Poetry

Late is My Gratefulness

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

New words to a familiar Thanksgiving hymn tune;
A Thankless Thanksgiving in the White House

Late Is My Gratefulness
New words to a familiar Thanksgiving hymn tune

Late is my gratefulness, O God my Father.
I’m tardy thanking You for what You’ve done.
Daily You’ve given me countless reminders
of Your great faithfulness, Most Faithful One.

Refrain:
Late is my gratefulness. Late is my gratefulness.
Forgive my tardiness honoring You.
I’ve been remiss in recalling Your goodness.
Your steadfast mercies, Lord, are ever new.

Late is my gratefulness, O God my Father.
I have been careless extolling Your care.
Daytime or nightime, Your grace like a blanket
covers me gently. Your love’s everywhere. (Refrain)

Late is my gratefulness, O God my Father.
I’ve no excuse for my ingratitude.
I beg forgiveness for failing to praise You.
Great is Your faithfulness in all You do. (Refrain)

*The above lyrics can be sung to the tune for “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”


A Thankless Thanksgiving in the White House
A less-than-memorable holiday for the First Family

No turkey in the White House.
George dined on lame duck fare.
He had no choice. His goose was cooked
by critics everywhere.

But lame duck can be tasty
if basted in Old Crow.
A bourbon brine can cover up
what goes down oh so slow.

And while my wife baked pumpkin torte
(I cannot tell a lie),
the White House chef served thankless George
a slice of humble pie.

A Requiem for U. S. Automakers

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

Will Congress give them a brake?;
Deadly Lessons from Jonestown

A Requiem for U. S. Automakers
Will Congress give them a brake?Ford and Chrysler (GM too)fear the future. Are they through?Can these automakers brakeand turn this thing around? Not without some bailout bucks,can they make more cars and trucks.Honest engine? So they claim,clutching at their hearts. Why is it the Japaneseroll out hybrids with such ease?Look how far Detroit has tankedsince it all began. In his grave Hank Ford is turningas he hears what Honda’s earning.All the while his factories closeand dealers call it quits. Can’t this motor trend be stalled?Why aren’t we much more appalled?Are we not Americans?We’ve been called to lead!

Deadly Lessons from Jonestown
What Jim Jones continues to teach us

Thirty years ago this week
news of Jonestown made us weep.
One who had misled the sheep
shepherded their fate.

Preacher with unbridled pride
Kool-aid laced with cyanide.
God, 900 people died
following that fool.

How could one man wield such power
forcing young and old to cower
like a dry unrooted flower
severed from its source?

Jerks like Jones can only rule
when their subjects play the fool
like a pigeon on a stool
closing up their minds.

So the moral is… Don’t fall
for what seems quite off the wall.
Be suspicious, that is all.
Doubt can lead to faith.

The Evergreen State Blues

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

It’s what sports fans in Washington State are singing

The Mariners and Seahawks suck.
The Cougs and Huskies too.
Although our state is evergreen,
we fans are feeling blue.

The Sonics had no cause to boom
before they left this year.
There’s not much here in Washington
about which we can cheer.

And while it’s true there is a Storm
that saves us from real drought,
the dearth of wins from all our teams
has left us in a pout.

I’m praying Holmgren’s victory lap
won’t be a cruel joke.
If that should happen chances are
the twelfth man just might croak.

The rain and gray is bad enough.
We don’t need losing teams.
But playoff games and Rose Bowl bids
are only in our dreams.

O God, please end the hemorrhaging.
Reverse our rotten luck.
A miracle would sure be nice.
Without one, we’ll still suck.

A Ruthless Pursuit of God

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

Biily Graham celebrates his 90th birthday without his bride;
The Old Marine

A Ruthless Pursuit of God
Billy Graham celebrates his 90th birthday without his bride.A man called Billy greets each day
without his cherished wife.
And though he grieves for one so loved,
he ruthlessly lives life.This confidant of Presidents
has confidence in One
who’s promised to provide the strength
until faith’s race is run.Though weak and weary, Billy seeks
the face of God through prayer.
He’s frank and earnest with a Friend
who knows his every care.He prays for those who call him dad,
for nephews, nieces too.
For grandchildren, for longtime staff,
for nurses clad in blue.Yes, after sixty years or so
of preaching to great crowds,
what matters most might be the words
he speaks at home head bowed.At ninety years the preacher knows
God hears his every prayer.
And though he’s old, he still is bold
to give the Lord his cares.
 
* Dr. William (Billy) Franklin Graham turns 90 years of age today (November 7, 2008). His beloved wife Ruth passed away on June 14, 2007.
 The Old Marine
A personal response to the Marine Corps 233th birthday.The old Marine is weak and tired.
He’s earned the right to rest.
His furrowed brow can now relax.
He’s faced his final test.

His wrinkled hands appear at peace.
They clutch a wooden cross.
This old Marine knows all too well
that winning follows loss.

I watch him take his final breath.
Then peacefully he’s gone.
A long awaited victory
at last has finally come.

And like that Iwo Jima mount
where brave men raised a flag,
a banner flies in Heaven now
as all the angels brag

about redemption’s victory
as blood ran down a hill
when one brave man gave up his life
in keeping with God’s will.

With eyes of faith I see it all.
The old Marine’s at peace.
As “Semper Fi” jumps from his lips,
he finds his soul’s release.

* In the midst of grieving my dad’s death this week, I found cause for joy. I was able to arrange for his memorial service to be held on November 10th, the 233rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. My dad would be so pleased.You see, Edwin Asimakoupoulos was a proud Marine who was an honor guard at the Surrender Ceremony aboard the Battleship Missouri that ended World War 2. This poem chronicles my dad’s bravery fighting for freedom and his courage battling cancer. It also celebrates his victory over death and his entrance into heaven all because of Christ’s sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection.Those who follow Jesus do not grieve without hope. Our hope in life and in death is based on a God who is always faithful. In joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health as long as we all shall live, He never fails. Semper Fi.

An Overlooked Hero Remembered

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

A partial observer reflects on his father’s life;
The White House is Over-rated

An Overlooked Hero Remembered
A partial observer reflects on his father’s life

The Tribune overlooked
some major news from yesterday.
There was no mention of the fact
a hero passed away.

And since he battled cancer
for much longer than do most,
his death deserves a headline
in the Times, P-I and Post.

He grew up in obscurity
in Northern Idaho.
When Uncle Sam said, “I want you!”
this nephew said, “I’ll go!”

On V-J Day he stood near Mac
aboard the Mighty Mo
and then went home to start a church
in Lapwai, Idaho.

He fell in love, got married
and was blessed with two fine sons.
He briefly worked in Oregon
and then in Washington.

To beautiful Wenatchee
this man moved his family.
As a landlord to the masses
he lived out integrity.

Tenants saw tough-love in action
when they trashed his property,
but they also saw a chaplain
to the whole community.

Those who had no church or pastor
found in him a helping hand.
He did funerals and weddings,
both informal ones and grand.

He made calls to those quite sickly.
In the hospital he prayed
for both healing and God’s presence
to envelope those afraid.

And he did this full of cancer,
braving pain and growing weak.
This proud veteran still was fighting
persevering like a Greek.

A Marine is ever faithful.
He refused to ask God why.
He accepted his assignment
trusting Jesus. Semper Fi.

With undying adoration
for the starlight of his life,
he defined enduring romance
‘tween a husband and a wife.

Yes, he was an unsung hero.
But I think that I should add
I am a partial observer.
This great hero was my dad.

* After battling prostate cancer for fourteen years, Edwin Asimakoupoulos passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. He is survived by his wife Star to whom he was married for 57 years and sons Greg (wife Wendy) and Marc (wife Sandy) and five grandchildren: Kristin, Allison, Lauren, Nicole and Matthew.
 

The White House is Over-Rated
Why your house matters much more

Who’s moving in the White House?
God doesn’t care that much.
He’s more concerned with who is living
in your house… and such.

A house that has inhabitants
who start each day in prayer
will help protect our much-loved land
from evil acts of terror.

A godly man and woman
who bravely take a stand
impact our nation’s character
far more than just one man.

If in our homes faith’s not divorced
from public policy,
God has the means to bring about
the ends He longs to see.

So if your choice for president 
lost out on votes last night,
remember it’s your house that counts
far more than one that’s White.