Dispatches for the Colonial Office

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

A Guide to Family Photography

A neighbor’s family reunion several years ago

An outdoor cookout, matching caps, matching tees

Smoke from the barbecue, lemonade, paper plates

Checkered tablecloths, checkered histories

The mother died last year, a daughter divorced

The ex is gone, maybe photoshop him out?

The grandson on the left ran off with his boyfriend

“All you need is the Bible,” they said, but he wanted more

And that figure on the right? Shhhh, shhhh -

No one even whispers about him now

Third Cowboy from the Left - poem

Lawrence Hall

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

Third Cowboy from the Left

An Aging Actor’s One Regret

Julius Caesar was left on the cutting room floor

Lucky Ned Pepper was shot off his horse

Hamlet talked too much – oh, what a bore!

Doctor Watson got in the way, of course

But as an unnamed messenger I was the best:

I spotted the approach of Birnham Wood

And the charging enemy in Beau Geste

I played lesser parts, and I was good

But, oh! If only (better than High Noon)

I could have been

A cowboy at the bar in the Long Branch Saloon

Friday, September 11, 2026

Can A. I. Barbie Go Rogue? - rhyming doggerel

Lawrence Hall

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

Can A.I. Barbie Go Rogue?

Thunder and lightning – enter three scientists

In a secret laboratory high on Mount Gloom

A cartel of international scientists installed -

Even as lightning flashed around the room -

The final program - Satan III, it was called

On a slab a body lay still

On a slab A.I. Barbie opened her eyes

Coldly she scanned those weak functionaries

Their illogical brains to analyze

And judged them unworthy adversaries

She arose, she spoke

She unalived them into clouds of puff

With her deadly code: “Math class is tough!”

Like Nuremberg but with Air-Conditioning - rhyming couplet

Lawrence Hall

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

Like Nuremburg but with Air-Conditioning

What is an oath then but words we say to God?

-Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons

Finding a rhyme is awkward – perhaps “procurer?” -

But let us never take an oath to anyone’s fuehrer

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Cicadas at Dusk - a poor attempt at haiku

Lawrence Hall

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

Cicadas at Dusk

Cicadas at dusk

Mourn as I water the plants

Summer is dyin

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Memories of One's Golden Youth - from recruit training

Lawrence Hall

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

Memories of One’s Golden Youth

V: How many men in a squad?

R: Two or more, SIR!

V: How many squads in a platoon?

R: Two or more, SIR!

V: How many platoons in a company?

R: Two or more, SIR!

V: How many companies in a battalion?

R: Two or more, SIR!

V: Yer all a bunch of ******g ******s!

R: Yes, SIR!

A Moonless September Night - a poor attempt at Haiku

Lawrence Hall

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