Larry E. Hopson Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, USA

I was born July 22, 1948 at Sheridan, Arkansas to Norman and Mary Edith Hopson. My Father is a missionary Baptist Minister. I'm single, I have one sister, Linda. Schools I attended are Fountain Lake and Paron in AK and Odell in Texas. I dropped out after 9th grade due to family hardship. After a Tour of Duty in Vietnam, I returned to school and graduated from LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, IL in July, 1972. I was drafted into the US Army in June, 1968. I served with 101st Airborne in Vietnam. I was a heavy helicopter repairman from 1969-1970. I am now an insole cutter in the footwear industry. I have been with the same company since June, 1970. I am a member of numerous organizations. My honors and awards include: military awards including the Bronze Star, numerous poetry awards including Golden Poet; I was elected in the International Poetry Hall of Fame in January of 1997, numerous VFW awards including All-State Quartermaster 1983-84 and numerous awards from Washington DC. I won first place in a hog calling contest several years in a row and second place in a banana eating contest; as well as photography awards. I have had poems published by World of Poetry, The National Library of Poetry and in newspapers. I have had 1 poem recorded on a tape called The Sound of Poetry entitled "I'm Living On Love." I plan to record an album and write a book of poetry. I thank God for the ability to write. It is a gift from him. I love working with pen in hand. I try to tell a story or make a statement. When I write I become what I write about. The best way I know to leave your mark on the world is by the written word.

I'm Living On Love > I'm living on love from Heaven above. Our Father's acts of love are innumerable. He gave His only Son that we may have Life Eternal. The forces of Satan are real. To Him we should not yield. If we do we may call on the risen Son to defend. On Him only can we depend. I'm living on love from Heaven above. You can see it in the smile of a child. You can feel it all the while. Look around love abounds. I'm living on love from Heaven above.

What's In a Name What's in a name. To some its insane. To some its fortune and fame. Yet some complain and change their name. Though I may never have fortune and fame. I may not even have a penny to my name. I will never complain and change my name. I am proud to bear my family name. What's in a name. To me it's not insane. To me it's not fortune and fame. To me it's pride in my family name. I'm very proud of my family name.

The Lady There's a lady in New York, bless her heart. She sets off a spark in my heart. She stands so tall and proud and greets the crowd. She's a shining symbol of freedom for the world to see. She's the Statue of Liberty, she means so much to me. When I heard of her dismay, I cried O Lord we can't let her decay. Now I'm proud to say come what may, The Lady is here to stay. The Statue of Liberty will never decay.

We All Gave Some Heard a song the other day by Billy Ray. My mind drifted back to a time in 1969. Word came that Jerry, an old school friend, Only in country thirty days had gave all. Raymond a roommate seemed to have it all, No one knew anything troubled his mind. Came off a flight, walked into the shower. Washed his hands, walked outside, pulled out his 38. Placed a round in the cylinder, gave it a spin, Placed it to his head, two hours later he was dead. The horrors of war are real, the scars never heal. Thought they're gone, their memory will live on. We all gave some, yet some gave all.

All poems Copyright © 1997 Larry E. Hopson. All rights reserved.