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Having mentioned Ralph the Cop, the Saenger Theatre on Palafox Street in Pensacola Florida, and my co-worker, Jim, I find it necessary to recount the night Ralph the Cop, interrogated Jim, mercilessly. Jim loved racing and was a regular at Pensacola Five Flags Motor Speedway (disclaimer, one of the flags is the confederate battle flag). Saving his pennies and dimes, Jim amassed enough to purchase a stock race car, a 1955 Chevy, with a 357 horsepower engine, a car with a high win record as I understand it. As mentioned in another forum post, "Pensacols's Police Sponsored Popcorn Shower", Ralph the Cop, often worked security with Jim and me, at the Sanger Theatre's, Saturday midnight movies. One Saturday night shortly after Jim had bought the Chevy, Ralph the Cop strolled in to work security with us. After a little chit-chat, Ralph began to casually ask questions of Jim... Ralph: Hey, Jim, you live in Warrington, don't you? Jim: Yep. Ralph: Ya ever take Navy Boulevard home? Jim: Sometimes. (Hesitantly - sensing this was going somewhere.) Ralph: Did you work Wednesday night? Jim: Yep. Ralph: Ya go home by Navy Boulevard, Wednesday night? Jim: Might have. Don't remember. (Full teenager mode. Steve McQueen in The Blob.) Ralph: Well, I was talking to Tony (another Pensacola cop) and he had an interesting experience the other night. Jim: Yeah? Ralph: Yeah. You know Tony runs the radar wagon? At that time, Pensacola had implemented the latest technology - a white, 1958 (if I remember correctly), Ford station wagon packed full of speed-detecting radar - that a cop NOW holds in one hand. Ralph: You've seen the radar wagon, haven't you? Jim: Maybe (Every teenager in town knew the radar wagon by sight, knew Tony, and knew where he liked to set up.) Ralph: Well, Wednesday night, Tony was set up on Navy Boulevard, just east of Pace (Boulevard), and about 10 o'clock, he clocked a green and white, 55 Chevy blowing west, towards Warrington, at a pretty high speed. Jim: Yeah? Ralph: Yeah. Well, Tony hit the lights and siren and took off after the Chevy. Almost caught it at the viaduct (A well known spot on Navy Boulevard, in Pensacola.). You know for all its weight that radar wagon's got good speed as a chase car? Jim: Yeah? Ralph: Yeah. Seems as Tony was about to catch the Chevy, the driver found another gear and walked away like Tony was standing still. Jim: Yeah? Did he get the plates? Ralph: No, he didn't, but he's on the lookout for a 1955 green and white Chevy, that runs like a stock car, with maybe, oh, a 357 under the hood... geared for racing... Jim: Yeah? Ralph: So, if you know anybody who has a car like that, who lives in Warrington, works late, and takes Navy Boulevard, you might want to tell them to take Barrancas Avenue home for a while... at least until Tony gets over his mad. Jim: Yeah. Ralph: Where's the popcorn box. The above is a true story, the names have not been changed because the statute of limitations has expired and Tony ain't mad no more. • Donovan Baldwin

morning on the bay spectral voices floating lights ghost boats in the mist Donovan Baldwin I would go down to Pensacola Bay before dawn. Small one and two-man boats would be on the water with a light on a pole. I could hear the voices, but they were shadows. • Donovan Baldwin

an endless embrace make the hands of time stand still with you in my arms ----- a desperate race only so many words left i must use them all ----- this love's battle plan surround you with poetry win you with soft words ---- fantasy once glimpsed shadow at the mirror's edge i turn and you're gone ----- i will taste your words try them with my mouth and mind until poetry ----- once another me one who dreamed of being loved when young and foolish ----- Scars? Yes. she has scars. Her scars are not beautiful, But, she is, and they are part of how she became her. So, I will make love to them, As to every other part Of who she is. ----- there's an unknown soldier dying beneath a silent moon in an unnamed stolen land between someone else's borders... name but a shadow on the ground that history will never read nor be able to understand. ------- i wait quietly silent as you pass then write poems about dreams ----- may i touch you there in your mind's pleasure center and hope feelings spread ----- you believe they're sins but you've been told to think that they are your virtues • Donovan Baldwin

her mind touching mine thoughts run over my bare words grasping my meanings ----- dare to seek out love who knows where or when you'll meet one who's meant for you ----- quick deep gasp and sigh she finds herself taken by breathless poetry ----- from my dying fires glowing embers reignite she is the tinder ----- don't applaud my words all i ask is a small nod just to know you heard • Donovan Baldwin

man who makes canoes seems much like a god himself to people of the sea • Donovan Baldwin Idea from The Dance Of Life, by Havelock Ellis

I ride, My long ride, The 50 mile ride, Thru towering slash pines, Tall trunks topped with green, To the east until I cross to the island, On the bridge at Navarre. Just the overture Of a joyful symphony of sight. Turning west, I run the island, Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach. My happy drug. I drive between sugar white dunes, Crested with sea oats, Emerald shallows scalloped with white, Border between the sand, And the deep royal blue of the gulf, Blending into the horizon, Somewhere way offshore. The water, the blue Florida sky, Pathways to other journeys Adventures past and yet to come. I ride my long ride, My happy ride, My unending ride, To the other end of the island, But, not the end of my journey. • Donovan Baldwin

Just thinking about stuff: Emotion is part of being human. A human being devoid of emotion is an automaton. Might as well be an alarm clock or toaster. Like everything about humans, individually unique creatures have different mixes of emotions within, and, the emotions we DO have tend to ebb and flow, mixing with, or overriding facts, reality, relationships, and other emotions. Our emotions bump into those of others and our own. They go off on strange tangents like billiard balls on the break. We sometimes pick up on and share the emotions of others, or may get happy when someone else is angry, or angry when someone else is sad. Our happiness, or anger, may be caused by, or directed at, them...or ourselves. Emotions, generally bright lights, but sometimes low, flowing shades of black and gray in my personal imagery, are, a light and sound show; dazzling, confusing, scary, exhilarating, and, sometimes blinding to the truth. I don't mind emotions, although, like many, I don't always know how to handle mine...or those of others. As with many other things, they exist, for better or for worse, and help make me, you, us, human. They help me create poetry, express and share my innermost feelings, and understand yours as well. Emotions gave us Michelangelo, Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, Adolf Hitler, Albert Schweitzer, Mother Theresa, and some unknown who outlined his hand on a smoky cave wall 10,000 or so years ago. Emotions open worlds we cannot see with human eyes. Emotions can bind us more tightly together as members of the human family, but, sometimes emotions blind us to our humanity, and the humanity of others with other emotions. • Donovan Baldwin

sense of humor part of you i long to touch over and over your intelligence part of you to be explored to its lovely depths your body of course part of you to make love once we laugh and talk • Donovan Baldwin

dark beside the fire glinting of brass and leather an old warrior scarred body and heart ready for battle or verse apt with sword or pen others tread lightly respect of reputation for weapon and words • Donovan Baldwin

Love this review! It's just humbling, especially coming from one of my favorite video book reviewers! Just had to share! http://tinyurl.com/56tv8kdy (http://tinyurl.com/56tv8kdy) #author #authorlife #authorscommunity #bookaddict #bookishlife #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworms #fantasy #fiction #FSFWritersAlliance #newbloodsaga #readers #readersareleaders #readersgonnaread #review #kilpack #writerslift #WritingCommunity #BookPromo #BookPlug

Where does love reside? That warm and tender grandeur, Which takes my soul to the Highest of the heights, Filling me with wonder, and, Making me, a mortal man immortal, For who can die when bound to Boundless ecstasies of wonderment? Where does love reside? When hidden from view, Of ordinary mortals, yet, Visible within all spectrums, To the wondering eyes of I, the lover, and, you, the loved, Seeking, and reaching for, One another, touching in all ways, You, the one most loved and, Sought after with all my soul. Where does love reside, If not within my heart? • Donovan Baldwin