Gershon Wolf Poet Rhyme

Poesy In Service of Strength -- January 20, 1961

Eight inches of snow saw no hat on his head
an act of derring-do, my father said,
   He ascended the steps
   the eyes of the world upon him
   An orator attacking the lectern
   ~ Camelot, out to shatter Babylon

The glare of the sun no match
for the glint in his eye
   Brisk winds no challenge
   to the stylish coif he held high.  

He measured the moment
took a deep breath
   Out came an aria
   ~ nary a shibboleth

Tall and straight, he stood
erect as a soldier
   firing words like bullets
   targeting the mind's heart, to pull it
      jabbing the air with his fist or his finger
      pausing ever so briefly
      ~ he let the message linger

He moved us, he touched us,
lifted a nation's heart
   without sham or deceit
   ~ only truth from his lips
      did ever depart

He proposed the Peace Corps
to inspire the young--
   For those older and wiser
   he combined graciousness
   with toughness
   in a diplomatic
   sharp-edged tongue

To Nikita Krushchev, the Soviet,
baring his claws,
   Our leader's barbed-wire message
   surely gave pause:
      "Let us remember...
       ...sincerity is always subject to proof
       Let us never negotiate out of fear.
       But let us never fear to negotiate."

And to all 180 million Americans watching
in person or on the tube
~ He issued this challenge 
   destiny ringing, resonant rendezvous:
      "Ask not what your country can do for you
       ask what you can do for your country."

It's now 55 years later
and America's not seen
   a President like Kennedy
   ~ to inspire us to dream

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Tom Cunningham May 16, 2018 at 5:14 AM Beautiful tribute Gershon, he was very popular in Ireland given his connections to there, most houses had a picture of him. I grew watching the space race which he fully supported. Tom. Tom Cunningham May 16, 2018 at 1:14 PM My parents were both from the west of Ireland but I was born in the UK, but have been over many times. Gershon Wolf May 16, 2018 at 10:41 AM Yes he was, I remember...Didn't know you hail from the Emerald Isle...Sometimes it seems as if the farther we live from each other---the closer the connection on P.S...And how about that space race? I'm going to write more about JFK, so I imagine the space race is coming; perhaps JFK's crowning achievement was his vision of a man on the moon before 1970! I remember listening to the speech on radio...You visits are always much appreciated, Tom! ~ Gershon