Poetry Stories: Recollections During The Pandemic

By Frederick A. Wilhelm

Why Poetry Stories? Poetry for me starts with a vision something which gives inspiration that sets a scene in mind revisited place, a special find. I enjoy painting pictures with a word a memory, perhaps a song I heard to find just the right rhyme to capture a moment in time. Could be a serendipitous occasion or an embarrassing recollec

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Sep 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781685150259

Frederick A. Wilhelm

Frederick A. Wilhelm, Jr. and his wife live in Patagonia, Arizona. Both are transplants from the Boston area. Fred, a US Naval Academy graduate, has had many careers: fighter pilot, computer engineer, certified financial planner, and registered financial advisor. Currently in semi-retirement, he is the chief financial officer for the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts, a non-profit organization. His current interests include gardening, choral singing, and golf.

Book preview

HAPPENINGS

A Christmas to Remember

Dad was back and here to stay

so many months spent away

separation was a blow

sorely missed him so

life no longer cold

for this lonely eight year old

Hope this Christmas brings new life

and the end of family strife

hated when they fiercely fought

said mean words that ought

be left in unspoken thought

Snowy morn brought much laughter

beautiful gifts hung from the rafter

Mom and Dad were beaming now

like the lights from Christmas bough

Santa Claus must still be real

his presence, could strongly feel

opened presents one by one

first one was Red Ryder BB gun

Sled and skates for snowy storm

hooded mackinaw to keep me warm

Lionel trains that just begun

to speed around the station

Injun suit with moccasin

bow, arrows to fight and win

beneath the tree, a chemistry set

will be lots of fun, I’ll bet

Royal Mountie uniform looked swell

round up bad guys, give ‘em hell

have my horse and lasso too

got to find a posse crew

Lots of fun this Christmas morn

family close, not forlorn

Dad is back, have Mom’s love too

now, no longer blue

A Kid in the City

We lived many places in the city

got to experience many things not pretty

sometimes had to join a gang to survive

avoid depraved predator to remain alive

Johnny Sane was ringleader wrongly named

insane, a fit name to match his actions untamed

he delighted in violence if we didn’t obey

felt his cruel wrath, many a day

Looking to Mom in apartment above

when Johnny behind gave a shove

into brick building wall

tried not to fall

Felt a warm bloody stream

heard Mom’s loud scream

Johnny boy ran away

Dad came down, saved the day

Remember time when the moving truck came

Dad was certainly not to blame

in wanting to leave sidewalks and cement

to New Jersey’s peaceful environment

On last day we’re ready to go

but Johnny Sane was there to taunt me, so

I hit him with a sneaky goodbye blow, you see

‘cause he was much bigger than me

I jumped on the truck as it pulled away

leaving the city, called it a good day

Only Child

Was an only child, the center of attention

favor sought by each parent, brought tension

lived lonely world in imagination

comic book characters, only compensation

Off to school, had no real comprehension

little people all around, felt apprehension

was kind of chubby, forgot to mention

made me self-conscious, a strong sensation

Some girls really mean, turned my face crimson

brought on strong feelings of isolation

felt awkward, upset, sleepless nights

lashed out in anger, many fights

Most nuns really nice, Sister Ursula,