This "Poetry Page" was made In the Memory for Sam Amato who created WVPetpages in 2000-2006 for Fayette, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming Counties Animal Shelters to be a "Voice"  for those that can not Speak for themselves. He supported the "No Kill" policy and helped until his death-November 28, 2006

Poetry by Sam Amato

No Difference

Captivated with the tranquility of silences afforded by the night, My thoughts soar forward, towards its regular flight. 

How does the creator view non-human life? 

And soon a silent voice within me emerges and answers: 

"See the dog in its innocent childlike repose. Look at the firefly as it aimlessly goes." 

See the fish as it surfaces in yonder lake.  Observe the forest the plants makes. 

You are no greater than those you see;  Thinking it so will not make it be. 

Life is precious to the beholder,  regardless of the molder." 

"But we have a soul and they don't," I cried. And the silent voice snickered and said, "Why? 

Your species can believe what it wants to believe 

But my son, it's not true. Don't be deceived.       

All life forms have a soul,       

And their hopes for a hereafter,  like you,  they behold."

Author:   Sam Amato 
                                                                                                                       

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Queen of the Evergreens
By Sam Amato    

Soaring skyward, With a pyramid design, Clothed in needle-leaves of green,  

To you oh spruce I pay homage, Goddess of beauty, Queen of the evergreens.    

As an infant, I saw you grow Into an adult, now towering high.

And I am spellbound by the splendor of your body, as you've peaked into the sky. 

And as the light encompasses you with ever-changing beams, 

I see the different hue of colors In your needle-leaves of green.    

Branching re-branching, bowing upward, I've watched you dance with the wind. 

And gaped with horror at your ice coated body, but reveled, when like a ballerina 

You so gracefully did bend.  

And when you danced "The Dance of Winter" adorning your foliage with the whiteness of snow,

 I too, gave you a standing ovation for the most spectacular act of the show.

And as you stately stood there, amid the roaring screams,

I too joined in when they started chanting: Goddess of Beauty Queen of the evergreens.  

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God's Timing Is Perfect
By Sam Amato    

So often through life, I have lamented over what is, what was, or could had been    

And wondered why the creator, His fortress, He did not defend?    

Why didn't He sound the alarm when the enemy was preparing to attack    

And when the foes began to charge why did He silently watch and stand back?

Didn't He hear the wailing and moaning Of His children as they began to fall?    

Why did He have a deaf ear to their pleas When mercy in His name they called? 

  Couldn't He sense their anguish, Couldn't He feel their pain,    

Why did His heart turn to stone When on His children it began to rain?    

Now as I view the total picture of my life, I realize no artist will ever be, greater than He.

 Each stroke of the brush on the canvas Is voided of any flaws, 

And as I stare at the sunset, I understand most of the reasoning for it all.

God's timing is perfect. 

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Flowers or Weeds, Your Choice
By Sam Amato    

Your attitude reveals how you view, 

Life's problems confronting you. 

Every thought implanted in your mind is a seed.

Are you sowing flowers or sowing weeds?    

From each seed a flowering plant will sprout, Procreating its own kind. 

What types of seeds have you allowed To take roots in your mind?    

Colorful flowers with an array of designs, Make a lovely garden, enriching any mind.

Spreading weeds suppressing any blossoms yearning to bloom,

Makes a bleak garden, wreaking gloom.    

A counselor, a confidant, And a constant companion are your seeds. 

Are you basking in the warmth of flowers Or mingling with destructive weeds?

Unlike a delicate flower, A weed will stand its grounds;

Encroaching on any garden, destructively bound.

So daily, carefully, weed your garden Allowing only brilliant flowers in your mind, 

And no matter how dire the situation, A blossom blooming with hope, you will find.  

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Just for Today
By Sam Amato      

Summer at last has finally come, Clothing the earth with different hues of green;

 Colorful flowers with an array of designs Adorn the summer scene.    

Just for today, If only, just for a moment, Let me cast my cares aside; 

Let me drift into the summer daze And there within abide.    

Just for today, Let me see Through the eyes of a child again;

Let nature in all of its wisdom Be my teacher, be my friend.    

Let me scan the horizon, Where the green touches the bright blue sky. 

And there, in yonder field, Just for today, Let me bask in the summer's warmth 

And watch the clouds drift by.    

Let me hear the sounds of nature Living or nonliving For each has their own song. 

And as I see life from life around me Let me realize, with nature I am one.    

Let me feel the coolness of the breeze, Let me be carefree and gay.

Just for today, Let me find inner peace And take the time to pray.    

In my humbleness As I kneel here On nature's sacred ground,

I sense God's presences everywhere. At last, I have found.  

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A High School Friend
By Sam Amato      

I saw a high school friend today that I hadn't seen in years.
She had aged so drastically, it brought me to tears.    

Mother Nature and Father Time  had definitely done her wrong.
Yet, I wondered, if she were writing about me, would it be a different song?    

In our mind, as we gaze in the mirror,  we see ourselves as young
as we did, years ago. 

But, the realization of our peers' aging, makes me wonder, if it's so.    

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When Tomorrow Comes
By Sam Amato    

Let me relish the joys of life each day, 

for how do I know tomorrow I'll be passing this way. 

Let me love and show I care, 

for how do I know tomorrow you'll be there.

Life is so fragile.  

It's like a beautiful summer day proclaiming its glory for all to see, 

Then suddenly without warning, rolls in the dark, heavy, cumulus clouds, 

Leaving the splendid day only, as memories.    

Let me face one day at a time leaving unnecessary luggage behind.

Of the luggage I need, 

let my garments therein be light, 

Free of yesterday and tomorrow's plights. 

As I change my garbs to suit the day's needs, 

When they no longer are in fashion let me cast them off with speed.  

  And, when the church bells toll to signify the day's end,

with peace let me welcome sleep so when tomorrow comes   

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A Yard Saleholic's Dilemma
By Sam Amato    

I got up early one morning, And rushed into the day;
I had so many yard sales to attend I didn't take time to pray.  

Locating each yard sale Became quite a task.
"Why doesn't the god of yard sale direct me?" I wondered.

He said, "My dear child, you never asked."    

Worthless junk was all I saw. Junk, junk and nothing more.
"Can't we find things of value?" I challenged. He answered, "My child, you didn't implore."    

Everything I wanted or needed The prices were too high.
"Aren't there any affordable treasures?" I exclaimed.

" You didn't ask," he sighed.   Now my house is cluttered
With things I'll never use nor never did need.

"Why didn't he teach me to buy with wisdom?" I screamed. He muttered, "I tried, but you wouldn't heed."    

I got up early this morning, and paused before entering the day.
Now, since I'm force to have my own yard sales, I take the time to pray.  

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Wishing Upon A Star
By Sam Amato  

I wished, wishes upon the first star I seen,
Revealing my hopes, revealing my dreams.

One by one each wish came true
and now as I start each day anew,
How I wish those wishes hadn't come true   

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To Shaggy With Love

Through the wooded park we stroll my little dog and I,
she leads the way; I follow.

As she dashes from here to there to see what she can find,
she pauses and waits for me, when I get to far behind.

Little friend, should you go first to roam worlds, undefined,
please pause and wait for me, for I'll not be far behind.

And should my days end before yours, this pledge I'll make to you:
In spirit, I will not leave your side until you're called home too.

Side by side, at last we're together again;
Now in the other dimension we know, we were always closer than friends.

The two now are one as we were eons before,
and it was just a matter of walking through that door!

by Sam Amato

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