Singles Limericks

 

Where did the Summer go?

None of us seems to know.

Now it is Fall;

Let's have a ball,

And hope it doesn't snow!

 

Winter's here,

But have no fear:

Find a warm friend to hold,

And laugh at the cold,

For Spring is drawing near.

 

Spring is in the air,

Warm winds toss your hair.

Feel its heat,

Get out and meet

New friends everywhere.

 

Paul E. Schoen

September 1996 - March 1997

(From BSN newsletters)

 


Cyber-Love

 

Oh, the bittersweet pain/pleasure

of electronically enhanced romance,

aided and abetted

by the pervasive,

and sometimes perverse,

persuasion of the Pentium-processor-fueled

fantasy world

of the Internet.

 

Paul E. Schoen

October 3, 1998

 


In My Mind

What is my most intense desire

At this point in my life?

What is it that excites me most

And drives me as a goal?

 

Perhaps it is a fervent love,

A raging torrid lust,

But can I really match what I've

Experienced in my mind?

 

In my mind, the best of all

The past can be combined

Into an ideal never reached

Except within my mind.

 

My senses have each known the best

And in my mind, they are all stored

I close my eyes, replay the tapes

And make believe it's real.

 

Why should I play again the games

That always seem to fail

When in my mind I can recall

The sweetness I once knew

 

Is it really worth the pain

To give the flesh another chance

To sense what it has better known,

Recorded in my mind?

 

Perhaps there's something yet unfelt,

Experience unknown to me,

Something new and wonderful

That may transcend my present state

 

So now I try to forge ahead

And test untrodden ground

For raw material to fill

The caverns in my mind

 

Paul E. Schoen

September 9, 2000

 


Volleyball Tournament

 

A new day

Barely aware

Of the sun's promise

Not yet risen, but sensed

Over distant horizon

 

Too short sleep

Disturbed

By anticipation, and finally

Loud alarm

 

Not quite rested muscles

Stretched

And coaxed

Free body from bed

And mind from fading dreams

 

Smell of coffee

Zombie walk to breakfast

Caffeine jump start

Fresh tank of fuel

 

Athletic gear stowed

One last check for essentials

Dawn is breaking

We're on the road

 

Converging at the park

Fresh grass moist with dew

Clinking sounds - setting up the nets

Once white leather balls

Struck by eager hands

 

Friendly players

Surging 'round the tables

Teams formed, partners found

Prepare for play to start

 

Friends or strangers,

Newly paired,

Talk of past events

Learning from each other

Weakness and strengths

 

Strongly pounded serves

Or sneaky floaters

Shanked, or deftly handled

The games begin

 

Sweet set, powerful spike

Ball pops smartly

From locked arms

To waiting setter

 

Well placed shot

Miraculously saved

Partner, amazed

Applauds the effort

With a perfect set

 

Back and forth it goes

Crafty offense

Foiled by stunning defense

Skill or error

Finally prevail

 

Sun now climbing high

Action heating up

Points scored

Games and matches

Won and lost

 

Luck and skill combine

Some do well

Others struggle

For precious points

 

Hours in the sun

Thirst, fatigue, joy and fun

Excitement for the winners

Who go on to seek the trophy

 

My small victory

To have played

With people half my age

Each point won

Was sweet

 

Paul E. Schoen

September 11, 2000


Gazing Deeply

 

I gaze deeply

Into the dark night sky

Tiny points of ancient light,

The stars seem infinite

 

Gazing more deeply

Than can my eyes

Telescopes find objects

From our universe's birth

 

I see one ancient object

As I gaze in one direction

But then I look behind me

And another is as far

 

Each ten or more billion

Light years from Earth

Seem twice that distance

From each other, then.

 

How can I gaze so deeply

In opposite directions

And see apparently distant things

That should be close together?

 

Perhaps a cosmic paradox

Curved space-time and gravity

Bends light long ago sent forth

And focused on us now

 

So as I gaze most deeply

In one way or another

Our normal three dimensions

Become as one with time

 

I have gazed deeply in this life

Followed paths this way and that

Perhaps all lead to central truth:

Eternal time, and God.

 

Paul E. Schoen

September 16, 2000