You've Been a Good Friend of Mine

Now it's unusual for me to explain the post before you can read it. When I hear music, I put my own words to it. Those who have attended camp with me have seen my talent at work (ie. campfire songs with Pete and Greg). Anyway, I was playing Farmville for the upteenth zillionth time, and I decided to put words to their music. This is designed to follow the music cycling 2x through. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you don't think I'm too big of a nerd. Well, perhaps I am.

You’ve Been A Good Friend of Mine: (a.k.a. the Farmville Song)

Can’t you see what you do

Working all the time

But working is fine

You’ve been a good friend of mine

And I’m working on a good time

There are no troubles in my way

Or any gray clouds lingering today

With the sun on my back

Let it shine

I’m working on a good time

Good day sir, how are you?

"I’m fine" you say of course

There’s work to be done

It’ll be fun

So lets work together on a good time

So grab a shovel or

You could take a pitchfork

You know you’ll have fun

Lets get it done

And find ourselves a real good time.

By Greg Butz

Inspired by "Farmville"

Reality Beckons the Passing of Time

Reality Beckons the Passing of Time

I stepped out into the cool crisp air of September

‘Bout the time when the leaves began to fall,

Swept from their branches by the voice in the air saying,

“Remember. Remember, my child, remember.”

Startled, I didn’t expect anything to stir around me.

But, gently and sweetly the wind sang to me.

It knew me, a quivering voice speaking my name,

Singing a soothing and familiar melody.

Straining against the noise I try to hear

The things I’ve forgotten o’er the years--

But this pause was fruitless as I couldn’t recall,

The things I was supposed to remember at all.

And the branches rustled in a grumpily fashion,

Emphasizing the message with resounding passion.

Though this tune sounded so familiar in my head--

I could only hear the leaves against the wind instead.

“Tell me the things that I have lost!”

I screamed so desperately into the air,

“Important lessons forgotten by my mind--

Perhaps the memories of a pleasanter time!”

But as the wind rose up, it let out a sigh

For it and I both knew, it had been too much time

As I had forgotten these moments couldn’t last

Carelessly, I had misplaced the memories of my past.

As I stared across the horizon I could only surmise:

That reality beckons the passing of time,

This longing feeling, If only i could go back

These precious moments would return to be mine.

By Greg Butz,

Inspired by Melissa So

July 13th, 2009

This poem was inspired by a poem title from Melissa So (former student and friend). I couldn't get it out of my head, and I just had to put it in a full poem format. So I asked her for permission to use it, and she of course said yes. Her quote was the most powerful and poignant portion of the poem, the last stanza. With the exception of three additional words, the last stanza is hers in the entirety. I love using elements of nature and crafting them into human experiences, personification at its finest. I hope you enjoy this poem. And thank you so much Melissa for allowing me to use and adapt your work. =D

Burn the Bridges

Burn the Bridges

Grab the torches,

Light the fires.

It looks like the town’s

In need of a few flames.

The matches were wet,

We doused them before--

Trying to prevent terror

Before it started once more.

But we didn’t listen

Its not like we had before,

Failure to heed our past

Ensures our peace wont last.

Light the fires!

Light the fires!

But the laughter

Turned into cries!

Fill the buckets,

Fight the fires!

Can we prevent

Going down in flames?

But the fire rages,

It’s out of control--

As it’s raged before

And its taking a toll.

To the bridges,

Save the bridges!

But smoldering shapes

Are blocking our escape.

We fought for hours

Losing control.

But the pain is ours

Knowing what we’ve lost.

A chance of fate,

As miracles collide?

The rains begin to pour

And the flames subside.

No longer the need to rush

In putting out fires,

With a collective sigh of relief

The crowds began to hush.

It’s time to rejoice,

Some one laughs,

As they begin to cheer

They know now, that the end was near.

But they weren’t done...

Though the flames abridged

They still had not yet

Burned all the bridges.

Burn the bridges!

Burn the bridges!

After all they’ve seen

They burned them the same.

And as the fire engulfed

They were stoking the flames

It wasn’t necessary to burn the bridges

But they did it anyway.

By Greg Butz

August, 2009

This isn’t a poem about a fire, but how we lose ourselves in arguments and disputes. The imagery I'm trying to convey, that our arguments are just like fires and they rage out of control. And just like the old adage states, "don't burn your bridges", we have to remember that what we say or do has an effect on others, and we have to stop ourselves from taking things too far. I wrote this after a heated argument with my mother and my sister (over a ridiculous thing i.e. Texas Hold Em Poker). We don’t really need to go as far as we do -- nor is it really necessary to say all the things that we say. It feels so good in the moment, but after the fires die out, we realize how much we have really lost. And then pride gets in the way, preventing us from backing down or apologizing. Sad lessons, learnt the hard way.

Top Ten Things You Should Never Say to a Student

Top Ten Things You Should Never Say to a Student

10. Well they let me out of prison last week, so I guess I’m qualified to talk to you about judicial law.

9. If you don’t stop throwing things in my class, I’m going to throw you out the window of the fifth floor.

8. How would you like it, if I chewed gum and left it under your books and papers?

7. Mr. Henry got so wasted last friday night, wanna see the pictures?

6. Ok guys, I don’t feel like teaching today... why don’t you teach me.

5. What chapter in the book are we on again?

4. So whatever you do, make sure you don’t accidently mix these two chemicals together, if you do, you’ll actually blow up the school.... $*#&%! (emphatic expletive)

3. So, let me tell you guys about my hot date with Bobby’s mother last night.

2. ... grumbling... You think you can cut my salary, and get away with it.... I’ll show them.... I’ll show them all... if I were you kid, I’d call in sick tomorrow.

1. Here’s a list of the common unsanitary elements you will find in cafeterias all over the world: salmonella, ebola virus, e-coli, not to mention the occasional finger being chopped off due to kitchen mishaps *Bell ring* Ok, class dismissed, enjoy lunch hour.

*Quick Disclaimer* Alright these are supposed to be fun, much like my original Top Ten list of things never to say to a Homesick Camper, and of course David Letterman / Johnny Carson's original top ten lists. I hope you enjoy them, along with the satirical humor.

When My Head and Heart Disagree

When My Head and Heart Disagree

You wish that You’d be mine, and I’d be Yours

To cherish you deeply, to love You and adore --

But I find loving at times, too difficult a task

As my heart sometimes strays

From all the requests that you ask.

Sometimes they are quite simple

But other times I’m far removed

I’m not sure why I always seem to struggle

Doing the things that are approved.

And I hope you understand my reasoning,

Even thought my logic is flawed

It doesn’t make much sense to feel this way

But I’m afraid I have to say:

I’m stuck in two places at the same time,

Feeling the most pain, when I pretend that I’m fine

My life, living a full scale dichotomy

But sadly, I’m the only one that loses

When My head and heart disagree

Its not as if I don’t love You.

You know that my heart yearns for You.

But I find it difficult always beating Against

The treacherous tides of life...

Show me how to swim,

Or give me grace to sink

But please bring soothing peace to me

For the times when...

My Head and Heart Disagree.

By Greg Butz

August 8th, 2009

Now, I sure this seems like a love poem of some sorts -- and there are quite a numerous of parallel elements. But really this is a poem about trying to follow Christ -- when my head and heart disagree. I find it quite difficult constantly doing the the things that Christ desires of me. And in my heart, there are things that I know I ought to do, and things that I fall short of doing. This poem in many ways, is just a parallel between Romans chapter 8, where Paul declares, that he does the things he "ought not to do" and does not do things things that he's supposed to do.

But on a even more simple level, I know we've all faced dilemmas when our heart and head disagree about a person, thing, or even situation.