Literary Hook

By Christine Swanberg, Author and Poet

Here is a poem by Cleo Johnson, a retired primary school teacher from Rockford. Notice the nicely-sculpted, uniform, four-line “terraced” stanzas and the uniform use of the imperative verb form.

In Case

In case the storm comes

Repair the roof

Reinforce the windows

Find a safe haven

In case the sky falls

Build a house of bricks

On a strong foundation

Cover your head

In case your heart breaks

Nurture it daily

Give pieces away

Show that you love

In case the night comes with

A handful of nails

For all or for you

Prepare for the dark

In case the world ends

Gather good memories

Help create Peace

Treasure each day

No doubt you will find something to enjoy and some message in this delightfully-crafted poem.

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