John RC Potter

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

The big band sounds transport me on a sentimental journey into the past, bringing back memories
that were meant to last. When I was a child, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians were an institution—a symbol of Canada and the Second World War—when a tyrant found his demise, along with the Final Solution. Lombardo and his music belonged to my parents’ generation, but being an old soul, I fell under the spell of big band music and the era it evoked. It made me long for that place and time, as I listened to the big band’s beat, tempo, and pace. The strands of music rising and falling, all that jazz too, complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms: yesterday, calling! Even now, as an adult, “Red Sails In The Sunset” by Lombardo and his band conjures up images and sounds I cannot forget. This is a tribute to a man and his band, to another time: Moreover, to this land, the great country we call our home.

LANGUAGES I HAVE LOVED

When I was in high school, I
wanted to learn German, but it
wasn’t offered.
So, I bought a tape recorder
and learned from some cassettes.
Als ich im Gymnasium war, wollte ich Deutsch lernen, aber es war
nicht verfügbar.
Also kaufte ich einen Kassettenrekorder und lernte von einigen Kassetten.

When I was in university
I needed to study a second language, so I
started with German.
But it was so difficult
that I switched to Spanish.
Cuando estaba en la universidad, necesitaba estudiar un segundo idioma y
comencé con alemán.
Pero era tan difícil que cambié a español.

When I moved to Indonesia,
I started to learn both
the Indonesian and Sundanese languages;
Unfortunately, Ihave forgotten Sundanese.
ButI will neverforget the mountains near Garut,
and the birds flying high in the red, heat-simmering sky.
Ketika saya pindah ke Indonesia saya mulai belajar berdua
bahasa Indonesia dan bahasa Sunda;
Sayangnya, saya telah melupakan bahasa Sunda.
Tetapi, saya tidak akan pernah melupakan gunung-gunung dekat Garut, dan burung-burung yang terbang tinggi di langit
merah yang beruap panas.

John RC Potter is an international educator from Canada, residing in Istanbul. He has experienced a revolution (Indonesia), air strikes (Israel), earthquakes (Turkey), boredom (UAE), and blinding snow blizzards (Canada), the last being the subject of his story, ‘Snowbound in the House of God’ (Memoirist). The author’s poems, stories, essays, articles, and reviews have been published in various magazines and journals. His story, “Ruth’s World,” was a Pushcart Prize nominee, and his poem, “Tomato Heart,” was nominated for the Best of the Net Award. The author has a gay-themed children’s picture book that is scheduled for publication. He is a member of the League of Canadian Poets and the Playwrights Guild of Canada. Recent Publications: “Heimat” in Overgrowth Press (Poetry) March 14, 2025 – Overgrowth & “Clara Von Clapp’s Secret Admirer” in The Lemonwood Quarterly (Prose) Clara Von Clapp’s Secret Admirer – The Lemonwood Quarterly.
Website: https://johnrcpotterauthor.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRCPotter