The trumpeter squeezed hard onto his trumpet Because he was going to give his all In making notes that no one could recall Ever hearing from one instrument so small. So he blew and blew, and, lo and behold, The notes never came out of the last hole. The note […]
Author: Jacob Hailpern
ODES TO SIMA LEAH
At Ninety-Four She walks with pain, But does not complain (At least , not too much) We all, who are getting older, Know that her rightful need to walk somewhat slower, And the urgency for everyone to speak a little louder. She is mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Sister, aunt and cousin. […]
Dreams
In my worst, most horrid dreams I have lost my way, it seems. What might be the loathsome force That continues to follow me? My heart beats ever so fast, Something is stalking my path And, oh how I want to rush, But my feet are stuck in mush. In […]
To dearest Maxine on her seventy-sixth birthday
There have been many years that you count up to this very day. We have grown older together, and not always too gracefully. During those years together, we have weathered many heart-rendering crises: My job changes that caused the need for you to go back to work, Our major illnesses […]
MARK AND KRISTA’S ANNIVERSARY
Tomorrow is Krista and Mark’s anniversary. Let’s see ——-how old is Libby? Oh, my! I thought it was their 5th anniversary. Anyway, Mark and Krista were so very lucky, and we all are lucky because they were when they got married. The two of them were great people before they […]
KRISTA’S BIRTHDAY
We have, here, a true friend who deserves whatever we can give her in celebrating her birthday, even though she managed to be out of the country when her actual birth date came about. She deserves it from us because she has given to all, all the love that comes […]
Calisthenics
Sergeant Hailpern requests permission from the1st Sergeant to speak to the Troop Commander. Wait here, Sgt. Hailpern. Sir, Sgt Hailpern has requested permission to speak to the Captain. Tell Sgt Hailpern I will see him now. Yes, sir. Sgt. Hailpern, you have permission to speak to the Troop Commander. Thank […]
MUSINGS
“Twas ever thus that no man shall completely know his end. Knowing that there is an end is enough. If this were not so, each person who ponders on the wherefore and the why of this realm of existence might spend all time allotted to somehow change the fate was […]
It Was Bad But Then Good
When I was in my last semester at Lake Junior High School, we had an assignment from one of my classes (I can’t remember which one) that required us to acquire a certain book that would last us through the short time left to our school-end. I knew that if […]
Joshua in London
I don’t care if I spoiled the picture. I told Mom I didn’t want her to take it, but does she ever care what I want? After all, did we come all the way to London just to take stupid pictures? O.K., if that’s the reason we came, then I’ll […]