The Eleventh Wonder of the World

By Jerry Rhoads

The eighth wonder is the topic of the first poem and the theme for my first poetry book. I reveal in that poem what the eighth wonder is and its value to each person on earth. I dont want it revealed until they read that first poem, and hopefully, they will use that eighth wonder to find the other wonders of the world then read the rest of The Eleventh Wonder of the World, exercising their eighth wonder.

Poetry is so personal it is hard to convince readers to take the time to feel the words, not just read them. The eighth wonder of the world presents something we all possess and dont realize its value. So for this third book to resonate with the buyer/reader, a love of poetry will initially be the reason it sells. After that, it will be the value to each reader as they capitalize on the eighth wonder we all possess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524546830

Jerry Rhoads

Jerry Rhoads is a liberal arts and business graduate of Simpson College in 1961. Born in Indianola, Iowa, he moved, with his wife and first child, to Chicago, Illinois, after graduating from college. He and his wife currently reside in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. His writing career began in the business environment where he has published nine books and a large number of published articles on health care, his specialty. He and his wife of fifty-seven years have four grown children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandson. The Tenth Wonder of the World is the third in a series of poems written over the last thirty-five years. The Eighth Wonder of the World is the platform for sequels, continuing with this book.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Jerry Rhoads.

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/19/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

747572

CONTENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

DAY DREAM

A DAY FOR A ROSE

CAROUSEL OF DREAMS

AUTHOR’S SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD THESE ARE THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD VIEWED FROM OUTER SPACE

THESE ARE THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD TO VIEW INNER SPACE

WONDERS OF THE WORLD

THE ELEVENTH WONDER OF THE WORLD

TIME TO KILL

THE LOVE STORY

AMERICA IS MADE IN PIECES

THAT’S AMORE

JUST DO IT

PARITY

LOOKING AT THE FUN SIDE

THE RING

GREAT TO BE ALIVE

THE SKY IS NO LIMIT

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

PROGRESSIVES

I FLEW THE LOOP

FAILING UPWARD

SIMPLE CITY

CAMELOT

SPEAKING OF CAMELOT

GO ALONG TO GET ALONG

IDEALS

A CAN OF WILL

SECURITY

DOWN NOT OUT

THE MORE WE EVOLVE

NOW IS GONE FOREVER

TAKE FROM THE RICH

THE ROAD(S)

HAPPINESS

WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS

A SILENT COMEDY

LIFE IS A GAMBLE

REALITY IS NOW THIRTEEN

FIGHTING AGAINST INDIFFERENCE

ON THE LEVEL

ON THE LEVEL

TEENS ARE EVERYTHING

PLAY THE PERCENTAGES

IF IT WERE EASY

I LOVE HER LIGHT

IDEOLOGY

WORRY

HOPE

BEING WITH YOU

IT’S NEVER GOING AWAY

LIVING WITHIN

AS THE CROW CRIES

AS THE CROW CRIES

CALL ME

THE RIGHT GUY

FILED OF DREAMS

BIRDS ROOSTERS AND HENS

EMANCIPATION PROCLAIMATION

LOW POIINT

LOW POINT

LOVE CAN BE

LOVE SPELL

KIP

THE HEART OF KELLI JO

MY MICHELLE

MONTANA MOOD

DOCTOR OF LOVE

THOSE LOVABLE YANKEES

DON’T BREAK MY LOVE

BREAKING MY HEART

A NEW GENERATION

THE PULSE OF LOVE

MEADOW’S MELODY

SHARI’S RAPTURE

THE TALL AND SHORT SHADOWS

MEDIOCRE ABILITY

THE COLORFUL FACE OF KIM

NOSTALGIA

NOSTALGIA

A SIX-YEAR OLD

OCTOBER’S LAST DAY

TOGETHERNESS

THE GUITAR BOY

FLAMES AND FRIENDS

SPIRIT

THE WEDDING RING

THE PERFECT STORM

LIFE’S PARADE

THAT’S LOVE

THE BIGGER THINGS

BLACK OR WHITE

SHE

IDAHO ILLUSION

A SALOON PASSED ME BY

THE WAYS OF LOVE

THE MANILA QUEEN

THE MANILA QUEEN

ROOTS AND WINGS

RENT ME THE SUNSHINE

THE TRAITS OF LOVE

THE OUTCOMES REWARD ME

THE STORYTELLER

THAT KNOCK

SHADOWS ON THE WALL

RUNAWAY

FAMILY CIRCLE

FAMILY CIRCLE

SOMEBODY IS WATCHING

REMBRANDT

GLORIOUS IS THE DAWN

THE SAGITTARIAN

MY SON

YOUR OWN SAND

SOMETIMES

NEVER LOVE

STAY WITH ME

I FOUND SOMETHING

ON TRIAL

ALL IN

ALL IN

NO SYMPATHY

HOME

I’D BE NOTHING

THE MAN IS BLUE

HUMAN RACE

HEAVEN HAS NO AMENDMENT

I HEARD YOUR HEART BEAT

HAPPY

YOUR EYES SMILE

DEAR HEART

ENDLESS LOVE

KEEP IT SIMPLE SIMON

SWALLOW MY TEARS

SWALLOW MY TEARS

BORN TO EARN IT

HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY

HONEY’S SADDNESS

ONLY ONE TOMORROW

THE POWER OF FLOWERS

BE YOU

EXALTED

FIVE FINGERS

BELIEVING

A NEW DAY

WHY ME LORD

DEAD END

DEAD END

AN I FOR AN EYE

MYSTIC

SUN SPOTS

KILLER KORNER

1984

SITTING ON MY LAPTOP

PEACE MATTERS

NO TURNING BACK

DOERS AND DON’TERS

PASSION

I CAN I AM

AS TIME PASSES

FOREVER

TOGETHER

TIME WILL TELL

ON A SOMEDAY MORNING

HOW FAR IS IT

WHO ARE THEY TO SAY

WHO ARE THEY TO SAY

REMNANTS PUT THEM TOGETHER

ALONG THE BYWAYS OF MY MIND

CHARITY

SOMEDAY I’LL BE HAPPY

COMMENTARY ON COMMENCEMENT

FOR BEAUTIFUL

STARS

LOOKING FOR LOVE

TWICE THE MAN

WHEN IT’S TOLD

TO REMEMBER

UNSUNG POET

UNSUNG POET

A MUCH NEEDED VACATION

THE MARTYR

THE ROAD TOAD

SOLLY APPLESEED

MOM THIS ISN’T OUR FIRST PROM

SALEM

MOTHER OF ALL TIMES

THE MOTHER OF ALL TIMES

CHILDREN

THE BOOK

CHILDREN OF A LOVING FATHER

BURN

NOT THE GOOD

THE WAY YOU ARE

REALITY SHOW

STARTING OVER

MY BREATH FROZE

MOTHERS TO REMEMBER

MOTHER’S DAY

THE BRAVE

BECAUSE YOUR HUMAN

WITH OR WITHOUT OUR LOVE

ON ANY GIVEN DAY

GIVE ME YOUR HAND

STAND IN OR STAND OUT

STAND IN OR STAND OUT

COME BACK

WHEN DID THE RETIREE MOVE

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’

PEACE NEVER ON TIME

DOWNSTAIRS

THE LUCK FACTOR

SHINE ON SON SHINE ON

AS THE LIGHTS GO ON

THE NEXT STEP

MARTHA

ARE POETS LIARS

SIGNED

WHEAT SIXTEEN

WHAT IS TWENTY-ONE

YOU ARE

HOW DO I LOVE HER

JUST DO IT

THE FEAR IS GONE

NOT FORGOTTEN

TWENTY-FIVE MORE ALIVE

TWENTY-FIVE MORE ALIVE

PEOPLE

TIME OF THE HOLIDAY

IF IT FITS

SACRIFICE

YOU OVERCOME (IT)

THE PERFECT SORM

OBSTACLES

BORIS THE TARANTULA

THE SAVIOR IS COMING

QUICK PICK

WHAT YOU GONNA DO?

POWERBALL

POWERBALL

WHEN LOVES CRY

FOUR AFTER TEN

STUCK IN TODAY

MODERN DAY MOSES

ABOVE MY SCALE

PUSHING TOO HARD

SETTLE DOWN

IT’S IN THE CARDS

SENSATION

SO RARE

SOCIETY DID ME A FAVOR

THE NATURAL

PORRIDGE JUST RIGHT

THE FORMULA OF MAKING TWO FROM ONE

PARENTS WHO MOVE

AN OPEN DOOR

FROZEN

FROZEN

THE GENIUS

THEY DON’T PLAY MY KIND OF MUSIC

LET’S LEAVE

CLICHÉ

ROAN

TRANSITION GAME

MENTAL TAPES

A MAJORITY

COMPUTERS

HIS GIFT

THE FITH SEASON

UNCONTESTED TRUTH

UNCONTESTED TRUTH

STANDING IN FUTILE ESTEEM

BUILDER

UNBOUND

SENSELESS

AND THEN SOME

STANDING ON THE SKY

GREAT TO BE ALIVE

THE DANCER

MY BUSINESS

THE SHOW

BROKEN ARROW

FLY OUR OWN PATTERN

THE END IS THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER WONDER

THE END IS THE BEGINNING

PREFACE

My first published poetry book The Eighth Wonder of the World was motivated by the wonder of the mind that we all possess. In the NINTH WONDER OF THE WORLD it was about poetry combined with photography is the wonderful things we can do with the undiscovered planet called the mind and the magic of the heart. The focus in the TENTH WONDER was the brain and now in the ELEVENTH WONDER it’s the soul.

In the Eighth Wonder of the World I used the word God 362 times and faith 53 times though I tend to be an agnostic skeptic. However, in THE NINTH TENTH ELEVENTH WONDERS OF THE WORLD sequels to THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD I write that each man and woman must discover their own WORLD, GOD and faith. Their life is about the results not the reason for living strong with our physical bodies revolving around a hot sun and wonder-ing under a cold moon how we got here and where it’s taking us. What more can a poet asked for to write about if not to wonder how my own world is connected to the ELEVENTH WONDER OF THE WORLD.

Life is both warm and cold sometimes hot sometimes bold. It depends on each of us and our circumstances that either enhances or detracts from our dreams. But always we make our own reality by our choices and rejoice our gladness or our sadness. Of the 8 billion people on this planet not a one is exactly a replica of another … we have genetically puzzled the PhD’s and scientists into submission and are not solving how a bug can have a brain and sex drive but no other individual powers except survival weapons … and half of us reject evolution as a part of the answer … and the rest pray to a spirit that formed us and is in charge of directing our future. Both are assumptive at best. In this book answers are proposed to questions never asked … this is graffiti of the Universal miracle of the planet called the mind that connects us all to that elusive answer to who is God … the brain and heart are physical, the mind and soul are metaphysical connecting us to the WONDER OF OUR UNIVERSE called God.

As in THE EIGTHTH, NINTH and TENTH WONDERS OF THE WORLD each title in the Eleventh Wonder is a short story with a topical heading, and a profound ending that hopefully meets the readers’ comprehension and understanding and appreciation. If not then stimulate thoughts of life and the pursuit of happiness.

Shari Rhoads, my wife and editor was not that interested in poetry as a good read until she helped me go through every poem and word it to make sense without being vulgar or verbose. She now loves the end product and its meaning to her. Many of the topics are words that come to mind about life and it’s tribulations that were spoken into a tape recorder thirty some years ago while driving a million miles throughout Illinois servicing my company’s accounts.

Typed by my secretary Jane from the player onto beige typing sheets with an old style typewriter in the 12 three ring binders I kept them, in for later use that, meant no digital copies for the publisher … from time to time I would point them out to our children and grandchildren but with little if no interest.

So here we are into the twelve binders as the trigger for a published poem or prose or song or drama. With this book I am about 80% of the way through the mass of thoughts, truisms, motivating phrases, love, hopes, fears, doubts, spirits, Gods, good government, bad government, criminal minds, happiness, health, prosperity and more. If nothing else I’m prolific. By using the spoken word as the starting point I believe this achieves a more interesting poem because it is as the reader and I speak … with contractions, hem’s and ha’s, laughs and frets, colloquialisms, euphemisms and sayings, idealism and super stardom, and about our fears, dreams and love making.

I had forgotten the joy of writing. Business reports, accounting books, documents for clients, politics, policies and procedures have dominated my mind and output. Now with this median creativity creeps back into my daily routine … picking out a few at a time to input and review as output of a story not a boring business exercise.

My children have become good writers and are appreciating the poetry books more because it is a reflection of their father’s thoughts, emotions, desires, goals, disappointments, and dedication to my wife, children, grandchildren and now a great grandsons.

Most Men consider poetry and prose a chick thing until they need to convey their feelings in an emotional meaningful way … or a greeting card for birthdays, holidays and anniversaries that use poetry and prose as its entire mode of expression. Even the calendars, hit songs (particularly RAP), political speeches, weddings, funerals use poetry as its genesis. So grin and bear it and you may like it.

My daughter Kimber Leigh (see her poem Carousel of Dreams) got her copy and said she intended to give it a look and two hours later she had to put it down and go to bed. My son Kip said he finally got to read the real me rather than a business version of me. I must admit that females are much more interested in the content and picking up that coffee table ornament … it has to catch a man when catch can. Even that rhymes. If this edition gets to your coffee table then I have succeeded if not use it as a filler on your computer table as a work of digital art. Thanks for taking the time to give it a chance.

INTRODUCTION

What inspired you to write this fourth poetry book? I have been writing poetry for sixty years. I have had some published in poetry contests but never published collections of my own. My inspiration came from my mother who was a poet, my sister is a playwright, my son is a song writer and musician, my daughters are artists and write poems so I had to step up with something creative since my previous books were all business subjects.

Poetry is so personal it is hard to convince readers to take the time to feel the words not just read them. The Eighth Wonder of the World, my first poetry book, presents something we all possess and don’t realize its value. So for this second book to resonate with the buyer/reader a love of poetry will initially be the reason it sells … after that it will be the value to each reader as they capitalize on the Eighth Wonder they possess.

What is the overall theme (central topic, subject or concept) of your book? The Eighth Wonder is the first poem and the theme for my first poetry book. I reveal in that poem what the eighth wonder is and its value to each person on earth. I don’t want it revealed until they read that first poem and hopefully will use that Eighth Wonder to find the other wonders of the world … then read the rest of THE ELEVENTH WONDER OF THE WORLD exercising their EIGHTH WONDER.

Where does this book take place? It resides inside every person on earth.

Who are the main characters and why are they important to the story? The characters are every person on earth pursuing the wonders of the world.

Why do you think that this book will appeal to readers? It delves into most every ology (a subject of study) …. Theology, biology, geography, psychology, astrology, anthropology, ology, ideology, chronology, physiology, meteorology, sociology, etc. That is the power of the Eighth Wonder each of us possess for delving into the over 1 million words in the English language. I the author and the book are the enabler for this study of humanity.

How is your book relevant in today’s society? Thought is the most powerful weapon we each have for making a difference in the world. The Eighth Wonder will stimulate that thought process whether it is accepting or rejecting the thoughts presented. THE NINTH WONDER OF THE WORLD capitalizes on the breadth of the topics and the twists and turns of the Eighth Wonder. The TENTH AND ELEVENTH WONDERS continue using the English language to delve into the mysteries of the world and cosmos.

Is there any subject currently trending in the news that relates to your book? Politics, war, peace, leadership, health of the nation … over2,500 subjects intended to stimulate thinking, understanding and knowledge.

What makes your book different from other books like it? I googled the title and the Eighth Wonder of the World and it gives me a travel guide not a poetry book. So it is unique in its totally unique in title and content. Also it