For some reason, the distant scenes have drawn nearer,
whilst the foreground has begun to drift into view in fragments
of even larger images
Appearing and disappearing
Perspectives rush past
At arm’s length
I cross horizons like a zebra crossing
On the streets I see my reflection
In the windows of houses that stand
Three thousand miles from where I am
I can hear Bartók’s First Violin Concerto
Which the last time I listened last summer
I’ve no explanations of what’s happening
A vast world
Is showering me with a flood of unanswered requests
I stand beneath an invisible avalanche
Requests, requests, requests, and each one
Has a ‘return to sender’ stamp
My sense of perspective is gradually returning
I see a row of houses, somehow familiar to me
Rows of green recycling bins
Standing in the bright sunshine, on that street
Where I never quite managed to take a walk.
I wasn’t online when you called
The signs of missed calls now I see
Each time, when through our chats I scroll
Hearing your messages to me
Your voice remains with me forever
It’s not the past that passed away
You speak, and we are stuck together
As always, as we are today
You look as young, as I remember
You being the last time we met
I’ve changed a bit, my dearest sender
You’d laugh if heard me saying that..
Be careful what you wish for me...
When you're wishing for my downfall
You're already down below me
Believe it or not, but you will surely be
I've Never lost to any opposition
Back to sender my shield
Thanks to my guidance and protectors for steadily giving me a remedy and medicine.
What do you do with others downfall ?
I pray you experience
Whatever you're wishing for others
If offensive or keeps you stagnant
You're crazy for making others feel lazy
You can't wish others bad and be good
You must get what you give
Back to sender my remedy and medicine.
Wish me good, good be your portion
Wish me bad, bad be your portion
I'm steadily reciprocating accordingly
You can't create chaos, then enjoy peace
I pray you don't get away with
Whatever harm you do or wish on others
Back to sender my remedy and medicine.
Sent my friend a birthday card;
So it would not be late,
I mailed it more than one whole week
Before her special date.
Her birthday came and went and yet
She never got my card.
It had the right address and stamp,
So what could be so hard?
Today that card came back to me,
“Return to Sender” stamped.
I think the local P.O.
Really needs to be revamped.
I’ll see that friend a week from now
And hand her what I sent.
The envelope is proof, though,
Of my early-bird intent.
"Having received this precious love letter
I'm thrilled that I feel vibrantly better…
Will you guess, my friend, who the sender is?
Cheering now my heart, filling me with bliss???”
“Knowing how your countenance does express
The jubilation no gloom can’t suppress
I may just wonder and with you rejoice
Since to be happy always marks your choice.”
“Oh, I’ll give you clues that can serve as guide
So other options you must set aside…
Now, first… ‘successful’ describes the person
Second, ‘grateful’ for every learned lesson.”
“I’m sure of my answer, as I say: ‘Wow’
Since your letter sender is with us now…
Having written me words of gratitude
Thanking God for teachers' kind servitude."
"So we received same letter; that's so sweet
From our students who will give gracious treat
Greeting us with 'Wonderful Teachers'* Day
The Lord be praised that you directed our way!'"
*1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers...
October 18, 2023
2nd place, "Get into the conversation" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper; judged on 10/20/2023
÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
When he learned that one ungrateful tyke
had returned gifts that he didn't like,
Santa bet the next brat
who tried something like that
would get briquettes instead of a bike!
÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
Date: 12/19/2022
Count: syllablecounter.net
Someone moved into my building
Whose last name’s the same as my own.
We haven’t yet met
But I can’t forget;
The reminders won’t leave me alone.
With 160 apartments,
Some order, of course, must prevail
So it no longer shocks
When I look in my box
Every day to discover her mail!
Those enemy soldiers, they weren’t too well trained
They weren’t gonna take back the ground that we’d gained
But I thought I’d copped it with no shred of doubt
When that hand grenade landed in my dugout
I’m telling you boys, my resolve didn’t crack
I just pulled the pin out and threw it right back
lick my gender
and stick it to me
send me where I belong
***
God is my sender
of wife so sweet and tender
with all her splendor
To my beautiful and lovely
wife Jill on her Birthday
S-ender's
M-essage
A-mazes
R-eceiver
T-oday
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
S-ender
O-f
P-oem
H-as
I-mplemented
A-crostic
F-orm
R-ightfully
A-pplying
N-atal
C-omposition's
H-eavenly
E-xpression
S-o
C-elebrant
A-ppreciates
H-appy
I-dea's
J-oyful
E-xpression
Topic: Birthday of Sophia Franchesca Hije (February 06)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
Gender of Spender and Address of Sender
Were guaranteed what would be gender,
Of person who had been a big spender;
Name of game;
Both the same,
As address of wife who was the sender.
Jim Horn
R-egards
O-f
J-oyful
S-ender
B-egin
E-xpressing
L-ine
I-n
S-tandard
T-ime's
A-rrival
Topic: Birthday of Rojs Belista (February 19)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
Be A Great News Sender
I do want to be a great news sender;
Of broken hearts and fences mender;
Create happiness,
With bliss and kiss,
And bring piece to world an intender.
Jim Horn
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