Inside the Front Page
by Amy

April 1st, 2005 Oh Happy Springtime... My great, great uncle, Eskie Wheeler was a poet. He had an identical twin, Espie. They were the youngest brothers of my great grandfather, Frank. This is all on my father’s (via grandmother’s) side. Eskie was educated in a one room school house in the backwoods of Kentucky. Most of his poems are about nature, war, and a appreciation for the simple life. I have several of his poetry books, my favorite is inscribed ‘To Amy - With love and good wishes. Your (great) great, great uncle.’ - dated from 1984, I was just six years old. This was my first autographed book. Instead of a lengthy opening letter, I wanted to print one of his poems. This could be the first time he has been published outside of Kentucky and if he were alive today - he would have thought this was grand. X, Amy Spring Fantasy by Eskie M. Wheeler When I say goodbye to winter days /And I come down with the springtime laze In mellow moments of fantasy /Life is sweet as honey to a bee A garden swing can soar through the clouds /And can be a ship with golden shrouds That sail the seven seas and back home /Up over the seven hills of roam And in one quick twinkle of the eye /It can be an eagle in the sky That takes me over flowery fields /There is nothing else that brings more thrills Then my little garden swing will bring /When flowers are blooming in the spring

The Players Publisher: Amy Christian Art Coordinator: Kurt Stream Contributing Editors: Stephy Johnson Blomgren, Sarah Kremen-Hicks, Nicole Lowman, Jill Mullins Contributing Writers: Rita Andreeva, Jason Ashbaugh, Steve Barker, Katie Clegg, Frankie Davis Allison Glacey, Vivian Hua, Nicole Lowman, Brian McGuigan, Jill Mullins Michael Overa, Niccole Sarrocco, Ross Davenport Simonini, dylan Snow Kurt Stream, Steven Taylor, Jessica Woodbridge Contributing Artist: Bobby Dixon, Robert Hardgrave, Erin Shaftkind Web: j.kemble Submissions, Questions and Comments: amy@letterxmag.com

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