Impressions
How often are impressions deemed profound,
Accepted fully, carried all around,
And stated with assertive satisfaction,
From merely a few moments’ interaction?
The Hand of God
I have felt the hand of God
Securely on my shoulder,
With comfort of His staff and rod
More clearly as I’m older.
Unintended Uproar
I got invited to a large and formal teenage party,
It took place in a huge hall at a fancy restaurant.
Arriving guests searched for their names upon a seating card tree,
You could not simply sit at any table you might want.
The grown-ups on the cards were listed as “Mrs.” and “Mr.,”
With only last names used—no one thought that could court disaster.
For each young, single lady, “Miss” was how they chose to list her,
While, from my own experience—uniquely—boys were “Master.”
The hosts must have viewed “Master Winick” as prime elegance,
Without a premonition of that most bizarre of fates,
Which folks still talk about some more than fifty-five years hence—
The uproar from the card of one young guest named Melvin Bates.
Russel Winick started writing poetry after ending a long legal career. He resides in Naperville, Illinois.
What a fun unintended uproar — which you’ve embellished with some very fun mosaic rhymes! (I love party/card tree; Mr./list her). Thoughtful poems all, Russel!
Thank you Cynthia! Your lovely comments never fail to make my day!
Fun and games with Russel along with elegant eloquence and an especially serious one about “The Hand of God! ” I always look forward to your winsome tales, wit, and wisdom in encapsulated form that to the heart of the title directly.
Thanks, Roy. “The Hand of God” is about the blessings of life, and “Unintended Uproar” is a bit of true hilarity that I’ve been telling for 57 years now. Thanks for reading!
Good impressions of your poems, Russel, though I’ve spent only a few minutes with them. But the many postings (and some meetings) leave a favorable dent. Keep up your observations and versifications of them!
Thank you for the kind words, Margaret. Let’s both keep it going!
Russel, your poems always contain nuggets of hard-earned truth. I like the humor, too. I knew a guy that worked on a fishing boat. He baited the hooks for the tourists… I know you can see it coming. After four years he achieved the title of Master Baiter… quite the achievement!
Thanks Mike. That’s equally good!
Our sports master was called Bates!
As always, profundity abounds.
That’s funny too! Thanks Paul.
“Impressions” — how true! I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of hastily-formed impressions.
You give us something atypical in “Unintended Uproar.” I was expecting some insight, not sure where the narrative was going — then you hit us with the punchline. The story doesn’t need to be true to give us a laugh.
Thanks Adam. Unintended Uproar is totally true! I’m not halfway clever enough to have made that up!