Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

Upon Finding My Old Copy of Paradise Lost

Sacred to the memory of Tod Mixson, Robert Conn, and Dr. Huston Diehl

Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold

-Milton, “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”

With notes by Dr. Diehl, of happy memory

And my poor scribbles in the hand of callow youth

As memories of Thursday nights with Robert and Tod

Fetch back a golden age when we were young

Styrofoamed coffee (and sometimes Scotch)

We fogged the air with our pipes and thoughts

“Umbrageous grots” and “snaky sorceress”

Became our private jokes in public places

But now

I pray that we will laugh again at “dismal universal hiss”

When someday all are freed from this silence cold

They hand in hand with wand’ring steps and slow,

Through Eden took thir solitary way.

-PL XII.648-649

If Everyone is Thinking Alike We Could be Correct - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

If Everyone is Thinking Alike We Could be Correct

If you’re not taking target you’re not over the flak

It isn’t what it isn’t, the ice of the tipberg

You can’t pick your family but you can pick your nose

The early bird hops over to Cracker Barrel

What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker

We have an inactive shooter off scene

From an abundance of irresponsibility

The situation is fluid because, hey, it’s a drowning

Despite the dozens of dead it’s not terrorism

And, really, sometimes the room should read you

Indicted for the Treasonous Positioning of Seashells - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

Indicted For the Treasonous Positioning of Seashells

Be careful, child, if you go down to the beach today

You’re a serious threat with your pail and spade

The Secret Service might come and drag you away

To their Star Chamber court where charges are laid

Your Minnie Mouse goggles make you look like a spy

Hiding torpedoes in your Little Mermaid float

You might be taken down by the F.B.I.

So all your fellow Commies had better take note

Thus for your freedom’s sake, don’t touch a pebble!

Lest you be imprisoned as a murderous rebel

Where my Parents Were on 29 April 1944 - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

Where my Parents were on 29 April in 1944

"...and the war will be forgotten..."

Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

My mother was a young war widow in Kingsville, Texas

Raising a child with no assistance from the state

For her husband was only missing, you see

And a Merchant Marine, and so didn’t count

My father was breeching the gates of Dachau

His tank destroyer was the “Razzle Dazzle”

With a naked lady painted on the side

Among the stench and smoke, the dying, the dead

My father told me that someday there would be people

Who would deny that such things ever were

Cf.

602^nd Tank Destroyer Battalion

SS Muskogee

Some years ago whatever authorities see to such things worked to remedy the neglect of our Merchant Marine widows and so they received some small assistance at last.

Graduation Speech Soup - poem (sort of)

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

Variation on a newspaper column I wrote years ago

Graduation Speech Soup

Add cliches’ to tastelessness, stir, and microwave

“Dr. Ponsonby, Mr. Snort, Ms. Bogdown, Trustees, Guests, Parents, Fellow Classmates: "Woo-Hoo! Thank you for all for the honor of being here tonight and, like, stuff. Woo-Hoo!

"My fellow classmates. Well it's been a great 12, 13, or 14 years ha-ha. Woo-Hoo!

“Keep the torch alive to pass to a new generation with the key that unlocks the road to the future follow your passion the unemployment will follow woo-hoo we’ve been through some amazing times together make a difference to thine own self be true woo-hoo commencement means a beginning not an ending woo-hoo as we go forth life is a journey not a destination we made it all the hard work we’ve put forth to this point in time as a great man said these are the best time in our lives as one door closes another door opens as someone says in the bible because a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step to make the world a better place trust your instincts you don’t find education in books we are the future bright with promise some see the future and ask why but we see the future and ask why not Habakkuk 2:7 woo-hoo we did it I can’t believe we’re here believe in yourself live your dreams to be all that you can be God has a plan for you woo-hoo we have the responsibility to build a new world if opportunity doesn’t know build a door don’t follow the path blaze a trail because there is no one like you because you are an individual just like those other hundred or so people your age and all dressed just alike because life is what happens while you’re making plans woo-hoo live, laugh, love you have to look through the rain to see the rainbow dance like nobody’s looking (even though they are, and they’re laughing at you) aim for the moon and if you miss you’ll hit the moon (or something) life is not waiting for the storm to pass it’s about dancing in the rain because you are a new generation called to miss 100% of the shots you don’t take because we were all one big family who have lived, laughed, and loved together hey and remember the time (name) barfed on the stairs we’ll all that that shared moment to remember and are we great or what praise Jesus together woo-hoo we can’t save all the starfish but I can make a difference for this one because as a great man Robert Frost said in “The Road Not Taken” we can make a difference for all the starfish and hey let’s give up for Jesus for mandatory cheap applause because someone said that someone said that someone else said that we can’t talk about Jesus at graduation and someone talks about Jesus every year but we’re courageous because we talk about Jesus in the sea of life woo-hoo today is the first day of your rest of your life oh, the places you’ll go like maybe eternal stasis in front of a MePhone because education is the gate that unlocks the key to something I don’t know why they asked me to be the speaker ha ha shout-out to Mom hey everybody wear sunscreen because your future’s so bright close your eyes and remember when - hey, an air horn, that’s so cool, no one’s ever done that before - woo-hoo I want to congratulate each and every one of you on your incredible talents and abilities woo-hoo as you begin your journey to a bright and shining future because we are the best class (name of school and a shout-out to the mascot) has ever graduated (since last year) woo-hoo a dream is a wish your heart makes the road not taken and you can become anything you dream to be or wish to be or something #lifehack because she said she could do it and she did woo-hoo #hashtag now go forth and make your lives exceptional woo-hoo although on Monday morning we’ll wake up and realize we’re just more unemployed Americans.”

Are You the Dreamer to My Dreams - short poem

mhall46184@aol.com

Are You the Dreamer to My Dreams?

Moonlight, magnolias, and melatonin

And the symphony channel – all sweeten my dreams

But without you, is there any point to dreams?

If you tell me yes, then it is so

A Day of Gentle Rain after a Dry Spell - short poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

A Day of Gentle Rain after a Dry Spell

It is a cliché

For us to say

That rain is like a baptism, a gift of healing

It is a cliché

But still we say

This rain is like a baptism, a gift of healing

When the Death Penalty is Outsourced to Private Corporations - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

When the Death Penalty is Outsourced to Corporations

“We’re re-structuring, so may God have mercy on your soul.”

“Thank you for your contributions to making our prison great again.”

“Going forward we’re looking for more technology.”

“You’ve been a great team player. You will be missed.”

“We’re investing in new production models”

“Our extended worker family is sure going to miss you.”

“We’re streamlining our operations.”

“You’ll be proud to know that your death chamber

- because, yes, it is your community death chamber -

Is positioned with great love and respect

On First Nations land repurposed for your spiritual experience.”

“We need a more agile workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.”

“As part of our matrix of inclusivity

We’re processing more women, minorities,

And LGBTQ than ever before.”

“To lower our carbon footprint we’re presenting you

With an artisanal, hand-woven noose

Crafted from all-natural recycled fibers.”

“We’re accelerating into a new era of growth.”

“We know you will be impacted by 2,000 volts,

But our separation package is an industry best.”

“Our watchwords are compassion and imagination.”

“If you want a tranquilizer before the lethal drip

That cost will be deducted from your family’s survivor package.”

“Our sensitive and inclusive personnel officers

And transition specialists will walk with you

Every step of the way along the Green Mile

As you journey to your bright new future.”

“Oh…before you go…this just in from the personnel office –

They can arrange lateral transfers to I.C.E.

If you’re interested…

You’re not…?

I understand.”

Doggie-Kisses - DOGgerel

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love