Author Archives: alslaff

I dreamed of writing during my teenage and college years, but my plans were put on hold in 1965 when I entered the Army. Somehow, a four year enlistment into the Army Security Agency turned into a career! While serving in the Army, my writing skills were honed in assignment after fascinating assignment, e.g., language analyst, basic training drill sergeant, small unit tactics (Cavalry) instructor, Pershing operations sergeant, to name a few. I served as a Vietnamese, Cambodian, and German linguist with tours in Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany. Over twenty years later, I retired from the military and continued to write full time for industry and the private sector. I have returned to the passion of my youth to write the thoughts of my heart in excellent poetry and fiction. (See the Short Bio page for more backstory.)

Playing Games

I have the breeze all
to myself and the neighbor’s

dog is curled up in the shade

I know he’s a smart dog
because he said that it is

even too hot to play chess

my stare said it all as I
told him I don’t play chess

he swatted the hot air and
didn’t miss a beat

you’re not that good at
checkers either

dog’s right

I’ve never been good at
dogs or playing games

or people now that I think
about it

Yesterday’s Poem

I looked just above
the tallest tree to see
if the clouds were moving

they are floating ever so
slowly to the west while
my thoughts drift along

with them looking forward
to the time when the Lord
returns

because we could meet the
Lord in clouds such as
these on a day like today

when yesterday’s poem
will have been the last one
I ever wrote

By and By

the sun casts the faintest
of shadows across the lawn
in the afternoon lull
between rainstorms

my mind does not rest in
these peaceful moments
but continues to ask
questions in the hope of

answers to prayers so long
repeated so long lamented
so long hoped for all in
God’s time

For God’s time is greater
than my own but how sweet
it would be

Satan’s emissary can be as
small as a fly spreading
the littlest lie a fiery
dart aimed at the heart

but just then as I held
on to what I know I heard
the church bells strike
three to remind me that

I belong to thee even if
I die before the fly and
the answers will come
in the sweet by and by

Not Far Behind

It got dark at midday when
the first thunderstorm hit
and bright sun followed.

But not for long as the
fourth thunderstorm of the
day just passed over.

It is the start of hurricane
season so it is easy to
think of doom and gloom.

Will our new fence hold
this time?

Talking faith on a sunny
day is one thing but on a
day like today you hold

your breath and pray the
Lord will bring us, our
house, and fence through,

not to mention the swaying
trees and swinging power
lines. God is our provider

and refuge as the weather
becomes a true test of faith
with hope not far behind.