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Best Poems Written by John Cassens

Below are the all-time best John Cassens poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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The Cigar Box

I have a cigar box with corners
frayed and lid barely holding on.

Its contents being small things I've 
made and objects that I've found.

An odd-shaped rock, a marble, a feather,
are three of many that lasted well.

But the little objects are no better
than the stories they could tell.

I held these things so precious once
when I was a wide-eyed boy.

Now in my hand this timeless bunch 
of memories bring me joy.

I lay the treasures cross the table
to see what I once had found.

I conclude that tomorrow if I'm able
I'll walk and search the ground.

Somewhere in that old creek bed 
or on the side of the grassy hill,

memories are no longer dead
and find them I surely will.   

Something lying there since time began,
hidden so none before could see.

But now as if somehow planned,
it would be given just to me.

The creases corner my eyes today
as I've far from weathered well.

The box's edges also appear that way
but we both have stories still to tell.

I am weathered so like this old box
and both of us remember when

we found the feather and the rock
with their stories locked within.

Regardless how worn we may seem,
the box and I contain the past.

Beyond aged exteriors lies the dream,
that memories do not die but last.

Details | John Cassens Poem

Carl Sagan

Of the billions of nuclear spheres that send us light,
among them is selected one tonight.
A star whose message of light was sent
through so much time that space is bent.

This star's  message is here for those
who miss his explanatory prose.
He spoke of discoveries with cosmic flair
that science news today cannot compare.

He showed us places we would never see
but through his words all could be
informed of universal wonders here
and eclipse ancient  superstitious fear.  

Now the march of science will still move on
and there is no call for fear because he's gone.
But does all new knowledge lack explanation
as we are so much less without Carl Sagan ?

So when I hear of new science queries 
and papers tell of earth-shaking theories.
I think to fully comprehend I must 
have Carl Sagan's words back with us.

I crave to hear his thoughts once more
and have science favored with his humor.
"Science still has found no  evidence of  life beyond earth..
but  I've already  written  volumes of  books about it  first."  

Then what message  does this star send ?
 Could we have Carl back with us again ?
I want to hear his voice of reassurance
to know the world still has common sense.

As we stand and stare some starry night
and realize how he gave us insight,
to subatomic particles and stellar dust.
So star where are the words we trust  ?

They are found in the books he left for us.

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Remember When

So many are gone and took with them
bits of life I had stored within.
The memories remain and make me strong
but sometimes they haunt and I can't go on.
So now I write small words down in rhyme
waiting for past voices calling ...
" its suppertime! "

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1964

What was it with the year nineteen sixty four?
That made our dreams seem so much more.
Now dreams lie dormant  behind locked door.
This is so removed from what was hoped for.