after wine
aboard ship
is the
rolling
of my
walk
from
the wine
or from
the sea
is the
full moon
on the
waves
weaving
webs
of silver
water
is the
love
we found
when younger
bright as
moonlight
rich
as wine
– Steve Shoemaker, cruising the Caribbean, March 12, 2015
flat dry island
cactus aloe yucca
wind blown waves
wind blown trees
always 80 degrees
white sand beaches
cruise ships dock
sails boats yachts
many tropical fish
scuba dive snorkel
tourists shops stores
resturants bars cigars
brightly painted houses
free schools hospitals
hotels windmills golf
time share condos
above ground cemeteries
brightly painted tombs
one happy island
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, March 11, 2015
Our Subaru left Chicago
and used each wheel of 4-wheel drive
to navigate 2 feet of snow.
The ice we saw off Lake Shore Drive
got worse as we drove by Sox Park,
but after 97th Street
the Interstate was dry. We mark
the trip-o-meter: it is set
at zero–so is temperature.
We take I-57 south–
by Memphis the results are clear:
one degree warmer on the route
for every 13 miles we drive.
By Florida (smile!) it’s 75!
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL [written from Central and South America without cell phone access]
Our Dad would take a bathroom scale
in both his calloused hands and squeeze
200 pounds. He said his boys
should also press their weight. To fail
meant hearing yet again how he
when in the Navy chinned himself
a hundred times a day. His laugh
at photos when he was skinny
before he read the Charles Atlas
booklet reminded each of us
of Dynamic Tension. We’d take
a towel and pull and tug to make
each tiny bicep that we had
grow big to be as strong as Dad.
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 27, 2015
Long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans like Steve Shoemaker are excited about this season. The Cubs look like a serious contender in 2015. The club’s new owners have invited fans to write a new song for home games at Wrigley Field. Steve explains his contribution. “Steve Goodman in 1984 wrote ‘Go Cubs Go’. It is sung by surprised fans after each Cub win. It does not really fit since Goodman wrote it to ENCOURAGE the Cubs. Instead of writing a new song, here is my revision of Goodman’s classic.” Click HERE for a YouTube video of Steve Goodman’s original Go Cubs Go. Here’s Steve’s new rendition:
Go Cubs Go
Baseball season’s underway
We hope ya got ready for a brand new day!
Hey Chicago waddya say?
The Cubs have gone and won today!
We’re singing:
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
They got the power, they got the speed,
They are the best in the National League!
Well this is the year and the Cubs are real,
So join us here at Wrigley Field!
We’re singing now:
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
Baseball time is here again–
We just saw another win!
So stomp your feet and clap your hands!
Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans!
We’re singing now:
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
Go Cubs, go!
Go Cubs, go!
Hey Chicago, waddya say!
The Cubs have gone and won today!
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 23, 2015
One form, but multiplicity…
Motion, immutability…
Can we glimpse God.
So weird, so odd,
In limerick theology?!
Is the Divine One one or three?
Is He a he or She a she?
A comedy!
A mystery!
One was and is and Three will be!
Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015
There’s no record the wars of the Bible
Found in Exodus are that reliable
Historically.
Fortunately
Hebrews found Holy Land bloodlessly…
(This written as a FaceBook comment in response to a comment protesting a post by the brilliant & perverse Nina Paley about her newest feature length animated movie, “Seder Masochism“–retelling the Exodus story, like she retold the Hindu tales in “Sita Sings the Blues”, portions of the latest, and all of the former can be seen FREE many places on line!)
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 22, 2015
We know that seeing never can
be believing. We fool the eye
of all who look at us and see
the other. Mother left the band
upon our wrist that gave our name
for weeks after our birth, but then
began always to dress Brian
in blue. One day we switched–I came
out in his shirt–she called him Chris!
St. Thomas was a twin and so
when he heard that his friends were sure
they’d seen the risen Lord, of course
he doubted that was true. But then
he heard the word…although a twin.
Steven Shoemaker
Urbana, Illinois, Feb. 21, 2015
[These poems may be used, copied, or published as you will. It would be nice
if you included my name, city, and State]
NOTE: Readers unfamiliar with Christian Scripture will find it helpful to know the biblical text behind Steve’s poem. Click Jesus and Thomas, the Twin for the story in the Gospel of John.
The nightmares! Terrors! Dreams so deep
I drown! I fall! No rest I keep.
But so much worse,
And such a curse,
Are dreams that I can’t fall asleep!
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 20, 2015
Republicans quote Honest Abe,
But he would jump out of his grave,
Rip off his cravat
And vote Democrat
After seeing the mess George Bush made!
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 20, 2015
Views from the Edge 