Charles J. Kasper Rockingham, North Carolina

Charles was born in 1924 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His childhood extended from its origin in the "Roaring Twenties" through the "Great Depression" of the thirties and culminated with the outbreak of World War II in the forties. He's a graduate of Union High School in New Jersey. He served both in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. Following service in the Naval Reserve, Charles was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict by the US Navy. After four years of study through the American University in Washington, DC. a designation of C.L.U. was bestowed in 1970. (Economics and Insurance Charter) Charles is married with seven children between the two of them. He retired to Rockingham, North Carolina in 1989 with Rita, "my wife, my life, my inspiration". His hobbies include poetry and restoration of a Norman Rockwell era village in miniature.

EMERALD GREEN First born son God's gift bestowed Given with love Ours to mold Image reflected Joy unbound A moment in time Swiftly flown Life's shining promise broken Shattered and unfulfilled Lying now forever Under emerald green.

LEGACY The highest hope we can aspire Is to light a lasting fire. To put to pen some fragile phrase That may transcend our fleeting days. Mayhaps bequeath a tiny fragment A word, a line or tacit remnant, To reach across the tide of time And touch a soul, perhaps with rhyme.

TIME Tomorrow lies beyond the pale Yesterday may ne'er return Today is all we have to hold No matter how we yearn Look for love and live for love Remember words you held apart Tacit, sweet unspoken thoughts Locked forever in your heart Count not the times of parting Endless though they seem Days and nights beyond enduring Silent vigil, empty dream. Count instead those precious moments Brief, exquisite memories shared A touch, a look. a laugh, a tear, A time when someone cared.

All poems Copyright © 1997 Charles J. Kasper. All rights reserved.