WHAT SAYS “NEW ENGLAND” ?

My model layout wanders it seems

Away from cherished themes…

What for you

Says “New England” too,

Beyond operational schemes?

–

 Does NISSEN BREAD,

MOXIE, barns red,

SPAGS and stores

With “colonial” decors,

Monuments to Revolutionary dead?

–

Dairies and granite quarries

In earlier days held stories…

Ice cream and views

Along the Turnpike count too,

And whaling ship stories!

–

Broad “a’s” in speech,

A Kennedy’s reach…

Where Plymouth Rock stays

And Sturbridge Village ways

Are preserved to history teach!

–

So for my small train set,

What industries are best…

Beverages and rock salt

Metals, food stuffs sought,

And historic touristy nests?

–

Gravel still travels by train,

Lumber and minerals same…

Environmental ire

Has dampened coal fired

Power plants, but garbage still flames!

–

A water-powered mill

And museum of trains fit the bill…

For small excursions

Of rich incursions into filling the local till!

–

Do you think I’ll have enough room,

I figure some things will die soon…

New England gives

And takes to live,

But survival cannot be assumed!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

HARD LESSONS

Foreigners on telephones,

Must on English hone…

We don’t understand

They won’t meet demand,

Of sales quotas for long!

–

I’m NOT AGAINST ethnicity,

But clear communication my plea…

We cannot serve THEM

Poor English must end,

If they wish to truly be free!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

HIDING BEHIND THE GOSPEL? NAY–FACING REALITY!

When reading the sad and sweet,

He thinks of his own need…

Desires awake

To find that state,

Betraying his wife by  greed.

–

He doesn’t want to betray

His beloved, but anyway…

If he  says he has  no sin

He’s lying within,

Just done it in different ways.

–

You gotta live to learn,

Salvation isn’t what you earn…

God’s learning curve

(This poet has the nerve!)…

Has no one immediately burn!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

EXCUSE ME…!

Since when was this holiday

A Christian jamboree…

And when was it about Christ’s birth

Exclusively?

–

According to those who should know,

It was Winter Solstice time…

The sun was at its lowest point

And then began to climb…!

–

Christians–former pagans most–

Denied their revelry…

Church leaders wanted evangelized

Pagans who would see…

Christ’s birth celebrated

In holiness and respect,

Become interested and

Come into the church direct.

–

When the church went political with Emperor Constantine,

Everyone had to join the thing…

It wasn’t necessarily by choice or belief–

You HAD TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING!

–

Nonbelievers too

Had their own “underground” pews…

The “old ways” by the faithful stays

But not in public view.

–

Are the roles reversed,

When Christians can be cursed…?

The church’s power can’t make them cower

Or defeat  a pagan purse.

–

Most do not see the fetters–

Getting worse before it’s better…

Christ is King but suffering

Is for those whose faith matters.

–

Keep then looking up,

Your redemption draweth nigh…

We will share the communion cup

Till anew with Christ, alive!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

TRAPPIST FOODS

When J. J. NISSEN folded,

My image of a bakery molded…

Its replacement too big

So I had to dig,

To see what research “beholded”.

–

My past is in two places–

It one ever traces–

The lines of “me”

Diligently

For personal data chases!

–

Massachusetts, New York State,

My two major windows of fate…

Born here

But raised over there,

Memories in both are great.

–

One of my faves was Monks Bread,

A Trappist Monastery did…

And still does

The bread funds their cause,

Producing jams, jellies, plus all kinds of bread!

–

A model flat against the wall,

Leaves hardly space at all…

Have to use what I have

Of plastic walls saved,

Modeling a bakery et. al.

–

So I thought of TRAPPIST FOODS,

A catch-all title to use…

Producing bread

And conserves, I said,

Switching different train cars is a ball!

–

Specifically, flour and fruit,

Corn syrup and sugar to boot…

Isn’t enough?

They brand other stuff,

The question of a brewery—moot.

–

MONKS BREAD  from Western New York,

From that Trappist Abbey of course…

A college friend

Heading toward that end,

Found a wife and went in another!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

TALKING ABOUT THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN…!

Some observations please,

In the midst of all the sleaze…

Republicans say

“Trump…AWAY.”

Wanting to bring him to his knees.

–

Last  I heard an report,

Democratic campaigners were FOUR…

Obama, his wife,

Bill, Hillary and V.P. strive,

All on the campaign tour.

–

Other than Gov. Pence,

Trump has no supporting defence…

Mean-spirit guys

Won’t lift their eyes,

Or do anything for Trump hence!

–

Your Convention really meant naught,

In selfish cruelty caught…

You’re saying “Go to Hell,”

To the people as well,

Acting like you’re Hillary bought!

–

It’s the hissy-fit people I implore,

FOR ONCE..put your egos out the door…

He’s not from your camps

But give him a chance,

In taxes we’ll always pay more!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

(An Opinionated Poem)

CASHIER’S LAMENT

THE CASHIER’S LAMENT

–

The third shift cashier at PRICE CHOPPER explained

That soon that would close for stocking shelves the same…

But shoppers could not come in anymore!

–

Her really liked his job and difficult for another,

His customers were nice, treating him like a brother…

But his sad news he must tell.

–

Seems the corporate entity of PRICE CHOPPER *has changed,

“MARKET 32”  is he newly changed name…

And his store won”t open third shift anymore!

–

I nearly cried with Michael–his last name I forget,

He’s thinking of protesting–losing his job faster yet…

There’s not much one can do!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

PRICE CHOPPER is a grocery store chain originating in Amsterdam, New York State, spreading into New England…where the author is.

WANT ANY BREAD?

WANT ANY BREAD?

–

Jonathan—do you want any bread–

We have lots at home he said…

Wheat and white

For many a night,

But thanks for asking me, Fred!

–

–Jonathan Caswell