Daniel Turner Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

Where I Call Home

Hot Springs is where I live, in Arkansas
The foothills of The Ozark Mountain Range
For centuries the springs were the big draw
As people came in hopes their health would change

"There's healing powers in the heated springs,"
At least that's what the natives used to claim
On Bathhouse Row they'll treat you like a king
Our hospitality brings us great fame

But gambling is the main attraction now
Casino and horse racing at Oaklawn
It has become the city's big cash cow
The money flows each day from dusk til dawn

Should you decide you'd like to come and see
I think the starting gate goes up at three



   December 30 2016
Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA

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Lindsay Laurie July 2, 2018 at 10:37 PM G'day Daniel … enjoyed your sonnet Daniel. If it's like down under, everything is being invaded by gambling - sad really - thanks Daniel - Lindsay

Connie Marcum Wong January 22, 2017 at 7:13 PM I really enjoyed hearing where you are from Daniel. It sounds like a place I would love to visit because of the healing springs. Congratulations on your well deserved high placement! Excellent rhyme in your sonnet! 7 ; )

Carole Duet January 8, 2017 at 1:55 AM I like this, Daniel...and I like Hot Springs. It's been a long time since I was there and there was no gambling. But the scenery and springs were wonderful. Congratulations on placing in the contest. Carole

Darren White January 8, 2017 at 1:52 AM Owww, I thought I had already commented on your beautiful sonnet, but I see I didn't.... This looks like a wonderful place to live. And I love how you taught me a little of the background too in a sonnet. Thank you :)

Agnes Krampe January 7, 2017 at 7:43 PM Nice. Congrats, Daniel. I have not made it to Hot Springs yet Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:58 PM Come on down! I might buy you an ice cream:) Thank you for friendly visits, Mrs Agnes:)

Robert Lindley January 7, 2017 at 5:20 PM Love it, been there many times my friend!!! May even go next summer... Big congrats on your fine win! Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:57 PM It would be wonderful to meet you, Robert. Thank you for dropping by:)

Eve Roper January 7, 2017 at 5:06 PM Back to congratulate yon on your win, and if I ever go that direction i will make sure to do the tour. Hugs Eve Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:56 PM Give me a call. I can probably afford a roll or two of nickels, Mrs Eve:) Sounds like fun. Thank you for friendly visits.

Janis Medders Tobechi January 7, 2017 at 5:04 PM Congratulations, Daniel. This is a great write on an interesting place. I love the last two lines. Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:55 PM Thank you, Mrs Janis:)

Deborah Burch January 7, 2017 at 2:01 PM Big congrats Daniel!! We used to have mineral springs and fox/hound hunting in my area of Va... but after the war a lot changed, well and fires... now what we had is in other parts of Va. Well done on your poem!!! Big Hugggs. Deb Deborah Burch January 8, 2017 at 4:33 PM Lol... you're too funny!! Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:55 PM You know Deb, I was raised hunting and fishing but the everything we killed we ate. Can't say I want to eat or kill a fox. Thank you for friendly visits. Your icon looks as if you would be a lot of fun. What a gorgeous smile/laughing face:)

Heidi Sands January 7, 2017 at 9:37 AM Congratulations Daniel .:) Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:52 PM Thank you, Heidi:)

Doug Vinson January 6, 2017 at 11:41 PM Danny, no easy thing to pull off a sonnet about where you live - well done! I think I saw you mention you used to drive trucks - me too, off and on for quite a few decades now in the course of my work. Arkansas is deceptively big; I once went down from St. Louis to Texarkana - "Daggone, I didn't know I could rack up so many miles in this state..." Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:51 PM Yeah. It seems bigger because of the rough roads. They call I 40 Ho Chi Minh Trail because of how rough it is. I drove for over 20 years. Got all I wanted:) Thank for dropping by Doug.

Archana Garg January 6, 2017 at 10:18 AM Arkansas appears to be a really b'ful place. Would visit some day. Hot springs are inviting. Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:48 PM Please do, Archana. You are always welcome. Thank you for friendly visits:)

Jean Murray January 3, 2017 at 8:55 AM So much water. I somehow was not expecting that. Looks inviting, but I would give the gambling a miss. Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:48 PM Yes, Jean. I am surrounded by lakes and mountains. It is rather unbelievable but that is Arkansas. Thank you for your lovely visits. i don't gamble either:)

Suzanne Delaney January 3, 2017 at 6:49 AM Hi Daniel: Hot water does bring temporary relief. I used to own a Jacuzzi with jets. It really helped my aches and pains. Nice write about your area. Looks so scenic. GL in the contest. SuZ Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:46 PM Thank you, SuZ. Maybe temporary relief but as soon as you get out, you get stiff again, or at least I do:)

Joanna Daniel January 2, 2017 at 5:40 AM Your place looks great as does your poem, Daniel:) Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:45 PM Thank you, Jo:)

CayCay Godwin January 1, 2017 at 9:29 PM Been there, done that, and blessed I am to have experienced Hot Springs - and the old bath houses. Good, bad or indifferent, I missed the gambling! To me, the pic you posted is nostalgic and the poem was like reading about an old friend, one I doubt I'll ever see again. A joy to read, Daniel ... CayCay Daniel Turner January 7, 2017 at 10:43 PM You're welcome to come back anytime, CayCay:) Thanks for friendly visits:)

Jolene Cheyney January 1, 2017 at 2:09 AM If only your Waters did have a healing power, I'd learn to swim and come and swim in them everyday. might not live every day in agony then. Daniel Turner January 1, 2017 at 11:40 AM I know what you mean, Jolene. I live every day in physical pain also, probably not to the degree of your pain but some days it's pretty bad. Happy New Year, Jolene.

Akkina Downing December 31, 2016 at 8:59 AM Wow, that looks so beautiful! Nice poem Daniel, wishing you a very happy new year :) Daniel Turner December 31, 2016 at 10:51 AM Thank you, Akkina. We are surrounded by 5 lakes and then we have mountains on the west and north end. Very scenic! They call this the diamond lakes area. Happy New Year, Akkina. Be careful in the square:)

Winged Warrior December 30, 2016 at 6:40 PM Perhaps one day I shall come and visit...and we can listen to some Ozark Mountain Daredevils music lol...god bless...^WW^ Daniel Turner December 31, 2016 at 10:48 AM "If you wanna get to heaven, you got to raise a little hell" Always welcome my friend:) Thank you for the friendly visit:)

Mike Hauser December 30, 2016 at 10:49 AM Always a great read! Daniel Turner December 31, 2016 at 10:45 AM Thanks Mike:)

Eve Roper December 30, 2016 at 9:43 AM The place sounds marvelous, I will come and visit the one arm bandits the nickel machines is all my nerves could handle.. Hugs Eve Daniel Turner December 31, 2016 at 10:45 AM Bandit would be the key word in that sentence. Thank you Mrs Eve, would love to see you and go to the casino. I'd probably just watch:)

Robert Lindley December 30, 2016 at 9:11 AM Ijust recently moved from West Memphis Arkansas to the hills in Tennessee, about 30 miles away. Been to Hot Springs many times(decades ago), beautiful city and your wrote a fine poem about what it has become.A7 Daniel Turner December 31, 2016 at 10:43 AM Thank you, Robert. Tennessee is a gorgeous state also. Happy New Year!

Chris Green December 30, 2016 at 6:59 AM This was great Daniel. I have only driven through Arkansas but what I remember it was beautiful country. Daniel Turner December 30, 2016 at 8:27 AM Yes, it has some pretty parts just like every other state. It has it's ugly spots too! Thank you, Chris.

Supraja Kannan December 30, 2016 at 6:43 AM Lovely sonnet...Informative too... Thanks for sharing... A 7... Good luck with the contest... A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY... Daniel Turner December 30, 2016 at 8:26 AM Thank you, Supraja:) Happy New Year!

Probir Gupta December 30, 2016 at 5:42 AM A lovely poem ... gambling people outnumbering hot spring loving people is indeed painful ... wish you well in the contest Daniel Turner December 30, 2016 at 8:24 AM Thank you, Probir:)