Hi everyone,
Yesterday Sam posted the interview with WordPress. Today he plans to promote it on Facebook and Twitter (X). He’ll also post it on the MLA (Missouri Literacy Association) website. Dr. Sam, thank you again for featuring my work. I’m reposting your post with appreciation.
Hi everyone,
People ask where we find ideas. They ask how long it takes to write a book.
Purchasing Small Secrets
I followed the path along the river, taking me further
from the cabin where my parents sat with their hosts,
playing cards and enjoying a rare visit.
I carried a stick in case I found a snake to catch,
to pin down behind its neck and pick up, its body
writhing around my arm while I examined it.
My other hand held my net, almost another arm in summer.
Muddy spots beside water drew swallowtails and I
could never have too many. If I caught one, I would
pinch its thorax to put it to sleep, fold its wings,
and slip it into the triangular envelop I’d fashioned
from sheets of journal paper and stuck in my shirt pocket.
Later, I sat looking down at the dark-watered Little Niangua,
watched as crows stalked the bank, pirates after treasure.
A muskrat left small ripples along the far shore,
a shadow under leaning trees.
One day I would write poems about this moment.
Today I was content being a boy on a riverbank,
purchasing small secrets with my silence.
(c) 2025 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved
Hi everyone,
I wrote this one in 2012. Feels like time to drag it out again.
The Duel
David (Eugene Field) Harrison
Republicans and democrats
Across the aisle in the chamber sat:
T’was half past session, their faces were red,
Nor one nor t’other had done what they said.
Six-pack Joe snapped open a can
Wondering why any of these idiots ran;
I wasn’t there; I simply relate
What I read about this sorry state.
Republicans roared, “You’re destroying our nation!”
Democrats clambered their tintinnabulation,
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With pomposity and bits of Poe,
While the justices in their supreme places
Held up their hands before their faces,
And congress preened in self-admiration.
(Now mind: I’m only telling you
What Joe Six-pack declares is true!)
Citizens everywhere looked blue
And wailed, “Oh, dear! What shall we do?”
But our leaders fought like a dog and a cat,
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfulest way you ever saw –
And oh! How the hot air gassed and blew!
(Don’t fancy I exaggerate – I got my news from the state of State!)
Post election, where the leaders had swaggered
They found no trace of posturing braggart,
And some folks think unto this day
That citizens voted the scoundrels away!
But the truth is this – and I raise a cup,
The Do-Nothings ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(Joe Six-pack told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
Hi everyone,
On the front page of Springfield News-Leader’s Sunday edition, the lead article began, “SPS improves performance on Missouri report card for third straight year.” SPS stands for Springfield Public Schools, the largest district in Missouri. The report card referred to Annual Performance Report (APR), which measures success toward expectations set by the Missouri School Improvement Plan. The full article, by CLAUDETTE REILLY, explains about the standards and presents the results, category by category and school by school throughout the district. About 24,500 students attend SPS in 50 schools — 35 elementary, 1 intermediate, 9 middle, and 5 high schools. One school earned 100% of possible APR points — DAVID HARRISON ELEMENTARY!!!!
Since Harrison opened in 2009, it has been a strong, nurturing school. I’ve always been proud to have my name on the building. But this is huge new evidence of the quality of the school! I had nothing to do with that 100% grade so I can just sit here, popping buttons for Principal AMY FLEMING, librarian DR. ANGELA KNIGHT, all the fantastic teachers and staff, and the wonderful kids who make Harrison what it is. And you can be sure that where there is a good school, there are good parents supporting their kids and those who teach them. Congratulations everyone! I am proud to be a Huskie!
Hi everyone,
For the last several weeks I’ve been working on plans for a show in the new auditorium at The Library Center on May 5. The one I did with SANDY on September 30 overflowed the current auditorium and the 1 1/2 hour program went quickly. Afterward, my host STEPHANIE SMALLWOOD, Director of Youth Services, invited me back after the new theater space is open in January. I’ve been brainstorming with smart people who know the community (think AMOS BRIDGES, editor-in-chief, Springfield News-Leader, KATHLEEN O’DELL, freelance journalist who often writes for Springfield Daily Citizen and with past ties to Springfield-Greene County Library District, News-Leader, and USA Today), and others. This past week I met with Stephanie Smallwood at The Library Center to outline my plans and get an early look at the new auditorium. It’s glorious!
This will seat 536 people. The Tonight Show audience numbers 175-200. The Landers Theatre seats 525-527. My goal is to be entertaining 536 people or more on May 5, 2026, and I think the program we have in mind will do it. It’s going to be a dynamite lineup! I won’t pin down the final title of the show until the last day of this month but the working title is David and Friends, Celebrating Route 66 and the Joys of Creative Expression.
Many of the entertainers have already accepted my invitation and I hope to hear from others within the coming two or three weeks. Please keep the date — May 5, 2026, 6:30-8:30 p.m. — in mind. I promise you a great evening.
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 