A Life’S Journey in Prose, Songs and Short Stories

By John V. Spillman

You will share the laughter at the ridiculous and cry with the tragedies and relate to each in turn as you take a journey through the rich tapestry of life woven into the prose, songs, and short stories that break from the traditional chronological order and instead focus on feelings, emotions, and thoughts laid bare over a lifetime and beyond. The tapestry woven into the poems, song lyrics, and short stories tell a tale of their own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524650698

John V. Spillman

I was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. After graduating high school, I hitchhiked, camped, and photographed our great country. Later, I traveled through the Midwest from Texas to Northern Illinois and from Virginia to California and most states in between. I currently reside in Virginia.

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© 2016 John V. Spillman. All rights reserved.

Cover image taken by John V. Spillman © 1984

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/21/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5070-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5069-8 (e)

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.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Contents

Introduction

Poems

Letters

Searching For Peace

What A Friend Is For

Hollywood

Helplessness

Daily Routine

Money

War in Vietnam

I Was There

The Trip

Trip to Vietnam

A Private War

The Sun Forgot to Shine

Why Is There A War

Twus da Niet b4 Crismus

With Love to My Wife

To Be In Love This Way

Song Lyrics

And You keep right on Amazin’

God’s Word is True

Cool-Aid

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

God Said to Them

Narrow Roads

Do You Know, You Are My Lifeline

I Want Your Love

Jesus, Yes My Savior

I’m Coming Back To Jesus Now

Blessings by the Number

I’m Glad I Have My God

Eyeball Shootout

Light Upon My Path

I hear Jesus calling

I’m Not Satan

In The Strong Arms of Jesus

The Spirit Keeps on Teaching

My God

Martial Law Is Coming To Town

Short Stories

The Building

The Elephant Tree

The Last Ride

Conclusion

My Bio

In Closing

Oh that my words were now written!

oh that they were printed in a book!

Job 19:23

Introduction

You will share the laughter at the ridiculous and cry with the tragedies and relate to each in turn as you take a journey through the rich tapestry of life woven into the prose, songs and short stories that break from the traditional chronological order and instead focus on feelings, emotions and thoughts laid bare over a lifetime and beyond.

John V. Spillman

Poems

Letters

A letter came for us today,

It came from overseas.

It was from our Navy Boy,

We were happy and relieved.

As we read the letter,

Tears came to our eyes,

The letter starts Dear Mom and Dad,

A good man often dies.

We were ambushed once today,

We did all that we could.

I hope that you will understand,

I know—I’m sure you would.

I am on the mainland,

In a POW camp.

I am writing slowly,

By a flickering charcoal lamp.

The place I’m in is ugly,

It’s dirty and its cold.

I know that I’ll be back home again,

I hope, before I’m old.

Although its very cold in here,

And there’s very little food,

My mission here is only started,

So far its turned out good.

The Lord will see me through my plight,

He’ll never let me down.

He’ll guide me through the path of life,

And reward me with a crown.

Remember the age-old saying,

As I’m sure you will,

It’s about a poor lost sailor,

That’s been through the mill,

You know you needn’t worry,

The Lord is on my side.

And when the end—it’s sure to come,

By His side I’ll ride.

The only thing that makes me sad,

Is writing this to you.

There is nothing you can say,

But pray—that you can do.

The letter simply ended,

Without a joke or pun.

It was simply stated -

Love Always, from your son.

Now the years have come and gone,

And we are old and gray.

Another letter came today,

It’s from our son, we pray.

The letter was from Uncle Sam,

With good word about our boy.

It simply states that he is well,

And serving God with joy.

Another year slipped slowly by,

And everything is still.

Our son is coming back to us,

We pray to God he will.

Our son came back that very day,

And also with his wife.

They both serve God—I know that now,

Through the Christian way of life.

Searching For Peace

The wave of humanity

Is all around,