Dispatches for the Colonial Office

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

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