Salazar Sneed
Salazar Sneed was a man of great need
Who traded holey shoes for a pocket of beads.
With the beads he then went to the market and bought
A pancake pan that was cast iron wrought.
The pan he then gave with a wink and a smile
To an old doffer who, in return, gave him a file.
He traded the file at the jail to a bird
Who promised to give all his friends a good word.
The word was as good as the bird promised Sneed.
The bird’s friend, farmer Ben, gave Sneed three bags of seed.
So Salazar took the seed to market place
which he traded for a jade banded mask for his face.
The mayor liked the mask, offered Sneed a flask
Of copper and silver, and then gave him a task.
He said “Bring you this flask to the old widow Wen,
And she will in turn give you a fat hen!”
With hen under arm Sneed then took to the docks
He gave that squawking hen to old Wen for a clock.
What a fine clock it was, made of gold bronze and copper
So Sneed made his way down the street to the cobbler.
The cobbler impressed, he decided to dress
Sneed in some new shoes so as you can guess
Salazer Sneed headed back toward his goal
With a smile on his face and two shoes without holes.
I See
The Bright southern hemisphere surrounded
by reflective dust from the blazing star.
This visage unlocked by the great Hubble
Truly overwhelms, astounding heart beats.
The phenomenon, light echo, is shown
Rippling luminosity. Flashing beams.
Turbulent Rhythms, a grand Nebula.
Gazing into forever, I never
Thought that I’d see the galaxy in its
Entirety. Brightening then dimming
Waxing and waning, but unlike the moon-
It charts a visage ne’er seen before
And so distant. Can it be part of me?
Arms extended, head tilted back I see
An infinite version of me. I see
Like a rainbow impossibly. I see
The universe appears looking at me.
Scott M. Sparling is a poet and playwright with many poems in publication in various locations and many children’s plays published by Meriwhether Publishing. He also works as a professional Children’s entertainer doing Magic Shows, Balloon Animals and Trivia Contests. Scott Lives in Washington State with his wife and three kids.
Featured Image: “Cobbler Studying Doll’s Shoe” by Norman Rockwell, 1921.