The W Book: The Alphabet Books, #23

By Shaunie Shammass

The W Book is a collection of 52 poems, all beginning with the letter W. The Wish, The Wager, The Wart, The Witch. You name it. Poetry that is based on selected Words that all begin with the 23rd letter of the alphabet - W! One poem for each Week of the year. (Or are there 53? Count them to be sure, my dear.) Word play at its best, for those who love a good bit of Wit and Whimsy in their lives. But don't be fooled. Some of the poems are serious, too! So don't get overWhelmed. And if you thought that alphabet books were just for children, then you are sadly mistaken. I would even say - Wrong! 

The W Book is the first in a series of Alphabet poems, so it will be the 23rd book of the final series. If you like the W Book, then I'll start writing poems for words that begin with all of the other letters of the alphabet, from A to Z. A great idea for teaching English to non-native learners, and an even greater way to spend some quality time sitting on a rainy day, curled up near your fireplace. Maybe it will even inspire you to write your own W Book!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shaunie Shammass
• Release date: Jul 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393153061

Shaunie Shammass

Shaunie Shammass has a Ph.D. in Linguistics, two kids, two grandkids, one supportive husband that puts up with her, and a whole lot of wacky ideas that just want to pop up. She can't sit still for a moment, and if she's not composing a symphony, or collaborating on a collection of stories with her husband, or producing all the content for a mobile app for teaching spoken English, or breaking some part of her body like a hip or an ankle, then she's just not happy. Welcome to the world of this creative soul. You won't regret it. (hopefully)  

Book preview

The Wish

Now, close your eyes and dream for an instant

Of something that you long for, want to happen

Call this thing a wish and hope it does come true.

Close your eyes and dream for a moment

Of a world that is better, of a piece of life that is sweeter

Of a friendship that is lasting,

Of a home with a kindling fire

Burning softly at the tip of your heart.

Your dream leaps into the moonlight

Like a drop of instant thought

Your hope wisps through the air, lighter than a feather

Flitting past your nose

Just in time for you to breathe in its passing breath,

Wafting fragrance,

And hope for more.

Now, close your eyes and let your thoughts just wander

Into the day, into the night, timeless ways, ever there

Floating up to the clouds into a picture you imagine

Is it really there? Is it really there?

‘Tis not for you to decide

The fate of this ephemeral thinking

‘Tis not for you to know what happens next

‘Tis only yours to conjure up the moment

Of wishing for something that you wish to be so real.

Now, close your eyes and hope against all odds

That what you think could ever really be,

The wish has been created, forever

It is there, because you dared to dream and see

In your mind’s eye, in your mind’s sphere,

You dared to dream and see.

Yes, the wish is there, forever.

Will it come true? No one knows. But it is there

Will it only be a wish forever?

No one dares to say. After all, a wish is just a wish,

A dream away.

The Wager

Sitting across the table, staring into each other’s eyes

Who will bet that this is God

And I am playing poker, not with dice

I keep my cards close to my heart

Even He does not know what will happen here

Omnipresent God

You’ve never been caught at your own game, have you?

Playing for all I’ve got, playing as if there is no tomorrow

Perhaps there will not be

I may get the luck of the draw

I may be in the right place at the right time,

Don’t you think?

And maybe even God can lose at a game now and then.

Even He can lose.

One card down. Too low. Another

We play out our hand as if it has all been prearranged.

Well, it hasn’t, has it?

I’ve got a card up my sleeve – a hidden trick or two.

Even God doesn’t know which card I will keep for last.

Even He doesn’t know.

The game is over. Have I won or lost?

I can’t see, I can’t judge!

I’m all out of cards. God is nothing but a cheater.

I saw him rip the Ace of Hearts out of my body

And slap it down

As if my heart were His own.

Cheater! Can’t you even play your own cards?

Why play with mine? Why play with mine?

I leave the casino hall, head down.

I won’t gamble with my life here,

Not worth it!

God takes everything I got

Everything.