Dispatches for the Colonial Office

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

That Famous Participation Trophy

One hears of that participation trophy-trope

A theme, a meme, mostly by cranky old men

Withered gaffer-gossips condemning the young

For being rewarded simply for showing up

Like Santa Claus it might be a good idea

I still listen for sleigh bells every Christmas

And yet – I have never seen a participation trophy

If you find one, call; you have my number

And, speaking of unearned rewards,

We’re presented a trophy each morning, just for fun

When God gives each of us a golden sun!

For the Feast of St. Lawrence, 10 August 2026 - doggerel

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

For the Feast of Saint Lawrence

Today is the Feast of Saint Lawrence

His faith and martyrdom we already knew

We remember his death with a sense of abhorrence -

It's not an occasion for a barbecue!

When Biologists Fall in Love - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

When Biologists Fall in Love

There are many things that a frog doesn’t know:

That he is a biological marker

That he doesn’t sing as well as Chevalier

That green is not appropriate evening wear

But he knows the bugs are tasty on my window screen

That he feels froggy this warm summer night

That he sings well enough for m’lady frog

That she admires him in his cool green coat

And now the stars are brighter and the evening is darker:

Will you be my sweet biological marker?

Happy Little Raindrops for Children and Liberal Arts Graduates - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

Happy Little Raindrops for Children and Liberal Arts Graduates

Do you suppose a raindrop laughs as it falls?

Water vapor floating in the sky

Condenses one little molecule at a time

Wrapping around a particle of dust

Can you say, “condensation nuclei?”

And why would you?

And all these tiny droplets join to form

A larger droplet now too heavy for the air

Which playfully sends it sailing back to earth

Where it seeks for a safe place to land

“Hooray!” it cries as down-down-down it goes

To land at last upon your little nose!

Saturday, August 8, 2026

All My Neat School Stuff for the First Day of Term - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

All My Neat School Stuff for the First Day of Term

The Trapper Keeper is a fun retro thing

I wonder if anyone else will have one

I might start a trend with this ‘way-back look

I wonder if that cute girl will notice me

This new graphing calculator is the best

I like the smell of new pencils and paper

And I’m going to rock the opening assembly

In my happenin’ new light hoodie and baggy jeans

There won’t be a second day, so on the first

Which of my daddy’s guns should I pack?

Thursday, August 6, 2026

You're Okay, Buddy; You're Gonna be Okay - poem

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

You’re Okay, Buddy; You're Gonna be Okay

An encouraging smile is a battle dressing

We apply to the wounds of others

A cigarette while waiting for the dust-off

Within a collapsing perimeter

You’re okay, buddy; you're gonna be okay

I’m not sure I believe in God anymore

It’s okay, buddy; He believes in you

Oh, God, it hurts; why does He hurt me like this

I need a cigarette / I gave you one

You’re okay, buddy; you're gonna be okay

It’s so loud; everything’s loud; make it stop

I can’t breathe; why can’t I breathe…oh, God

You’re okay, buddy

You're gonna be

Okay…

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Three Little Friends Who Spent the Day Playing in my Garden - poor attempts at Haiku

Lawrence Hall

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love