If you can ease the suffering of the timid, 
To calm the quaking fear of gentle heart, 
If you can help the helpless to recover, 
And never speak a word about your part, 
If you can know the value of all creatures 
To give your love to all those great and small, 
If you can live your life the way you wish to, 
To stand for what is right and stand there tall, 
If you can mend the wing of mighty eagle 
Yet tend to tiny mouse of meadowland, 
If you can ride wild stallion through the valleys 
And let him know that he is in command, 
If you can comfort those who’s broken bodies 
Seem well beyond repair or help or hope, 
Yet take the deed when everyone around you 
Denies that there is anyway to cope, 
If you can persevere the endless darkness 
Emerging into brightest sunlit rays, 
If you can make one other creature’s heartache 
A faded memory from distant days, 
If you can make the world seem so much brighter 
Because you lived your life a righteous one, 
Then you will know the meaning of contentment 
And what is more, true peace when you are done.

-copyright '02 by Carol Hardee

A tiny bird was hurt one day; 
He came to me not flying. 
Upon the floor, he spun so hard 
And not from lack of trying. 

I could do no more then 
But give him peace and rest, 
A little water and some food; 
The bird did all his best. 

And later when I watched him go 
Above the tree, good bye, 
My very soul was free that day 
With the little bird to fly.

-copyright '02 by Carol Hardee

The river of life keeps flowing in its never-ending run,
A course ordained in antiquity when time had just begun.
This river is all of those living whose journey pulls them there, 
Brave eagles, butterflies, lions and toads, humans, oak trees, and
bears.
There is the gleam from a spider’s web covered with dew in the morn,
And the beautiful song of the coyote drifts under full moon forlorn.

Hear the sounds of the humped back whale as he sings to all who care,
And absorb the beauty from all around, the mountains, seas, and air.
The river’s course is steady as each life form rides its own wave, 
And some are lost in the swirling mists and some we are able to save.
So take in the sights as you journey and wonder from all that you see,
Be kind to your fellow travelers, and come ride this wild river with me.

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee

And what are you doing, my little man,
At the end of the day as you dream;
What are you chasing, which toys do you toss,
Or are you at peace and serene?
My sweet little friend, so devoted and true,
How I wish to hold you while you rest;
As I gaze in your eyes full of love for me,
Quiet evenings with your are my best.
So dream as you will, my little man,
My puppy, my dog, my true friend;
And I will just sit here and hold you awhile
Until all of your puppy dreams end.

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee

Newborn squirrel upon the ground, such a helpless baby boy,
Came to me for warmth and food, and gave me so much joy.
Tiny otter pup so small, alone no mother dear,
Came to me, oh , thin and frail, I held him to me near.
Bobcat kit with spotted fur, her eyes so pale and blue, 
Came to me with an injured paw, but I’ll take care of you.
Ancient tortoise crossed a road and met a speeding car,
Came to me with broken shell from many miles, so far.
Baby blue jay squawking now from hunger pangs within
Came to me for sustenance, and now I am your friend.
Tiny, gray opossum babes, your mother is not here,
Came to me so cold and still, you did not have a prayer.
Old raccoon, who lost a fight with dog so large and strong,
Came to me, yet I will see that you are safe from harm.
Big eyed fawn with spindle legs on which you barely stand,
Came to me without much hope, until I took command.
For all the many troubled ones that come to me this way,
I only hope my strength will last to get me through each day.
I work as quickly as I can, and still the time slips past,
With much to do, and daylight gone, I wonder if I’ll last?
So many wild ones come to me that I must give and give;
What better way to spend my life than to see that others live?
So when the squirrel, grown and strong, is placed within a tree,
And when the otter swims away, no longer needing me,
And blue jay flies right out the door to live his wild life free,
And all the gray opossum young are gone from here, you see,
And when the bobcat fierce and strong, leaps into forest deep,
And raccoon, fawn, and turtle leave, I shall lie down to sleep.
 

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee
 

Through skies of cobalt blue they soar,
As graceful as can be.
Wing tip to wing tip, they fly as one
An amazing feat to see.

The grays and whites flash back and forth
As they slice through the air.
I love this aeronautical show
Which previews everywhere.

Such loving parents to their young, 
The best of care they give,
And devoted to their mates for life
As long as they may live.

What birds delight her so, you ask
Of all those in the sky?
I must admit the pigeon flocks
Are pure magic to my eye.
 

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee

As the rains beat down on the land below,
A car sped through the night,
And a pup was thrown from the car so cruelly
To lie all alone with his fright.

He waited beside the road in the rain
For he knew not what to do.
As he shivered with fear and cold in the dark,
The north wind howled and blew.

When lights from a car shone on his face,
The pup whimpered with all of his heart.
Maybe they had come back for him;
Maybe they would not depart.

But the voice that he heard was not those he knew;
It was soft and sweet in the wind,
And the hands that lifted his body up
Were gentle and kind, a true friend.
So the little pup’s life was saved that night
By someone good and kind,
And as the rains beat down on the land below,
The little pup did not mind.

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee
 

Hippoty, flippoty, plop, plop 
Into the water, drop, drop. 
Frisky otters, squeak, squeak 
Playful otters, peek, peek. 

Tired otters, sleep, sleep, 
Into the bed, creep, creep. 
Nighttime otters, curl, curl, 
Dreaming otters, Opie, Pearl.
   

copyright '02 by Carol Hardee