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