Tim Johnson has led a rather unique life.The son of a minister,all the members of Tim’s family were talented musicians, and by time Tim was in High School he was playing the piano and trombone. During his school years he was deeply involved in school and community music and drama activities. After graduation, Tim attended Kansas State Teachers College, now known as Emporia State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education, following that up some years later with a Master of Music in Education.
Following his graduation from college, Tim taught band, choir and drama in public school as well as in college for a total of about 24 years and counting. Although officially retired, Tim still works in his local school district part time teaching elementary band to fourth and fifth grade students. At the same time, Tim was continuing to hone his performing skills, traveling the Midwest as a trombone soloist and releasing an album, Trombone Moods in 1968. The next forty years saw these two careers alternate and overlap, as Tim eventually spent more than two decades on the road as a performing musician, playing in bands, orchestras, brass groups, show and circus bands in thousands of concerts throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
About 1970, Tim began to compose and arrange music, dabbling in country and gospel songwriting, and writing arrangements for school instrumental ensembles. Through the years there have been several modest but personally significant events, including writing songs which have been chosen as theme songs for groups and businesses. In the late 1990’s Tim decided to expand his efforts into poetry, which, now coming full circle, leads to his first book of poetry scheduled for release in September of 2009. Be watching for Chains of Life, coming to a bookstore near you, fall 2009.
From a card included in a new billfold. "Variation in color and texture are characteristic to genuine leather. Scars, insect bites, and brand markings give leather its personality and uniqueness. " A Coat With Character
Desire burns deep A fire ever smoldering, And glows in the eyes Of the tiger coldly glowering I am drawn to the beauty, The heat beneath the ice. Burning yet cool, My surrender to entice. With teeth that glisten, And eyes of pure agate, Alert but motionless, She patiently waits. A rumbling low purr That bids me to trust, Desire bums deep,
I was thumbing through the city, Humming a little ditty, Taking in the sights and sounds, Of the big metropolis: I'd spent all day a walking, Thru sights I'd only thought of, When I stopped to get a bite Then continue on my hike. So I found this little cafe With a menu painted table.2 And I sat and drank my coffee Then ordered a number three. A blond was sitting and watching I could see she had no caution With a look of sheer relief She rose and walked to me. "I hope that you don't mind To me you do look kind Tho far from home I have a gift I need to talk, advice to give." The waitress brought my order Then the blond took over Taking a fry and a pickle spear She sat and said, "look here." And so I sat and listened Amused but fascinated As this blond proceeded To help me eat my supper Didn't seem to need a breath Talking and waving and yet She managed my plate to clean And still I had not eaten. "That was really a good dinner," Said the blond and waved her finger. "I need to go, but just remember The city is a dangerous place. People will take advantage Of a kind man of your age." She leaned down and kissed my cheek, went out the door and down the street.
Reflecting and remembering, relaxing at days end, unaware of the message that her face sends, A mother watches her daughter, who is lost in thought, and dreaming, a memory comes unsought. Looking across the room, seeing me in you, A memory of myself comes slowly into view. Just a little older than your present age, We opened our life with a brand new page. There was joy in my soul, and love in my heart, A new life within me just getting a start. And I was reminded each time that you moved, How small was our world, when it was just us two. When you were asleep, or when you awoke, You were just as real as if you had spoke. And though I’d never seen you, I loved you. Yes, I knew that I loved you. The mother watches as her daughter reclines, eyes closed, face calm as in best of times. Wishing she could read her mind, see her thoughts, If so, what happiness would be brought. Staring thru a mirror with eyes clouded by strife, gazing deeply into the well of my past life. A pervasive sense of something, memory, time I guess, when you and I were alone, just the two of us. I feel myself regress, floating back in time, reality there I can't see, though I'm trying. Vaguely thru the mist it appears, tinged in blue, a picture in time, when it was just us two I am relaxed, peaceful, serene and secure, wrapped in your warmth, held with love pure. Listening to your heartbeat, feeling your voice, tho you'd never seen me, you loved me by choice. A sense of peace and deep felt emotion, wash over the daughter like a sweet smelling potion. Opening her eyes, she gazes 'cross the room, her mother's thoughts echoing her own. The years have flown by with changes and more, first there were two, then three, then four . There were good times, and there were bad, we were mother and daughter , with brother and dad. Then a storm, with lightning and thunder , our world with violence, torn asunder . From four to three, nothing we could do, all that was left, was just us two. Questions now consume us, worry and concern, what will the future hold, which way do we turn. Everything is different now, nothing's the same, although it does no good, we assess the blame. Gradually, in our spirits we begin to see, we are back where we were, you and me. With love, we offer our hands honest and true, we then face life together, just us two.
