new poetry
These are some of my newest poems. Proceed to the "Poetry" tab to view other original poems. I am currently working on an illustrated book of my original poems.
"Song of Ages by Don Hiser
​
"He left a sad and foreign land. His world was full of strife.
He sailed off to America to find a better life.
And as he traveled through that land just as the stories say
he met a pretty Native girl who smiled and looked his way.
Love was all they knew together from that fateful day
the future was a place, forever, where their love would stay.
And somewhere they decided to share their happy life.
They had both sons and daughters held with love by man and wife.
Song of Ages! Never to forget.
Song of Ages! Each name my life begat.
A song of faith and honor. Of love for all of man.
Song of Ages! Remind me who I am.
That family's future seemed so bright and through each passing day
they leaned upon each other whatever came their way.
they passed on in my family code "through love you cannot fail".
Now I sing this song to honor their unending tale.
Song of Ages! Never to forget
Song of Ages! Each name my life begat
A song of faith and honor. Of love for all of man
Song of Ages! Remind me who I am.
The family left Kentucky to find a promised land
in the hills of Oklahoma. Children raised with faithful hands.
It never was an easy life. Fought famine, dust and greed.
But family, and faith in God, provided every need.
Immigrants and Natives combined through love and joy
to make this land of freedom that I can now enjoy.
Though never born to riches and never born to fame,
their faith and honor cherished so their lives were not in vain.
Now as you look upon this land, whatever there may fall,
I ask this "Song of Ages" bring blessings to you all.
All of us are special and through each family's pages
may each of us not forget our family's "Song of Ages"."
new poetry
These are some of my newest poems. If you like what you read send me a note at hiserdhmusic@gmail.com and I will get you access to other poems I have written. I am currently working on an illustrated book of my original poems.
"Return My Heart to Colorado!"
Words and music by Don Hiser
I've done a lot of traveling and it won't be long
'till I'm taken away to my heavenly home.
I'm thinking now it's time
to write down these last lines
forget about the places that I've roamed.
There's a place my heart has always longed to be
when angels from heaven come down for me.
When I've sung my last song
take my heart where it belongs.
When I die return my heart to Colorado
When I die return my heart to Colorado!
Bury it beneath a whispering pine.
Somewhere deep within the Rocky Mountains.
A place where the morning sun will shine.
A quiet place where it will beat forever
and if you ever pass that holy ground.
Tip your hat and say a prayer
for the love that remains there.
When I die return my heart to Colorado!
Well there ain't many mountains I haven't climbed.
No regrets will I offer for my time.
But promise me that when
this life comes to an end
you'll grant to me this parting wish of mine.
My body you can take. Do what you wish
and leave it anywhere you think is best.
But please return my heart
so it will never part
to that place where it will finally find some rest.
When I die return my heart to Colorado!
Bury it beneath a whispering pine.
Somewhere deep within the Rocky Mountains.
A place where the morning sun will shine.
A quiet place where it will beat forever
and if you ever pass that holy ground.
Tip your hat and say a prayer
for the love that remains there.
When I die return my heart to Colorado!
Section Title
MY NEIGHBOR'S GARDEN
by Don Hiser
​
I look upon my neighbor's garden,
in the morning, with admiration.
For this year's spring, now in full swing,
has brought forth his yard’s bounty.
I glance across my own trimmed lawn
with nary a flower blooming.
Where only green stalks, with leaves,
in my own berm are now displayed.
Colored capstones, blooms yet unseen
await my own yard's slumbering
and stalks wave, unflowered, fluttering
to greet the brand new day.
While my neighbor’s lovely produce,
like the coming of mine, will fade,
my yard will soon show its bounty,
winter's promises, fully paid.
I'll offer to my cherished neighbor,
in my yard’s own sweet time
a reflection? No! A companion!
of nature's gifts, sublime!
I yearn to pay that neighbor back
for this gift that he gives to me.
So I sit...and wait...and sit...and wait
I patiently wait till the bounty of my own yard comes to be.
I contemplate the offerings
each one of us deployed
through toil in last year's planting
and yesteryears' desires.
Through the thoughtful placing
of each and every bloom
and the toil (is it a passion?)
of a plethora of weeds removed.
Our treasure troves of dazzling colors,
diverse as all on earth
A reminder of, with gentle care,
all things receive rebirth.
A reminder of life's cycles.
All will wither and die.
But in the spring, with love and faith,
past winter's cold, ruinous embrace
our gardens we so carefully placed
will blossom again, by and by.
And so it is, my friends,
in my life and in yours.
each of our gardens, carefully placed,
from the winter will endure
Not in constant competition!
Not as rivals, as some will say,
They state some reason for this life
a simple reason for this life
not just seeking an afterlife
But as companions agin the fray!
And as we seed each garden
that seem differently laid
look closer at those placements that
through God's grace were ordained.
Each one to complement the other
in spring’s time of rebirth
And look upon our fellow man
to rise and lend a helping hand
and teach the single-minded man
our gardens embrace each other
as the everlasting meaning of peace, goodwill on earth!
Section Title
WHEN I BECOME STARDUST AGAIN!
by Don Hiser
​
Stars are born ever more in the sky.
From dust they are born, to dust when they die.
I contemplate eternity, time without end
when I become Stardust again.
​
This body was Stardust before it became
a wonder in the universe that God had ordained.
Created from Stardust I always have been.
And I will be Stardust again!
​
Comets arrive and then fade away
Millions of years, to them just a day.
Though changed this communion of flesh will remain
When I become Stardust again!
​
My dreams of a lifetime, important to me
to the stars have no meaning, what will be will be.
Through faith for my soul eternity awaits
and will be revealed as I meet my fate.
​
Of my cherished soul only passing will tell.
From this earthbound existence maybe Heaven, maybe Hell.
My soul seeks forgiveness, but this body knows no sin.
It just becomes Stardust again.
​
To the universe each particle of dust holds a key
to the unfolding wonder of eternity.
Just as God gladly welcomes each soul as life ends
The universe will smile,
and rejoice,
when I become stardust again!
​
​
​
AUGUST by Don Hiser
I hear your heartbeat.
Softly you whisper.
Love's sweet surrender
on this August morn.
​
These August mornings
bathed in the sunlight.
The last stand of summer.
A new fall not yet born.
​
Twilight and Moonlight
shared with each other.
Your hand in my hand.
Memories now gained.
​
Your lingering kisses
as we stop for a moment.
Autumn is fading
but our love remains.
​
Lying beside you
in the warmth of the sunlight.
I know this moment
will soon fade away.
​
My vowed commitment
to love you forever,
not just in August
but each passing day.
​
​
ANNABELLE'S CHICKEN PARADE
​
I have seen a dogwood tree
whose bark never made a sound.
By the pond some cattails grow
where no cat was ever found.
In my garden grow eggplants
though an egg was never laid.
But nothing is as magical
as Annabelle's Chicken Parade.
​
Now every night within their coup
those chickens they did slumber.
Though different size and color
Safely remained four in number.
But in the morn those four would strut
from coup, with quite a sound
behind young Annabelle
to their backyard pecking ground.
​
My backyard in the summer
is filled with buzzing "hummers"
and other kinds of birds both large and small.
Sometimes does with their young fawns
munch lazily upon my lawn.
Till those summer days turn into fall.
But it brings me joy each morning
as I see the sun's first rays
to smile and watch young Annabelle
and her chickens on parade!
My Darling Breanna
​​
(The Battle of Blair Mountain) - written by Don Hiser
Oh, my Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
My Darling Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
As we marched to form a union! It was a terrible fight?
​
It was late in August! Nineteen Twenty One.
The rich they just got richer while we feared for our homes
Logan, West Virginia, we were striking to survive
as our families all went hungry while we labored in the mines.
The mining grew more dangerous and when a miner fell
the owners turned his family out with ne're a lie to tell.
the scrips all turned more worthless as we fell deeper in debt
to absent overseers who agreed our fate was set.
We fought in the Great War! Gave our all in that fight.
and still held to the "rule of law" when fairly it applied.
We weren't against the rich man, only wanted what was fair.
(After) living through that horror we came home to more despair.
So we gathered from the hollows. We gathered from the dells.
We marched along Tug River! We marched as evening fell.
We marched along, arm in arm! All brothers, black and white.
Each knew the price might be our lives to strike for miners' rights.
Oh, my Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
My Darling Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
As we marched to form a union!
It was a terrible fight?
Thirteen thousand strong we marched on that fateful day
to tell the world we'd had enough. To find a better way.
I said to my Breanna "Please stay home tonight!
'cause "Mother Jones" had warned us Sheriff Chafin sought a fight!".
(But you) left our home in Sharples to support your loving man.
Your Irish dander up took our young Jimmy by his hand.
You joined to watch with others as their men marched bravely by.
a peaceful protest driven by no thought to fight and die.
​
The "Yellow Dogs" bought by the rich decided we were wrong
and with no show of mercy shot into a peaceful throng.
And you my dear Breanna, with Jimmy our dear son.
Were shot down by the "Yellow Dogs" before that day was done.
​
Oh my Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
My Darling Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
As we marched to form a union!
It was a terrible fight?
Then came Warren Harding so the Battle soon was lost.
As owners and the government made sure we felt the cost.
We went on back to living! Some went back into the mines.
Others left for parts unknown and some to the breadlines.
Now the hills of Appalachia were silent on the morn.
On the empty streets of Logan you could still hear wails forlorn
as miners wept for families and placed them in the ground.
No comfort could be given. No grace there could be found.
But now it's ten years after, as if risen from those graves
a strong and vibrant union celebrates the grace they paid.
Another hundred years may pass! Perhaps a hundred more.
The coal wars soon forgotten. But that gift will still endure.
So, stand you all together! From dawn to setting sun!
And even if the battle's lost the war can still be won!.
Each day we face the challenge! Each day we face that call!
To fight on for the masses so that tyrants all should fall!
​
Oh my Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
My Darling Breanna! Where'd you go last night?
As we marched there on Blair Mountain!
For the cause of worker's rights?
​
copyright 2025 Don Hiser
