Years and years ago I got
tired of going to the restroom
and finding someone used
the ***** and did not lift the lid.
So I wrote a little poem.
——————

        Dead Eye ****
        You Are Not.
         Lift The Lid
         To The ***.

——————

I hung it above the ***.
It lasted for about two
hours and was taken
down by the Lab Director.

No one knew it was me who posted it
But there were a lot of chuckles around the lab.

Thirteen years since you sat upon the rock
Sitting there taking stock
of things of this world
and things of the next.

A Poets heart since you were young
the written word delivered by tongue
lives on forever in the heart
of those who've read to never part.

You ran the race with no disgrace
Inspired others to take their place
In the words of true poets to be
Filling the hearts of all they see.

Thanks again Paddy Martin

01-31-2024

Read Paddy Martin at:
http://hellopoetry.com/paddy-martin/

http://hellopoetry.com/the-paddy-martin-fellowship
Many do not know about Paddy. Read him. Enjoy.

He passed from this world thirteen years ago.

Edwin is with his Joyce now
Never more to roam.
Hand in hand once again
He has gone on home.
Never more to roam.

Never more to roam
She met him at the gate.
True and faithful til the end
Never more to be late.
Never more to roam.

A life lived full of love
For the one gone before.
Never more will they roam
Outside of Heavens door.
Never more to roam.

He has gone on home
Hand in hand once again
Never more to roam
Edwin is with his Joyce now.
He has finally made it home.

(C) 12-26-2023

I have always been a quiet guy and did not want to talk before crowds.
The Old Days
Going from country school to city school had its interesting times. We had to take a test to get into high school and I still remember my score being 10.4.  The over and out thing on Car 54.
My brother Ed was the company boxing champ when he was in Korea in 52.  When he returned from Korea and came to the farm he would bring his boxing gloves and he taught me the fine points of the art.

I could defend myself but never needed to prove it. All through my freshman year **** M was always giving me a bad time. Sophomore year it continued until about Christmas time. At that time I had had enough. I was walking up to Main and **** and his two buddies were following me saying their usual bad stuff. Now **** out weighed by 100 pounds at least but enough was enough.  I set my books down off the sidewalk.  Noting I was right next to the morgue and thinking “one of us could end up in there”. Turning around... I motioned with open hand and quietly said to ****...  “ok ****... let’s get this over with”.  His eyes went rather big and he backed up. The three of them vanished back down the street. **** was very nice to me after that. We never had any harsh words. Sometimes you must stand up and confront the problem.

Sometime later kids started calling me Sullivan. I let it go for a while. Then I asked someone “why are you and others calling me Sullivan”?  Did not get an answer other than “your name is John L Stevens so... you are like John L Sullivan.”  Did not compute. Sullivan was a well known prize fighter. I’ve often wondered if the **** thing had anything to do with it.

Coming out of the sticks into the big city school was interesting the first few weeks. The city boys would come up and would put a hand out for a shake. Not chocolate. They would try to squeeze my hand hard but it didn’t bother me.  The third week I decided that I would squeeze back.  Now maybe they didn’t know that I milked cows by hand. So the next one got squeezed... hard.  It hurt some me thinks. Word apparently traveled fast as that was the last fun hand shake I had. I’m old now but I have never been hit in the face in all this time. Except with boxing gloves. No need to cause trouble but be ready to defend yourself and others.  What I taught my kids and grandkids over the years.

Ok enough of that.

Twelve years since you sat upon the rock
Sitting there taking stock
of things of this world
and things of the next.

A Poets heart since you were young
the written word delivered by tongue
lives on forever in the heart
of those who've read to never part.

You ran the race with no disgrace
Inspired others to take their place
In the words of true poets to be
Filling the hearts of all they see.

Thanks again Paddy Martin

01-29-2023

Read Paddy Martin at:
http://hellopoetry.com/paddy-martin/

http://hellopoetry.com/the-paddy-martin-fellowship
Many do not know about Paddy. Read him. Enjoy.

He passed from this world twelve years ago.

Eleven years since you sat upon the rock
Sitting there taking stock
of things of this world
and things of the next.

A Poets heart since you were young
the written word delivered by tongue
lives on forever in the heart
of those who've read to never part.

You ran the race with no disgrace
Inspired others to take their place
In the words of true poets to be
Filling the hearts of all they see.

Thanks again Paddy Martin

01-29-2022

Read Paddy Martin at:
http://hellopoetry.com/paddy-martin/

http://hellopoetry.com/the-paddy-martin-fellowship
Many do not know about Paddy. Read him. Enjoy.

He passed from this world eleven years ago.

Stan is  ninety three on  this date    
still waiting at Heaven’s gate
where his Love
went on before him.

Some day soon
he will join June
Where the light
will never dim.

Time has past since
he hugged her last
now, the pain
unreal at times.

He knows she lives
where God’s Love gives
us Peace and
love so sublime.

And now….

His mission fulfilled
In what God willed
the race will end
never more to roam.

He made the right choice
The Angels rejoice
God’s forever Love with June
Stan will be going home.

Never more to roam.

(C) 06-14-2021
John L Stevens
Now 93