Varied Verse of WWA

Ogden Nash was the master of humorous poetry. His clever use of language and puns made many of us smile and see each day in a brighter light. While not all of his poetry was light-hearted – he could be somber and address disturbing topics – his writing was mostly joyful and witty. We still quote many of his beloved lines, like ‘Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.’

This book contains a collection of his largely humorous poems, filled with frequent puns. Occasionally, you may come across a more serious selection that might make you pause and ponder. We hope some of these phrases resonate with you and perhaps stick in your mind for future use. Enjoy the poetry!

Useless Musings

As the hell year of 2020 was drawing to a close, and the collective anxieties of every able-minded person in America were making their threat whispers to never, ever go away no matter how many times you brushed your teeth, Jeffrey Eugene Hoch (the author of this book) had an idea. He would write a poem — or something approximating one — for every calendar day of the upcoming year of 2021. The main reason he wanted to do this was to keep his artistic conscience from atrophying across another potential year of emotional isolation, illness avoidance, and embarrassing cult stupidity.

There was some distant hope that something positive would come out of the process, but that something was unknowable and not even particularly hoped for by the author. A year of video games, whiskey, dates, and deli orders later, Useless Musings was “finished.” More accurately, it could just no longer be truthfully worked on because 2021 was over.

Anyway, the results of this year-long whatever-it-was are documented here for you to read and maybe have some sort of emotional reaction to. These “musings” felt pretty “useless” as I was writing them (Hi, it’s me, Jeff), but maybe you’ll enjoy them. That would be cool.

Tuk with a Red Scarf

Dive into a heartwarming journey of miracles, divine twists, and a dash of luck in this captivating tale. Meet Tuk, a charming black Labrador adorned with a red scarf, whose simple act of curiosity sets the stage for an extraordinary adventure when he wanders off through an open gate. Left behind is the irritable Scottish Terrier, Scotty, unwittingly embarking on a chain of events that intertwine fates and unveil the tender magic of serendipity. From mistaken identities to life-saving encounters, discover how a single inadvertent moment can unfurl a tapestry of heartening tales. Tuk with a Red Scarf is a true story which celebrates the unassuming yet profound impacts of everyday actions, promising to keep you enchanted till the last page.

Thought Prints

“Birthed in a month, on a day, somewhere in time. Somewhere in history.

Somewhere in my past, I didn’t exist… But I was to be.”

“When I look back in time, exploring my mind, I realize I didn’t glance…

But I was to see…”

– from “A Letter to Myself.”

With intensity and emotion, Thought Prints reels the reader in instantly! Anyone who has the pleasure of reading this compilation of poems will surely find magic. A collection of poetry with a story to tell!

The Timeless Love of Billy B for Scheherazade

Balthazar dreams of the perfect woman, one he can summon or dismiss at will on his computer screen. But as time passes, he becomes ensnared in his own creation, consumed by an obsession with this non-existent figure. As Balthazar spirals downward, losing everything from his identity to the use of his body, reduced to just his mind and the fingers tapping at the keyboard, she, in contrast, rises. She transforms into a modern-day Scheherazade, learning to command her prince.

Baltha B was unaware,
No more sits he upon the chair.
The relics of his body’s ruin,
Are the one last bastion
Of his undoing.
Death beckons when the hands they clap,
To say, ‘Enough! Your time is up’

The Rose, the Star, and the Moon

On a dark night, I found myself walking along a garden path. I gazed up at the sky, and saw the moon sharing light with everything beneath it. It had a gentle spirit, selfless, and kind. A shooting star made its way to earth, mesmerizing as it fell faster and faster. It had a rare spirit, hard to read, but breathtaking to view. A rose in the garden, petals in full bloom, showed its subtle nature. It had a conflicted spirit, unsure of whether to follow its dreams or pick the easiest path. The rose, the star, and the moon all lit a fire inside me and took my breath away, but a voice inside me told me I could pick just one to love. Which one added more fuel to the flame? Which one caused me to clutch my chest because there was no more breath inside me? Yet how can you choose which one you love best when all are equally beautiful, and all will bring you the same amount of pain?

The Honeybee Rivals the Spring

The Honeybee Rivals the Spring is a poignant collection of poetry that invites you, the reader, on a transformative journey alongside the author. As you traverse the pages, you’ll find your perspective broadening, compelling you to delve into the depths of your own thoughts and emotions. This compilation serves as a supportive companion, empowering you to connect deeply with the vivid portrayals of self-discovery and personal insight. Through its verses, you’re encouraged to embrace a journey of understanding, reflecting on your innermost sentiments and experiences.

The Hardest Part

Life will never be simple for those who experience it, only moments will be easy, and many will be hard. Having negative thoughts is not an unfamiliar experience while going through difficult moments in life, and trying to understand these moments can be even more challenging to manage.

Relief can be found through connecting feelings with others. In this collection, moments of grief, sorrow, and anger are all to be related with as it’s read, alongside the variety of different emotions one might experience being a young female in today’s world. Moments of relation can be found through the strong words and emotion depicted within the work.

Discovering loneliness within difficult times can be frightening for many people, as it’s easy to feel so small in a big world. This offers an understanding that not everyone is alone with their feelings and provides a deeper, more raw view of how dark the mind can be.

The Fate of the Christmas Tree

The evergreen tree is separated from his family and faces the fate of all Christmas trees. It happens every year as the Christmas season approaches. The trees are decorated with lights and colorful decorations, the center of attention. Then after the season is over the trees are discarded and left in the street for the garbage men to take away. This is a whimsical story of one tree’s journey, a story of magic and miracles. This is a story to delight the child in all of us.

In the spirit of saving the planet and preserving the forests, this is a story to make people aware of saving the trees. Years ago, someone invented the artificial Christmas tree as a way to help protect our forests. Despite this innovation, many people still cut down or purchase real trees each year. Through this story, readers are invited to reflect on the impact of their choices and consider more sustainable traditions.

The Demonic

The purpose of this poetic rendition of the demonic is to reflect the inner conflict between good and evil within a man’s soul. The soul encompasses all elements of good and evil, and those elements remain in constant conflict, vying for dominance. Life itself is defined by the contest between good and evil that plays out within each person. This struggle permeates every facet of existence - families, social circles, business dealings, and judgment calls. It influences all of our decisions and actions. Through vivid metaphor and examined discernment, the ongoing dynamic process of internal conflict and resolution is illuminated for the reader. This telling aims to showcase the complex navigation between light and dark that lives within us all.

Sweet Debris

Discover the poignant journey of one man’s passage through solitude and emotional isolation. On the surface, he appears ordinary, blending into the streetscape. Yet, within him lies a profound empathy for the overlooked fragments of life: the homeless, abandoned houses, desolate railroad sidings, and forgotten freight tracks. These elements, along with the haunting memories of a bygone era, shape his existence. His childhood whispers to him, filled with voices now lost to the earth, offering wisdom and counsel. Through it all, he persists with a quiet determination, moving forward despite the weight of the past.

Stories & Poems = Happiness

This book is both a poetry book and a story book.

These are mostly stories written in the form of a poem. Of the fifty poems, thirty seven have won either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Nine are published in various poetry organizations with other poets. These stories are very interesting and can put a smile on your face. Some are true and some can be true.