| A place for poets of all ages to showcase their work to readers, getting feedback and opinions! All entries should be submitted to Dusty via email (the link is at the bottom of the Front Porch page if you need it!) Just send the poem to me in the body of an email with a short bio telling us who and where you are, your age and / or anything else you want us to know... Featured poets will have their work displayed here on the Guest Poet's Page. An entry will stay up at least one week, perhaps longer, if there are no new poems waiting to be featured. Readers can email me with comments about a poem seen here and I will post the comments below the piece for all to see. The poet's email will remain private, unless he or she gives permission for it to be shared. So if you've got gobs of poetry that has been stacked up in a desk drawer somewhere now's the time to haul it out, polish it up and let it shine! See what people think! You'll never know until you try!! |
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FLIGHT TO THE STARS Ten seconds to go, the control man said But all sounds had ceased in the pilot’s head. Noise from the boosters had shattered his thoughts As the voice from the radio said, “Lift off” ! He would be riding this ship of the stars That someday would travel to Venus or Mars. He could feel the pressure begin to mount As the engines pushed him up and out. Finally there was no more strong force, But the pilot held to his steady course. Alert was he in the cockpit’s chair Taking all that his soul could bear. He soberly knew that this was it, And he couldn’t stop or say “I quit!” Many a difficult test had he passed To get him here at a speed so fast. He peered through the porthole of his ship When it suddenly took a sharp, quick dip A comet came streaking out of the dark It flashed by so fast that the pilot was shocked This man of steel, so quick was he That he dodged the comet and his mind was set free. There were other dangers that lay ahead But he’d face them all with little or no dread He was a man with a great desire As he lifted his ship from the pan to the fire He wanted to learn of this planet Mars For all he knew? It was just of the stars It had caused a great widespread temptation And some day it’s conquest might startle the nation We might call this mystery a kind of disease That tore at men’s souls when they were at ease. It caused them to test the very limits of space And charge through the sky on a frantic race. It changed them for sure, every one and all; It beckoned to them, like a siren’s call. Now he can see his destination It looks mysterious, so full of temptation. One minute more and there he will stand He can see it now…that much-fabled land! The soft, strange soil ( or whatever it was!) Flew high in the air as an earth’s fountain does He has touched down now, and the ship’s at rest So you must finish this tale by yourself! With a strong heart and a good imagination You can complete this man’s destination. But whether he travels to the moon or to Venus or Mars; Good luck, Captain, till we meet in the stars!! James Robert Ballance, 1962 Published with permission from his mother, Nita Ballance COMMENTS Just finished this and I’m speechless !!!!!! THAT doesn’t happen often but no other word fits! This one raised ‘goosebumps’ considering the age Of the author and the fact that it was written BEFORE the event! What a visionary this Poet was…and at such a young age---it’s MIND- BLOWING!! Dusty where do you FIND this Talent!!! Miriam, Stockholm, Sweden @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ FLIGHT TO THE STARS took my breath away! I’ve Printed out several copies to share with my junior high Class as soon as school starts! What a phenomenal Talent….Miss Nita should be extremely proud !! And We are extremely lucky !! Nicholas, Butte MT @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ WOW!!!!!!!!!! Was this ever published before the Gallery? If it had been I doubt that the police force would have ever Gotten their hands on young James!! What a powerful piece Of writing….the rythym, cadence and timing are astonishing In one so young!! God-given for certain! Michelle Guerrin, Berlin @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ |
| James Robert Ballance wrote this amazing piece of work in 1962 at the age of 13; before the historic space flight that landed the first man on the moon! James went on to serve two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars, before becoming a policeman in Greensboro, NC. He passed away at the age of 57 and is survived by his sons, grandchildren and his mother whom I recently had the honor of getting to know this summer !! A superb poet in her own right, Nita Ballance has graciously given me permission to share her son’s work here on the Gallery and I’m thrilled to say the least!! At 81 years young, Miz Nita has become a great friend of mine already and much of her work will be featured here on the gallery in the weeks to come! Trust me when I say that my readers are in for a wonderful treat!! Let the comments begin!!! |
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