Joseph S. Spence, Sr






Shining Paratroopers
(Swap Quatrain)

Like shining paratroopers, spirit of nature snow came down
People waved white flags, it captured everyone around town
They cried with hands down, mourning like drunken stupors
Spirit of nature snow came down, like shining paratroopers.

White ghosts’ spirits on the ground, spreading out over the land
Streets and villages they subdued, like a military grand assault plan
White natural droplets, outnumbering everything for miles around
Spreading out over the land, white ghost spirits on the ground.

Stores, roads, and schools—natural white spirits of nature closed
Even orchestra conductors, and corporation heads they deposed
Like a mighty conqueror, or strict parents, they set their own rules
Natural white spirits of nature closed—stores, roads, and schools!

Friends and foes the—natural spirit of Mother Nature has spoken
Sterile grip of the day from spirits’ whiteness, could not be broken
Fighting back with plows, people could not beat its spirited glow
Natural spirit of Mother Nature has spoken—friends and foes

Children winked! They had no white lies to stay home, for parents
Snow had a stronghold—its spirited natural nature was apparent
Flashing news on radios, no school today, children heard distinct
They had no white lies to stay home for parents, children winked!

Spiritedly, wearing warm cloths and boots, outside they scamper
Meeting liberating natural spirits of nature, in white shining armor!
Joseph S. Spence, Sr. 6/4/19

Author’s Concluding Comment:  Swap Quatrain has four lines in each stanza. The first line in each is reversed with the fourth. Within each stanza, line one rhymes with line two; likewise, line three and four. The rhyming pattern of words are different in the following stanzas.  The sequence flows as: AABB, CCDD, and the like. The poem ends with a rhyming couplet, just like the type at the end of a Shakespearian sonnet. Paratroopers, always descend like natural white spirits of nature from the snow. This analogy came while watching the snow coming down, just like watching paratroopers descending in an operation. Their courage? —awesomely amazing!








Changing Seasons Naturally

Autumn’s beautiful season of splendor, such unusual brightened leaves
Grandeur of light, creation of radiance bright, nature’s spirits of delight
Natural Spirits of Mother Earth, molding from birth, captivating mirth
Candid spirits of nature, calmly calling, cyclically charming tenacity
Owl’s spirits, captures prey, with eyes roaming, without light of day
Natural spirits of nature, bright colors of Autumn, uplifting my soul.

Ecosystem’s predators and prey, with food web system sustaining 
Spiritual energy flows, chlorophylls, molecules, photosynthesis glow
Red rose resonates fragrance of creation, singing soul sweet songs!
White water rapids, big splashing roll with a rush like Niagara Falls
Natural spirits of nature, red rose, water rapids, enlightening my soul.

Nature of weeds blooming, tormenting soul in gold, dandelion grows
Spirited yellow flower, no fragrance of love, unlike essence of a rose
Rustic, mossy tree, roots like tentacles stretch, deep into the earth
Solid foundation of strength as leaves revive in the sun, synthetically
Natural spirits of nature, weeds and tree roots, demoralizing my soul.

Touching corners of the earth, the ghostly moon embraces night with light
Creation fragrance, beautiful petals unfurl, such essence of an elegant rose
Cold misty morning, wet grass with lingering dew, waiting for rising sun
Tension on roof, spirit nature of snow crashed through, big splash they knew
Natural spirits of nature, snow and morning mist, creating havoc in my soul.

Red tulip budding earth’s crest, blooming, souls smiling, sun shines softly
Snow melting, spring coming, the eye of a leaf, floating hues of colors
Spinning, spiraling so slowly, elegant charm, Mother Earth giving rebirth
Healing hearts healthy, so splendid and so warm, ecosystem now waiting
Natural spirits of nature, tulips’ buds and smiling sun, touching my soul.

Burst from the sky, clouds opened, thunder blaring, lights going dim
Lightning smashed trees, birds jolted, mother holds child, silently praying
Bird chirping, colors flying, bringing melodic beautiful evening twilight
Soft moonlight touches the heart, robin red breast sings such sweet songs
Cadre of cricket chirpily chirping, red rising sunlight subdues crescendo
As always, a shining star, natural spirit of nature, is like the red rising sun!
Joseph S. Spence, Sr 6/4/19








Lovely Red Rose

From the bowels of
The Pyramids she came as the natural
Spirit of nature from a red rose
Rousingly ripe memorable fragrance
Like the natural drip of an
Atomic molecule
Her spirit of nature rose above
Sizzling my dead unspirited soul
With sweet sensations of love
Isis—goddess of natural magic and fertility
Melting away my white icicles
With spirit of flames and passion’s fire
Satisfying those touching thoughts
Buried dead, with loss of natural desires
Such memorable rose, essence of fragrance
A deadly wrapped mummy was I
Until she unwrapped my living light
Unleashing such spirit of sensationally
Spectacular splitting sparkles
Nature’s spirit now naturally awakened
Transformed from death’s tomb to life!
Aphrodite—goddess of love
Natural spirit of nature sending she thoughts
Like a ghost floating on a living white cloud
Sensitizing Isis—spirit of nature
To naturally touch with passion!
While Apollo—god of poetry and music
Releases my mystically dead Muse
Stimulating souls’ sensations
Death embalmed coldness melting like fire
Isis—natural spirit of nature
Enveloped my spirit soul into her own….
Making our natural spirits of nature—glow
Entwined in spirit nature and fragrance of a rose!
Joseph S. Spence, Sr., 6/7/19


Joseph S. Spence, Sr

Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the author of seven poetry books, and invented, the “Epulaeryu Poetry,” form and styles. His writings have appeared nationally and internationally in forums such as: journals, anthologies, magazines, newspapers and the U. S. Army. He has taught at Bryant and Stratton University, The American Baptist College, retired from the U.S. Army as an officer, and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas. He has received many poetry awards including: Ambassador De Literature 6/2019 Motivational Stripes (Oman), Literary Golden Badge 6/2019 (Oman), Poetry Gold Medal Honor, League of Poets, 5/2019 (Nigeria, Africa), Noble Star for Literature 12/2018 (India). Poetry Bard 2012 (UK). Poetry Ambassador Medal 2007 (USA), Independent Poet Laureate 2007 (USA), Who’s Who in Poetry 2005 (USA), and Numerous Editor’s Choice Awards (USA). He has served as the Poet-in-Residence for the St. Andrews Scottish Society, Wisconsin, and is a member of the Scottish poetry bard, Robert Burns Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a member of various scholastic honor societies, and resides in Wisconsin, USA.