My Dance with Cancer

I have always been a poet. In high school I was considered a jock and a poet. I lost poetry from my life for about 30 years, but it never lost me.  The poems are all mine. The 'Isms' however are a mix of mine or of others who 'spoke' to me, and I listened. . . Vernon "Vito" Johnston

My friend John from New York is a Phillie's fan. I am a Dodger fan. We made a poetry bet, which means whoever's team won the 2009 NCLS Series, they pick a subject related to the series. The other would write a poem based on that subject. John picked "Baseball Magic" as my poem subject. So here goes:

  BASEBALL MAGIC

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I have had a taste of freedom, and I can not slip back into my invisible chains ever ever again.  .  . Vito

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I just keep learning stuff. The old saying, "I will go wherever the future takes me" came to mind recently; and I felt comforted by it for a few moments. Then. . . my saying, "The future will go where I take it" came to mind; and I felt whole. I felt empowered. . . vito

Ah. . . the beauty - the beauty of it all! Is it inside me? Is it in there hiding. . . waiting for some unknown quality to set it free so my eyes may see the sky's blue feel the natural beat of my heart? Does the sky feel a child cry, a human laugh, bananas turn yellow? Does it know when my heart is beating joy or frowning anger? Sweet nature sing your song. I am awake. . . Vito

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Wrote this just as I was about to receive hope for my recovery.

        Journey Be Space

The Sun sold itSelf.

Hide from Lifes' children

dancing together below gray

where I stay. . .

Reaped heaped steeped

Tremendous joy sheer

telling relationships

brother love sips. . .

Fond past ghosts good

comes rescues wounded

posting too how sands

turn brothers hands. . .

Accept grace itSelf.

Shining from Lifes' children

dancing above the gray

where I stay. . . Vito

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Isn't it a grand gift to ourSelves to sniff and snort along the trail leading to that Self we have yet to become. Some say we are already that Self. I don't know about that. Seems that every twig I step over, every stone I stub my toe on, and every flower I smell  leads me to Who I Really Am. . . Vito

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The personal world views of different people have been on my mind recently. So much so, that I have been looking closely at my own views. My World now is becoming plump with graciousness, abundance, deep relaxation, and Well-Being. I believe it is working. When I know it is, I will let you know. . . Vito

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I feel that I am an explorer and an adventurer into the unknown. Of course, my life before was unknown also, but it was preset by the expectations on how I was supposed to be and act. It seems like parents, the churches, the government, and society as a whole have an idea already on how and who I was to be. And I fell for it.

Act is truly an accurate word to use. I felt for a long time that I was acting my way through life. Doing things and being what was expected of me. There were the occasional catching of the sweet 'whiffs' of what a true Vernon would be like. It kept me alive and interested. Probably also gave the illusions to others and to mySelf that I was operating outside of the box. I have discovered, since (and sense) that it was not the 'oppressors' keeping me from Me. It was Me! . . Vito

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I didn't know. I didn't know that life could be so great. I really didn't. . . Vito