Dispatches for the Colonial Office

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

Three Little Friends Who Spent the Day Playing in my Garden

Good Night, Brother ‘Possum

Dear Brother ‘Possum

Take supper at the cats’ bowl

Then waddle to bed

(Opossums are generally nocturnal, but this fuzzy little guy loves the sunny hours.)

Good Night, Sister Bee

You love my flowers

You work among them all day

At dusk fly away

Good Night, Sister Butterfly

You were up early

Floating among the zinnias

See you tomorrow!

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

I Met a Girl in Newfoundland - poem

Lawrence Hall

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

I Met a Girl in Newfoundland

‘Twas in St. John’s on a cold and rainy day

Because most days in St. John’s are rainy and cold

Even in July, when I met a girl clerking in a store

Shivering in a parka as she rang up my purchases

“Oh, it’s not all that cold…” I began to jest

When I saw that she was almost in tears

“I’ve never been warm in my life,” she sighed

“I’ve never been off this island

And I’ve never been warm”

This is Not About a Casual Acquaintance Named Mohammed - poem

Lawrence Hall

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

This is not About a Casual Acquaintance Named Mohammed

I really like him, and I would like to ask him

Why some of his co-religionists hate Jews

But we’re not really friends, and so I won’t

Because he might ask me about the Inquisition

Or about my great-grandfather, taken prisoner

At Saylor’s Creek (he was on the wrong side, you see)

A docent at Grand Pre’ asked me about my Acadian ancestors

“Not mine” I said; “mine would have been wearing red coats”

“Well,” she replied wryly, “Someone had to.”

But maybe these things won’t always be so

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Remember the Sabbath - Praying with the Reicheskirche

Lawrence Hall

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

Remember the Sabbath –

Praying with the Reicheskirche

Bombs across the sea

Still winning the hearts and minds

Of all the nations

Don't Phone Your Mom - poem

Lawrence Hall

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