Poetry by Simon: Volume 1: Family Foundations

By Roy Lee ‘’Simon’’ Jarmon

This is a collection of poems, prose, and other creative pieces. Roy has always loved words. He has always been fascinated with the English language and how each word can be utilized in various ways depending on its context. Being somewhat of a loner at times, he found solace in turning to the pen and putting his thoughts and feelings on paper. Here is a small slice of some of his collected slices of lifes excursions. His hope is that these slices will create conversations, thus leading to understanding and, thereby, an appreciation of the other persons point of view.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493156351

Roy Lee ‘’Simon’’ Jarmon

Roy was born in Mississippi; the second child of 11 children born to the late George and Minnie Jarmon. He graduated in 1968 from O’Bannon HS in Greenville, MS. He attended Jackson State University for his freshman year before joining the U. S. Army in February 1970 until February 1973. Roy worked at various jobs while attending classes at night. He finally graduated from MVSU in 1982 and was hired by AT&T where he worked until the end of 2002. Roy still lives in Piscataway, NJ with his second wife, Audrey, whom he married in November 7, 2009.

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Copyright © 2014 by Roy Lee ‘’Simon’’ Jarmon.

Library of Congress Control Number:        2013923344

ISBN:                  Hardcover                           978-1-4931-5634-4

                            Softcover                             978-1-4931-5633-7

                            Ebook                                  978-1-4931-5635-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/14/2014

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Table of Contents

Dedications

Disclaimer

Family And Other Dedications

Daddy Don’t Allow Us To Sing No Blues

All We Could Afford

Fifty Years Ago

Jessie

Of Aunt Mattie

On This Day

Of The Lady

God-Daddy’s Spaghetti And Wieners

Alice

Eulogy: Mrs. Dr. Mary Musgrove

Love, Romance And Such

She’s A Woman

A Dedication To Gloria Mae

Of Diane

I’ve Often Said

An Old Superstition

Swept Up By Experience

Ladies

Off The Record

Penny

Desire: (Of Brenda)

I Wish You Were A Flower

To: Midnight

Not Anymore

Her Call

Her Weakness

A Lack Of Glory

A Telegram

Martha, My Love

As Much Woman

In Love

Somebody Call Me

My Greatest Star

Courage

Feelings

That Time Of Year

What’s So Great?

Hellward Bound

You Say

The Chosen One

To Joyce

The Reflective Property Of Love

The Woman For Me

The Water And The Bolder

I Want You

Militarily Inspiried

Thank You, My Mr. President

Allegiance

A Letter To Sarge

Self-Control

The Visitor

I Was Just Giddy

The Battles Within The Battle

Life’s Daily Excursions

A Better Day Ahead

A Real True Friend

Eyes

Free Bubble Gum

Man Enough Or Beast Enough

Homework

I’m An Object

In Books

James

Living A Lie

Looking Forward To Friday

Mistakes

Music

Poor Nature

Queen Of Valley State

The Invisible Man

The Perfect Garden

These Masks We Wear

Today’s Outcast

What I Hate About Smoking

What Is It… ?

Where I Belong

Your Heart Is The Hymnal

Religious Inspirations

The Passing Of Christmas

I’m Going To Tell Him

My Master’s Peace (P-E-A-C-E)

Dedications

I want to thank and acknowledge the following people for their thoughts, opinions, and support.

God for implanting the passion of the gift of writing in my heart and soul and for the wife that he has blessed me with.

My wife, Audrey, who encourages me every day to continue my writings and their effect to uplift others. Also for being my crutch that holds me up when I stumble as I stagger out of my comfort zone.

Dr. Yvonne Bennett (my Bishop Eddie Bennett, Jr.’s wife and co-pastor of HCF), who followed God’s guidance and called upon me which re-ignited this passion within me which had been lying dormant for so many years.

Bernice Frinch: I did it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dr. Risa Goldstein who literally put her career’s life on the line fighting (mostly alone) for the health and benefits of veterans here at Lyons and East Orange, NJ and across this nation. She saved (restored) my life’s worth. When I first began her counseling sessions, I was so mangled, distraught, dysfunctional and depressed that I could barely string two (2) coherent sentences together. Thanks Dr. Goldstein.

Gretchen MacBryde, our Monday afternoon veterans’ counselor, whose life and work is centered around and concerned about ‘her’ veterans.

Finally, I want to dedicate this book to the life, teachings and foundations set forward by my parents: George Jarmon, Sr. and Minnie Bell Armstrong who spent their life’s work and sacrifices as an example to their eleven (11) children, their family, their neighbors, and with all whom they came in contact. The world—especially me—is a better place because of those two individuals.

Disclaimer

These writings are expressions formulated from my own thoughts, opinions and fantasies that I have acquired during my lifetime. I have used many names in my writings; however these names does not reflect a true identity of any particular person or individual. The names used by me are for rhythmic, iambic and/or poetic reasons only and does not apply to any particular or specific person, place or thing.

Family And Other Dedications

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Daddy Don’t Allow Us To Sing No Blues

(Written in dedication to the man whom I respect tremendously for his integrity, my Dad—George Jarmon, Sr.)

by

Roy Lee ‘Simon’ Jarmon

My Daddy didn’t allow us to sing no blues.

There’s too many gospel and spiritual songs from which to choose.

What you did in Daddy’s house must be on the level.

You had to praise only GOD—and not the Devil.

So, on this night, we were all gathered around

Trying to see if Junior could get any sound

From this old transistor radio that we had found.

It looked like someone must have thrown it down

And stepped on it while it lay on the ground.

Junior had a real trial ahead,

If he was going to fix it before going to bed.

See, not only was the radio smashed—and it was smashed alright—

But a glimmer from the flickering candle was the only thing we had for light.

"We may be po’ when it comes to wealth,

But we sho’ is rich and blessed wid health"

Are the words that Dad would always say.

I can hear those words ringing in my ears today.

"A po’ man can live a wonderful life—though sometimes he may catch a little Hell.

But, if you are sick, all the money in world sho’ can’t make you well."

So, you didn’t sing no blues songs around Dad.

You better sing the words of Church songs or you sure will wish you had.

Mom was sitting on an old simple, wooden bench that Dad had made

One day when he was home for lunch (sitting under the tree in the shade).

She was almost done replacing the elbow patch on my new school jacket

When Dad came in. And seeing us quiet, he said, Why aint there no racket?

We were helping Junior—Zan, put that wire over there. Roy, hold this wire right here.

Dad leaned over and kissed Mom and said, Good evening, Dear!

A static sound came from the old beat-up radio,

But it died immediately when I jumped because it scared me so.

Dad sat on the bench with Mom and put his