The Poetry of a Vintage Soul
By Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
ISBN: 9798180795588
This roller coaster ride called life has motivated this vintage soul to share words of wisdom, heartache, laughter, anger, sadness, joy, kindness, passion and love. I invite you to join me on this continuing journey and hope you allow your genuine self to shine, feel, react, laugh, cry and soar as you read the poems generated from a life that has seen all four seasons and is still kicking it with gusto!
Extracts from the book:
A FLEETING THOUGHT ENTERED MY MIND
February 22, 2025
I captured a fleeting thought in time
Then stored it in my brain pocket for a later rhyme
Then mixed some words up in a well seasoned stew
All bad thoughts I did kindly eschew
For we need some positivity in our realm
With leaders of kindness at the helm
That’s it, no more shall I declare
Or you’ll delete this poem I verily fear!
A DAY OF INFAMY AND TREASON
January 6, 2021
There is no reason
Why this isn’t treason
There is no excuse
For all this abuse
While Republicans cower
At Trump’s fascist power
The world watches in awe
At our next civil war
We all have the power
To throw the tyrant from his tower
So hold fast to what is right
And we will yet win this fight
A BIRTHDAY WISH FOR A RETIRED LIBRARIAN
September 19, 2025
If books could hug their biggest supporter
Embrace them for sure they all lovingly would
May every kind word that you have ever read
Float gently and lovingly in your psyche, as they forever should
May your birthday be filled only with words of joy
From cherished volumes that have graced your Librarian's brain
May this roller coaster ride that we call life
Never drive you verily insane
And may your only birthday wish this year truly be
A simple plea that bountifully feeds your heart and soul
Good health, true love and peace for us all
May you feel fulfilled, contented and beautifully whole
988
May 10, 2026
If you find yourself painfully lonely these days
Please do not bemoan what you think is your fate
Reach out and grab that helping hand
Just place your fingers on 988
A FEW DELIGHTS FOR SANITY SAKE
March 8, 2025
When times tend to direct my focus on gloom
For the news of the day is so dismal
I find my mind pondering tasty things
Hopefully my stomach won’t need Pepto Bismol
A large hard crusted pretzel salted just right
Such gustatory perfection I truly must say
Soft inner core sings to my palate tonight
I drool for such a scrumptious treat this day!
Dark chocolate chunks a most heavenly food
Dare I dive into your healing powers?
And munch your sweetness right here, right now
For a few seconds, perhaps minutes ... how about hours?
Now don’t jump on me folks for my next mentioned treat
With little nutrition I know ’tis true
The much maligned hot dog I yearn for, believe it or not
Right now in this red, white and blue
I invite you all when the news of the day
Drills your mind with unfathomable pain
To moderately allow your tongue and stomach some joy
It will hopefully help you to barely stay sane
A DOG’S PERSPECTIVE
February 10, 2024
I detect the pain you have yet to feel
I sense your sadness so profoundly real
I offer unwavering loyalty and love
A belly to scratch that is soft as a dove
I ask very little from my pet human critter
Perhaps I shall reward you with a precious puppy litter!
I instinctively know who needs my healing magic
I never judge your faults nor times so very tragic
I look into your soul when hope seems barely extant
I look deeply into your eyes when anger makes you loudly rant
I calm you down and lick out the pain
I create the sunshine where once there was rain
I know how much my life-force warms your every day
I fear the pain you will profoundly feel when goodbye I must sadly say
But now we have these days on earth to love and embrace our fate
Of just being human and precious dog, a perfect match to celebrate!
GARY SHULMAN, MS. Ed. has spent a lifetime supporting vulnerable families and children. He began his career working with children with and without disabilities in an inclusive Head Start program in Brooklyn NY. He then transitioned to become the Special Needs and Early Childhood Coordinator for the Brooklyn Children's Museum for 10 years. His passion for advocacy grew as he worked more and more with parents of children with disabilities. For over 24 years he passionately advocated for the needs of these parents as the Social Services and Training Director for Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. in NYC. The last years of his working life, Gary served as a private Special Needs Consultant conducting hundreds of training sessions throughout NYC and beyond to help parents and professionals find and access the services and systems required to facilitate maximizing the potential of their children with disabilities. Now retired in Arlington VA but still supporting vulnerable families serving as an Advisory Commissioner for the Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, Gary continues his workshop presentations and now also enjoys sharing his poetry that he passionately writes with the goal of leaving this world a better place one word at a time.
Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
Commissioner
Arlington VA Partnership for Children, Youth and Families
National Advocate and Presenter
50 years of supporting children and families
