Basketball
He fakes it
He shakes it
He bakes it
He takes it
He makes it!
© January 26, 2011
by Jimmie A. Kepler
Tag: Poems
Writer’s Life: Keep Writing and Submitting!
Today I attended orientation at my new part-time day job. It was fun. It also allows me more time for writing. Since I quit the full-time day job the end of January I have submitted four poems, one short story, and pitched my historical fiction novel. I also have attended my Dallas Writing Practice Group each week.
I keep reminding myself I must write daily and send my manuscripts with the consistency of the sun rising and setting. This I do.
I continue reading. I’m reading speculative fiction, the Bible, Steve Jobs biography, a historical fiction novel set Virginia during the US Civil War, and nonfiction military history. I also am listening to a number of podcasts. They include: “I Should Be Writing”, “The Drabblecast”, “The Writer’s Almanac”, and “Writing Excuses”.
I had one speculative fiction short story rejected. I continue writing and editing my historical fiction book.
I was encouraged when I received an update from Candace Have Online Writer’s Workshop Chat Group today. It has the story of one member of the group who after over 400 rejections sold her first book, followed by two more and then a series.
Hold on tight to you dreams, but keep writing and learning.
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Poem: The Holidays Are Gone
The Holidays Are Gone
Malls full of people, shopping now
Going their own way, credit cards in hand
Decorations hanging, red and green
The holidays have come and gone
Malls full of people, crowds never end
Blank stares on faces, in lines they stand
Displays in windows, people stop and stare
The holidays have come and gone
Long time ago, on Main Street downtown
Streets full of people throughout the land
Malls full of people, both young and old
Walk store to store, Christmas bonus in hand
Back in the mall, some dressed for show
The holidays have come and gone
Malls full of people, babies fast asleep
Mothers with latte, talk on the phone
Choirs sing carols, perform on demand
The holidays have come and gone
Long time ago, on Main Street downtown
Streets full of people throughout the land
Malls full of people, cold north winds blow
Some children crying, tired and it shows
The food courts are full, no table clean
The holidays have come and gone
Malls full of people, soon they’ll be gone
Exchanging gifts, sizes and colors wrong
Postman leaves bills, then goes away
The holidays have come and gone
Now the holidays are gone
© 2011 Jimmie Kepler
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Poem: Classic Rock
Classic Rock
Classic rock takes you back in time
Back to when the music rhymed
Singing of love and feeling good
We’d see them in concert if we could
It transports you back to the drive-in scene
Dancing popcorn boxes on the movie screen
Singing let’s go to the snack bar
Trying to get your money and you out of the car
Each song reminds you of a special girl
Holding hands and soft serve ice cream with a swirl
Her hair in a pageboy flip
From one Cherry Coke with two straws you both would sip
Classic rock keeps you forever young
Some of the best music ever sung
It carries you back to a simpler day
Before life’s responsibilities got in the way
© Jimmie A. Kepler 2007
Originally published in:
WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!
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Poem: Migraine
Migraine
I wake up in the morning
In my head there is a pain
And I know it is a migraine
It hurts like pouring rain
I take two aspirin
Drink a glass of water too
Hoping the pain will go away
Feels like I was hit in the head with a shoe
Now the hurt is so intense
And the throbbing never ends
A bright light and any noise bother me
I feel I am paying for my sins
I wake up in the morning
The pain is gone
Where it went I don’t know
But off away it runs
I hate it when it comes back
To visit again with me
I hate when it comes back
Wish it would sail out to sea.
Copyright © 2008 by Jimmie A. Kepler
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Poem: The Holidays Have Come and Gone
The Holidays Have Come and Gone
Malls full of people
Shopping now
Going their own way
Credit cards in hand
Malls full of people
Crowds that never end
Blank stares on faces
In lines they stand
Malls full of people
Some young some old
Walk store to store
Christmas bonus in hand
Malls full of people
Outside north winds blow
Back in the mall
Some dressed for snow
Malls full of people
Babies in strollers fast asleep
And their mothers
With latte in hand text on the phone
Malls full of people
Sounds of tired children crying
Echo across the land
And choirs sing carols on demand
Malls full of people
Not always so
Long time ago on Main Street downtown
Streets full of people throughout the land
Main streets full of people
But now they’re gone
Times are changing
And the holidays have come and gone
Copyright © 2010 by Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published: Kepler, Jimmie A. “The Holidays Have Come and Gone,” Poetry & Prose Magazine, December 2010. Volume 1, Issue 3, Moonchild Designs, page 18-19.
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Poem: A Wonderful Evening
A Wonderful Evening
A wonderful evening
Is coming soon
A special fellow
The stars and moon
He’ll touch your hand
And hold you close
Walking on beach sand
Handing you a rose
He’ll brush your hair
Away from your face
You know he cares
Your dream white lace
Spending time together
But it goes so fast
In all kinds of weather
Wishing forever it’ll last
But life’s not fair
Someday it will end
You won’t be there
For himself he’ll fend.
Jimmie A. Kepler
© 2009
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Poem: The World Spinning
The World Spinning
The world continues spinning every day,
And seasons keep changing along the way,
We miss our old friends from times long past by
Sometimes we reflect, their memories making us cry.
At times we find the solitude is just too great.
We shutter when we think our future is left to fate
Confusion visits and we ask “What are we going to do?”
The world starts spinning as life feels like one big zoo.
Round and round the circle revolves more and more,
We always wonder “What does our future hold in store?”
And we speculate “Will he or she again come our way?
All knowing God alone is the one who can say.
Sometimes we live too much in our memories
Old times over and over in our mind’s eye we see
Dreaming of spending time with old friends and lovers
Always fantasizing of the old feelings to rediscover
We speculate in the car, on the train, and in the bus,
Do our former friends and lovers ever think of us?
If the good old days are just that and all living was behind
Still I pray and I think I’ll just ask God for a sign.
May tomorrow will be a special and a bright day
As we progress down life’s never-ending highway
I hope your life’s journey is going great
And if God’s will, may our paths cross at a future date.
Copyright © 2008
Written by Jimmie A. Kepler
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Poem: Armistice Day
Armistice Day
On November eleven
As all of us knows
We signed an armistice
With all of our foes
And threw off our gas masks
We laid down our gun
And buried our hatchet
Along with the Hun
Now eight years have passed
Since that glorious day
When we signed that armistice
That ended the fray
And thousands of boys
Emerged from the strife
To come home a cripple
For the rest of his life
And thousands of others
Are over there still
Who never came home
And of course never will
They followed old glory
To a faraway shore
And to the loved ones at home
They returned never more
Althou’ we won glory
Across the big pond
We owe our respects
To our comrades that’s gone
And we’ll pause from our labor
Our tribute to pay
To our fallen companions
On Armistice Day
Written by Thomas Aaron Kepler in 1926
Copyright © Estate of Thomas Kepler
The poem was written by my grandfather, Thomas Aaron Kepler. It is one of several I have that he wrote and published. He was a resident of Jamestown, Ohio. He passed away before I was born. His poetry and writing are the only way I have had to know him.
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Poem: The Love Me Wall
The Love Me Wall
In your house
There’s a special place
Devoted just to you
It’s a wall
Your love me wall
Your love me wall
On that wall
Are awards and things
And when you see them
They make you sing
Your love me wall
Your love me wall
This one says they think you’re cool
That one says you finished school
It’s your degree for all to see
It pronounces you’re proud of me
Your love me wall
Your love me wall
The workplace plaque says you’re great
Just looking at it makes your spouse faint
And feel like throwing-up too
Because you are so full of you
Your love me wall
Your love me wall
No one loves you like you do
Neither your spouse nor your mother too
Will ever be in love with you
Like you love you
Your love me wall
You love your love me wall
© 2010 by Jimmie A. Kepler
In February 2010 I attend the University of Texas at Arlington Military Science Department and Cadet Corps Alumni Chapter Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony. One of the inductees was recently selected for promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General. He used the phrase “My love me wall” referring to all the awards he has won over the past 30 years, the way he prominently displays them in his home office, and how his wife dislikes the wall because he is so proud of his accomplishments. He said with getting inducted into the Hall of honor she will probably want to remodel the room. I got to thinking about all the offices I have been in where men and women have their accomplishments nailed to the wall for all to see. It leads to me writing this little poem about it.
