New Born
By Frank Daub
Putting up the wash – Again
one wooden clothes pin gripped
tightly
in her lips. On toe-tips; blonde hair wind-whipped
dangling in her eyes.
The sun an apricot surprise
on the back of her legs.
All busy hanging clothes
and
Watching in the yard to see the baby lulling in the doze
Of May.
My perennial loving Guard.
Pin drop silence
Maybe am tone deaf
They have no licence
Causing me more grief
My cup, my bag's full
Couldn't give a hoot
O'er my eyes wool to pull
Adjusting my suit
Waxing hot and cold
Eloquent then mute
They join the fold
Down the ol route
Destined a red rose, as her tired feet were that day
Day she stepped on the bus, she sat where she should
Should, upfront, where she belongs, so peacefully
Peacefully, with fortitude, seeking equality and justice.
Justice she never thought would come with such liberty
Liberty divinely shining, smiling eloquently, abundantly
Abundantly with God’s fortitude, her aching feet planted
Planted to move not, like a tree rooted beside still waters.
Waters of stillness in her soul, running deep, led by God
God leading her through the valley of the shadow of death
Death where the Lord is her Shepherd—she feared no evil
Evil, His rod and staff protect her with goodness and mercy.
Mercy, she shows all the days of her life compassionately
Compassionately, with reverence and love for humanity.
© Dr. Joseph S. Spence Sr., Ph.D. (Epulaeryu Master). All Rights Reserved. December 1, 2025.
bobby-pin curls
shaken out in the morning
1960 do
Listen for joy in the distance. Silence is the ultimate prayer. Salvation comes with persistence; Resistance will always be there...
Hearts in Heaven Bangladesh's Cry: A Linking Pin Sonnet
The sky held screams—screams torn through burning blue,
Blue smoke descended where small footsteps grew.
Grew bright young dreams in uniforms so white,
White pages turned with innocence and light.
Light left the room when iron wings struck ground,
Ground broke in silence, swallowing every sound.
Sound echoed loud through broken bricks and flame,
Flame touched the walls, but couldn't touch each name.
Name after name, now whispered into prayer—
Prayer rising slowly through shattered, smokey air.
Air still with grief, yet winds of hope will sing—
Sing songs of peace, though tragedy may sting.
Sting not their souls, O Lord, who now shall fly—
Fly safe in You, above the weeping sky.
(c) USA Goodwill Ambassador, Professor Dr. Joseph S. Spence Sr. (Epulaeryu Master). All Rights reserved, August 4, 2025.
When first I went ten-pin bowling
was in a league of my own
tho' hot to trot my score was shot
splits and gutterballs set the tone
my opponent bowled professionally
outclassed before I'd begun
she demonstrated then remonstrated
“It's not 'only a game' to some!”
tho' bet my set I'd met my match
when playing each frame for a round
looked like I'm paying heard me saying
"The next one's on me, I'll be bound."
with a spin a difficult situation
unlikely to escape she placed me in
and looking down the lane found myself
once more behind the eight pin
Duty calls from valleys deep and wide,
Wide like hearts where brave resolve does bide.
Bide the storms, through fire and endless rain,
Rain of trials met with a calm refrain.
Refrain from fear when darkness clouds the sky,
Sky holds hope where eagles dare to fly.
Fly with honor carved in steel and soul,
Soul forged firm in sacrifice and role.
Role of country’s shield in battle’s fire,
Fire of freedom fed by hearts’ desire.
Desire to serve with valor, strong and true,
True to flags in red and white and blue.
Blue, the banner waving high above,
Above all stands their country, duty, and love.
Success is drawing blood.
Follow in my tracks.
There's no rush.
Im not missing.
Just off the straight and narrow.
Open to facilitate.
Steadfast to invigorate.
There are drawbacks
But I take the plunge.
Time passed as pastime.
Days blend differently.
Its not my daily grind.
But it helps to get by.
"Faith and Fireworks: Cinco’s Call to Remember"
(A Linking Pin Sonnet in Spence Format – Celebratory & Historical)
Remember the cry, the cause, the stand,
Stand for the faith that defended the land.
Land once trembling rose firm and proud,
Proud were the voices chanting aloud.
Aloud rang truth through valley and hill,
Hill of defiance, God’s sovereign will.
Will of the people, backed by the skies,
Skies filled with prayer and warrior cries.
Cries of justice, both fierce and bold,
Bold like prophets, with courage untold.
Untold stories in fireworks fly,
Fly like doves as praises lift high.
High in the heart, faith’s embers still glow,
Glow bright each year on Cinco de Mayo.
© Professor Dr. Joseph S. Spence Sr. (Epulaeryu Master). All Rights Reserved. 5/5/25.
"Raise the Shields"
(Dr. Spence Linking Pin Sonnet for Child Abuse Prevention Month)
Cries pierce the silence where trust should have grown,
Grown are the shadows where safety's unknown,
Unknown are the wounds that no eye can see,
See how the soul screams while lips whisper "free."
Free them from hands that betray every vow,
Vow to stand firm and protect them somehow,
Somehow light breaks through the thickest despair,
Despair shatters when bold hearts choose to care.
Care isn't passive — it shouts in the street,
Street after street, we march so harm meets defeat,
Defeat the silence, the shame, and the fear,
Fear not the battle — the children are near!
Near beats the heartbeat of futures at stake,
Stake down the shields — defend every child’s sake!
© USA Goodwill Ambassador, professor Dr. Joseph S. Spence Sr. (Epulaeryu Master). All Rights Reserved (April 29, 2025).
He Is Risen (A Linking Pin Sonnet in the Spence Style)
The stone was rolled—rolled far from death’s command,
Command could not contain the Son of light.
Light broke the tomb and touched the trembling land,
Land kissed His feet, awakened by His might.
Might bowed to love, for love could not stay dead,
Dead gave way when life began to rise.
Rise spread like fire where fear once dared to tread,
Tread turned to dance beneath the open skies.
Skies echoed loud the cry of grace anew,
Anew the earth beheld the Savior’s face.
Face of all hope, both ancient and yet true,
True as the cross, yet full of Heaven’s grace.
Grace walked again where sorrow once had been—
Been dead, but now He lives. He rose. Amen.
© Professor Dr. Joseph S. Spence Sr. All Rights Reserved (April 4, 2025).
My hands hold the bars
I’m a good prisoner
Hoping to be let out for good behaviour
Head down
not meeting my jailers eyes
At night when the lights are off
When the moon is in the sky
When men cough and moan in the darkness
I reach through the bars towards the stars
My finger traces that golden orb
My mind explores pin pricks of silver
Traveling light years in mere seconds
no longer held by concrete and steel
When my jailers look at me
They don’t realize that I am a free man
Only my body is held in this place
Where a man’s thoughts travel
there resides his soul
Men are held in many prisons
Expectations
Past traumas
Loveless marriages
Addictions
Regrets
They think
“If I hold onto the bars
keep my head down
Perhaps I’ll get out early for good behaviour?”
All the while not realizing that when they face a mirror
they are looking into their jailer’s eyes.
Arriving at the space
Where everything hinged
I saw it...flapping in the wind
Around and back, again
I took out the pin
And watched matter
Fly in all directions
Motions and potions
Casting out for perfections
Stuck with the pen
Trying write a program
That will return power
To ideas that must form and live
Within every passing hour
One prick of the pin
Blood will surface
Those hungry to eat, will rise
Gathering nothing more
Than pesty flies
To the pen
....SPIRIT WINS!!!
Written by Trudy Schrader
Sometimes it's time to pull the pin,
not to make a din,
but to abide, let it slide,
and sit on the fence
watching the tide come in.
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