Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

March 27, 2008

 Today’s Announcement

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

 ~**~**~

A Memorable Anniversary

Cynthia Groopman

20 years ago, I experienced the embrace and tight grip of adversity,

But as the years flew by so quickly, I became proud of my courage, and tenacity.

For on a dark winter night,

A vicious heinous villain entered my eyes and robbed me of my precious eyesight

With the emotional support and concern of my family, and of course from God above,

I was nurtured with comfort, and reassuring love.

I was taught,

Not to harbor, hostile, angry or bitter thoughts.

Living life a different way,

Did not detract from my savoring each and every cherished day.

For although I was no longer to physically see,

God's light was so bright and comforting to me.

Throughout these 20 years, I have achieved and accomplished a great deal,

Triumphant, proud and blessed, I truly feel.

For, I did learn that things happen to us in life for a reason, which God only knows,

And I accepted my blindness like a real pro.

So, dear ones and the Lord above,

I am grateful to those who embraced me, encouraged me and comforted me with caring soothing optimism and deep friendship and love.

Cynthia Groopman

cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

  ~**~**~

Poetry Corner

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Iron War-Horses
copyright © January 2005 by Gary Jacobson

Iron horses fly
Delivering young men into the maw of voracious war
Into the gullet of that bestial carnivore
Iron Cobras leading the way before
With salvoes of the Jolly Green Giant
Strategic firepower to make Cong compliant
These horrific Iron birds of prey
Sent for grunts to pave the way.

Iron horses fly
Picking up angry, frightened man
From blazing infernos in Vietnam
From the heart of firefight courses
Bewailing lathered curses
Wearied by purifying fear catharses
By foul cankerous legions grievously abused
By the serpent’s horror infused
Sorely wounded in body and spirit bruised

Comes again their mission...
When battle calms in remission
Flying into the jaws of hell to save combat warriors
Freedom’s fiercest sons, our saviors
Back to a home firebase built of sandbags
Carrying reverently holy bodybags...
Or fly them to other places where war yet rages
Carry away defiant weary sages
To another mission with their combat entourages.

Iron horses
Braving withering fire that before them disburses
Sent in during battle’s bloodiest attacks
Mid rockets red glare come the medevacs
Come to drag brave dead into body bags
Clean up fragged motley blood and rags
Of valiant boys decimated by belligerent scallywags
To record egregiously each fallen warrior’s nametag
To send gallant men home under their country’s flag.

Gary Jacobson

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Just A Grunt
copyright © January 2005 by Gary Jacobson

I’m just a grunt
The hound dog in this grim fray sent to hunt
Brothers decreed by fate predestined, to be blunt
Together we brave Satan and his legions brunt
Flung from the mouth of guns and fear
Ordained to lead the charge on the point of the spear
Death’s first gurgling sounds to hear
Bearing blood and guts of fighting’s burden
We grunts, just beasts of war backpacking verdant Eden.

I’m just a grunt
In truth forsooth, ever at battle’s front
In war’s story the heroic protagonist
Seeking Nam’s contentious antagonist
Humping through fragrant jungle glen
Where killing first is no sin
Hearing discordant cannon’s roaring din
Searching for wily Viet Cong cunning
Shadowy fugitives in this manhunt mesmerizing.

I’m just a grunt
Haggard and gaunt
First in line facing an enemy ogre’s taunt
Forevermore daunting evil discouraging
Things I’ve seen and done forever haunting
Taking blood up close and personal on my spear
Sobbing tears crying of anguish firsthand hear
Multiplying that in the pit in my soul fear
Dreaming of things back in the world held dear.

I’m just a grunt, America's seed
Delivering the birth of democracy's creed
With eye of an eagle and a lion's heart
Brave liberty to impart
With strong back and mighty brawn
I’m just war’s emaciated and haggard pawn
pell-mell into the maw of battle drawn
With steely nerve and fiber’s sinew
With surly courage that bleeds red, white and blue
Sent to fight with all that’s in you.

I’m just a grunt
On the hellish side of gaunt
Smiling through lips tight as barbed-wire
Proffering guns for hire
When conditions are dire
A walking munitions dump
Sent the valley of death to hump
Through war’s cordite pungent smell
Giving a primal savage yell.

I’m just a grunt
Forevermore faces of men I’ve killed will haunt
Dreaming of awful fire and brimstone noise
Possessed by the sight of bulwarks manned by youthful boys
Oblivious to Charlie’s lusty leering taunt
Heedless of war’s little gambit through hell jaunt
Every night in memory I birds of steel remount
Flying again to war on an iron steed stout
Plagued by brothers fallen in mud and blood recount.

I’m just a grunt
Without me there would be no war, no doubt
For I see all with eagle eye of a marksman supreme
Telling tales of infamy in mud and blood extreme
Determined to survive back to the world to bask
Put on for awhile the savage mask
Stained forever by war’s bloodthirsty task
Forevermore to questions ask...
Why did my brother have to die?
And not I? Why?

I’m just a grunt
Who still every night fights embroiled in Nam’s hunt
Still dancing with war’s fiendish demon
Still nobly searching for rhyme or reason
Seeing again dead brother’s faces
With cacophonies battle vibrations my blood still races
Survived back to the world with brothers to cheer
Forevermore sounds of battle’s fatigue I hear
Back in the fire the cradle of my heart to sear.

Gary Jacobson

"My Thousand Yard Stare." You asked for a book of my poems ... well, here it is, 270 pages with over two hundred full color pictures and graphics in this book of my most popular poetry. Buy my book instantly at, http://namtour.com/marketplace.html with the security and ease of PayPal or your choice of credit cards.

If you wish it signed by the author, email me.

"Vietnam Picture Tour," http://namtour.com/namtour.html A walk in "the park" grunts called Vietnam, with the 1st Air Cavalry on combat patrol. Experience chilling reality to leave the sweet and sour taste of "the Nam" pungent on your tongue, the smell of "the Nam" acrid in your nostrils, and textures of "the Nam" imbedded in you as though you were walking beside me in combat.

My poignant poems directory, pictures and artwork to show the essence and feeling of war on young "boys next door," http://namtour.com/nampoemsNpix.html

Read my online novel, "A Walk in the Park, One Soldier's Vietnam."
http://namtour.com/Nam.html

"Realm Of Poetry," http://dreamerzz.tripod.com/SiteMap.html Poems of love and romance, spirituality and meditation, Golden Oldies, comedy, Quests of the regal knight Richard Lionheart to the crusades and seeking the Holy Grail, dueling dragons, frolicking fairies, and comedy....and also links to my site of riding that bestial ogre called war...

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.    Readers Feedback

  Carol,
Thank you for running my story about All Her Children.  It looked really good and the perfect touch was following it up with the cute and funny story of Ceciles.  Left you with a good feeling after my sad one.  Hope you are doing ok.  What ever happened to the Jury Duty Caper? Clara

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 Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad