, for themany things

While he's standing on the steeple.

If he sould ever come and take me away with Him

I hope that he will find

I'm not guilty of many sins

That hehas given to us

To take with us each day

Because in time to come

I have this verse to say

If ever I should do something

That I am grateful for,

I hope when the angels come to get me the Lord will be waiting at Heaven's Door.

Birds

Birds fly around the world each day

and make the sky so bright

and it can leade us into seeing

a more proud and happier sight.

As birds go out by the lakes and shores

and swim to take a bath,

can always leade us into seeing

a more proud and Happier Path.

As birds fly around the sky each day

Seeking to raize and lift a feather,

can always leade us into seeing

a mark and change of weather.

As we walk along lifes road each day

Listening to birds around us talk,

can always leade our journey we take

Into a more Pleasant and Happier Walk.

Parents

Of all the years that's passed on by

and marked ahead a leade,

I open my heart and see the joy

My Parents left at Deed

My Parents were there no matter what

The time of night or day.

They always knew how to cheer me up

and exactly what to always say

The many things theyve done for me

Has brought me lone from heart

and made my life into a happier life

That's never felt broken apart

I hope my Parents life ahead for them

Will be happy in all they do

and certainly bring them joy and Love

Like they've brought to me sincerely grew.

Babys

A baby enters the world each day

With tender touch and feel,

and it can help us see through life

How a baby can make our life so real

As babys go through life each day

Forming a need of care and Duty

Will also leade us into seeing

A mark and change of Beauty

A baby is a pleasure to watch

When it first begins to walk,

and it can also spread nice pride

When it first begins to talk

As babys go through life each day

Letting those around it see wan to see

How much Love a baby can bring

and will make our hearts so Gentle

Warm and Free.

P.S. This is the poem I got the Editor's Choice Award for.  It was also printed in a book from the Library of Congress.

Love

Love in life can be so nice

If we show our needs and care

To those around who need it most

and find in ways to share

When we see lifes way of helping out and lift our hearts to need,

The Love we share with others around

Will be a trustful and Happier Deed

When we take our time of finding ways

To draw others close beside,

can always have nice ways of showing

Our Love with Feeling and Pride

Love can also be rememberede at times

When joined together at heart,

and made into a heppier life

That never shall be broken apart.