Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Sopchoppy swimming

 Swing Lo, Swing Sopchoppy

    My brother Lewis years ago swinging into the Sopchoppy 

River across from our parsonage in Sopchoppy. Lewis wasn't born until we moved from Sopchoppy to Monticello in November of 1963. My sister Paula and I both learned to swim here. It was quite an accomplishment we thought to be able to swim to the dock across the black waters. My father rarely swam, the only time I recall him in water was at Blue Springs and even then he wore long pants in the water. My mother likewise was not a swimmer, only once I recall her getting in the Sopchoppy with me in her black one piece and black inner tube.  We were probably the only kids not allowed to swim on Sunday when all the town seemed to gather in front of the house. Now the swimming hole is grown over and totally unseen from the road. What then seemed a large river to a child, is to an adult a mere creek.


Some free poetry

 Some free poetry


Don't make life more difficult than it is,

Like don't shake the bottle,

It won't fizz.

Be kind to ma, who can't hear or see,

She put up with you,

When you were ugly and smelly.

Appreciate your pastor, give him a Mac,

And when he's attacked,

How bout 'gettin his back!'

And settle down,marry her and quit the beer,

And quit talking deer,deer,deer!

Tell the bride she's mighty pretty,

Not too fat, not too skinny(in all sincerity)

And you will live a long life and not at a young age croak,

And by the way,

Slow down and only pass when them yellow lines are broke.



Bee Monday

 When Tuesday looks gloomy

I return to Monday 

And the memory 

Of leaving the bike

To watch a bee....


Class 4 sink

 When you think

Life stinks

And you’re in a 

Class four sink

Think how great 

You did think

To have your

Paddle and kayak 

For just such times

In the brink...


Modular man

 Would the pieces fit

The modular man

Eyes from a Keller

Ears from a deaf fellow

Tongue from poison asp

Nose of Jimmy Durante 

Mouth of Navy sailor

Brain of one insane


the Rollei

 The Rollei


When one wants to see anew

Take something vintage

And through it view

A vision intended


Coy moon

 Coy moon


Crow came

Cloud covered

Blue October

Clare captured 

Then released

Cat said

Why?


Big Shoals

 Big Shoals


It’s a nice hike

Best when waters low

For if you go

Along the Florida Trail 

And you don’t want to

Walk an extra mile 

Up the hill

To the beam bridge

You can hop across

Robinson branch

That is

If the waters low

Or, just get wet

Either way

It will do you good

And btw

When you get to the 

Shoals

Be sure to sign my card

In the tree notch

That way

Next time I come

I’ll know you’ve 

Been there too.


Mid terms

 Mid Term 

John Clare Stokes


Come ye Triumphant sons

Before our homeland burns

The blue invader comes

For kingdom come we yearn.

Til  the day comes







Vote red for our sons sons.

Cotton Field 

Providence

Monday, October 26, 2026

If I but dip

 If I but dip


We all have in our lives the maladies that are in such need of that dip within the angelic pools of stirring waters. October on is to me the best time to dip ones maladies in the Itchetucknee.


The sun

 They say the sun is round

Down at Watertown 

I went down

To see if it was to be found

Just as they said it would be.


The finest fog

 The finest fog


It was the finest fog

A perfect blend

Of cane syrup cooking

Smoke house hams 

Curing

Autumn leaves burning

I've yet to dwell in 

A finer fog