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Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Episode 58: Poetry Saturday
The Draft Lottery
The Selective Service held Mr. Nixon’s draft lottery,
Yes it happened on Wednesday this week.
If you drew a low draft number and get classified 1-A
Boot camp and shaved head, the hippies will call you a freak.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.
You might be going to the delta,
A rendezvous with the Viet-Cong.
You might be going to the delta,
A rendezvous with the Viet-Cong.
Or to the central highlands,
But first you’ll train while singing the Army song.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.
You’ll serve your country proudly,
Without protest because you love the USA.
You'll serve for $288.00 a month
But first you’ll train while singing the Army song.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.
You’ll serve your country proudly,
Without protest because you love the USA.
You'll serve for $288.00 a month
Doing your part is the American way.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.
Written by Jimmie A. Kepler
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.
Written by Jimmie A. Kepler
DeSoto, Texas - February 2, 1972
Friday, May 20, 2011
Episode 57: Poetry Saturday
Starting High School
In San Francisco it's the summer of love,
Long haired hippies, peace signs and doves.
In Viet-Nam the soldiers are dying,
Back home their families are crying,
And Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.
Jim wants to "Light My Fire",
While Grace's rabbit only flies higher.
The evening news shows the war isn’t cool,
This week I started high school,
And "All You Need Is Love" is what The Beatles say.
Written by Jimmie A. Kepler
Schertz, Texas August 1967
The photo is Grace Slick. She is an accomplished artist. The artwork is hers.
Episode 56: Book Review Friday: A Soldier's Story by General of the Army Omar Bradley
A Soldier's Story by General of the Army Omar Bradley is the story of World War II as General Omar Bradley saw it. It is also the primary source book for the movie Patton. Bradley's unassuming and straightforward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. General Bradley was known as the "G.I. General". In the book, he comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et. al.
Remember, this book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered would defend their actions or inactions. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments. The book is hubris free. This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. He even comments about working calculus problems for relaxation!
Written in 1951, this book is superb. It gives insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.
Sidebar - One of the highlights of my life was interviewing Omar Bradley for the God and Country Boy Scout Merit Badge I was working on in 1964. He was living in military housing on the William Beaumont Hospital grounds at Fort Bliss, Texas. My father was stationed in El Paso at the time. The retired Five-Star General was very kind, patience, and encouraging as I asked him the dumb questions an eleven-years old boy asks. Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.
Remember, this book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered would defend their actions or inactions. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments. The book is hubris free. This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. He even comments about working calculus problems for relaxation!
Written in 1951, this book is superb. It gives insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.
Sidebar - One of the highlights of my life was interviewing Omar Bradley for the God and Country Boy Scout Merit Badge I was working on in 1964. He was living in military housing on the William Beaumont Hospital grounds at Fort Bliss, Texas. My father was stationed in El Paso at the time. The retired Five-Star General was very kind, patience, and encouraging as I asked him the dumb questions an eleven-years old boy asks. Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Episode 55: Here's Waht a Submission to Poetry Magazine Looks Like
[ submission successfully received ]
Dear Jimmie,
Thank you for your submission. You can check the status of your submission at any time by visiting https://submissions.poetrymagazine.org and logging into your account. Our current response time for submissions is approximately eight weeks.
P.S. You don't need to click on the link to your file in the system after you submit your work- it'll be fine. If you do click on it, be advised that it may not display properly on your computer, though it will look fine on our end. This is a glitch we're working to fix.
POETRY magazine
Visit Poetry magazine online at:
http://www.poetrymagazine.org/
--
"If you are interested in writing well, in working at being a better poet, then the most important piece of advice that anyone can give you is that you have to read recent poetry."
-Wendy Cope
There's another way to be part of Poetry's pages. Subscribe NOW!
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/subscribe.html
444 N Michigan, Ave
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611
[ back to my account ]
Dear Jimmie,
Thank you for your submission. You can check the status of your submission at any time by visiting https://submissions.poetrymagazine.org and logging into your account. Our current response time for submissions is approximately eight weeks.
P.S. You don't need to click on the link to your file in the system after you submit your work- it'll be fine. If you do click on it, be advised that it may not display properly on your computer, though it will look fine on our end. This is a glitch we're working to fix.
POETRY magazine
Visit Poetry magazine online at:
http://www.poetrymagazine.org/
--
"If you are interested in writing well, in working at being a better poet, then the most important piece of advice that anyone can give you is that you have to read recent poetry."
-Wendy Cope
There's another way to be part of Poetry's pages. Subscribe NOW!
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/subscribe.html
444 N Michigan, Ave
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611
[ back to my account ]
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Episode 54: Life Sometimes Gets In the Way
Writing has been a struggle the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I attended the DFW Writer's Workshop. I am a member and attend about 75 percent of the weekly meetings. I read and was given good suggestions at the workshop.
Now comes where I share all my excuses as to why I haven't been writing as much. The weekend on April 30th my wife was off work on Saturday. She normally works every Saturday. She was off because my oldest son had given me tickets to see The Moody Blues that day at the WinStar Casino just across the border in Oklahoma. The concert and family time was great. I enjoyed going. I had a wonderful time. At fifty seven years old I had never been in a casino before.
Sunday May 1 had me checking on my aging parents. My mother had a kidney transplant on March 25.
She is doing great. Monday May 2nd I worked, did a little writing and planning at lunch, and headed to Starbucks after work to write. While there I received an email that four positions on my team at work were eliminated. My two best friends were gone. A third person was a lady I highly respect and enjoyed working with. All of a sudden I didn't feel like writing. Instead, I called or emailed them. I found myself feeling sick, grieving, and wondering why them and why not me.
Most of the rest of the week was a kind of fog. I read my Bible a lot more than I normally do (and I read it almost every day). I also found myself reading other books more as an escape.
Saturday, May 7th, I attended the funeral of a co-worker's father and Sunday was Mother's Day. I checked on my parents again. I also took my wife out to eat Sunday evening.
I have been going over my job skills and doing some computer based training as I don't want to neglect the day job. The blogs I write have been more pointed about biblical principles for facing life's challenges as I preach to myself.
Don't worry, I will get back to my writing my novel. Life sometimes gets in the way of your writing.
Now comes where I share all my excuses as to why I haven't been writing as much. The weekend on April 30th my wife was off work on Saturday. She normally works every Saturday. She was off because my oldest son had given me tickets to see The Moody Blues that day at the WinStar Casino just across the border in Oklahoma. The concert and family time was great. I enjoyed going. I had a wonderful time. At fifty seven years old I had never been in a casino before.
Sunday May 1 had me checking on my aging parents. My mother had a kidney transplant on March 25.
She is doing great. Monday May 2nd I worked, did a little writing and planning at lunch, and headed to Starbucks after work to write. While there I received an email that four positions on my team at work were eliminated. My two best friends were gone. A third person was a lady I highly respect and enjoyed working with. All of a sudden I didn't feel like writing. Instead, I called or emailed them. I found myself feeling sick, grieving, and wondering why them and why not me.
Most of the rest of the week was a kind of fog. I read my Bible a lot more than I normally do (and I read it almost every day). I also found myself reading other books more as an escape.
Saturday, May 7th, I attended the funeral of a co-worker's father and Sunday was Mother's Day. I checked on my parents again. I also took my wife out to eat Sunday evening.
I have been going over my job skills and doing some computer based training as I don't want to neglect the day job. The blogs I write have been more pointed about biblical principles for facing life's challenges as I preach to myself.
Don't worry, I will get back to my writing my novel. Life sometimes gets in the way of your writing.
Episode 56: Poetry Saturday
Little Squirrel
Little squirrel
In the tree
I see you
Looking at me
Your color is red
In your furry coat
You look at me
Sitting in the boat
You're eating the acorns
Found in the tree
A smile on your face
Dropping the shells on me!
© 2009 Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published in
WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!
Little squirrel
In the tree
I see you
Looking at me
Your color is red
In your furry coat
You look at me
Sitting in the boat
You're eating the acorns
Found in the tree
A smile on your face
Dropping the shells on me!
© 2009 Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published in
WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!
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