Roy L. Madison Cincinnati, Ohio

Born: Jan. 7, 1905 in Ambridge, PA. Parents: Claude W. Madison, Mary Elizabeth Laude Education: in the Dayton public school system, Mt. St. John Preparatory school of Dayton and the University of Dayton Career: High school teacher (10 years) English, Latin, History; Writing radio scripts WLW, Crosley Broadcasting, Cincinnati, Ohio Married: Revella Bricketto Aug. 13, 1936 Military Service: Enlisted in US Marine Corp; Discharged Staff Sergeant Other Employment: Director Public Relations; Ralph H. Jones Ad Agency Son: William Charles born June 25, 1951 Achievements: started Roy Madison Assoc. P.R. office (with 1st client - Robert A. Taft, GOP candidate for US President) Retired 1970 Writing: @ Age 65 Wrote first poem, now @ age 86. Now continues to "Read, Write, Pray."

Marco Polo Says It Be From high upon a shelf of treasured books, He took a tome of pages wrapped in silk, Its edges tinted with a trace of gold A manuscript with maps of all the world. Ah! Singapore, a tiny dot in print- Then up to Bangkok, Chendu and Tibet, Across big China, down to busy Hong Kong. And south beyond the Coral Sea to Sidney. Next a jump above two oceans to Brazil. As my finger stretches to familiar shores Miami, London, Paris, Munich, Moscow. All different worlds; exciting to explore. Reflecting on these well-trod paths for years. A modern Marco Polo says it best "A home is only where my family lives- All else is just a shelter called house."

Only A Loan The gift comes wrapped in mortal threads, To spend the years allotted them, In quiet peace or frequent pain Together doing what they deign. The gift is life, once given, lives Beyond a single breath of time. The package, all alone, returns To ashes in a soon forgotten urn. The gift of life is just a loan To be returned without a scar On dates determined, not to cut short By self or through the folly to abort.

A Birthday Thought The morning sun lights up the tops of trees And spreads the lovely lawns with misty dew, As mother nature slowly stirs itself, To arouse a world of beauty and despair. Dark clouds begin to form and rains to fall, When creatures learn to hate - not love their own. No wonder then, that growing old at ninety-one, We pray to see the days when all agree - This world we know has not grown worse - It only takes more love to understand!

All poems Copyright © 1996 Roy L. Madison. All rights reserved.