Bill Hamlin

Geneva, IL, USA

William B. Hamlin was born on 8/9/15 to Jessy York and Elizabeth Booth. He was married to Helen Wells from 1938-1991 and to Betty Ireland from 1992-1997. He has 2 children. He is now retired and says he "enjoys laughter even when things go wrong--somehow they always work out if you trust in things eternal."

To A Young Man

Before me a light is shining-
I see it not but it is there!
I know it's presence for my soul sees-
I am a youth who sees not such things,
I am not allowed.
Only as years add their weight to
My being will my eyes perceive
The beauty of life.
The veil of years to come
Still blinds my eyes,
Even though I long to see.
I can but catch glimpses
As love, hate and fear shock my lids,
But darkness soon again prevails.
How long,
How far ahead is my vision
To be complete

Mid Stream 1950

Here I am a man possessed of a sound mind and
Body - not old - not young, but nevertheless,
A man. I have had my senses touched by
Passions and calmness - I thought youth blind,
Deaf, and dumb - but why must I - a man
Not young, and not old, still suffer the blindness
That frightens? Am I different than others?
Can they see things I cannot? Why am I
Forbidden to know where my hope lies?
Why when I love one woman must others
Confront me and test that love when my
Love is not enough for that one, yet encompasses
Multitudes? May I in years to come feel the
Truth, or must I forever linger with my youth
In that bitter blindness that leaves me empty
And afraid, or will I find an unknown, unseen
Point, high above this mist of longing where I
Can at last see my past, my present and my
Future. Where, with my loves, I can stand
In the warm sun of certainty unafraid?

Visions 1995

Today I am a man in my late years, yet the light that shone
In my youth still shines, but now I have found that point
High above the mist of uncertainty, and I can press on
Knowing that the fear and the bitter blindness of my youth
Needed only the patient passing of time to reach that
Place where, the memories of my past are like the leaves
Of fall nestling on the ground, there to enrich the
Lawn of my soul, Now I can see my past, my present,
And I can stand with my loves, rich with friends,
Unafraid, knowing that the future lies deep in
The heart of the past, and the real future,
Yet unknown lies in the loving hand of God.