Two Babies: Emma and Rachel
Video
4
Category Archives: verse
The foreign visitor
In this acrostic verse Steve Shoemaker imagined Simon of Cyrene, the innocent foreign (Libyan) bystander conscripted to help carry Jesus’s cross. Jesus of Nazareth was found guilty of “subverting the nation and refusing to pay tribute to Caesar.”
SIMON OF CYRENE
Since I was in Jerusalem for Passover,
I bought nice gifts both for my wife and the two boys.
Money I had, position in Cyrene, power…
Only meaning was missing, reason for my days.
Now my bags are knocked down and a Roman soldier
Orders me to carry a young condemned man’s cross.
From deep within his eyes I see a place of peace.
Crying women followed us all along the road.
Years later I could still recall, he turns and says,
Remove your tears for me, there are for you ahead
Even worse times to come: no men, no pregnancies,
No children, no city–for battles, sieges, war
End families, prosperity, leave just the poor.
- – Acrostic Verse – Steve Shoemaker – Urbana, IL, April 22, 2012
Steve (1943-2016) continued the work of Simon of Cyrene. He lived his life on behalf of the poor. We’re missing him today.
- Gordon C. Stewart, Chaska, MN, March 28, 2017.
Limerick on Chicago Cubs
Steve with Chicago Cubs mascot.
For the Cubs 1-0-7 long years
Crying No-Series-Winner sad tears.
Yes, I live far away,
But soon on that great day
Baby Bruins will sure hear my cheers!
– Steve Shoemaker (1943-2016).
Views from the Edge published Steve Shoemaker‘s Limerick on Chicago Cubs one year before his untimely death October 11, 2016. He wrote it in honor of Harry Lee Strong, another long-suffering Cubs fan.
Tonight the Cubs meet Cleveland for the 2016 World Series.
We republish it in hopes of World Series victory shouts!
- Gordon C. Stewart, Chaska, MN, October 12, 2016. Updated October 24, 2016.
Steve Shoemaker and his hearse
Searching through the archives following Steve’s death last Monday, his verse “Kissing in a Hearse”- originally posted July 1, 2016 – cried out for republication. Knowing of his eventual demise with pancreatic cancer, his humor was always bigger than a hearse, a continuing gift to his family, friends, and readers.
Verse – Kissing in a Hearse
Steve’s Hearse
Only college seniors were allowed
cars on campus in those ancient days.
Four guys, Juniors, searched car lots and found
just the thing, a ’47 hearse,
Pontiac, straight 8, just fifty bucks
each. A Senior said he’d claim the beast
legally was his. Quadruple dates
were the thing: one couple in the seat,
driving, six would lounge on pillows where
caskets usually rode. Of course, at times
two young people would kiss, death be damned.
Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, July 1, 2016
- Reposted October 13, 2016 in thanksgiving for Steven Robert Shoemaker (December 19, 1942 – October 10, 2016).
Which song for today?
Steve Shoemaker is hospitalized in Illinois. CaringBridge and FaceBook, which have kept us up-to-date on his journey with terminal cancer, have been silent since Thursday. Steve’s last post on FB read “another set-back, fall-back, back-slide,” posted with a photo of his book “A Sin for Each Kind of Day.”
Waiting for news, Steve’s verse “A Song for Each Kind of Day” (posted on Views from the Edge on On April 12, 2012) came to memory.
One Hebrew word for “god” was “jah.”
(It was a time of many words
for god–and many gods.) To say
“hallel” was for all to sing praise,
so HALLELUJAH meant “Praise God!”
(or “Thanks to you, oh God!”– for some
words could be truly translated
more than one way.
And so, a Psalm, or Song, that offered thanks or praise
might well be paired with a lament:
a cry of pain from one who prays
for help, relief, from gods who sent
disaster. (But, of course, some Psalms
wisely acknowledged that some wrongs
were caused by those who sang the songs!)
There is a Psalm for each one of our days…
[Steve Shoemaker, April 12, 2012]
Today Kay and I are far away in Minnesota, but our hearts are in Illinois. Your prayers are invited. Just close your eyes. Sit quietly. Speak the name “Steve”. . . .[be still]. . . . Then “Nadja” . . . .[be still] . . . . Then “Shoemaker family”. . . [be still] . . . .Then “Jah”. . . and leave the rest there.
There is a psalm for each kind of day. Today, it’s Psalm 46.
— Gordon
An Evening of Sin
Steve recently published A Sin a Week: Fifty-two Sins Are Described Here in Loving Detail for Folks With the Inclination and Ability to Do Wrong, but Who Have Run Out of Bad Ideas. You can hear Steve’s renditions in an audio book available on Amazon.
This morning he posted this invitation on his CaringBridge page:
A Sin a Week: 52 sins described in loving detail…
Remember my book reading tonight, Thursday, August 11, 7-8 pm @ the Philo Presbyterian Church, 105 E. Jefferson, Philo, IL.
Crackers, cheese, coffee & wine with words about sin. A whole evening with sin.
Free & open to the public. Free parking.
Bring your copy to follow along & see the illustrations. The bookless can use loaners–or just listen happily….
NOTE from Gordon: Steve’s poetry and reflections on life, death, and dying are featured on Views from the Edge. Just enter his name in the search box and he’ll pop up!
Verse – NRC
I fear for her life
haters speak their hate
Handgun rifle knife
Semi-automatic fate
Nothing could be worse
Her Chief Commander
USA will fail
To the blacks she’ll pander
Supreme Court she’ll stack
Liberal lawyers pack
Constitution lack
All have empty gun rack
Use them while we can
Vitriol drives our plan
Sneers give us our cue
We know what to do
- Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, July 21, 2016
Verse – White Folks
White folks can be the shade they want,
not be the shade they’re born.
Tanning beds, beach vacations, cruises
Creams, and dyes, all for one damn race.
Pale faces can become bronze.
Pasty legs and arms be brown.
Only white folks show their blushes–
they have so much, they should blush more…
- Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, July 18, 2016
Verse — If she died first
If she died first
I’d die soon
trying to find
all I need
to live.
- Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, July 13, 2016
Note from Gordon: Steve may be sick, but his humor’s in tact! Every day’s a new day for Steve in no small part because of his beloved Nadja. They celebrated 50 years of marriage this year.
Verse – Kissing in a Hearse
Only college seniors were allowed
cars on campus in those ancient days.
Four guys, Juniors, searched car lots and found
just the thing, a ’47 hearse,
Pontiac, straight 8, just fifty bucks
each. A Senior said he’d claim the beast
legally was his. Quadruple dates
were the thing: one couple in the seat,
driving, six would lounge on pillows where
caskets usually rode. Of course, at times
two young people would kiss, death be damned.
Steve’s Hearse
- Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, July 1, 2016
Views from the Edge 