(April 1, 1919 – July 25, 2011)
In this graveyard, in this marble lies
an artist adding light to the skies.
August 12, 2011
The latest news about the Chess Grand master told the web space
That he joined the Independent University.
It took me to the referral of Time “Epoch,”
As the time travels through the walls of Jerusalem that boasted about
God chosen people and Godforsaken people
As the power club that boasted that they are the grammar book of ruling
That will be decisive in ruling the border wall and ruling the ordered paul
Are they not transitory after the longest day, for a long forgotten gown
That never took me to any convocation, or any place other than
Howls, growls or a frowning town?
As they too, understood I yearn sometimes, for an incomplete poem
To cast in situ in wrinkle free attire and casual gabardine pants.
Is it too hard to let the past go? Or, that too, falls in the category of fornication?
After all they never had to toil like elders for a non graduated school dress
To avoid a Kaplan failure , eternally to sit there in Baton Rouge!
Carrying worn suitcases packed tightly
with meager possessions, lofty dreams,
bringing hearts filled
with longings
for the familiarity of homelands
and family left behind,
they came to America.
Schowengerdt, Rabun, Mazzei,
Erickson, Keeton and Rausch.
RaGusa, Martin, Devries,
Kaplan, Renfro, Czypryzs,
Morrissey, Hartpence, Colbert,
Collier, Roth, Proia and Ward.
They came to America.
Shining through immigrant tears,
Lady Liberty’s freedom torch
beaconed the way to portals of hope.
Beyond ... the future’s golden glow
beckoned the brave to create a new America
molded out of the melting pot of diversity.
They came to America.
Standing hand in hand at Ellis’s shore,
in reverent silence,
hearts bursting with pride,
a hundred mother tongues
with single voice proclaimed
in perfect harmony,
“We are America!”
Significant, Important Player
What in my life could be so more possibly
Designed for mine to live most comfortably
Perfect place where I completely fit in
Not worry about what I said or did again.
There are those exceptional and extraordinary
Compared to others who may be only ordinary
Especially last night under sun as it did set
When Bruce and Ally together again had met.
Love being with both such a perfect pair
In their world live without a worry or care
Rather relaxed, settled, always comforting
Like thought blowing in the wind you sing.
Was with them there both beyond compare
In my life, a significant, important player
Producing pleasure and an enjoyable scene
When I met them, reminded me of Gene.
Jim Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
RiverSea Plantation
Bolivia, NC
Written especially for my new
neighbors Bruce and Ally Kaplan