The Sunday Poet: Joseph A. Cohen

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Joseph A. Cohen is 100 years old this month and he is still writing. His latest book of poetry is " The New Path" ( Ibbetson Street Press).  Nina MacLauglin of the Boston Globe wrote of Cohen's new book, " " The clarity and lyricism of " A New Path" belies Cohen's advanced age.

MY FIRST VOYAGE

I remember when I first set sail.

It was raining and the icy wind

tore through my clothes.

Bleak was the mood, a frigid

gray cast hung over the scene.

Ships that sail in the dawn

moved out of port while

anti-aircraft balloons swayed in the wind.

Escort planes circled protectively while

a grim fleet of destroyers tended

to this convoy of fifty troop ships.

Wonderment and fear of the unknown

gave way to “hitting the rail” as we gave

back our breakfasts. We ploughed

through rough waters in the open seas

as I sat back to suffer a journey

of eighteen seasick days to Casablanca,

thus beginning my three-year stint overseas

fighting the “good war” - World War II.