Poems for Our Times

By Joyce Block, Ph.D.

An expression of the unique and dangerous times we live in. An account of youthful to mature love and the losses we all endure along the way. Lessons for love of country and all people in the world, who are desperately needing to hear that voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647500016

Joyce Block, Ph.D.

Joyce Block (nee Bukaresky) was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. She was active in Habonim where she developed a strong love for the State of Israel. At the age of 14, she met the love of her life, Leon Block. All the love poems she ever wrote were inspired by him. She attended Hunter College High School, Hunter College, and Fordham University where she earned her Ph.D. Active in the Civil Rights Movement, her passion for social justice is evident in the section “Us and Them.” In her middle years, she met Leon again and they were married. They moved to Summerlin in Las Vegas, and finally to Aliante in North Las Vegas. Joyce’s adult children joined them. She taught English in the Clark County School District where her son, Jonathan Marcus, is an award-winning teacher. The loss of her beloved daughter, Beth, to drugs inspired the “Loss” section. The Blocks enjoy traveling the world whenever they can.

Book preview

Poems for Our Times

Joyce Block, Ph.D.

Austin Macauley Publishers

Poems for Our Times

About The Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgment

Poem

The Art of Poetry

Us and Them

Haiku 1

The Great Task

Mr. President

Oh Say Can’t You See

Conundrum

Hungary

The Other

Jonnie, Do You Know

The Little Blue Box

Prophesy

Soldier Boy

Redemption

Haiku 2

Red Wind

It’s Too Late

Summertime

Shanghai Reprise

Shanghai at Sea

The Pool on the Ocean

Haiku 3

The Ballot

Truth

Love

For Leon

Valentine for Leon

Of All the Dreams

Hawaiian Love Song

Valentine for Jonathan

Jon

White Linen

You Made Me Laugh

Jewel Box

Love

Life’s Turmoil

Linda

Chinese Daughter

The Bridge

Hearts and Flowers

Shall I Tell You

Uncertainty

Loss

Speak Not

Beth

Haiku 4

Luck

Last Night

She Used to Dance in the Rain

Loss

Regret

Once and Then

Mom

The House Next Door

Sea Spirits

Moonbeams

Loss and Recovery

Holocaust

When You Leave Me

Senectitude

The Loom

Haiku 5

The Dance

The Girls

June

The Cruise

Pulling Away

It’s Over

Senectitude

Sunlight

Sunlight on the Shadows

The Chalutz

Ridin’ Boots

Haiku 6

Epigram

Haiku 7

Hawaii

Makua Valley

Haiku 8

The Song That Goes Unsung

Note from the Author

About the Author

Joyce Block (nee Bukaresky) was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. She was active in Habonim where she developed a strong love for the State of Israel. At the age of 14, she met the love of her life, Leon Block. All the love poems she ever wrote were inspired by him. She attended Hunter College High School, Hunter College, and Fordham University where she earned her Ph.D. Active in the Civil Rights Movement, her passion for social justice is evident in the section Us and Them. In her middle years, she met Leon again and they were married. They moved to Summerlin in Las Vegas, and finally to Aliante in North Las Vegas. Joyce’s adult children joined them. She taught English in the Clark County School District where her son, Jonathan Marcus, is an award-winning teacher. The loss of her beloved daughter, Beth, to drugs inspired the Loss section. The Blocks enjoy traveling the world whenever they can.

Dedication

For Leon,

Jonathan and Kelly,

Beth and Jorey,

Jaron and Jen,

J.T. and Riley Beth.

All the children lost to drugs.

All the children locked in cages.

Copyright Information ©

Joyce Block, Ph.D. (2021)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief