Poems by Doug William Benson

There once was a disk called a record
Played on vinyl with a stylus connector 
Known for hisses and pops
And scratches on top
Cryptic messages when they're played backward?

Next came the track with an eight
Only Boomers seem to relate
'Twas the first in a car
Played on loop; how bizarre
"Oh you liked that song? You'll have to wait!"

More popular, a tape called cassette
With a Walkman and skates you were set
You could finally rewind
But you'd oft lose your mind
'Cause the ribbons in knots they would get

Then came the disk that's compact
Just press "back" or "repeat" or "next" track
You would organize for hours
Thanks to cases and towers
Be careful! Don't scratch, smudge or crack!

MP3 was what followed next
"Pod," "Shuffle," "Mini"- all hexed
Though mobile and thin
Born too close to their kin
So their lifespan was set to be vexed

Then an Apple took its place on the throne
And from that point we'd never be alone
With a tooth that is blue
Meaning wireless too
Who'd of thought we'd have music on our phone?

So, truthfully, will it be that long,
Before our ears have the power of song?
With a light infrared
From the chip in our head?
Guess we'll see what A.I. brings along!

TRUE HAPPINESS comes
through struggle and pain,
As a rainbow appears
only after the rain.

It's how reaching a summit
takes your time and your breath,
But once with the clouds
it was worth every step.

And for muscles to strengthen
a breakdown's required,
Painful wearing and tearing
and fibers rewired.

As with bone that's been broken
and realigned once more,
How often the after
is stronger than the before.

A synergistic principle's
alive in our hearts,
Where joy is now greater
than the sum of its parts.

TRUE HAPPINESS comes
through struggle and pain,
As a rainbow appears 
only after the rain.

Though, at times, we may ask
while engulfed in our fears,
"Is the outcome really worth
all this blood, sweat and tears?"

But with one simple glance
to our left and our right,
We see warriors beside us
to help fight the fight.

Surrounded by those
who knows what it takes,
They augment our talents
and forgive our mistakes.

Oh, the joy that is found
when we all come together,
Through trials and triumphs
in good and bad weather.

It's no hologram, fantasy, mirage
or unknowing
It's tangible, achievable
if we just keep on going

TRUE HAPPINESS comes
through struggle and pain,
As a rainbow appears
only after the rain.

We're gathered together in tribute to pay,
A life that was lost, yet still paving the way,
And in spite of our mourning, all is not grey,
For heaven received a new angel today.

The lives that were touched by your marks will portray,
The memories created that forever will stay,
As those who've been blessed to know you would say,
That heaven received a new angel today.

So, thank you dear (loved one) for all that you gave,
Your time and your heart; Each sacrifice made,
Just keep moving forward and let your legacy stay,
As heaven receives a new angel today.

And into HIS arms may you run to this day,
Eternal embracing with tears wiped away,
HIS army's now stronger than it was yesterday,
Because heaven received a new angel today.