Saturday, June 27, 2015

Einstein’s Relatives



Albert Einstein took a shine
To time and space mobility
And called it Relativity.

His gray sweater baggy,
Blue eyes bright,
Peppered hair shaggy—
The professor looked a fright.

Soon Einstein gained fame
In a clever physics game,
E=MC2 bore his name.

Admirers praised Relativity, 
The Quantum Theory Laws,
The Photon Theory of Light,
And felt he deserved applause. 

But what about all those calculations 
Of Relativity he spread?
My cousins are my relations,

They can figure that in their head!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Table of Contents

Antiquainted Lady
State Fair
What did Columbus Do in 1492?
Last night while asleep
Prison Walls
Old man
Throw away your calendars
If
Poem types
Skies

Antiquated Lady

Antiquated Lady’s Bout with a Blizzard

An old lady sat near a window, near a window looking out.
As her radio was going she sat there sewing, with an occasional look about.
On her thumb she wore a thimble, as she pulled the thread so nimble, enjoying the light.
But the weatherman’s voice was blaring, declaring a storm in sight.

“Partly cloudy with some showers, in the early morning hours today.
A falling barometer will drop the thermometer causing some dismay.”
She began to hurry, and to worry about her Sam.
Had he heard the early morning warning from the weatherman?

While she sat there stewing, the storm greater brewing, she thought about her man.
“He could work much longer, if only he was stronger— he does the best he can.”
Her heart flounced as the radio announced, “Cold air aloft.”
Clouds formed a cluster and the wind began to bluster. “Sam would only scoff.”

The skies grew darker and her thoughts grew starker in the afternoon.
“Upper air disturbance; expect turbulence with night coming soon.”
While she debated, the storm accelerated from the north.
With clouds unloading her thoughts grew foreboding, as she paced back and forth,

And orally expressed her qualms of duress about her Sam.
“Was he wet and freezing? Was he cold and sneezing? Poor old Sam!”
The northern air was gusting as she began thrusting shut the door,
From freezing rain fast falling, while for Sam she was calling as she paced the floor.

Back at the weather station a strange situation was spreading forth.
Not very far away an arctic foray pushed down from the north.
It hardly took a wizard to see the shaping blizzard hiding every star,
As a whirling cloud formation showed its concentration on the isobar.

The lady antiquated never hesitated to switch on the outside light,
Concerned about her spouse missing the house, as he searched in the night.
The wind was fierce and blowing as it started snowing through the open door,
Which she had opened, hoping Sam was standing there before.

Suddenly she started walking, while talking to her Sam.
Once she stopped to listen, ignoring the snow that glistened— then she ran.
She must’ve been unsightly as the lights shown on her brightly from a car,
Driven by her daughter, doing things she taught her, searching near and far.

“Mother! It’s me, Mabel. You know you’re not able to be out in the cold!
Look how hard it’s snowing with the wind so cold and blowing. Forgive me if I scold.
Finding you not there, I looked everywhere—and up and down the street.
You’ve come too far, so get in the car and dry your feet.”

“Mabel . . . Pa went out this morning . . . but he had no warning the weather would be severe.”
“Oh, my mother dear, please come here, come here. Dad’s been gone a year!”
Suddenly the old lady was weary, her eyes old and bleary, her body weak and cold.
She had no coat nor jacked, but in her hand a packet—Sam’s picture she did hold.

Monday, October 12, 2009

State Fair

My entry was fortunate to be selected as First Place in the Tulsa State Fair. I picked it up today. It was a wall-hanging Junk Train. I have won the award for the past three years with different craft art trains I've made. I've been blessed by winning awards for other craft items in the past as well. As you might guess, I enjoy doing these. Maybe I'll put the photo on here later.

What did Columbus do in 1492?

Since this is Columbus Day I will put my Columbus poem on the blog, which appears in my book, Tale of Tails with a Thirst for Verse. It was also published as you see it below in the Tulsa World Newspaper.
What Did Columbus Do In Fourteen Ninety-two?
Poor Christopher Columbus’ life was fraught with troubles. He fought long and hard to get financing for his westward voyage to what he thought was a short-cut to India. His crew planned to throw him overboard, but he dispelled their fears by landing at San Salvador, off the coast of Florida October 12, 1492—history 101. And here, some 500 years later, a would-be poet is poking fun at him.
It took eight years to get someone to believe that outfitting vessels for the venture was worthwhile. When Columbus solicited the king of Portugal for aid, King John II secretly took Columbus’ charts and dispatched his own ships, but failed.
Help from England and France was not available. Queen Isabella of Spain showed interest, but the struggle with the Moors took all of Spain’s attention. After Grenada capitulated she agreed to finance Columbus and gave him the titles of Admiral and Viceroy. One tenth of the treasures obtained in the newly discovered lands were to be his, however, King Ferdinand reneged on this at pay-off time.
Three small vessels—Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina, with a crew of 90, plus 30 officers and others, set sail toward the west. Twenty-one days later, his sailors thought the voyage was doomed. They sabotaged the rudder on the Pinta to get them to return. With a firm resolve, Columbus stopped at the Canaries for repairs. On their way again, the crew was unnerved at sighting an active volcano along the route. The sea-weeds of Sargasso appeared to them as a bad omen, and when calm winds were followed by a strong breeze, the spineless crew wept like babies. Columbus showed fewer miles covered so the crew wouldn’t feel upset. He kept a secret log for the actual miles.
Admiral Columbus promised to reward the first one to sight land. Finally he heard, “Land ho!” He overcame the perils of storms and mutiny sailing the high seas, and now, even worse, we ruffle his sails with verse:

What Did Columbus Do In Fourteen-Ninety-Two?©
By James E. Tate

He waved with respect from the helm of his deck,
Good-bye to Isabella and Ferdinand.
The Sovereigns of Spain stood riches to gain
By discovering a foreign land.

But did Columbus betray what historians say,
That America is where he went?
Let a candid review of his sailing crew
Shed light on this noted event.

His vessel was leaking as land he was seeking,
As cross the seas he sailed.
And Columbus’ crew more mutinous grew
As rising waters they bailed.

Was he just faking history in making
Before America was in his sights?
For the boat where he stood had holes in the wood,
His sailors were all Termites!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Last Night While Asleep

Last night while asleep my heart kept on beating.
Life-blood flowed through arteries, veins repeating.
Five quarts of red blood in twenty-three seconds,
Circulates through me, as my body beckons.

Last night while asleep, my body lay at rest.
My veins drained poison that my bloodstream possessed.
Cabon dioxide, by oxygen replaced.
Busy lungs cleasning while my breathing kept pace.

The nervous system, while I'm yet unaware,
Was very busy playing this solitaire.
My body repairing, last night while asleep.
Ready, my appointments to keep.

How does this happen? And Who gives the command?
We are so complex--our bodies so well planned.
Our blessed Creator has kept us through the night.
Then we arise early for the bright sun light.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Prison Walls

Oh prisoner, said the architect
you can't get out of jail.
What did you expect?
these walls aren't built to scale.
--J. E. Tate