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Syndic Literary Journal

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The Art of the Spoken Word

 

Introduction by the Publisher

For most of my Syndic life  – 12-years and counting –  I have been publishing the Perpendicular poetry of J.H. Johns, narrated by his friend and sidekick, Paul Churchill Mann. 

I never tire of listening to it! 

You have to pay close attention because it consists of only a few dozen words up and down the page – not a single word is used that is not necessary; its narration runs  about 30 seconds.

It packs a wallop, leaving you with something to think about and roll over and over in your mind until you’re satisfied – you’re own puzzler!

But whenever J.H. sends his poetry to Syndic, he calls upon his personal narrator, Paul Mann, to interpret it.

In my book, a perfect presentation of the written word.

~ LeRoy Chatfield Publisher Syndic Literary Journal

♦     ♦     ♦

 

“ABSURDITIES OF YOUTH

THE FIRST CONSPIRACY THEORY 

by

J.H. Johns

                                                Buying packs of baseball cards-

                                                with the gum in it-

                                                and getting hooked on the smell

                                                of

                                                the gum on the cards;

 

                                                was it a plot-

                                                a plan-

                                                between the card manufacturers

                                                and

                                                the gum people

                                                to hook us

                                                so we would go back

                                                and

                                                buy more cards

                                                just for the smell?

 

                                                Yes-

 

                                                maybe-

 

                                                just another

 

                                                absurdity of youth!

 

 

END

♦     ♦     ♦

 

 

“AIN’T NOTHIN’ FREE FOR THE DEAD”

by

  1.  
  2. J.H. Johns
  3.  

 

                                                            Ain’t no-

 

                                                            free drinks;

                                                            snacks;

                                                            oil changes;

                                                            $.05 off your next purchase;

                                                            game cards;

                                                            car washes;

                                                            quick picks;

                                                            checking;

                                                            tax-exempt anything-

 

                                                            you get the point-

 

                                                            ain’t nothin’ free for the dead;

 

                                                            ‘cept,

                                                            there is the senior-citizen discount;

 

                                                            buy “one,” get “one” free-

 

                                                            BUT WAIT!

 

                                                            ORDER IN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES-

 

                                                            AND… 

 

END

♦     ♦     ♦

 

“SECRETS KILL”

by

  1. J.H. Johns

 

                                                            Secrets-

                                                            what can be so secret?

 

                                                            Money?

                                                            Health?

                                                            Relationships?

 

                                                            All-

                                                            in some way or manner-

                                                            will be eroded,

                                                            diminished-

 

                                                            doubted-

 

                                                            yes, doubted-

 

                                                            and

                                                            from doubt

                                                            will spring

                                                            destruction;

 

                                                            of the self

                                                            of what we have

                                                            with family

 

                                                            of

                                                            who and what

                                                            we had the potential to become-

 

                                                            but succumbed-

 

                                                            to the secret.

 

 

END

 

♦     ♦     ♦

 

“WHAT’S THE POINT?”

by

  1. J. H. Johns

                                                            Moving through,

                                                            coming through-

                                                            lives;

 

                                                            he didn’t know

                                                            he was a traveler,

                                                            just passing through-

                                                            trying to do the best

                                                            he could do-

                                                            in

                                                            each and every life;

 

                                                            but,

                                                            those episodic lives

                                                            live

                                                            and

                                                            then die

 

                                                            leaving him

                                                            once again-

 

                                                            alone…

 

 

END

 

♦     ♦     ♦

“YOUR PLIGHT”

by

  1. J.H. Johns

 

 

for the rest of your life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVE A NICE PLIGHT!

 

 

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled/Published by LeRoy Chatfield
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