The Editor’s Quill Maricris Cabrera David Palmer With the release of this, our second issue of the twin Canvas of My Soul and Canvas to My Soul Communities’ Journal, we are beginning to feel like an institution here. Certainly in these pages you will find the best and the most enthusiastic of poets, the most talented artists and skillful musicians. Our communities truly do represent some of the most talented to reach out and touch the world that there are anywhere. Canvas represents a very diverse group of poets artists and musicians from around the world, and we wanted our Journal pages to reflect the world as we have experienced it in the past three months, thus the presentation of our seasonal themes such as Christmas, New Year’s Valentine’s Day, many of the significant milestones of this Winter quarter of the year that makes life special. The world is not perfect, and greater strides can be taken to improve opportunities for all: both men and women, members of minority communities, indigenous tribal groups. Thus the presentations this month on significant struggles for justice, equality and respect. We do not seek to be political, but we do seek to
be representative of our members. But also, we strive to give voice to many as we seek to increase understanding across cultural boundaries. We want to be the Journal of diversity and inclusion where every voice at the table can be heard and every tradition celebrated. It is our uniqueness that makes us people with a worthy story to tell. Increased appreciation of each other’s stories makes us a strong community. We hope that you fully enjoy what our poets and artists and musicians have brought before us today. Your comments are eagerly and gratefully received. Send us a personal message on Google+ and we will pay attention and consider all viewpoints that point to a yet brighter future. We are here for you. Maricris Cabrera David Palmer Editors, inSIGHT Journal
Photo Credits: Cover Photo: Brigitte Giunta Cover Layout: Maricris Cabrera
Sectional Cover Layouts: Maricris Cabrera Photos Provided to inSIGHT throughout by Maricris Cabrera David Palmer Brigitte Giunta Laughing Waters Aleppo Project: Producer and General Editor: Maricris Cabrera Digital Engineering of Photos: Sean Runyon Layout: David Palmer Concept Suggestion: Allan Ball Opening Collage: Maricris Cabrera Closing Collage: Sean Runyon Special Thanks to Brigitte Giunta for generously supplying us with Most of our Winter Pictures; David Palmer with most of the Christmas Section pictures. Maricris Cabrera for most of the Floral and bonsai pictures.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Editor’s Quill
2
Women in 2017
Owner’s Showcase
6
Notable Women
Moderator’s Showcase
Who have Impacted 16
Aleppo: A Cry’
Our Lives
42
General Poems
68
Structured Poetry
110
haiku, tanka,
December Holidays
New Year’s Day
132
Valentine’s Theme
228
236 240
Essays, Dialogs, 140 160
Share Your Heritage
Artists
haibun
Christmas Memories
207
Musicians and
For Peace
Winter Fun
187
174
Short Stories Farewell
269 301
Table of Contents 2 OWNERS: Laughing Waters
Phil Renaud (Phil R.)
Robert Gillette
Nasreen Malik
Marilyn Ward
Richard M. Knittle, Jr.
Maricris Cabrera
Sean Runyon
David Palmer
Sib Borjigian
MODERATORS:
Kimberly Leuthner
Brigitte Giunta
(Heart Arts)
Charita Gillette
Nicoleta Neagoy
Cindy Pecina CB Fall Poet Desh Duane Phillips Gelda Castro Gutter Punk (Matt Aguilar)
Laughing Waters, Owner You placed me On the tip Of Silver moon I swing and sing It was fun but I fell right back To you You placed me On the softest Cloud white And clean I jumped, roll That was fun For the while I fell right back To you
All day long Till the dawn The stars came out Moon did shine, but I fell right back To you You placed me In the open Flowery field I dance and sing Picked bouquet But rain came quick Washed me away I slip and slide I fell right back To you
You placed me On the very top Of mountain pick Snow was sparkling Fluffy and deep I build a snowman Round home To live was fun For some time but I fell right back To you
Looks like No matter What you do I fell right back To you
You placed me On the boulder River rock I dived and swim
December 2016Š Laughing waters words and photo
Why don't you keep Me in your hand So we can stop Play with my heart Each day?
BLACK SHADOWS ON GOLD wheat field sway in the soft wind my summer dress Warm sunny day Two friends walking Birch alley gladly welcomes them in
snowflake spins in the air white noise
Deep freeze Blue river Slows her flow She's sleeping now Sees a peaceful dreams Under thick covers, ice So clear and pure, so fresh The clean scent of Paradise So cold to touch, so slick Ice crystals crackling You can hear silence shiver Shimmers right upon the field Nature is sleeping under spell of Winter Don't let this stillness fool you Life still exists, look deeper Even stones have heartbeat Look deeper, see more with soul Even in stillness, Life exist December 2016© Laughing waters , poetry and photo
holds my footprints the road you walk road dust slowly settling atop the grass blades And two friends Holding hands Not afraid
They talk about life Black shadows on gold Few jokes and some laughter Laying across the road Having such a good time Nothing to worry about spider's web hold golden leaf But behind really still dark shadows growing black wings flapping in breeze crow's caws in empty branches fog gets really thick riverside mud
Soft wind blows Through the alley Golden rays Keep darkness away Friends are safe 2017© Laughing waters,
art Ken Newman
"RAMBLERS"XXXKEN Copyright © ken newman
Robert Gillette, Little White Bear Owner
Thinking of memories with you Is all I want to do A sweet reminisce of our first kiss Keeps my heart in Bliss. Special adventures that we would take In my heart so real not fake Rolling in fields of wildflowers So many times for hours and hour Swimming in tea color River Thoughts up my spine is good it shivers Not to mention the time in snow A special place only you and i know Remember the cabin’s fireplace Blushing comes across my face Places only we knew in time, In my heart you will always be mine Š 2016 Robert Gillette
My adventures in writing and poetry started when I was young. My mother wrote short stories and poems. Always she would have me read, and ask my opinion. I love to read and enjoyed the time she would write and I was by her side. It was not until my mid fifties adventure in Google plus, that I found poetry sites. So, I started out in public following poets with super talent. My first friend guided me to a site by invitation, five thousand members and a lot to read. After a year I tried some things of my own. Certain pictures I used caused a problem, so I was invited to. Canvas to my soul, by a good friend. I spent couple of years here and tried writing a poem for first time . A great response inspired me to write more and what I posted seems to be to everyone's liking. Ten to fifteen people would re-share my work every time I posted. It was a sad moment when one of the owners decided to leave, and give
Canvas To My Soul to Marilyn Ward, Laughing waters and me as a team, because we already got along so well. In my experience with other sites I learned, rules that are too extensive, cause a problem because people who run these sites can do all the things members are not allowed to do. So my approach to members is treat them like family and give as much attention as I can. To me, poets are like a flower garden: give them room and a place to open up and bloom into a masterpiece is much better than binding them. That is my personal approach. I was raised in the north Catskills mountains and moved to South Carolina, where I intend to live my remaining days. My heritage is a little French blood and a whole lot of Native American in me, from a culture of truth and wisdom, I write from my heart only way I know how. — Robert Gillette, January, 2017
Marilyn Ward Dancing Deer Owner
caught in a vortex a lone maple leaf
descends. Mal ward © 2017 the weight of water pulls at my senses overwhelmed with emotion I am drowned in the memory of you Tanka Mal ward © 2017
Heartbeats in tempo configuring with the sun lunar phases form Life's an adventure all future prospects promised Tanka poem Mal ward ©
I seek to capture With open hands Wishes and dreams. So delicate and fragile Snow flake ponderings On a Christmas morn, Pristine swirling intangibles Drifts of future hope Every perhaps of my tomorrows That can dissolve into nothing Upon the touch of disbelief So allow the maybes to drift In the perchance they form Making all life's wonders crystallize A myriad of desires Mal ward poem Š 2017
Maricris Cabrera Morning Dove Owner Je T'aime
From my heart, I wish to confess When the sun cast down its golden rays Your smiles deliquesce my tears Smoothly crystallize with your praise She will evince and write a story of you With a million words in a hundred lifetime.
Between where and when I find the portal of my mind The images, the voice, the vision Your day sleeps in my night My night is brighter than your day My mind won't let you out of my sight. Lambent heart smiles in silence Time slowly passes by Capturing green blades of grass in adagio And winding roads meet Between how and why It's your heart that I choose Only time knows, then I sigh. How our love grows The clippings of the heart The language no one knows Waltzing heartbeat, where do I start? Between here and there Undiluted drops of rain Wash away the pain Words unlocked my pillory I breathe in your shores While you and I believe in destiny.
Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
Empyreal Day after day, she seeks Soft words nature speaks Whisper like music in her ears A dome in sapphire blue Spirit free specks of euphoria Enhance the thought of you.
Coronation
Until Right from the start My whole world changed from the moment I met you I will take this moment and make it last forever everything is perfect with you around I know this love is worth it the pieces of my heart I have just found All I ever want is for you to know everything I'd do I'd give my heart and soul breathe with me I feel you here with me The words I hear will get me through the day I need to tell you never a heart could be so true I will stay by your side Until we hear each other say, I do © 2016 Maricris Cabrera
I can't think of sweet words to fondly say Speechless, mouth open with wonder and awe Like a river, dry of stillness clouds drift away Like a cloth of a Queen, your verse overflow Cover my body, bathe me with joy and beauty From my world to yours, my wind whispered so Ruminate, speak endless prayers to God Months of showers and flowering bowers Butterflies harp and birds hover above They sing of everlasting love like ours April, May, June and oh, December's over How delicate are the leaves of freedom 'Twixt my inland to your concrete jungle Beyond a sanctuary, my keeper, my reason. (C)2016 Maricris Cabrera A poem inspired by Van Morrison’s song, “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?”
https://youtu.be/J789GId1kaY
David Palmer Silver Fox Owner Seattle, Washington, USA NESTING ‘(a naani)
VOUCHSAFED (#311) The bright banners of Apollo graced And chas’d the gloom of night away. Welcome The advance of his fiery steeds for Indeed, the Order of the Dawn is my Heraldry, and to see life in the bold Freshly minted colors, my Crest and Shield Joy was tempered with sadness seeing Mistress Moon tiptoe down the Western stairs. I recalled last night’s magic as your Visage wore her muted silver blue hues And love, her scenes inspired, magic Melodious sonatic verse of soul. I blew a kiss her way, wishing godspeed That she hasten to beautify your night. © 2016 David W. Palmer
Moments I cherish Are but stepping stones Foundation layers Building our chambers of love. © 2016 David W. Palmer
breeze ocean sunset fire in sky she is here daughter of neptune searching for me searching for me? vain imagination why would she care? or even know? wind speaking words wind speaking words low on the breeze mentions my name invites me upward how to reply?
SOLSTICE (#312) Waning light and waxing night, precious Is the sacrifice on which our hope rests. Violence in our streets, distrust between Our colors; me first, you last, brotherhood In singularly short supply. Say not That darkness can turn back the clock to trump The dawn. Where stands my prophet wrestling Words of warning? Awake, my conscience! But soft, and right on time, that holy beam, Truth, illuminates conscience’s keyhole Ignorance and want, depravity, greed; Expose, rebuke, remove them from the throne Let righteous justice take Her rightful place In the coming Summer of Salvation. © 2016 David W. Palmer
how to reply? there in my sight hear the breeze plead please find a way transcend all limits transcend all limits touch my poor heart loneliness banish teach me the secret loving a goddess
loving a goddess give wings to my soul today may be earthbound not so tomorrow let us be one © 2016 david w palmer
life turns Swiftly, on a dime; steal every kiss you can lest they move out of reach © 2016 david w palmer
SOLARITY (#313)
To every man there is a certain key By which his soul is unlocked, the stone That holds the arches of his life in place; To every man, there is a core around Which the elements of his universe Orbit in their synchronized music. For me, there is one key, one core, and she Conducts the movement of my symphony; My morning stars do sing for joy, even Venus heralds the deepening dusk at her Bidding. Before her, ‘twas pre-Genesis, Chaos and confusion, formless and void. But God stepped on to the ochre clay Banks of my soul, and brought to me my Eve. © 2016 David W. Palmer
Brigitte Giunta Moderator Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
Grain Elevator and Shipyard. Note the ice covering the bushes
Ice flows on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron Even when it seems still, ice is always moving
Top: Canadian Geese enjoying the pond Left: Seagull at the Shipyards, Ski Resort on Blue Mountain visible in the background
The Four Seasons Of Collingwood On the Shores of Lake Huron
Above: Overgrown railroad track Left: Heather’s Trail for pedestrians and bicyclists
Above: Historic Grain Elevator visible from the hiking/cycling trail Right:: Beautiful fall colors on our tree lined streets
Charita Gillette Moderator Of this world i have bled A mighty fall of tears ive shed To know you now is like a dream It is all i knew it would someday seem Trials i have faced and failed Tribulations i have sometimes bailed Now im grown and lessons learned I have what now i once have yearned I fight to grow and fight to know The truth in all,the space to grow You are now here i wont let go Life leads me towards what needs to show I sigh relief and smile so true, look forward to tomorrow,like others do And onward now to one more year I tell you folks, i have no fear! Š 2016 Charita Gillette
Travelin’ down my twisted path. so grateful for each thorn twist and turn.. I relish every web that grabs my brow.. my focus never ending is that light.. a precious faith I climb.. my ladder of hope © 2016 Charita Gillette
My mistakes do write A clear path to freedom Heart shows my love Always rang true for you I never once let you go Now God shows a clear path New chapters we will write Together always… souls entwined © 2016 Charita Gillette
Cindy Pecina Moderator He said
He said, let me be your sun, moon and stars, He said, let me be the rain that for the world as a playground will be ours. falls from your sky He said, for I cannot lie, I want to be your guy. I don't care about only being in your bed, He said, let me be the wind that I want the two of us to blows your hair to and be wed. fro, I promise to never let Cindy Pecina Š 2016 you go.
Craig Burt CB Fall Moderator Time Breaks Clouds are dancing and hovering Above me Sadness is flowing In my veins On a beautiful day trying to enlighten thee But first must find Light within me. For sadness erases All color, and grey Is my mood.
Sweet Friend Glad to meet you Once again Your bright smile never fails To wash away my pain You're the extra pair of eyes I need To see this brave old world anew I'm glad I met you Here in the rings of my moon A smile so pure & true Twists and turns, and out of tune I will get you out of the blue I'll be there when you're down In ways, more than a thing or two Life is never fun without you.
Š Craig J. Burt & Rusty Rimes 2016
Copyright Craig J. Burt & Maricris Cabrera 2017
Poet Desh Moderator Pune, India Dear friends, Someday I will quietly leave your party, After reciting my poems for your pleasure, Then laying down my notebook gently Like putting an infant to sleep in his cradle, And you may not know even when did I leave, While my poem was still humming to itself, And the weary, soulless walls of our room Were echoing your friendly appreciation Which was lit up with the light of your love. I have silently closed its door behind me, But here under the canopy of the starry sky, I, still here, my poem now dissolved in time, And with a smile look back at your gathering, Wishing your joyous party may continue on! Š Poet Desh
My full name is P. D. Deshpande. I am 72, living in Pune, India with my wife. Initially I worked for many years as a Mechanical Engineer in the Indian Railways (administrative post). Then I took up writing and painting. I have held 3 solo exhibitions of my oil paintings. I have 13 published books to my name in my native language,Marathi. They are poetry collections, collection of short stories, poetic essays, critical essays and I have versetranslated Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', 'The Tempest', 'Coriolanus', his of all 154 sonnets and have written a novel in two volumes (total 1262 pages) about his evolution from a village lad to a great playwright and poet for all time. I have also written critical essays analyzing his tragedies. All my books have been well received and appreciated both by the common readers, and critics, and have won many awards. Now, with a view to address readers across the world, I have started writing poems in English and posting them on G+. Though most of them are somewhat philosophical in nature, I am glad and humbled by the fact that they are being well received.
Divine Name: Om
Definition of the Infinity We are at a sea-side resort. Starlit night has descended, Spreading its wings over the sea, Which has become a part of sky, Its waves, too, have become blue. Alone, I am strolling on the shore, Thankfully there is no one around To intrude upon this rare meeting Of me with myself without any mirror. I start feeling the murmur of waves Reverberating in my shell-like heart, And though I feel like a grain of sand, I now realize my divine essence, And the definition of infinity. Š 2016 Poet Desh
Duane Phillips Moderator Shore to Shore Children play by the edge A ribbon of water streaming between Tadpoles flit about Minnows dart from short to shore A step across and they are joined To enjoy their fun together Across the lake they go Motorboats, canoes and kayaks Waterski and wakeboard One starts here, the other there From shore to shore
In the middle they enjoy And share their lake together I see the sunrise You see the sunset Both a vision to behold Separated by oceans wide We soak them in From shore to shore Separately we share The connection of the beauty we see Š 2016 Duane Phillips
Duane Phillips, a father of four with a curious mind and artistic heart who loves to write and express what is inside: stories or poetry, his mission is, ultimately, the same
Life
Drink deep the cup Your days will shift
Open your eyes What do you see?
Oh join with me
A world with lies
Live out the gift
What should you be?
Love them for free
Give them a lift The sun shines bright And stars above
Embers are fanned
Living is right
Now they know why
When filled with love
So joyous the land Bright is the sky
Life is all mine Also yours too
The sun shines bright
Miracle find
And stars above
What will you do?
Living is right When filled with love
Open it up Š 2016 Duane Phillips
Accept the gift Sleep
departed
Sleep, oh blissful sleep
Magic flows and spins on How I love to count the sheep high Makes me move, hover, fly Sleep, oh blessed slumber How I want to count the number Drifting off to lands uncharted Seeing dear loved ones
Even asleep I shed a tear Lovely sleep where my mind renews And my awesomeness
Darkest dangers and fears await
accrues
Trapped within the web of fear
I love sleep even when alarms go off
Sleep is grand and you can And I cannot unlock the gate scoff
Gelda Castro Gel Poetry Garden Moderator Gelda Castro, Mother, Secretary, Teacher, Poetess. The passion for words has always been in my being, but the love of poetry has entered my life without asking for permission and settled in my heart, soul, mind. For about seven years, I have reserved a little of my time to Transcribe in my notes all that my inspirations insist on revealing to the world, things of a restless heart which in poetry found breath. One day I decided that I would make public these notes, which you can find and read in my blog: gel2015c.blogspot.com
Perhaps... I walk, leaving my personal brand by the way, along with some petals what remains of our spring My footprints are a clue for you to find me My silence is actually a cry choked in the throat. My mystery, a provocative challenge to seduce you more and more I walk slowly, may you reach me Perhaps we crossing the path, together Perhaps ŠGel Poetry Garden 2016
Still winter... In the middle of the harsh winter my little bird survives for hope planted in his restless heart It just needs a little warmth and attention This way it will sing to my ears your most beautiful and passionate songs come, with certainties and truths But, just come if you're ready and sure what you want And I will shelter you in my arms and heart The rest will happen spontaneously ŠGel Poetry Garden 2016
Matt Aguilar “gutter punk” Moderator Flesh like snow an evening light Shimmering beauty O, the opalescent delight The scent of your words As you write, write with your teeth a sonnet of my dreams With just one bite...
Like a fragrance You captured me in the winds that whisper from your red lips It sends me adrift, in wet locks of your flowing rivulets that cascade from your hair Hints of honeysuckle on a warm evening, in the gallows of light If I could have you in a bottle I would just stare Like when the stars died to create you I watched from afar and atop the summit Who knew my death would be self committed On the winds of baby's breath and Forget-me-not's Alone in the sky Just like the moon I just sit and watch
© matt aguilar Dec 2016
© matt aguilar Jan 2017
Phil Renaud “Phil R.” Moderator Friends, Cyber, pen-pal, in-need Best, frenemies, with benefits, In high places, long lost Close or passing acquaintances These are a few of the many types of friends. Like the rose friends come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Roses are white, red and blue. Sometimes roses are a bush. Sometimes they are single plant. And other times they are a bouquet. So it is with friends. Friends are to be cherished as one would cherish a prize rose. The rose must be fed, watered and nurtured to be strong and healthy. So it is with friends. Friends can be like two ships passing in the night. Occasionally the ships sail together. And other times they are together for a short period and then they are gone. So it is with friends. Like a peaceful meandering river, friends are fluid. Sometimes the river pools and stays in one spot. Most times the river just flows along aiding growth and giving life to the land. So it is with friends. Friends are part of everyone’s life. Friends are to be loved and held dear. Friends can last a lifetime. Be nice to your friends and treat them respectfully. © Phil Renaud 2015
Inspiration Reading poetry Looking for inspiration For my haiku works © Phil Renaud 2015 Frozen Your love is like fire Burning the ice away from My frozen heart © Phil Renaud 2016 Lord… Forgive my misgiving Bestow love and tenderness On your meek servant © Phil Renaud 2015
Nasreen Malik Moderator Moonlight In the still of the Night I seemed to have lost my way Wandering alone along the path of the River Beautiful Moon is all l can see The screeching of the Owls The Sound of Crickets Beautiful night Sky The Moon's light shining, casting endless Shadows The Cool Breeze awakening my Senses Ah! such delight
I watch the River cutting it's path Ripples of Water breaking here and there The Moon Reflecting it's image on the Water I break the reflection with a Pebble Ohh l seem to be enjoying this Plonk! Plonk!!! Such delight to my Eyes I could forever wander in the dark but danger lurks
Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016 [Background Photo Credit: Š Nasreen Malik 2017]
Beautiful Savanna Africa, Oh! Africa So beautiful Acacia trees spread so wide As far as the Eyes can see Grass so Green Never ending beauty Mountains so vast Hills never ending Dusty Roads Uuuuuffff, getting up my nostrils Choking my senses Blocking my view Creepy crawlies crawling everywhere Oh! got to tread gently incase l step on one Chorus of the Jungle birds Sounds of Wild Animals Oh! l hear a Lion in the distance An Elephant blowing his Trumpet A deer sounding like a Car's siren An Owl cooing Oops! A Snake!!! Snakes scare my wits
I need to take off Alas, I am in trouble Beautiful Giraffes So tall Reaching the canopies of Acacia Trees Munching away at the Greenery What magnificent beauty in the wilderness I could drive all day Gulping down such beauty My Africa, you are the best Copyright Nasreen Malik 2016
Richard M. Knittle, Jr. Moderator Beauty in God’s Creations Walking on the beach just as the sun was going down the evening sky was a beautiful shade red and gold as it was reflecting off the blue waters of the ocean back to shore The beauty of the sky looked as If God in all of his wondrous glory had painted it just for me to see and at that very moment in my mind I thought it had looked almost just as beautiful as you while tears filled my eyes, As we look around us at all of God’s creations it is not that hard to find where beauty can be found, For me I never
need to look very far to find His beauty for I just look to you and the beauty that you are. I am very sure that when God was finally done creating the beauty that Is you He had finally rested for perfection takes sometime to complete and believe me when I say that God did perfect you, as your beauty will forever be and stand all the test of time. So know every night that I get on my knees put my hands together and pray as I look up to him and I say, “God, first of all, I love you and thank you for the wonder life that I have today for you found me on the
ground. I had nothing so you reached out and I grabbed your hand as you helped me stand to become the man that I am. Second, I thank him that you are mine for the beauty that you always show comes from deep inside of you that starts with a heart so full of love and all the kindness that you show, for a woman's true beauty starts not from what you may see on the outside but from inside of her heart, mind, and soul. If you look real hard you just may possibly see her majesty the very next reigning beauty queen. © Richard M Knittle Jr. A Poet’s Journey
I write poetry because God gave me the gift to do so and I do my very best. Poetry in the United States is one if the most unappreciated and unsupported arts that we have but that does detour me from writing what I feel. I am a very unorthodox writer and poet. I do not hide how or what I feel at any given moment and that comes out in my writing. I have been called by my several PhD's as "one the greatest writers of this century" which, believe me, I do very much appreciate. I have been called a reckless poet for my very deep emotional poetry and my resisting the norm attitude. I was nominated for 2017 Texas Poet Laureate for which I am very honored. I won a war of love against hate for my son
Ryder. I have met so many great fans both personally and across all levels of social media around the world, and many other Poets and Authors whom I am proud to call friends and family. Thank you all for the last three years for without you I never would have become the person I am today. In 2017 I plan on a year of major change for Ryder and I with a new job taking me away from Texas to Oklahoma. I hope that I can continue to write the poetry that I write and I hope you continue to enjoy it... I love you all from the bottom of my heart and wish peace and prosperity for you and families.
—Richard M. Knittle, Jr.
Richard M. Knittle, Jr. Is a published author All of his books are available on Amazon.com at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Richard-M-Knittle-Jr./e/B00K3NPJ0U/ ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Sean Runyon Moderator Memoirs from a Mad Mind
scurry I move quickly to find the Lost pieces of this jigsaw puzzle I have come to call my life It seems Ambivalent my mixed feelings have become unsure of were to place the next piece upon this bewildered puzzle that has become my mind
So please God guide my feet that will allow me to walk upon the fertile loam of prosperity understanding and clarity Give me the ears so I can listen to the Poetry of fate for I know the Poetry of fate always had something different in mind God Give Me Your ears... Life is a jigsaw puzzle be ever so careful of where you place the pieces of your heart for those pieces may never be found and may stay lost in the forest of regret forever Memoirs from a Mad Mind Poetry written by Sean Thomas runyon copyright 2016 art photography done by Sean Thomas runyon copyright https://m.facebook.com/seantr67/
You are the murmurs, those thoughts that silently susurrate within my mind You are the Adam's ale that slakes, that satisfies my thirst, the spirit that guides when mind is muddled, and demented from life's Follies You are the light I follow when my darkness ensues, the pinion the wings in which I rest upon when soul of mine gravel's upon the rock of idiocy You are my cross. My Fire, my mother, you are my beautiful lover Always remember my beautiful friends try to love your wife, husband, and children as Christ loved the church Written by Sean Thomas Runyon copyright 2016 art photography done by Sean Thomas Runyon copyright 2016
humbled am I before the beauty that lies before my eyes The man that I am bows to the covenant Of your heart
walk have I that thin line between heaven and hell and Upon the throne of Satan kingdom sat have I and tasted his world upon my tongue I have stood at the glorious gates of my heavenly father and felt the splendorous love of his heart Beating within my soul And Upon the fork in the road I stood both side pleading for the splendorous heart of my soul And upon the closing door to my anger I heard the soft whispers of God voice speak unto me and say my son for whatever side you choose that is where your soul well lie upon the open doors of it's fate For both sides my son shall welcome you with open arms and both sides so shall spit you out upon the thin lines you shall walk my son for ever more We all choose in which Thin line we walk upon in which do you walk Memoirs from a Mad mind poetry Written by Sean thomas runyon Copyright 2016 all art photography done by Sean Thomas Runyon https://m.facebook.com/Memoirs-from-a-mad-mindpoetry-by-Sean-Thomas-Runyon-166446427056155/
Like sheaves of corn that you gather unto yourself You thresh me to make naked You alone bare my soul You sift me free from husks tarnished past no more You grind me into whiteness of snow You knead me to the love of your Heart manhood of I is yours For I am humbled before the beauty that lies within my eyes Written by Sean Thomas Runyon copyright 2016 All art photography done by Sean Thomas Runyon https://m.facebook.com/Memoirs-from-a-mad-mind -poetry-by-Sean-Thomas-Runyon-166446427056155/
Sib Borjigin Los Angeles, California Moderator Received her fine art education and now lives in the diverse-colorful city of Los Angeles, her artist’s core spirit roots deep. She is a painter, an interior decorator, a selfemployed, considers herself very lucky loving what she does for living. She is exploring the beauty of marrying art and poetry in recent years. “Art is food for soul, and poetry is a fine art that humbles me; I am still learning” — Sib Borjigin.
Better Plan
Chase horizon To learn turbulent I kneel down to the truths mighty If follow the sea birds God Will I find peace He knows The twirls and turns I know no better of fate plans Merely chances not Than pondered Resting wings to the Do I breeze Rise and fall Where I go In quest of proviSmooth air caresses dence calm water If prayers granted Sun kisses the Moon Will I be wiser And me be taken By the rhythm I stagger to the edge chosen Ocean It surges As I fly The waves and tides Route free of flow Plan free Merely current not forced ©Jun-2016. Would I Sib Borjigin
Pause Don’t tell anyone If you see me sluggish
Might just an occasional fall Or perhaps your presence Carelessly caught my attention There I lost my bounce for a moment Not condemned or doomed or Downed by Anything Pause Let me rest Exhale abrupt soreness To the air in numbness Curled up All I need is a doze Before the next dance
Š 11-09-2016 Sib Borjigin Image: Edited watercolor, Sib Borjigin.
Kimberly Leuthner Heart Arts Moderator
Kimberly began her journey into the arts and poetry as a young girl, inspired by music and lyrics. Her first attempts at creating her own songs would take place laying on the carpet of her childhood bedroom, sprawled out with notebooks, pens, pencils, a sketch pad, a double record home stereo system and a crate of blank tapes. She would write lyrical raps, and is self confessed to have invented the first rigged version of what today would call auto tune, but that's our little secret. She wrote as many do, of her teenage angst and her first young love. Today she writes to inspire others, to offer a voice to the unspoken. She hopes that her work would reach to those who need to hear it, and would enjoy it, just as the words did for her from that young girl right up until today. She feels it is an honor and a privilege to share in voicing the heartbeat, culture, traditions, and spirituality of today, hoping it is received with its true intended purpose, to love and to serve.
It's a small thing, to say Thank you, but capable of lightening the heaviest burden. — Kimberly Cherish our love, hold me closer as days grow colder, tap tenderness
when I'm bitter. — Kimberly I've traveled lightyears through your heart and soul, I'm wanting now to call it home. — Kimberly
The secret of the moon A twinkling star admired the moon He winked she blushed And began the swoon For her love he was happy to please Lighting her way Through darkness with ease His charisma was strong To his glorious smile She was magnetically drawn Finally he knelt and offered his name The closer they got The brighter she became Together they light the night sky The moon and his beloved Joined as one for all time Whenever you feel the magical glow It's the love of the two As it eternally grows By Kimberly © Poetry and art
HOW TO SEE A prickly bush attached to me I had to carry it's branches home So mommy could gently get them off And I could stroll merrily along Back to playing and making a mess Not caring a bit about my favorite dress Little did I know there was a party that day My dress covered in mud made mommy uphappy I said to her as tears rolled down my cheek Bleach it like Daddy does, and I'll just wear it pink She hugged me and with a smile she said Daddy's colorblind sweety he doesn't know that it's red I couldn't really understand what she meant at the time To see with love and kindness, is what he taught me I'd find. Kimberly © 2016
And then And then there was birth and life and then death And nobody cared and nobody wept All thought they were right As they moved to the left And into the darkness everyone crept Hoping for answers in dreams as they slept Giving blindly their love to the unholiest theft To live legacy over life and the moments it kept Gathered in secret circles and swept For the next generation to get it correct All thought they were right as they moved to the left And then there was birth and life and then death Kimberly © 2016
Nicoleta Neagoy Moderator Our Secrets I heard the tree tops talk today I sat upon my ankles to shoo the sneakers’ Snickers It must have been the wind, but no, I heard the tree tops talk And the brush blushed to think I now knew The secret of the wood Not unlike all people, they tell What is overheard…and it is okay, I can keep the news a secret The confessions were said in a grind And the snap lay flat in a crack Who would know that amidst the green and blue, The nuances of shades whispered the truth? It was then that I walked ahead in search of the altar For I too had a gracious something to share with the community: “Please, excuse my interfering” grounded on the earth I whispered Everything I could that would not disrupt the peace, and finally, “thank you.” I heard the tree tops talk today, and they said, You’re welcome! You’ re welcome! You’re welcome! You’ re welcome! Nicoleta I. Neagoy © 12-4-2016
AT SEVEN… It was in step with each day of the week To be blissfully waiting to hear, to seek A new word spoken by friends in school. “inghetata” was “sorvete”, “helado” cool-the Romanian, the Portuguese, and Spanish are languages saying “ice cream”; yum dish. There is excitement in expressing the unspoken; The heart flutters the twirl of thoughts as a token Of self, of identity, and at the age of seven, it is still dawn. In retrospect, the rest from the hubbub’s weekly lessons Nurtured ways needed on the unknown paths’ blossoms The dance lingers to be soulfully felt in the weight upon each sole As the years pass, and age arrives to teach the ways, we need console. Monday through Sunday humans are born to be welcomed aboard the earth And one by one then adventure to meet eternity to see the child from death to birth. Nicoleta I. Neagoy © 10-19-2016
“With the situation in Aleppo causing so much inhumanity, death and destruction, poetry is seen as a creative activity, based on original thought. It demonstrates to the readers that in this mist of madness, there are people left who really care.” —Allan Ball, Poet
A poetic and pictorial essay By the Poets and Artists of Canvas to My Soul, Public Site & Canvas of My Soul Private Site
Watch this section of inSIGHT on YouTube Part One: https://youtu.be/zm7YmZXnJA0 Part Two: https://youtu.be/66rWZuVtpts
When and why We became so brute Not hesitate to bomb in public Or anywhere at will we shoot. For Gen-Next are we Making the earth livable Destroying civilizations Artifacts, structures songs and fables We were made by the same God Sent to this planet to make it heaven Alas! Have forgotten every thing Became tyrants and not the human When will realize All being killed are our own When will we understand Meaning of Vasudhaive Kutumbkam! Š 2017 Arun Sharma
Aleppo Market Before and After Old City
HUMANITY IN A COMATOSE CONDITION
children have done to them? They are the future of Syria! OH GOD! Leaving their Motherland For what sin of theirs definitely not a good sign! such a punishment? Things are out of control. Who will achieve what Lamenting doesn't help by these barbaric acts? in any way! My pulse stops Oldest city of Syria, watching these cruelties. Aleppo, Has humanity closed its ears has completely to their cries? lost its glory! Oh Lord, Who is going to bell the why are you silent? cat ? What is it that is forcing you to keep mum? (c) 2017 B.S.Saroja Can you not fill some sense 4-January,2017 into the minds who “do not know what they are doing� What these innocent "
This poem is a reaction to the tragedy in 2015 that the world witnessed of the little Syrian toddler washed ashore like a piece of debris. It is also a tribute to the many lives being massacred in the hell on earth that is taking place in Aleppo today. Let the world not forget for the sake of our children.
https://youtu.be/Ko-LsHE3lxo Roses for Barabbas: Somewhere in the world A lamb of God is being sacrificed As the sun sinks to the tune Of her bleating cry It is an orchestrated symphony Between sun and lamb That takes place daily And the heavens bear witness To this tragedy Somewhere in the world A thief is set free Under the cover of The raging night And eyes that are watching Turn the other cheek For their own selfish interests To take flight
Perhaps humanity is Treading under an angry sun For happiness wears Like a thin cloth of tulle And many who are meant to shine Are constantly being overrun Like fresh bouquets of roses Carelessly thrown into the ocean It may be that a Barabbas Resides in each of us For no one is truly innocent And we are all looking for That sacrificial lamb As we cry bloody murder By what our very own Hands have done And the dirge of roses For Barabbas ...goes on Š 2016 Skylark Hatee
haiku and micro poetry for Aleppo Picking the daisies One by one Out of their home They never last long
a dream of a peaceful world... Aleppo Willie Bongcaron
Slowly they wilt from life
Mal ward ©
© 2017
Haiku for Aleppo by Willie Bongcarron
new year revelry... can they still feel the difference --the taste of pain too deep ... bomb shelter --broken dreams... Aleppo's children lost count
a starless night ... Aleppo a moonless night --sleepless night tears scape amidst the flares of light --Aleppo... is God asleep Aleppo
wrb/o1.o5.2o17
Aleppo
We must come to understand World possession will not stand.
My heart goes out to innocents
It's not a place for us to possess
In a world turned upside down
Learn from your past they don't have more and leave this world with less.
Buildings collapsed to the ground. The world stands in surprise While tears from survivors do rise
What we leave our children is the world that is right,
A feeling of hopelessness has come And a peaceful life without a reato pass son to fight. Let us come together with prayers When all leave this world in vain and hope it's their last. Check your grave for nothing of To ever endure, hatred with no cure the world remains. Mixed emotions undoubtedly for We really need to learn to take sure. only what is given We are all part of a grander plan So in after life, your heritage reThe world must rise and take a mains living. stand. Š 2017 Robert Gillette In the web of life, all things are as one, We should come together until hatred is done. This is not the Creator’s plan To kill your brother and fellow man.
DANCING DEATH City beautiful turned into ruins Night frightened by bullets and bombs Dancing death swallowing the innocent Hungry children crying for bread Injured crying with unbearable pain Even debris of the city beautiful Weeping to hear the cry O my poet friends with golden pens Let's try to bring back Snatched smile of innocent people Of Aleppo (C) 2017 SURINDER SINGH
Aleppo Dear God, why are you doing this to me My country has fallen prey to the Evils of Mankind Torn is every inch of me My country does not belong to me anymore My Heart aches when l see the dying Souls on the streets My mom and dad, where are you.? I seem to have forever lost you in these calamities that have befallen us Dear God help us, help my people The Evil atrocities, the carnage, the hate, the endless bombardment Shelling every inch of Aleppo My once a beautiful city Now just a mere rubble Not a single Soul in sight Just Gunfire sounds Smoke looming Dust rising out of bombardment
Oh! Stop this terror If you lost a child, a Mother, a Father or next of Kin Would you not be torn apart? Why don't you stop this War?
So many lives lost Wasted in this Evil War The War, a choice of Men it was No one cares Thousands turned into Refugees Fleeing away from our Motherland Syria Going into the unknown seeking Asylum Either dying on the Roads or ending up in Refugee camps Hunger and thirst is endless No food, no Water, no sanitation for many a day Good Samaritans helping on the way Mothers and Fathers carrying their babies Walking endlessly The elderly perishing The sick have no medicine Dear God‌. You are watching this
Today l kneel in front of you Please save my country or rather what's left of it Let us rise again I want to come home again.... Yes, home where l rightfully belong Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2017
Aleppo, How Many Times Can We Say Never Again?
We nurture in our hearts every day Using each hateful thought To place labels Where will the next Aleppo be While ignoring the names of people, Here at home Which of course Or across the seas, Makes us coarser inside Maybe we will export genocide across Making it much easier to fool ourselves the universe into thinking Leaving other lifeforms shaking at the They're not human beings, mere mention of our name, We take sides without informing And why do we say "Never again" ourselves first When it's obvious we don't mean it, Letting the media or the government For the perpetrators are no more guilty guide our decisions than the rest of us and maybe it just comes down to the Our silence cold fact and our unwillingness to act That many of us don't give a damn Endorses their violence, about anyone except ourselves, But someday we will be victims of But could it be our silence springs from genocide ourselves another source? Who will mourn for us Maybe it's the racism we carry inside and why should the people of Aleppo Whether it's given a voice or not, care? Maybe it's in the envy we have of an- What did we do to deserve their other person's life or property, concern? Maybe it's in the way we pride ourselves on our religion being better than Jack Dankof another’s, Š jdankof2017 Maybe it's the genocide
Voices crying out, and echoing through the city of souls lost. A city That leads to its final destruction, and its battles that left bruises Marked upon its crevices of the land. People in disbelief hoping For a way out of this terrible tragedy that is amongst them... Aleppo Syria, is yearning for a change, a change of peace, and Prosperity. Waiting for a time to build again, and a time for children To laugh, and play. Waiting for a resolution into solving such horrific Violence that is being carried upon the people... All hearts are crying in mourn, as this monster grows, and carries On its victims into its darkness. Its ruins is devastating, devouring The minds of humankind taken into remembrance of what has Occurred. A memory that will never be forgotten, a memory of All hearts‌. Š Tanya Jean Williams 2017
CRIES OF ALEPPO Somewhere in Syria, Aleppo, An expectant mother is daunted. Not wanting to deliver her child. Her feet at the door of the world, Aptly, the abode of hell. A pregnant refugee, no home or family, With what would she fill her hands? Except for a zillion reasons to die. A city whose hands are stained in blood, Lies in a voiceless state and baffled eyes. The physique now not so in shape, All it owns is ashes and ruins. A fist once filled with childlike smiles, Now is empty, robbed of its life. When its tears fall upon its lap, The silence of houses wail, when empty they stand. A young boy turned an orphan, A mother wails, in her lap lies her dead son. Loss of homes, Families, Identities, Motherland, Lives. What did they gain from this war? The devil is pleasantly sitting in his chair, His barbaric eyes and hellish smile, paralyzing. How heinously does he mock at this massacre! When numberless innocent victims, wail and whimper. O Lord of Light, how can You not see those tearful eyes? How are the laments, shrieks & sobs unheard by Your mighty ears? How dear Lord, are You ignorant to the ceaseless monstrosities? I earnestly plead to grant mercy O God, I earnestly plead to grant PEACE. Š Dr. Tanvi Shah
A flash of dreaded terror Lights go out and stay out Lives are worth less than the stroke of a pen
Everyone turns a blind eye People degraded , subjugated , interrogated left to die O when will the inhumanity of man ever be
sated State sponsored terrorism Yesterdays dead now food for flies Relentless waves of death and destruction Ignored by so called peacemakers Armchairs parked in front of tv tuned into the six o’clock Horrors
Š Garry Spooner 5 January 2016
Smithereens Gone are the empires Is it God's pattern to stir up the kings? Or is it the men who fetter the land They reign under the umbrella of raging fire Build temples and destroy their altars The land we believe to be His people's refuge The land, not even a single weed grows The people who believe their heritage Is the portrait of battles and kings They prefer to live in smog slumber And lives don't matter The ground is shaking, they are all running The once Holy Land now has become a graveyard Of children dying and cold Gone are the empires Eber Nari of the Mediterranean Sea Aleppo into smithereens So help them, God! Š 2017 Maricris Cabrera January 5, 2017
Is it wrong that I often despise humanity? The falsity of manipulation painted on feces drenched in chemical fragrance to numb the fresh stench of feces. Everyone scrambling for the pearly gates, lists in arse pocket detailing the souls they used as stepping stones to reach utopia within their poisoned minds. The false echo of television, propaganda spoon fed to the masses. Is it wrong that some days I despise humanity? Hate speech wrapped in a silk bow and sealed with a kiss of death, as children starve for our fears. As children die for our silence worse still, as children survive for our ignorance such sadness they must know. Blind rationality, fools leading the fools: where is the compassion in my fellow human? All out? Upon land, upon oceans, upon pixels not our problem. Not our problem. Not our problem. Since when did human lives become‌ not... our... problems.
Karen Hayward Š2017
UNTIL WHEN? Distinguished authorities of the world, Do not hide your faces behind the Ambitious masks of power! much less stand behind shadowy interests and veiled, whose rotten and evil minds kill innocent children and their families Enough! Fools of soul, mind and heart, sick and bloody headed puppets by an obscure and cowardly power that hides, vile are all the intentions that are politely placed on the table of false agreements Foolish men! Insane! Until when? Until when will we see stupefaction such barbarity and such cruel arbitrariness, by those who should care for human rights? What power is it that kills children ? How long will our eyes see such misfortune? Until when will our ears hear the cries of Aleppo ? Š 2017Gel Poetry Garden
between the frontlines they tell us about shelter and peace children on the run from
one winter to the next Š 2017 Eva Limbach soap from Aleppo the scent of a strange spring
boy from Aleppo his smile as the dog stops barking
a prayer mat unrolled between ruin spring in Aleppo
certain nights on the run as well I'm relieved that there is no place for me to arrive
another border Closed snow in march Palmyra templest hey talk about new peace far from home we flavor our coffee with sugar and cardamom
left behind in the turmoil of war unspeakable the first seven letters of her name evacuation between Aleppo and Idlib winter deepens
Syria
Streets are red Faces white
Grey sky World is black Š 2017 maryam mirza
Together Together We lost in the longest night Smog storm of hatred swallows and darkens In despair Who will lead to the light Each other we shall reach Hand in hand we shall fist Only us Together find the path
Together We pray for the morning stars Faith be strongest believe and march In courage When will come the daybreak Each other we shall embrace Heart to heart we shall trust Only us Together bring the sunrise
Š 01-06-2017, Sib Borjigin
They have seen so much So happy to see safety Images don’t leave © 2017 Duane Phillips
I AM CHILDREN OF WAR who I am, last name is war children of war born, live, die for war war, don't let us choose if it my fate, I live another hour, another day till then, l am who I am children of the war my heart, beat as yours heartbeat, eating my body against destructions, against devastation of humanity of race, of legacy of country I know it's mine, yet belong to others who I am, still children of war in life and in death home is alive & walking my roof is missiles my bed is land mines my blanket is prayers my land, never known my name, couldn't remember all I known, I am children of the war my calling is war
my song, my summons upon my soul, upon all my body, is my soil my water is my blood my air is genocide my rain drown us all
seeing war seeing death see no peace, seem no one care rally relish no honor what's real is war what's real is death what's real no one wins what's real millions homeless what's real millions more orphans realign graves we dig for all the taken soul's. children of war, I will always be knowing where would be my place I am only one of many souls passing through the day I born and the day I die the war never die but I found my peace Š 2017 azliahsuhod/ 8-January, 2017
Quotes for Peace Presented by Mark Norris “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.� --Helen Keller
"If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth." --Anthony de Mello
"We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves,
"Given the amount of unjust suffering and unhappiness in the world, I am deep-
and we are not at peace with ourselves
ly grateful for, sometimes even perplexed
because we are not at peace with God." --Thomas Merton
by, how much misery I have been spared." --Dennis Prager
"I do not believe that sheer suffering teach-
"Today I choose to live with grati-
es. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willing-
tude for the LOVE that fills my heart, the PEACE that rests within my spirit and the voice of HOPE
ness to remain vulnerable."
that says all things are possible."
--Anne Morrow Lindbergh
--Unknown
Aleppo: A Cry for Peace; A Photo/Poetic Essay By the Members of the Twin Communities Canvas Of My Soul, Private Site; Canvas to My Soul, Public Site Credits: Producer, Editor & Opening Layout—Maricris Cabrera; Photo Collage Engineering — Sean Runyon; Page Layout — David Palmer & Maricris Cabrera; YouTube Video iMovie — David Palmer
General Poems … because of life
...because of beauty
… because of art because poetry is...
… everything!
Maricris Cabrera Dumaguete City,
Philippines Dancing In Clouds A free spirit in a trance a glimpse of her heart aspiring special plans her scent, a music to his soul If he is the one she's dreaming of then she would not dare wake up as the morning dove is soaring soaring high beneath the stars. Dazzled over the view every minute yet by chance his curiosity grew if he could ask her for a dance as he watched her auburn hair combed with sunlight waiting for the magic moment when nothing can tear them apart. Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
Thinking of memories with you Is all I want to do A sweet reminisce of our first kiss Keeps my heart in Bliss Special adventures that we would take In my heart so real not fake Rolling in fields of wildflowers So many times for hours and hours Swimming in tea color River Thoughts up my spine so good it shivers Not to mention the time in snow A special place only you and i know Remember the cabin’s fireplace Blushing comes across my face Places only we knew in time In my heart you will always be mine Never have I ever knew Someone to me as precious as you
Š Robert Gillette
Allan Ball Born To Be Our Savior
He Listens When We Pray
Cradled In A Virgins Arms So Peaceful And Content Through His Grace And Mercy Our Sins Will Be Washed Born To Be Our Saviour Away A Gift From Heaven Sent Our Heavenly Father Blessed Us With His Only Begotten Son
Believe In His Truth And Wisdom His Love Sets Our Spirits Free
Our Reward Awaits In To Grant Us All Salvation Heaven His Journey Had Begun To Rest In Peace For Eternity . Our Saviour Truly Loves Us Allan Ball © 2016 .
Desire I may never know I may never understand I may die with questions My “why’s” the only answer? There is no denial To this passion the love I desire Yes, desire The love that took my breath away My mind will not forget My heart will not stop the ache I desire Thoughts continue with force and focus The whys do not matter, they fly freely I give them life No stopping this flight I fly with the bliss discovered day and night A love so rich and aching There is no stumble I take my steps, seeking all I vehemently desire Depths of heart and soul No amount of time will succumb to denial of all I desire D Davis © 12/1/16
Beautiful
Pure admiration for me
Always spoke the truth
He called me beautiful His first words to me I will never forget that
He called me beautiful He didn't know my view Beautiful I saw him too
He called me beautiful I will believe his words In memories they'll live
He called me beautiful Those were his words When I first met him
He called me beautiful He impressed me also I call him beautiful alike
He called me beautiful I am beautiful because His words revealed me
He called me beautiful Wasn't flirting with me But he saw me as such
He called me beautiful He failed miserably so His words stay with me
He called me beautiful Forever beautiful I'll be Thanking him for him
He called me beautiful He respected me so I thanked him for that
He called me beautiful No games played then There was none of that
He called me beautiful I smile as I think of him Beautiful he'll forever be
He called me beautiful There was no malice In his heart's intentions
He called me beautiful And I fell for his heart It wasn't his intentions
He called me beautiful His first words to me I will never forget that
He called me beautiful Saw past my physique Impacted by my soul
He called me beautiful Honorable man was he His memory still lingers
Beautiful I shall remain.... Beautiful he'll always be....
He called me beautiful Others saw my flesh The real me he did see
He called me beautiful How could I be such I never believed him so
CopyrightŠBetania 2017
He called me beautiful It was never more than
He called me beautiful He wasn't a man of lies
Betania (01/11/17)
Aloha Flowers like a firecracker bring delight to me, Their special light is spiritual as light touches my eyes, Finding Joy around each corner looking through the lens, when all seem lost and my mind wanders, The beauty of flowers brings me back to a smile ,and love within my heart again. — Š 2017 Kathy Paaaina, Hawaii
How high the sun As it shines bright on my smooth face Picture perfect awesome day Pleasuring every inch of my being You my best friend make it complete. Copyright Craig J. Burt 1/5/17
futile war A couplet Sonnet For ev’ry soldier fallen on the field Another autumn leaf, a tree doth yield. Stagnated bodies lie in trenches mud The poppy rises coloured by their blood. Is life so cheap, we buy it with a gun? A trigger pulled can never be undone. So many wars, so many wasted lives While back at home, the grief of widowed wives. Yet have we learned the lessons from the past? Or found a way to nurture peace at last? Alas, I fear more bloodshed is to come For that which shocked and rocked, now words speak dumb. The chance for lasting peace the time grows late While greed is that which fuels the fires of hate. Š Garry Spooner 29 October 2016
I AM LIGHT I am light When my being expands toward the sky I am light when I recognize in myself and in the other the potentialities and failures that forming us I am light when I illumine the footsteps of other walking in darkness I am light when l Sublimate my senses and desires seeking mercy and forgiveness I am light when I make my hands a safe bridge to pass
those who are around me
By Gel Poetry Garden-Copyright 2016
Gelda Castro Gel Poetry Garden Rio de Janiero
Goodbye How do you say goodbye When the words Will not come Tell me How do you say goodbye When there is Nothing left to say When the words are lost And everything is broken When the heart remembers And will not forget Tell me How do you say goodbye When you cannot even breath When the sun will not shine And the clouds are persistent blue So tell me please How do you say Goodbye When the words will Just not Come out. - Ken Riccio original poems Š 2016
Red stained glass window On the landing between floors I am seduced by your romantic charms Each day as I go about my meanderings You sing me a song of time long forgotten Showing me glimpses of intangible beauty Fading the pain of deep wounds with joy Painting colored shadows upon blank white walls Light takes to you always as dance partner You inspire me to thoughts of poetry I smile as you grace this space with your personality Flirting with mine you help me shine And add just the right dab of color
Š 2016 Kimberly Leuthner Heart Arts
To Reach Shadow
Refuse to hollow sky; ever comfy in
It could be with a hope, a spot of Brimmed bath tub. Swims mind, Sweeps belly to back bone, back ink, Blossoms petals with memories, to heart! Mind to streaming, enfolding earth, Igniting wits, explode maintain high!
Skin ever essenced cared thirst, Rages smell. Hand from, old soft rub. Blushed, cheek, nose to bolt halt; Mind in illicit faith, rays stability,
Some to follow me embraced,
Endless seconds, self process,
Pledges sweet hymn, as on line,
Happiness conquered; impossible to
Feel some hollow perfumed heart! All in full consciousness , I feel.
Discard, bisects heart, body murmured,
You savage your warmth, pondering,
Ignoring incomplete life,
Tongue whispers in eager ear!
Š 2016 Kanta Roy
Silence, unfold searches secret of heart! Eyes entangled, revise of warmth Gratitude for glittering pearl, Ego offered Crystal dew, A quench to next to bare spot, Murmured, "where are you?� Happy blind mind, always
Kanta Roy West Bengal, India
Advertisement in Support of our Poets:
Reflections of love is a heartwarming book of modern poetry that will captivate its readers with inspirational poems and quotes, in a positive uplifting way. It reflects on love, friendship, forgiveness and emotional heartbreak. It will touch readers of all ages with feelings of love, hope and inspiration in a heartfelt and meaningful way. Available at amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Xlibris.com and other retailers. Š November 2015
Nostalgia Somewhere in the vast spaces of these thoughts Winding amidst the pillars of my mind, you linger It is there where I meet you, we meet there In silence and turbulence, of distraught thoughts For in the depth of my memories, you never fade Enthroned in my pulsating heart, there you abide Ever present, you are, in the destitute of my soul And there we reside, in this nostalgia of lost love ŠBetania 2016 (11/17/16)
A Walk into Wonderland Waking up to a absolutely gorgeous day Sings to my spirit and off we go. Out to the kitchen for a hot cup of coffee With ongoing excitement building with taking in the views outside my windows. I call on my spirit to bathe in the wilderness of our surrounding beauty. Glimmering trees and the purest of waters. Colors so real, they bleed into your mindset and spit out a story. Stories for telling and spreading the magic. The life forces are in a constant dance, yinging and yanging and always evolving. Taking a walk in the magical garden of nature's delight. Opens one's eyes to the endless surprises of God's given nature. Mysteriously stimulating and so very healthy. A walk in the forest, will open your Chakras. Like a walk into wonderland looking for Alice. My eyes are a Popping at every turn with amazement. Written by Ric Downing Copyrights 12/5/2016 Photo taken by +Laughing waters
Voice Thought I heard him Whispering my name Looking out the window Found my reflection staring back In a pitchy cold wet night It’s sound of the rain Murmuring tapping And I Forgotten why Reminiscing Was never there My lover A young man carrying an old suitcase His voice Became A clingy white noise
Š Sep-2016 Sib Borjigin
Sib Borjigin
Quest Once a salubrious flowering garden Now the stifling abyss Restless unsent letters Last wandering butterflies Twirl aloft In quest for hope Š 10-14-2016 Sib Borjigin
Heartache
heart
Oh! Pain Go away Please do not come back You keep filling my heart with an I want to live again ache I want to rebuild myself If only you knew how it hurts Please go away Leave me alone I don't need you
I hate you You have cut thru my heart Burning my feelings Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016
You make me cry You make me forget that I am loved You are My Tears
You are the hurt that gives me misgivings You have caused loneliness Am secluded amongst friends I look at you in doubt Everything around me has a Shadow You have created fear in my
Sketch Š 2016 Nasreen Malik
Crushed My mind races From one thought To another With no pause in between The weight of my life Rests heavily On my shoulders My past Preys on my mind My future Looks bleak My present Is grey and dark I feel like I am being crushed Like a sponge By my very Existence Š Phil Renaud 2016
Sweet Fragrance Aaahhhh! Such alluring fragrance My favorite
Sensually attracting my love Neither strong nor mild Just in between Like my love
Not too strong Neither too passionate Making my lover entwine in my grasp Soo Seductive
Arousing me passionately Kissing my Senses deeply 'You smell yummmy' He said His enticing looks
Erotically awakening me Until am totally captivated in his love Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2017
Poetry is... Poetry is a cool clear morning with a warm summer breeze, and the birds flying high In the sky while singing in the tall green trees. Poetry is the music we hear in the winter while the snow is falling down, it is all the stars in the night on a beach alone as you listen to the ocean’s waves as they make soothing sounds. Poetry is a newborn baby as it holds its mother tight while his father smiles uncontrollably at his brand new family and the beautiful sight. Poetry is the good times right now and in the past, and all of the memories of
the true loves that did not get to last. Poetry is your child as they look you straight in the eyes while knowing how much that they love you more than you ever could have ever realized. Poetry is something that you can taste, feel, and see, it will last forever and It will always be, Poetry Is in all of creation as far as you see, for Poetry lives inside of you and Poetry is me. Richard M Knittle Jr. © A Poet’s Journey
Eternal Air Between you and I Are rolling hills And stretching miles I'm looking to the horizon To no avail, That dulcet voice is not heard The shadow of beauty swallowed By the clouds. Still we are one, As I pay attention to my ears And hear a voice Saying distance is no barrier Once two hearts make a vow To shine in the darkest of times And affection blossoms In longest of distances. As I await your arrival I make a stitch with the tendons Of love So strong to twin make our hearts As I send a breath And have yours to breathe The eternal air. Štony adah 2016
Tony Adah Calabar, Nigeria
Foxyturby Turf
Walk on Walk fast, moving to life's destiny designed Past rocks and stones, rubbles, hampering And let your heart clear the path, turning each one Brushing them off your steps that road, that dirt Grow calluses with gladness Though the wind thus blows back each piece dusk dust Still Walk on, Walk fast Step not on another's path Destiny's sweet recluse, the soul's abode. Overcoming of joyous victory In sacrifice, in truth heaven smiles and the hands of time Lights each step; deaf to that tick-tock Walk on. Walk fast Moving to life's destiny. DESIGNED. Š2017FoxyturbyTurf's poetry
It is like an ornament The bond seems a fortiori When it is always adding Maney Jay Value day by day. TRUE FRIENDSHIP grows miles apart That is what we call pearlescent Happiness and sorrow both shine Giving new hope Around us My siblings Feel like greeting them With their whole heart Š 2017 Maney Jay
Negotiations of Remorse I tried to love you but you would not let me I wanted you to love me but you did not know how if I could do it all over again I would say I wished I never met you but somewhere in a dream I know that would be a lie my how times flies I used to think you were my world I used to think you were my girl but you were never mine just a tarnished star falling in your vanity fleeing from your insanity always seeking a way to shine sometimes all we can do is shuffle the pieces of our hearts and leave the memories laying on the floor for there is always another door just round the corner
as I step into the puddles of what comes next you are the remembered chapter in the book of me and I was so young when it began now there is only the ending to the dismembered book of we never to be read again by the eyes of this humble man and I will march on with the band of time and let the drummer boy play me to my end to my muse to my pen to my chaos to my mend where waits the extended appendage sent swift on the winds of a loving friend sing me a lullaby of my maiden and my mate so I may sleep in arms new of bundled joy let me wake on the morrow with a name licked sweet upon my lips that dissolves the crumbles of my tears and returns a smile bright in its beam that reflects the jesters grin so the paint of my weathered mask may be washed clean as I am warmed in the hours of this silent mourning with hope perched upon my shoulder as I bid a noble and welcome greeting to the hush of a winter's dawn Thoughts of a Single Man Š 2016 tm
In the Tombs of Jagged Freedom I was dubbed the unmuted wanderer Lost in the castle of a witch's grin As the blade of her smile pierced me Impaling me beyond the consequences of my skin She flung the word love into the air With a casual discord for all to see For all to capture For all to be tortured Beneath the cloak of her rapture I was her lover I was her friend I was her victim in the end This widow so black Who trapped me in her sticky web I suffocated on my trust Like a fish in a net Left dangling above water Air was my executioner The second she took my breath away The lines of connection were severed I fell hard and fast like the angel rebuked from heaven Striking the ground of my reality Perishing in the flames of woe Time burns hot Time burns slow As the seems of my dreams unraveled Infested by her taste While I digested arsenic and lace The humble crumbles of me Trickling in their prodded escape Just another faceless name Eradicated and erased Introduced and reproduced Recycled and replaced By a woman who was married only to
herself I was crushed by the weight of my sins Pricked by an arrow too crooked to flee My view skewed Too crooked to see My heart painted in the art of deception I the mockery of a jester Who smiled in shiny lipstick Leaving her red ragged kiss on the collar That seeped into the fibers of my noose Until no trace was left of me in chalk The good and the best of me Outlined in a homicide of fates fairy tale tragedy An unsifted gifted periodical Washed away in the rain with yesterday's trash A weathered headline tethered to the tomb of forgotten news In the wake of a newly churned mourning Bound by the strings of her malevolent whim As my words became passages of sifting ash And my love the dust within her wind Thoughts of a Single Man Š 2016 tm
THE GOD'S GRACE AMONG US The song of the morning beauty Carried by singing birds in trees Nature's precious oyster shells in the water Making what they doing best, river pearls Midnight moon hiding shyly behind Sun Resting to shortly give us more of her shine The heart of the Mother Nature so loving You listen to her hum, new story began Alps air so fresh, all the wonderful beings joyfully greeting new glorious morn This day is reminding me of snow white paper God's hand holding the pen, a new story begins The water is flowing, runs down the high hill The snow tops is glowing, amazingly bright It seems that the mountain blush really slightly Consuming the gold of the life giving Sun The rivers are melting, rush fast down high hill So they can bring life to the valley and sea Soon mountain stream get embraced by the ocean And wave really gently are rocking the boat Nature is imparting the sweetest of fragrance Birds flying and touching the blue clear sky God's glory is present in each place of this Earth The animals running on her emerald eyes
Tree brunches reach, bending and comforting each other Few blossoms loose petals, they flow like snow Some people will say this day cannot be better I have to agree God's glory is amongst us all January 2017(C) Baleshwar Purohit, Laughing Waters
HYMN TO THE BELOVED (With great collaboration of the dearest poetess Gel Poetry Garden + Ahmed Moynr) The true encounter with being loved produces on us the sweetest fruits of paradise The word of the beloved Is to my ears a law that deliciously invades my ears and there remains The pure and true look of my beloved is like the calm and clear waters from my homeland Every attitude of the one I love fills me with courage and pride to see the life through a new look that brings me hope and peace
The name of my beloved is different from all others because I spell it with the heart and I drawing it in the palm of my hand The hair of my beloved they are for me the blanket In the cold night and Its perfume It's an immersive balm
The sincere and timid smile from my love makes me think worth trusting and believing In human being again My beloved is the choice from my heart and reason in her/him I deposit my existence My beloved is my now and future. Š2016 Gel Poetry Garden & Ahmed Moynr All Intellectual Property Rights Retained by the Authors
Beloved Come with me, my beloved. And we will dance on summer afternoons And we will love you on moonlit nights. And I'll make you a sheet of stars Only for the moon to feel jealous of Your grace and your beauty I'm your fan and your number one slave While you dance my look stuck in you I'm held hostage by your beauty and smile. My heart bows to reverence, my mistress. The one that the heart will keep eternally Š 2016 Ahmed M Your eyes Your eyes like crystal clear river Are source of water, source of life Like the Euphrates of my childhood Rooting my village, drawing curves Until you find the sea and overflow Your eyes are beacons to guide The Bedouins in the scorching heat Of the desert, following your trail With security for the long journey It's also your eyes where I lose myself In dreams of a day loving you entirely. Š 2016 Ahmed M
Lady You who are hiding behind the veils of words, and with a shy smile enchant me, You teach me the most important values the nobility of coexistence and tolerance, you teach me the art of free admiration, of simple and captivating gestures, you mysteriously reveal yourself between the lines of inspiration, you, from the hardness of life, find words of solicitude, hope and cherishing In you is the summary of everything of all, that is good and beautiful, everything my eyes have never seen before Tell me your yes, lady of sweet illusions, That my heart may find peace. Š 2016 Ahmed Moynr
FIELDS OF GREEN Poppies Red In Fields of Green Violets too In Fields of Blue Red Roses too mean I Love You A Perfect Day no Skies of Grey A way That's Mellow just Sunshine Yellow Cream Cheese Dreams. And Sparkling Streams Wishes Given Under All of Heaven Thoughts if Love Come From Above Just For You In All I do A Loving Prayer For All Mankind Peace Be Still to Calm the Storm When Love was Wrought Mankind was Bought A Gift That's Free For You And Me. Fshudson© 2016
WAITING I waited for you wondering I seem to always be waiting Waiting for the wrong one Or so my friends would tell me They seemed to always know what Was best for me As I looked I saw the poppies that Surrounded me they were blowing In a slight breeze Petals falling Swiftly to the ground Like Mariposa's they last only a short Time Then they are gone hardly recognizable As I turn I see he has come I hadn't heard him An arm placed on my shoulder Turning towards him I lay in the poppies We both saw their petals now in the Breeze they fell silently on our faces They shook giving us a message that We didn't hear Because to me I no longer had to To wait But after I would remember the Poppies Silent again now soon to be tossed And Fallen in the Wind . FshudsonŠ 2016
Akin To Pain As Thy ships find rest from the sea Ye will embark my rest upon the lea. A feather wafted an eagle in his flight connects to the wings of darkened night. Feelings of sadness and longing are akin to pain they resemble sorrow only as the mist does the rain. Whereby some far distant footsteps come to eventually echo within the corridors of time as the bards beard turns to snow. Labor not thy long days to have nights devoid of ease as teary showers of summer are of wonderful melodies. Š 2016Harold Bo Clapsaddle
Harold Clapsaddle’s new book, In Telling Cause, available at Amazon.com amazon.com/Telling-Cause-Mr-HaroldClapsaddle/dp/1537207911/ ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1484612877&sr=81&keywords=Harold+Clapsaddle
Flag Of The Crossbones With the brains of a child I wander the world through the puddles, the ponds and the seas. And the sails of my craft have great holes and rips for no harbor will tend to my needs. All adrift, anchorless, pushed by albatross winds drawing maps from the crows nest at night, I see blazing stars pulsing silver gold blood but not treasure of the shoreline's light.
(c)2016gg (Garry Gust)
Typos I have grown toured, no, I mean tired of trying to type an idea and having Sirocco no, I mean Autocorrect -
I will just let this other me soakI mean speak and see what he has to say. I have been in a while, and the rest. The first one. The first one. The first one.
insert something completely other It will take a moment than what was intended. of my own business and the best. Pertussis no, I mean perhaps you too have felt my passionno, I mean NY - no, not New York, I mean *my pain
Today, I have decided on a crease for- no, I mean a cease-fire between myself and the autoclaveno, I mean autocorrect.
If I could see it as an option for me, I will have the best. If I could see it as an option, I will have the best. I'm not going on. It was a little more than just the right place, but the best of all, I will not be a great day and age. You can get the best.
The only one of the best way to go. I will not be a great day and age. You will be the best of all. You can find out more. We have to go to a few days ago, and the best of the best of 20th century, but I don't have to do it.
Twitter. For example, if you are not the intended recipient, you can also be used to be a good time to time. At least there's somethingsno, I mean someone
out there - or in here The other hand is not a good day. who thinks The other hand is not a good day. The other hand. I am a beautiful person. I am a beautiful person. I'm not sure what to think I am of this other, emergent me who crawls from my keyboard soakingno, I mean speaking mean feasts of falsehoodor is it truth? All I know is I don't mind too much.
Š 2016 Eric Lohman I
An impatient heart --- Impasiente corazon My love runneth over for you In the fountain of love And it takes us with the flow In search of a beautiful sun And the moon responds In her arms of passion Everyone arrives And everyone feels From an impatient heart Š 2016 Ross Olmos
Se derrama mi amor por ti En la fuente del amor Y nos lleva la corriente En busca de un bello sol Y responde asi la luna En tus brazos de pasion Todo llega Y todo siente Impasiente corazon
Give me your kisses... I will give you my hand. Give to me daisies picked from the ground fill them with promises that can’t be found. Sing me a song, sang from the heart promise me always, not a day spent apart. Show me skies of turquoise blue and tell me how you always knew. Give me an ocean fierce and calm place treasured shells into my palm. Pick me some daisies, twirled in a ring, promises of love, what the future brings. Give me your kisses I’ll give you my hand, right here by the ocean, right here on the sand. Karen Hayward ©2016 (Image and words)
Fatima Bukhari Pakistan
Am I wrong? Yes I am the most wrong When I think I have never been wronged. I know, no one Can be perfect Still I think I am perfect What I think What I understand Like two banks Of a canal I try to stay In the middle On a bridge To connect Two extremes Of my brain And Of my heart I am in a Constant struggle Am I wrong? Š 2016 Fatima Bukhari
A Rose For Everybody A rose for everybody Grows in hidden warmth, Falcon to dive in wishful death How instant seafoam seldom Scrubbed and pursued life! A brief moment how unclothed Blushed moment, Birthed melancholic sky, Needled softest membrane, that Of celestial eye embarrassed Overflew, dripped drop by drop, Dragged infinite penetration! Rained to ruddy earth, Mind with Phoebus glitters, Laminated allover; Every gloomy shade of mind, Happy mind happy couple wondered, Sympathized and respected The imperfect rose. A rose for everybody. Š 2016 Kanta Roy
Kanta Roy West Bengal India
Winter Fun Hey, Quick! Come here and look! It snowed last night! Our world has turned white with delight. And there is enough of it that school is cancelled and the kids have a play day. Get your gloves, boots, scarves and hats. Don't want Jack Frost to nibble at your finger tips and noses. Let's go outside and build a fort! Roll a snowman! "Mom, do you have a raw carrot?" I found two rocks for his eyes. Where is dad's old straw hat? Hey! Watch out! Does Robert Gillette have a snowball in his hands!. Oh, NO!. He just threw it!
WINTER Frozen moments from the night tender Rhythmic heart beats woven together As the cycle of life has to continue Ardhnarishwar done it in all its hue By the crucible of morning let the charge be taken The fog is warming up to the balmy Sun Lifting haze -curtain of winter morning Spreading all around the pristine shine! Chill kept away with repeat coffee shots Bit troublesome for the have nots Winter is nature's blessings Providing life new moorings! Š 2016 Arun Sharma
sleigh ride tonight across fields of enchanted white bells on horses bridles echo the ringing merriment my love and I share in heart old man winter schemes to chill our bones, but he is no match for the fire in our souls Š 2016 David W Palmer photos by Brigitte Giunta
WHITE RENGAY morning walk brisk wind brings smell of the freshly fallen horse poop dog snuffles black truffles fungi infection attacks my toes boxer pup drags behind me trail of the toilet paper white fluff of the snowfall new robe feels so good against my bare skin brisk wind blows November 2016(C)Laughing waters
Wonderland In the cold breeze of December White carpet on the ground Broad Autumn leaves buried under With deer tracks and squirrels abound They jump for joy, snow-cold kisses River, a white ribbon of ice Sparkling jewels and wishes A soft embrace of my mug, how nice Looking through some old photographs Frost by the gate, winter in the air Mr. Snowman, standing at two and a half Preparing sweet mists, new sheets of winter. (C)2016 Maricris Cabrera
Snow fight ========= "Just wait around the corner And when he comes Throw" Her eyes lit up At the thought, Catching Grandad In the face Dripping cold down the neck The mischief of a six year old Let free In the snow. Mal Ward poem Š 2016
Folding currents from the cold winter sea, turquoise blue on sparkling waves. In ocean dreams, the poet waits by his winters cave, passing days. The lapping seas of emerald green stir the poet's fantasy, beneath crystal skies aquamarine and cotton clouds that drift so free... Ageless are the sapphire icy beads that stretch across the trees so free, the poet stands by Snowy realm forever and ever more. Š 2016 Nadia Fortuna
WINTER SPELL Does it look like a bear White and puffy Cold and soaky. The trees get wet White and shiny. Snowflakes gather Here and there Like cloves of garlic. I like it as much as you do But I fear to have direct contact. Copyright: Malay Nandy
WINTER FUN Early morning surprise outside my Window Ohh what a delightful sight Snowflakes falling from the sky Tempting me to run outside this Winter morn Snow snow everywhere On Trees, On my Garden seats On the Verandah too Little Squirrels running around in search of food The cold whispering air The delight of the Acorns for the Squirrels How fascinating the charm of Winter Laughter and giggle fills the Air Once again am a child A heap of Snow l created into a Snowman To other Children's delight A Snowball comes flying into my Face Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016
Winter's Best Keep me warm, from the icy snow, as it covers the rooftops of the village. Keep me warm, from the chimney that lets out it's steam leaving a cloud of smoke behind Keep me warm, from the nakedness of the tree branches, in which the winter's weather took its leaves. Keep me warm, from the snow man, and woman standing in the front yard, staying as cold as they are, and chilled as they can be.. Keep me warm, from the horse that gallops through, leaving a footstep trail behind in its course. Keep me warm, from the lights of Christmas, as its colors brighten even in the darkest places, with rainbows in the night.. Keep me warm, from the winter that will bring its springtime to come forth, and leaving winter at its best.. ŠTanya Jean Williams 2016
Tanya Jean Williams, Chicago, Illinois
Man Of Frost He exists in the coldest winter months, but non existence in it's warmer fronts. So chilled, and cold of his own touch, white as snow covers him, so much. Falling snow flakes gathers all around, with his long nose, dotted eyes, not making a sound. Big round body is filled with ice, children playing around him, think he's nice. He escapes from the sun's warmest heat, in which he will feel, so very weak. During all the days that he is here, he begins to shrink without no fear.
Holding onto what is being lost, he will forever be, the man of frost. ŠTanya Jean Williams 2016
Winter's Trees It's Wintertime and Snow Falls Due! Look at the trees right in front of You It's a wonderful time to see them this way, They are sleeping now for spring to come And wake them another Day! They are waiting to play Peek a Boo! With The spring when new life shall begin Because winter has Frozen us through. Let's go take a walk? Among the Snow and Ice, Let's Enjoy it for it is quite nice! Winter has its fun, but it's gone too soon, We know we have to let the other Seasons have their turn to Return! So trees Enjoy your blissful sleep, keep Your treasures hidden deep. It's not time For them to show but soon we will bask In your wonderful Glow!! Shera L Coto To my Ryan Blair & my girl
Pebbles Wrotelt AKA Pebble$ Blog Snowman you forgot your nose Grinch, Scrooge, Marv & Harry I see you hiding I know you're there Come out and help me tell a story My kicks and dresses are no longer suitable The winter came and laughed at my fall closet It blew leaves aside and sneezed snow I'm wearing ugly sweaters again I'm pulling out gloves and scarves The winter breeze is laughing at me I stepped out in PJs to take out trash It threw ice at me now I'm blowing noses Maxing out tissue boxes and eating marshmallows Needing some soup Lemon and honey to soothe my throat I'm feeling better now It's Christmas day, it's movies again It's family gathered It's hot fireplaces, warming little toes We're giving praises to the reason for the season We are welcoming the birth of blessings New lessons learnt, new journeys spent So for the spotlight that remains I leave it here for you Grinch respect your elders let Scrooge go first Marv & Harry you better work together A kid will outsmart you Š 2016 Pebbles Wrotelt
Winter Winter is heaven Snow Tobogganing Skating Building snowmen Breathtaking scenery Winter is heaven Winter is hell Snow Ice Sleet Cold Shovelling Winter is hell Winter is a contradiction An ongoing love/hate relationship Š Phil Renaud 2016
"WINTER FLAMES" Winter chilly morning; covered by the blanket of snow, the whole earth struggles to keep itself warm from outside!! Snow can chill the outer cover not the astral thoughts of mind! These gets condensed into warm sensations and ignite fire of passions inside!! The flame of passions induce warmth of colorful sensations thus creating the favorable atmosphere! Imagination of a crazy poet take part in this dance of flame and express itself in different forms!!! (c) 2016 B.S.Saroja 02/12/2016
FASCINATING SNOW Little by little, the winter is coming. And with it, the whiteness of the snow Goes asking for leave to settle, Day after day the scenery changes
greater warmth Than the very value that emanates from it: it is the Warmth and delicacy that comes from hearts The hot chocolate becomes an extra companion
A white here, another there I can still see the green branches, Many flowers still adorn the garden, The fireplace can wait a little longer
But outside, the children's laughter fills the air The snowball war season is open! Let's go! Snowdrops adorn the whitewashed farms, Oh ... suddenly the magic happens! The falls in the snow would slip away We wake up and check that now the is pure fun white Acts sovereign, climbs the mountain Where is the cold? And the and gathering? From there it shines to delight us Everything is forgotten in this fascinating time Now the flowers gather generously, When, even adults wear their hearts To make room for his majesty, Winter white and The trees, delicately hide, only a few Join the kids in the Magical and Fun Pines remain to collaborate with the Winter! magic Around the fireplace, there is a
(c) 2016 Gel Poetry Garden
Princess Shelda Childhood Winters A reminder of Rhode Island winters, beautiful but cold And definitely more fun for the young than the old Memories of making angels in the snow And when it snowed heavy, to school I didn't have to go
The squeals and fun of having a snowball fight And the glee, of when you hit your target just right Wearing plenty of clothes, was definitely a necessity Knowing how to layer right was key Child Of The King Copyright Š 2016 By Princess Shelda
Lovely December Love December, Await this month Season I mesmerize With the morning dew. Cold wind blows As the white carpet Looks amazing Captivating the mood. Submerged in our talks Road looks endless As we cherish the time Splendid moments of joy Season of celebration Merry and joy Winter brings it’s own joy Await new beginnings Š 2016 jayashree trao
winter wonderland much different than sand cooler than a day at the beach a place where snowball is way out of reach snowman front and center of the lawn will not let its display down to the break of dawn oh! how the children do play, as holiday decorations light up like day just the sight of smiles in their hearts can be all worth wild in the world to me Š 2016 Robert Gillette
Ice Sculpture Collingwood, Ontario, Canada Photo: Brigitte Giunta
Legend of the December Snow Rose
For right behind his magnificent ice sculpture That sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight's glare There is a tale sung around the Was a thing of such beauty and warmly lit embers In the festive month of December mystery When Christmas trees light up the It caught our boy Jack's attention immediately lonely streets And the world eagerly awaits The New Year's to greet
As if a miracle sprouted right before his very eyes Little Jack's curious eyes espied It is a most miraculous and wonA gorgeous glistening solitary drous tale indeed A tale that would rival Santa and Snow Rose That blossomed forth from the his flying reindeer steeds 'Tis the enchanting story of the De- pristine fallen snow cember Snow Rose So hearken to my tale, especially Now this was no ordinary rose I the lil ones for this is how it goes must say Entirely made of snow this rose captivated the eyes in every way It all started a few years back Like some gift of love planted by When a little boy named Jack Was playing in his backyard mak- the heavens above Our Snow Rose graced the world ing snow castles When he saw something so capti- like the rarest ruby Hidden amongst snowflakes of vating and magical whitest lily
What is even more miraculous to behold Is that should one this miracle in their hands hold Our magical Snow Rose would transform into the gift of their desire Especially true when a little child held this Snow Rose with their tiny fingers
For remember boys and girls this won drous Snow Rose Only blossoms in the December Christ mas snow So pray for a white Christmas this yea So that the miracle of Snow Roses ma spring everywhere ...December Snow Rose Š 2016 Skylark Hatee
However our wondrous Snow Rose one condition strictly followed And that was it would only sprout on Christmas Eve if it snowed And last up until New Year's Day When after that it would magically disappear under the light of day And so this is how within each heart on Christmas Eve People eagerly await the first sign of the snow to fall Like Heaven's trees are shedding their crystal leaves The miracle of a white Christmas and the December Snow Rose
Check out this presentation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fZk-FbYSVwA
In our twin communities of Canvas to My Soul, Public Site, and Canvas of My Soul Private Site, we draw poets and artists and musicians from all over the world. In an effort to seek understanding between our family members of various nationalities, religions and backgrounds, we sought to give expression to what is important to each. To that end, we promoted a week of sharing holiday traditions from many sources, some of which are illustrated here. Top Right: Bodhi, Buddhist celebration of the awakening of the Buddha to the nature of understanding (enlightenment). Bottom Right: Mawlid al-Nabi celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Center: Hanukkah, Jewish celebration of the cleansing of the Temple after the invading Selucids were driven out of Israel. Bottom Left: Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico. Top Left, the Om (or Aum), essential in Hinduism to meditation, “the essence of breath, life, and everything that exists� considered to be the sound of the harmony of the universe.
Celebrating Solitude the season it comes once again I see the past count my losses an emptiness in memories sequestered solitude a silence about friends moved away even the specter eludes my audience a failed one scrooged ne’er a dream waking to empty chambers an desolate halls not a murmur emptiness inhabits the sacred day and I, alone, go on my own way Šmustang charlie2016
Bah Humbug To Christmas What is this self-induced madness called the holiday season When everyone pulls out their wish list To create the "wonderful" realities of heavy financing and living in the red for months on end, The joy of frantically shopping with the other lemmings in search of the perfect gifts, All for a smile that money should never have to create. Yes Bah Humbug to Christmas, I will happily drink my coffee Christmas morning without accumalating what I don't need, I won't feed this materialistic monster and I don't give a shit about a mass produced sentiment,
Nor will I participate in sentencing pine trees to death, while others use tinsel to help them forget that they have just taken a life to celebrate a birth. It's all a crock! We still kill each other no matter if it's a holiday or not, All the Christmas cheer in the world still won't erase racism and bigotry, The LGBTQ community will go another season without the gift of acceptance. The truth is, There are many people who will never care about others who don't resemble themselves, Christmas will never convince them that they do Nor should it convince you that they ever will. It takes more than a holiday to accomplish that. Jack Dankof Šjdankof2016
Come on everybody!!! Come, come all! Of all the continents, ethnicities, creeds and color It's time to renew our hope, it's time to learn to be fraternal, the exercise of tolerance is urgent Come and see! The purest magic the world has ever seen is knocking at the door of all hearts, asking for shelter, again, and again Disarm all the proud Pay attention, the most disbelieving Come on, hurry! Play all the bells, masterfully, happy night of all nights be heard, prepare your homes, your families, and above all, prepare your heart Come, do not delay! Let no one get lost for lack of invitation, let no heart be forgotten in the open, stop all differences, all wars! That the Boy of Peace wants to arrive and gift you with HIS Love and Peace! (C) 2016 - Gel Poetry Garden
"Christmas with Cheer" A month that's giving, bringing forth its jolly, singing in glory of its carols, as every man, woman, and child come together in unity Sharing, and giving precious gifts that comes from the heart, shedding such blessings in which it creates happiness that it treasures.. Colorful lights flickering on, and off on the tree, so decorated with ornaments of it's kind, designed by your creation, and taste.. At twelve midnight, children sleeping silently, awaiting Santa, for his bag's of toy's wrapped up so nicely, and put away under the tree of colorful wishes, and dreams. A time, December's time, which is the last month of the year, coming forth a new year. A month filled with grace, love, and peace. A month that we will celebrate Christmas, with cheer.. ŠTanya Jean Williams 2016
Whoever you are Where ever you are May your God's light Forever shine on you Bringing your heart ease Š 2016 Mal ward poem
Maricris Cabrera Last Glimpse of Sunrise This is a tribute to our National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal (18611896). Executed by firing squad during the Spanish colony, exactly at 7 AM on December 30, 1896, at the age of 35. He wrote his last poem on the eve before his execution and it was published two years after his death and it was titled, "Mi Ultimo Adios". This is for him.
Alone in his cell the urgency to write in the cold and dark he dwells he summons his quill he writes his last words to his beloved, bid farewell crestfallen hummingbirds tomorrow they will fulfill execute this poet and doctor a polymath, a novelist a polyglot and sculptor. "I will be shot tomorrow at seven", he says with a smile. With a clear conscience he walks to face a firing squad a smile on his lips and hands tied behind his back, a walk with God. One morning in December Thunder-like intense roar of the rifles Just when the sun's rays shimmer in His Grace, he falls on the ground, a martyr. (C)2016 Maricris Cabrera
Joyeux NoÍl Feliz Navidad Maligayang Pasko Merry Christmas Let’s take one more look back At this beloved holiday celebration
My Christmas poem ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town no place on earth could my love be found; people busy with Christmas chores like decorating, baking and shopping in stores. No word from my Love, no one in my bed, Instead of Santa song's dressed up in red. Thoughts of conditions ran in my head And in my sleep I heard a clatter, off to the living room to see what's the matter. And what to my surprise did I see, but my Love dressed in lace under the tree. As I flew through the air, to the tree so big and round I tackled that sucker to the ground. She looked at me and just shaking her head
got up from that place and went to bed. She stopped and turned and gave me a Wink. Now the moral of this story let it be said, Do not trust me with cute things , this and that, I lose control like an old house Cat. Merry Christmas Š 2016 Robert Gillette
This is about our traditional Christmas celebration and I'm using my mother tongue for the title, derived from the Spanish word, "Pascua". Pasko (Wonders of Christmas) Santa is on his way so be good children, Mother used to say. Hot chocolate and pastries and all my favorite savories cheerful carols we listen church bells ring when Misa de Gallo is about to start to our godparents we go spirit of Christmas we impart happiness and joy overflow. Years go by and we realize no greater gift is worth celebrating, a Baby in the manger why He came to birth and we all know that the answer is love. Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
The sound of "Ho, Ho, Ho" Is what I am waiting and excited for Red socks hang by the fire Cookies and milk is set I giggle with excitement It's Christmas darling It's Christmas Excitement of gift and love pouring like rain Jumping and jumping with joy The warmness of love from family Embraces the hug of love being together The love of joy The love of hope Magic of Christmas Š 2016 Amethyst Crystal
Merry Christmas in 9 Languages Chag Molad Sameach (Israel-Hebrew) Hristos se rodi (Serbian) Roomsaid Joulu Puhi (Estonian) Izilokotho Ezihle Zamaholdeni (Zimbabwe-Ndebele) Seku Kulu (Uganda) Mutlu Noeller (Turkish) Alussistuakeggtaarmek (Canadian Aboriginal-Yupik) Suk sarn warn Christmas (Thai)
Š Phil Renaud 2015
The joy of a holiday Family on the way The company of a lifetime Makes the season chime Little eyes all a glow, What awaits under the tree nobody knows Hopes and dreams at their best As children dream fairly tales as they rest Family filled with love and care Only at home this happens to be fair Morning comes and the little ones bound To the tree for what dreams can be found This is the part I love the best Now let them play so I can rest Around the table three generations are found Giving thanks to theCreator for the food he has bound Granting bounty through the year Come on in I'm happy your here Sharing and caring in the Gillette house can be found Don't be a stranger, plenty to go around My blessings to you and all the rest Wishing you nothing but pure happiness Happy Holidays Š 2016 Robert Gillette
HEAVENLY FATHER,
Substitute peace for disquietitude; Calmness for restlessness; I would like to celebrate CHRISTMAS Replace material pleasures by the the real way! lasting bliss of Christ Let my heart be an altar of Christ Love, seeing him in all; Forgive my enemies; Understand those who try to hurt me by their unkind actions; Give me strength to love my error stricken brethren, "Who know not what they do"; Enable me to persuade them to better ways of living; Overcome temptations by self-control; To give good for evil; Kindness to unkindness;
Consciousness!! Let my beloved Christ be born in my meditation awakened Consciousness every day of the year!! On the Christmas tree of my Calm Consciousness, decorated and glistening with divine soul qualities, I would like to gift him my heart and exchange gifts as offerings to the Christ in all!! Š 2016 B.S.Saroja 14—December, 2016
Celebration time of the year Meeting all near and dear Energizing Sunny rays Freezing nights warmer days Let us watch Christmas star Time for Jesus to take avatar! Eat, drink and be merry soulmate Santa will grant your wish, just wait. Š Arun Sharma
A fruit mince pie a glass of port disappear by morning a tree of pine it smells divine with baubles all adorning and old Saint Nick his yearly trick when children start their yawning yet in a stable meek and mild sweet Marys child a borning on Christmas morn before the dawn children start exploring after dinner port and wine when grandpa starts his snoring Š Garry Spooner 15 December 2016
Christmas with Cheer A month that's giving, bringing forth its jolly, singing in glory of its carols, as every man, woman, and child come together in unity Sharing, and giving precious gifts that comes from the heart, shedding such blessings in which it creates happiness that it treasures Colorful lights flickering on, and off on the tree, so decorated with ornaments of its kind, designed by your creation, and taste At twelve midnight, children sleeping silently, awaiting Santa, for his bags of toys wrapped up so nicely, and put away under the tree of colorful wishes, and dreams A time, December's time, which is the last month of the year, coming forth a new year. A month filled with grace, love, and peace. A month that we will celebrate Christmas, with cheer ŠTanya Jean Williams 2016
The Beauty Of Christmas The love, the laughter, the joys thereafter, symphony of carols through the air, singing endless songs to share. Santa all dressed in his red, and white fit, with his sleigh, bag of toys, and his Reindeer’s nose lit. Tree sits tall with gifts of galore, even gifts With decorations sits by the door. White snow Appears on a cold winter's day, wisp of wind Comes, with a storm on its way..
A man of snow, as frosty as he, enjoys his December, as much as we. The merry of Christmas we celebrate each year, having a jolly ole time, with such good cheer.. Christmas means many blessings to all, sharing, giving, and having a ball.. Š Tanya Jean Williams 2016
Father Christmas In Morocco, he's Black Peter, In France he's Pere Noel, In the USA, he's Santa Claus, A name millions of kids know well! Here he's Father Christmas, A welcome guest each year, Leave him whisky and a mince pie, To bring him festive cheer! Š Caro Ness 2016
I think it's about time We put the Christ back in Christmas Because he is the reason for the season Not to satisfy materialistic wants Or giving of gifts to make the tree look pretty It is the reason for the season that keeps us alive This is the symbol of new beginnings New found hopes and a fresh start You'll need Him next year You heard it here first Today a man will gain the whole world But by tonight he may have lost his soul Search for the purpose in everything And forget the placement of anything Š 2016 Pebbles WroteIt
Merry Christmas Jingle bells, Jingle bells all the way Oh! what a delightful December Bringing cheers to many a Soul Snow covered Trees and Grass In fact, snow, snow everywhere What a delight to my Eyes Children and Adults playing alike in the Snow Building Snowmen Throwing Snowballs at each other Laughter and Joy is filled in the Air Shopping, shopping for the rich and poor alike Give a gift to that poor child whose mama papa can't afford This is a time to share Love and kindness matters Ho Ho Ho!! Merry Christmas Yes, Merry Christmas to all!!! Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016
Christmas Joy This Christmas season is already here, that day of laughter and love is near. The hour of childhood Wonderment’s coming, and footsteps awake us as they come a running. In the eyes of parents there is love and amusement, excitedly watching they’re filled with bemusement. Trembling with eagerness as they open each toy,
and someone’s first bike brings shouts of great joy. But gentler moments come with the Christmas story, that tells of Christ child in his simple glory. As Mary and Joseph kneels round His bed, the Angels hover over The Christmas child’s head. © All Rights Reserved 2016 Stormy Angel/DMA Reg-
It's Christmas! The sweetest memories this Christmas time comes. even me in the reminiscence from my childhood's Christmas. time the whole family got together to decorate the Christmas tree Each child placed in the pine tree, in addition to the traditional ornaments, a small shirt was added, inside it was the name of a poor child. At the base of the tree, each child placed a small basket of groceries. I remember the joy of each one of us to do our best, not to ourselves, but to make another child smile at Christmas On Christmas Eve we went to church together, to praise and thank the good Lord for all the Blessings He had given us When we returned home, each child chose a small shirt hangs on the pine tree, and only then he discovered the child that should be given. And, even before our own Supper with the family, each one of us was going to present this
and the Christmas basket for a poor child. Only then did we return home, around the table of Christmas, of hands given, the Patriarch of the family he would say the prayers of thanks And from there it was only joy of all children, With their toys and treats, but also with the happy heart of having practiced charity, peace and the compassion that taught us that Child in the manger... Today, many family members are no l onger among us, I think now they are celebrating Christmas in Heaven. However, the Christmas spirit remains the same. ŠGel Poetry Garden 2016
Garry Gust Good King Wenceslas Performance with two original verses added
Watch Garry’s video at this YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=S9YKGGvWTX0
Traditional Lyrics to Good King Wenceslas by John Mason Neale, 1853 Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shown the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, when a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
Hither, page, and stand by me. If thou know it telling: yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling? Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain, right against the forest fence by Saint Agnes fountain.
and the bitter weather. Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger. Fails my heart, I know not how I can go no longer. Mark my footsteps good, my page, tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly. Additional Lyrics by Garry Gust
Later by the peasants fire the three men were seated Singing songs in common choir to the night defeated.
King and page and peasant dwelt till the storm had ended. Bring me flesh, and bring me wine. All three men walked forth and Bring me pine logs hither. knelt Thou and I will see him dine where St. Agnes tended. when we bear them thither. Page and monarch, forth they went, Š 2016 Garry Gust forth they went together through the rude wind's wild lament
A Celebration In Verse
Happy New Year 2017
On the morrow Writ with light Possible potential Aglow in the night. Each spark a wish I made for you Glowing luminescence Life shall give. Each day a prize An amazing gift. Rich in its beauty A taste like wine. To watch the bright And read with joy The flame of light On the morrow Mal ward poem Š
LIGHT & SOUND Brilliant colors Flowing around Like butterflies Like sparks of fire. Is this a show of firework? Effects of light and sound? Or, simulation by a computer? Copyright: Malay Nandy 23 December 2016
Happy New Year 2017 Welcoming the New Year Dinners and dance Joy and laughter fills the Air Ding Dong!!! Ding Dong!!! The Big Ben sounded The clock has struck midnight... A colorful display of thousands of Firecrackers Wowwwww! Reds, Greens, Blues, Yellow Such Bonanza A treat to my naked Eyes The Sky is lit with Vibrant lights Loud applause from nearby voices New Hopes and dreams may 2017 bring Goodbye 2016, welcome 2017 Moments l cherish shall never come again A New Year A new beginning Looking forward to New Dreams Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016
A long time ago A saying you know They say what you do on New Year’s You will be doing all year long. No fear . In my heart and soul, what I want to do Is spend my time with you I'll give you my time Let me know you will be mine I give my love to you Nothing else will ever do Š Robert Gillette
Dance with me Beneath the sparking skies I can only imagine What my year will be like If we begin now In each other's arms Multiple explosions on New Year's Eve Palpitations in my fragile heart But I will be okay As long as the sparks keep flying... (c) Clarity R.Mapengo
"WELCOME NEW YEAR"
and make a firm resolution to move on the right path.
Christmas light, Decorative lamps, both in and out Let us laugh and rejoice signalling the mind's hope and be free from bitter of a better New Year!! feelings!!
Come, dear friends, Let all of us sing this ever let us welcome this New new Year, Life's song in one voice, with a smile on our face! HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY NEW YEAR Forgetting the pains of HAPPY NEW YEAR yesterday let us write a new preface Š 2017 B,S. Saroja for a happy tomorrow! Let us learn from our past mistakes
A NEW YEAR FOR ALL "Ma, I am hungry". Beneath the sky canopied with harlequin works, A mother sitting on the pathway, Glanced vulnerably with helpless eyes, At the deprived vessel and then, at her son. A new deep breath and a hopeful sun. She tearfully smiled and said, "Happy new year son!" ŠDr. Tanvi Shah
Welcome 2017!
I do not know what's in store for me, While the colored sparks I thankful to the Lord, for so far tear the sky in the countdown His love has accompanied me announcing a new year coming, I am sure that His gaze will guide a retrospective, comes to my me, mind, His word will teach me and His clear memories, like a movie Meekness will be my inspiration seen for the second time I deposit in Lord the hope that what I saw, lived, felt in 2016 2017 comes with less war, less hatred, Oh! I lost and I won, yes less hungry, less homeless, less but I never stopped believing, bad countless times I smiled, I cried May each person live a year of I have overcome so many Peace! obstacles some other times, I stumbled Š Gel Poetry Garden 2016 I filled the mud and the heart of love and disappointments expectations and frustrations I have lived feelings and emotions after all, I'm just a human being equal to thousands of others A new year comes to my eyes,
Gateway To You ten, nine, eight... everybody come let's watch and wait seven, six, five... spectacular fireworks explode overdrive four, three, two... spirits free make them all brand new and one... skies so bright our future has begun. Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
Fireworks The darkness seemed palpable. Thick, heavy, constant, As if painted on with a trowel In a band across the heavens Above the jewel-like lights Of the city. Then into this world Crashed a pyrotechnical wizard Intent on displaying his own Brand of magic, And the sky itself Came alight. Š Caro Ness 2016
" CELEBRATIONS"
Father sat with his children Lights glittered in his hut to consume in the mansion the food prepared by where servants stood his at the door to Loving wife. welcome guests for the New year Pleasant melodies Celebrations!! filled the air while dignitaries In his working attire danced to the a person stood at the soothing music. Door of his small house Children shared their and knocked to enter day's events where his children with their father and played near the talked for some time. fire place of a small room. Decorative dining Expensive cars brought Nobles dressed in gorgeous Suits and decorated with jewels.
table saw most palatable foods and all dined and drank abundantly till the hot drinks began to play its role
and started from there without waiting for farewell courtesies. Here, in the small house entire family went to bed in the early night with a song of prayer to the Lord expressing gratitude for all he has given them. (c) 2016 B.S.Saroja 01/01/2017
NO FEAR It is time to end all fear Not letting thought generate It's apprehension About the bridge We have yet to cross Going nowhere Except up yonder hill That proverbial mountain Of our consciousness That breeds its own life And self destruction Fear who Fear what There is nothing we can do Except to embrace all of Life as it is and kiss The existential fear of Being absolutely nothing And nobody in the face (C)copyright, Angel Patrick Boyar, 2017
Although this totem is from another indigenous culture I thought I would Write a piece using some words from the language of the Maori people of New Zealand I hope that you enjoy Te Reo is the language Which almost died away Te Maori , the descendants Still speak it to this day He tangata, the people O te whenua , of the land From snow capped mountains To the sea , the shoreline and The sand (C) Garry Spooner 11 November 2016
Garry Spooner, New Zealand
The Lonely Cove
Spirits Within
Carve your words upon my totem soul As I the water eagle soars
The spirits of the bare tree speak The hands of the carver speak The tools of custom speak
Gambol with me in this enchanted scene Let the candles of your mind, slip the sides and see what it reveals
O' blessed are the carvers Who find the spirits of the wood Whether it be one or many They honor where the tree once stood
I'll use the chips to stoke a fire and in the evening I'll keep you warm We'll dance among the smoke, like the embers aglow Hand in hand in a dying sea Along its gilded shores Walk the bridges o'er Jupiter 'yond the Raven stars Taste the waters on the moons of Neptune As in me, your words
Calling forth the spirits that lie within The visions in his mind take shape Flowing down to his artisan hands In turn, to the tools of the trade Many hours spent in chipping, Slicing, sanding, brushing, sweating Fingers bruised, swollen and raw Still the carver keeps on vetting He works his way through each figure With love in his heart and soul He has found the trunks' inner spirits Revealing its sacred totem pole
Are eternally carved... Š 2016 matt aguilar (gutter punk)
Karen Hines (c) 2016
The totem owl spirit of night Give us wisdom to travel with out light Seeing through masks of those who deceive Show us wisdom that we may leave
Standing guardian upon the totem pole Watch us at night keep us whole © Robert Gillette Totem Heart beats With Native pride tenderness and strength My spirit guide I harness the challenges Enjoy the ride To see through the darkness Love by my side Dancing with joy I shall find Fresh horizons Beyond the sky My totem attendant And Spirit guide Forever my soul Protected by The Dancing Deer.
Solid Path
Mal Ward © Dancing Deer
©Tanya Jean Williams 2016
Hard statues made out of stone, with details of art that is very well known. Knee deep crevices etched and carved, creating shapes from something so hard. Watching an owl with its very long beak, as stiff as a log, but sitting on its seat. His friends are there, but very near by, as you look away, you can hear them cry. Every midnight they come to life, flying, howling, chasing things in sight. They say this masterpiece is sacred from it's wrath, so unique, so beautiful, but has a solid Path
Burn down the borders of our own mortality Dissolving into a smokeless reality Cosmic traveler As we enter into the realm of spirit walkLet your colors unfurl ers Like a dying leaf captivated by the Whispers of a winter wind carried upon For we shall walk upon ether knitting ourselves into the air The threads of the universe gathering And let us sojourn the sands of buried Secrets stored between fingerprints secrets together As our essence merges with the ground And become the healers we were meant to be Melting like an iceberg under a wayHealing the world from its state of deward sun pravity Becoming droplets of knowledge that That keeps sinking us into a Red Sea of disseminate Into the ancient rivers of standing time anger...intolerance...greed For the soul of humans has been hiWhere we sink into their depths and jacked learn To speak a language beyond the breadth And illness like an unwanted guest Manifests as a result of the dismemand scope of man bered spirit A tongue pure and untouched like Therefore let us restore the The stillness of the night sky before Purity of this spirit back to its proper The first drop of blood is spilt upon it ownership From dawn's dripping błade As we are tied to a totem pole reality of By becoming one with our "Oneness" With healing light from the hands of the chance shaman In this cosmic shamanic dance In each of us For let us not become a sacrifice to the random chaos of the stars © 2016 Skylark Hatee But let us go forth and embrace the lanCredits: Song Title: "Impossible Shaguage of stones manic Voice" Artist: Istvan Sky Igniting our silence into sparks of fire Source: Album: "Voice of Avatar" That life giving essence and
Shaman
YouTube Link to Skylark Hatee’s video https://youtu.be/ke-0v02dZ5Y
STANDING ROCK (#286) The cry of the people, “Defend Sacred Space,” our Mother Missouri lies threaten’d By monuments of corporate profit, And the rest of our ancestors disturb’d
As this black venomous snake coils and Lies waiting to spew venomous vomit’d Filth onto our Mother’s breasts, poisoning Her children who upon her waters nurs’d. The Soulless Ones find reason once more, Break the sacred promise of Laramie,
CRY IN THE NIGHT (#232) Some wounding plunges deeper in heart than Words find adequate expression. My tears Flood my cheeks but their nourishment fails to Quench the thirst in my soul. My people, Starving, sick, struggling have bravely fought Encroachment by soulless men who care naught For the ways entrusted to us by our Ancestors, the gift of the Great Spirit. But this day in Montana, I declare From where the sun stands I will fight no more. We befriended these men in their hour Of need, but, we liv’d to see that bitter Root flowering upon our love. Gather, Let us raise the sacred Ululake. © 2016 David W. Palmer
Seize back the land deeded to my people Because what they thought then useless, they now Covet, claiming its eminent domain. Awake, Hunkpapa, rescue our Mother! ©2016 David W. Palmer
Facing the continual decimation of his people in a protracted fight against the U.S. Army, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, surrendered unconditionally, to prevent the extermination of his people, to U.S. General Nelson Miles in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana, on October 5, 1877. That tragic day is remembered in this sonnet written in response to the Word of the Day Prompt in Canvas of My Soul.
David Palmer Renton, Washington, USA
SHARE YOUR CULTURE KATHARINA DIKE The Dayaks of Borneo RUSTLE
Dayak Healing Dance of Ma'anyan Dayak Tribe (My Tribe). Dayak people used to dance it for healing people in diseases. Dayak has hundreds of sub tribes. Ma'anyan Dayak is one of them. Listen to "papaluan" the traditional music that has a magic sound. Lady dancers wears the bracelets, we called it "Dadas" dance. And a man in the middle is "wadian" who can cure the diseases by his magic power & mantra. He is dancing "wadian bulat" (round dancing) also while doing healing. He put his legs around his neck. We are the young generation and still maintain this tradition.
Link to watch the Dayak Healing Dance: https://youtu.be/ DbwL2n54H7M
Dancing amidst the forest Music of Rustle leaves harmonies That can't be heard by my ordinary sense I capture it with my soul Exquisite like a song from heaven Nature smiles with me Primates dangling on the branches Worms Wriggle in the fertile soil Mammals wag their tails Fish swim around algae Gibbons sing in canon The peacocks show their feathers I don't want to lose this momentum Dancing, dancing and dancing Let my sweat dry by the breeze wind Let my stiff feet be massaged by water that flows from the mountains range I don't want to stop Until I fall asleep And I will wake up in paradise ŠKatrin Dayak KD 281016 Aka Katharina Dike
Share Your Heritage: The Modhera Sun Temple Gujarat State, India A Photo Essay by Dilip Vyas
The Modhera Sun Temple was built in 1027 C.E. and originally a Hindu temple dedicated to the worship of the sun god Surya. Although no worship takes place on this site today, it remains a national heritage monument and is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India . Persian invaders of the Emperor Mahmud of Ghazni heavily damaged the temple in 1030 CE and the original image of Surya, the central deity worshipped in this temple disappeared and has never been recovered. The temple complex consists of three buildings: a meeting hall (Gudhamandapa), the shrine proper (the Garbhagriha)) and the Pool (Kunda) which is illustrated in the background here. Every January, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat presents a three–day festival of traditional dances to give visitors a better understanding of what was part of the original worship and celebration on this site. Dilip Vyas, who has visited this site many times, and feels it to be a second spiritual home, presents his poem about this temple.
This temple is known for its intricate detailed carvings depicting Hindu deities, such as Vishnu, Ganesh, Saraswati, Varuna, Agni and others. Some are illustrations of the kama sutra illustrating divine ecstasy through sexual union.
Modhera Sun Temple Gujarat State, India
Modhera -----------------Since I myself am a poet My postal addresses are many. My houses are several. More than one ( somebody will take me for a failed 007 James Bond ! ).
One of my residences is Modhera Sun Temple Built in the 11th century Gujarat India. Even though worn out by time It still is more than enough.
Modhera may be for others a home, too, like me. But it never matters. A home is a home.
Years ago when I worked in the north I used to visit it. I was as if made uncrowned king there By my goings themselves. Even now I bear the title In special moments. Or when writing.
During one such rendezvous with Modhera Seeing me stuck so long The attendant there a bit stared me in the face. I too stared back in return. He just walked away !
So fabulous a temple -- a sun temple Rare architectural and sculptural grandeur And still there's no sun god idol in the worshipping shrine ! It was there of course once. But in history, the infamous Ghazni broke it when they invaded
The very first ray of the rising sun Used to fall straight upon the sun god. Just imagine the scene and say Didn't you really wonder at that ? I still search that ray in darkness and haven 't found it yet One day I am sure I will get it.
You just visit Modhera some day. Get yourself photographed. In time 's eternal album You will get permanently carved.
Android phones were still unborn So I used to capture Modhera with my mind s eye. The moment you're immersed in any idol The shot is automatically taken even without camera. A huge store of such photos lie still within me. I will take one by one out And create an album some day
Last time when I visited Once again ( but this time some more ) got absorbed In watching a dancer girl"s idol carved on the outer wall. Frankly -- was about to touch her exciting breasts even. It was just then The carved gandharva from panel above Stared me in the face. But tell me -How on earth Can you stare him back ? dilip vyas (written originally in Gujarati) Š 2016 dilip vyas poem translation & photo credits
Mystique
with her once broken heart her trembling hands will make you feel close and secure at times, she hides her untold story you will never imagine her essence, a gift to the world soft and powerful part of her is always hidden let her hide herself even then, she's beautiful.
You pass by her and one more look don't say it's just a dream her radiant smile her intelligence wisdom and hard work are not surprising. Her beautiful eyes look for the good of others Her lips speak of kindness she walks with dignity and grace her love will lessen your pain Š 2016 Maricris Cabrera
DIFFERENT PLACE
smooth as summer breeze.
I'm from a different place.. I do not know where it is or what its name I just know that I'm not from here.
I'm from a different place but I do not know how to get there and so I build it from the start On my skin lay affections I pore by pore can’t explain kiss by kiss. And in the look, eyes I've Come on, not yet seen. I invite you to come in and touch this universe I'm from a different place. without fear. I do not know if better, but different... I'm from a place where love has voice and longing does not lie, where affection has fingers
I'm from a different place, of people with hearts inside. I'm a woman, hope I find you there. © 2016 Graça Costa
Hope
A good secure job is my hope
My life a big struggle How l have dreamt dreams Beginning my life from Half accomplished dreams scratch Whoever said it would be Every tomorrow may bring easy a new beginning Pain and struggle I want to perceive a future where l conquer I need accomplishments Goals that l need to fulfill I need to raise up and see my struggles fulfilled Educate my child So one day l can say Build a future happily Have a well deserved home I built my empire Yes, l built my empire Love is all l look for in my Just my own strength and tiny home ability For there is no room for Š 2016 Nasreen Malik hate
B** Switch: You see I've got a natural built in richter scale within me And when the seismic activity gets to be a bit much Well all that shakin and quakin baby Flips my b** switch automatically! C'mon ladies You all know what I'm talking about! We've all been there Whether you're a saint or sinner It doesn't matter to the male species Heck they just think we're all bi-polar! Well seriously What do they know? Thinking their comments will keep us in tow! Listen up! I am a W O M A N And yes sometimes the stuff that I go through Would make any person say "WOAH! MAAAN" Still don't know what I'm talking about? Seriously are you kidding me? Well then allow me to fill you in on the female species! Yes...yes little girls are supposed to be "Made of sugar and spice and everything nice..." I swear that lame verse must have be written by some guy Who probably was constantly on a damn sugar high! Now the spice part I like already Kind of speaks to the female species' variety! As this makes us multi-faceted and rich And yes this includes the b** switch! Please girlfriend don't get offended if I use that phrase Because I'm not degrading us I'm simply referring to a natural defense mechanism We as a species have been given Think of it as kind of like self-preservation Single mom trying to make ends meet and he went MIA and won't pay child support? That's right flip that switch And take his you know what to court! Your dealing with hormonal changes which are driving you crazy
That are a part of your natural female make up? All the while everybody is expecting you to be supermom or Superwoman Putting all this pressure on you And they won't give up! Go on girl, flip that switch! You have every justification to use it Because sometimes people just don't know when to quit! Went to the salon to get your hair done For that big event coming up Hoping to look like a million dollars? Spent all that money but the stylist did their own thing And didn't give a care whatsoever? And instead of that sexy jaw-dropping shade of red You look like something right out of the pages of "The Walking Dead"? Girl! Flip that switch! That's right do it! I mean after spending all that time and money You didn't get what you expected! Oh no he didn't! What's that you say? He forgot your birthday! Now that is a mortal sin! He'll need a special pardon from heaven to get out of that one! And while he's waiting... Go on girlfriend! Flip that switch! And make sure he never forgets it…again! There are millions of examples I could give you about flipping the switch But ladies... I must give you one caveat The charm my sisters And get ready for this… Depends on how and when you use it! Now flip that switch and go on and use it! I'm sure Chaucer's patient long suffering Griselda even did!* © 2015 Skylark Hatee Link to see Skylark Hatee’s accompanying video: https:// plus.google.com/107529531771207635882/posts/ ReVyMwZwUhj?sfc=true
"Woman
Of Strength
under her wings with so much support, and stability. A delicate soul, a flower that blooms She is the weaker vessel that God with such has created, but hold grace, and elegance. A woman with so much strength which is stronger beauty inside than a huge mountain. out. Showing her independence on She will always be seen, and how she represents perceived as a woman that herself. will conquer all, and may never fall, The love that's within her, and ever as a woman of so caring, not only strength for herself, but for others. When it comes to her offspring, ŠTanya Jean Williams 2016 she guides them by keeping them
An important element for the society to behold:- "SHE" Why is it so unlucky to be a girl? Why does tears across her face roll? She isn't a material to be sold an important element for the society to behold!
She has some ambitions, She has some dreams; She has all the right, To give them a flight, To reach up to the heights, & wake up from the gloomy night. Come forward to make her free, Cause we know that she; Is the better half of he, Cause to all the saplings; she is the mother tree. Š 2016 Sukanya Basu Mallik
Espetacular!
Amazing!
Show de beleza! Deusa do sol, da noite! Ela é linda! Ela é da lua! Radiante e deslumbrante!
Beauty Show! Sun goddess, night! She's beautiful! She's the moon! Radiant and stunning!
Ela é maquiagem é
She's makeup is champagne! She lives chasing dreams Inspiring lives! She is shy!
champanhe! Ela vive perseguindo sonhos Inspirando vidas! Ela é tímida! Seu toque é suave Nela reside um mistério! O seu coração é tempestade. Sem ela a vida não seria vida
His touch is soft In it lies a mystery! Your heart is storm. Without it, life would not be life © Elinete B.B. Mocidade Baden-Württemberg , Germany
Poem & Photo © 2016 Foxyturby Turf
Love and Respect! In the middle of the modern era, we seldom ask ourselves: How are women perceived? For some, women are, only the subservient "frail sex,� without the right to own choices or opinions, dependents, incapable. For others (a small proportion), women are the queen of the home, Mainstay of family and husband. However, this same portion, Be part of a society that is in the head and that it still discriminates against our performance and contribution in society Fortunately, there is another plot, although that smaller yet, but, significant, who walk with us, see our struggles, value our intelligence and share with us the achievements, but also the adversities That fall on our shoulders. These, constantly offer their shoulders, when ours are heavy and marked by the weight of life. And their strong arms are always ready to defend us ... Yes, these are rare, but extremely valued, For us women...
that cradles, Womb welcoming, breast feeding... It depends a lot on us, the life that is created, rises and flourishes for the contribution of mankind. There is in us an immense capacity for renunciation, giving, generosity, care and love. In our small and fragile body, we hide a warrior Indomitable and brave. Tireless fighter. In our soft voice there is softness but also firmness. Because we know exactly who we are, what we want, What we lack and what we deserve. We are not in the world by chance. We are collaborators ... We are many in one, because life demands of us A multiplicity of tasks, duties and obligations ... And we proudly fulfilled them, one by one ... We have achieved so much ... we have come so far ... We are everywhere ... In the highest sphere of society that often harms us Are we ... not to compete ... but to collaborate...
How are we seen? At the beginning of 2017, we still see some resistance By those who see us with insecurity, fear, conThe most important of the three questions: tempt, How do we perceive ourselves? prejudice, nonchalance... I think that every woman, with her experiences Attention, "modern society" !!! We are human as And capabilities, certainly, has much to express, all, As we see ourselves ... With all the capacities inherent to the human beThis way, I leave here, my opinion, ing .. From my own perspective We just want to walk together and deserve all of I see, in us women, God, in His infinite wisdom, you. Has deposited in us the strong and vital side of hu- Love and Respect !!! manity. Š 2016 Gel Poetry Garden (Gelda Castro) We are the only one who germinates life, cradle
Many familiar faces of women I know Poetess moderators friends followers and a few unknown to me ... I see many ladies in this photo collage smiling Your insides are equally as lovely as your shining faces and souls While some others are choosing to keep a bit of mystery and or anonymity There's nothing wrong with either ... Wise ladies know we can be seen in many ways
Let me ask all of you what is more beautiful than a flower a work of art you have cared for captured , planted , molded or created with passion ? You gave of your time you enjoyed watching it transform take shape or blossom into existence What is more precious than your passionate loving blood sweat and tears ?
friend me , not my eyes , hair color , style or any made up face ... not to judge me based on skin tone or race . Alright , enough about me I see all the accomplished poetesses in this collection in front of me Many of them give the lovely gift of their valuable time Reading leaving us and others pleasant compliments on the poetry we write Many see us bleeding giving our souls they know our hearts from pieces we leave written on or in between lines They , You and I , We hear our heartbeats know our fears Holding out their hands in friendship or for hugging us Some offer a shoulder for wiping our heartbroken tears on I see you my friends your shimmering souls lighting up cyber world giving inspiration reaching out to others every day
I see I myself chose to be a represented by a Friendship flower when I first opened this G+ Mothers page. Sisters I was in hiding then , yet my thoughts Daughters were also this ... Hope Anger What could show more about your Love lovely soul than a flower that makes Jealousy you smile ? Beauty I wanted others to appreciate and beMisunderstanding
Light Compassion Pain Souls Acceptance Loss Honesty Smiles Criticism Darkness Hearts Forgiveness I see them you us myself ... I see we We unfortunately can't always see what is really inside another's mind heart or soul We are stubborn sometimes seeing only what we want to see We shouldn't expect others to see what we hide refuse to share and or let shine from within We need to be more loving and less judgmental We need more accepting of ourselves for all of these reasons and more ... We need to be more except for sometimes when we need to be less
Š 2016 Kayla Rose thoughts 2 2016
"I NEVER GIVE UP"
which a man cannot do!
Yes, I am an woman with rainbow colours both in and out!
I am an angel to those who love and respect me for what I am; a demon to those who torture!
You can't stop me blooming by abusing? inhibiting, Exploiting by beliefs and traditions combined with selfish motives! I am an embodiment of all that is divine! I can create, sustain and love like my creator! I can bear man's innumerable physical and mental tortures and yet have the ability to forget, forgive and stand up again with a challenge! I play different roles with ease; am a multi-task expert; can do many things
A man may defeat my body by his physical strength but never can win over my mind and heart without the fragrance of genuine feelings! My mind or heart is not for rent, mind it! I always keep it with me! I am not a butterfly to play with; I am the beautiful flower instead! I am very much subtler than what you think of me! I am the personification of love the pure essence of this creation!! Š 2016 B.S.Saroja Visit Saroja on her blog at; http:// iamsarojabs.blogspot.com/2016/12/truth-is -very-simple-lies-need-make-up.html
Donna - Woman Donna , dono del cielo o angelo di dolore, nella sua mano regala una rosa, non una spina a noi, eternamente dà a chi ci offende, piccoli uomini senza pudore. Woman, gift from Heaven or angel of Pain, moves a rose in her hand, not a plug for who hurts us, without defense against small man without Shame. Š 2016 Mara L.
The Wandress Comes from wealth and poverty Bombarded with ideals and voice Glamour and delicacy Style and grace Elegance glowing like an inner peace Received like the moon and sun Shining within Bravery radiates forth Inspiration transcends Passion that forms Dreams that dance Imagination that rises
Posture of the soul ignites Creation beloved and true Touch accomplished Birth of form and future Friendships and differences Insecurity and hardships Determination with ambitions She is a Wandress A Wildflower, often a starlit sea Breath of strength and courage A Women of love, sense of full worth, fortitude and forever beauteous she shall be. Š 2016 Nadia Fortuna
SHE
Around any man who will still be standing in the middle of his living room Stand in her presence, and give her honor, Wondering what he will think about next, for she is your Queen while she has delved into the mystery All of the beauty and comfort which makes Of Life and is simply awaiting him to recoghome your safe haven nize she is ready to share. Have you Was her creation from the beginning. The Lost your way, do you wonder what makes knick-knacks, pictures, life worth living, to get up once more Decorative tapestries, colors of carpet, mir- And face the rat-race of life. Listen to her, rors hiding in out of the way for she knows, and her smile and Places – she chose them to make a stateAffirmation is all you need to find the courment. They make tangible age to step forth again and please her. The Beauty which lives in her soul. Home never will be the dwelling Yet today, she is feared, restricted, limited, You inhabit. It simply houses the showcase in so many ways. Opportunities afforded which is her loving heart. To her sons have been denied to her and her daughters. Why should this be? It is She embodies life, endowed by her Creator fear with the most magical gift. That drives one to attempt to control the Make love to her, and she welcomes you other. She is no one’s slave! If you believe into that sacred space where The truth behind the account in the GeneEden comes alive once more. The position sis story, her symbolic birth from the rib of we held within her womb is Adam The one our subconscious never forgets. Simply means, she was born right next to Asleep, our tendency is to curl his heart and should possess it as her own Back into it; and, as we began life, so upon for life. our exit, our bodies once more She is your partner, co-heir with you in all Assume the position of comfort we have the divine promises before you. She is not known all along. Our knees we yours Draw up, our backs we bend, our faces we To command, to demand that she obey. tuck back to that form which She wants to love you, she wants to find Bookends our passage through this world, that you the one she gave to us first. Delight in her in every moment. Raise her up, set her free, devote yourself to her hapShe is the wonder and beauty of the Unipiness, verse. Study her creations and they And you will discover life come alive in the Will astound you. It is only he who is preoc- eyes of the one who gave her all to be just cupied in selfish pursuits who will with you. Overlook the richness she weaves into life everyday. She will think circles © 2016 David W. Palmer
WOMAN (POEM) WOMAN an exotic creature, Made & molded out of soft Substance by Nature comes From a woman of her kind. For, it is a woman.
But for her kids first. Standing by 24x7 for her dedication & Sacrifice..... For, it is a woman.
Woman is like a Sitar--an Indian Musical instrument --all should know How to play it well (how to treat her well) Woman, Marvelously Otherwise, it (she) does woven & not sound (react) Knitted Striking feature of Sweetly or amicably, like a her Sitar, but By Almighty, mingling with Harshly and she be a softUnmatched attributes as: er than flowers Compassion; kindness: And stronger than iron, if mercy; disrespected. Tolerance; soft & sweet For, it is a woman speech asif Cuckoo; yielding and Woman sublimely destrong & signed by God Fortified like a castle and Into human form to be what not. born with For, it is a woman. Beauty and boldness, naturally Player & preserver of hard Liking and attracting all to roles: respect Daughter; sister; wife; Woman greatly and we, mother mainly the whole Within family and out in World should respect the the world even woman. A bread-earner. For, it is a woman. Having a rearing mindset of her kids, Š Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi Morsel be not eaten by her,
WOMAN OF TODAY
She speaks and our hearts melt inside like butter in a hot oven The strength and beauty of the woman Her touch so soft it feels as if it cures of today all depression and loneliness, giving The grace and character of each dissecurity to the downtrodden played Her skin so smooth as if she dips in No comparison to a man could be gave and bathes with the most expensive loFor this is woman hear her roar tions A leader of leaders Her lips as if honey is secreting from A model of modesty and humility them Smart Her hair as a field of flowers blowing in Literate the wind and every man catches a Considerate whiff of her alluring and mezmorizing Compassionate heavenly smell Extravagantly fluid She is a Queen Self driven A diamond Independent A blossoming rose in all seasons Hard working A wife She carries virtues of endless potential A mother Untapped A daughter Untouched A friend Undisputed A lover A warrior A jewel in the midst of flames glowing Who sings the song of love and shining as the stars above The love of only the purest form No other species has been elevated Given Regarded Shared Wanted Upheld Desired Oh what integrity As much as the woman of today... Such dazzling structure She walks by and all men freeze in step Š 2016 Mark Rushing
I AM THAT OPHELIA I am that Ophelia who you encounter every day, in buses, trams and trains. I am that Ophelia, who makes you intrigued through her sarees and silky gowns. A pinch of vermillion on whose forehead makes you sweat. whose ear rings draws you close to her heart a flash of whose white toe seduces you, and makes you sigh for not being able to see more things, though you desire to do them in as many possible ways you can. I am that Ophelia who makes you intoxicated every instant, who you dream in your own way every second, every minute and derive sensuous pleasure through your imagination. I am that Ophelia, who you discard every morning, with a sheer scorn and shrug her off, after quenching your physical thirst at night, as you shrug off ashes from the tip of a cigarette.
I am that Ophelia, who you want to pick up from the Savannas, and install her as a decorative piece in your bungalow, staring at her in intoxication, sitting in front of the fireplace, in a wintry night, fancying the grace of her naked body. I am that Ophelia, who you send to fetch water from the far of wells in the Sahara desert and force her to cook for you as soon she returns. I am that Ophelia with whom you want to be over flowed on the Bank of Rhine, or upon the lawn of Victoria Memorial or plunge yourself into her arms in the darkness of a theatre hall. But enough! Enough of it! You have done enough for me: You have adorned me as Goddess Durga in your poems, as Aphrodite in your lectures, and as Astraea in your literary projects.
Stop being sarcastic! Stop fussing! Enough of it! But contemplate! Don’t forget that: I am that Ophelia who inspired Homer to create Helen. who compelled Valmiki to create Sita, I am that Ophelia, whom your religion who motivated Vyas to shape discards, Draupadi, whose entrance your society blocks, who animated Shah Jahan to built the and never forgets to stamp her as an Taj Mahal. untouchable, but pleads her at night, to be the most Š 2016 Tilak Shankar Mukherjee precious gift for their senior officers.
MARCH IS INTERNATIONIAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH WHO ARE THE NOTABLE WOMEN WHO HAVE IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?
Graphics: Maricris Cabrera
NOTABLE WOMEN WHO HAVE IMPACTED OUR LIVES Memories Last Forever Only now as I remember The you I used to know Do I realize the love you gave That enabled me to grow The face that once was smooth as silk Had seen much better days Every wrinkle told a story Each line earned in its own way The mind so full of memories You shared with everyone Countless little anecdotes Of events you had seen and done I miss your special laughter
And your reassuring calm I miss your gentle influence Your thoughtfulness and charm It's said that times a healer That these feelings will get better But I'd give the world to speak to you Or just receive a letter I often sit and think of you I will until my own life ends For memories last forever And you were my best friend Š Allan Ball .
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives Mother & Me [Re-Written] Mother, I love you You've taken care of me ever since I was a child Through good and bad times You made my life worthwhile In your mind, I will always be your little baby Mother, I remember you You told me things about life I've never known You're wise and strong Your heart remains in my soul Mother, you are a smart woman Taught me right from wrong To stick up for my own Keep your head held high and strive to be the man You know I can be, Mother; The future for me Is looking brighter by the day Proud to be your son and sincerely thank you for not just being my mother, But an awesome best friend as well. Š 2015 Craig J. Burt
Ode to Mother A mother enchantingly dear Time spent fondest memories ever A friend in all seasons, A guide I seek for many reasons.
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
Meticulous is her work Amazing tutor greatest perk Silence is her weapon Relentlessly nurtures my little demon Happiness of all she seeks, Secrets she never leaks. Her presence is a strength, To many at length. None can know me better, Today or years later. A mother enchantingly dear, Time spent fondest memories ever. Š 2016 jayashree trao
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives what can I say or how can I start to tell about the greatest lady I have ever met, my mom? she was angel from above she was so sweet so high in everything she taught me how to love God how to love my brothers and sisters how to put my steps on straight path how to deal with people even if they are bad how to treat the life how to forgive the all how to give how from my cares I pass and on the rock how I will stand how I must be great and educated in life
how all times she encouraged me on studying in university she was so quiet and wise I can never forget the sweet stories she told before sleeping when I was a child how I loved her beautiful songs her heart was like deep ocean which contains all good things when she was smiling the darkness became light; she was having cheerful smile when she was talking the all was enjoying her saying the all were respect her I can never return her love but when she went to heaven something precious went with her may God fall his mercy upon he is my Lord bless His name Š Doreia Jewel Ragheb
GRANDMOTHER
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
Few years back She was my whole world And now tables turn I am the only thing she has. So many things we did together: Read books, Pick apples, Bake a cake, Feed chickens, Draw the picture, Bake bread, Walk to the river, Learn to swim, Chase butterflies, Plant a garden, Skate on the frozen lake, Cook soup in winter For someone who Catches a nasty flu All this and many other things My grandmother and I did together In life, we all collect so many things To me good memories are important The more you can recall, the better Hold on to them and let your Spirit soar. Š 2016 Laughing waters
INDIRA GANDHI : I wonder how enigmatic you were, How charismatic you were, How mesmerizing you were. Once a slogan floated in the air: India is Indira. Was it true, or hyperbolic? No doubt it still rings in my ears. Were you a warmonger? A self-styled dictator? But I feel you were a true patriot. Like a commander, you led the Nation; You held the charging bull by its Horns, You made the people realize their Power, You took the county many steps forward. But you were misunderstood by many. They killed you, they buried you in oblivion. But you are still there, you still haunt us Like a shadow, like a specter. Š 2016 Malay Nandy
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
La casa La casa di mia madre piano piano si svuota , di mobili , d' infanzia e di ricordi, alla sera arrivo con le vecchie chiavi , busso come se fossi quasi un'estranea tra queste mura, ormai non sento più ' Vieni, oh, signur, come te set fradicia , ti faccio un bel tè , parliamo' . Entro tra scatoloni zeppi 'di buone cose di pessimo gusto', e la poesia è l'unica difesa che ho per non piangere. Ci siamo fatte male, mia madre ed io, sono andata via sbattendo la porta e adesso ritorno con il mio futile 'scusa' ed un senso di colpa fragile, ora capisco le sue parole prima senza senso, sono diventata grande, ma ricominciare a capirci è inutile, lei non c'è più. E prima di andare a casa, la mia, quella che lei ha visto solo negli ultimi giorni di vita, ho preso due cose, piene di polvere , le ho portate e lavate con cura, il berretto a coppola di mio papà e il foulard dorato di 'Nuci', Anna , come la chiamava lui, le ho messe nell'ingresso. Adesso sono a casa. @ Foto & Testo Mara L. Home
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
The house of my mother slowly empties, of mobiles and childhood memories, the evening I arrive with old keys, knock like I'm almost a stranger within these walls, now I no longer feel 'Come, oh, my God, you are drenched, I'll make a nice tea and then let's talk '. I enter between boxes crammed 'good things in bad taste', and poetry is the only defense I have to keep from crying. We have done wrong, my mother and I, I left slamming the door and now return with my futile 'excuse' and a sense of brittle fault, now I understand her words were meaningless to me, I became great, but start to understand each other is useless, she is gone. And before you go to my house, the one she has seen only in the last days of life, I took two things, full of dust, I brought and washed with care, my daddy's hat and golden scarf of 'Nuci' , Anna, as he called her, I put them in the hall. Now I'm home. @ Photo & Text Mara L.
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives We met at dinner On a cruise ship She American I English Over the week Our friendship grew She was a writer And I a reader Like sisters we became Arranging to meet Many times again. I visited her home She came to mine For two people So many miles apart We felt like one soul I miss her terribly But she had to go Her heart ceased to beat One New Years Day She was not finished With her quill
Or life adventures So I took up my pen And started to write In poetic form Yet i hoped I might Write perfect words Her heart to please, Her friendship encouraged Inspired me so. To be a writer also And I feel She continued with her pen And I hope one day we'll meet again Up in heaven Where I'll read Many more of her Novels For my dear friend Kathleen Givens Author of the Kilgannon series.
Š 2016 Marilyn Ward
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives The Woman that has truly inspired me all my life is none other than....
Queen Elizabeth II Such grace Yet so strong Such Beauty Yet so Polite Such Gentleness Yet so inspiring Such Elegance Yet so simple Such charm Yet Rocks the World Such confidence
Yet so brave Such challenges Yet rule with equity Surely Ma'am, you are the best For there ain't another the likes of you A Role Model in all sense For every Woman’s confidence I have searched for the likes of you... ...But non compares Š 2016 Nasreen Malik
I'm a difficult woman Yes call me that I have known resilience Yes, it was required to get this far Women have come before me They have been mocked, abused, silenced But their existence was anything short of I have learnt the importance of moldbreaking Never confine she to a box that does not befit her The underground railroad is the path least followed Hair care revolution, thank you Madam CJ Walker Standing on what you believed, Sojourner Truth I kept writing because you said it was good to tell stories The kind the world may not be accustomed to So I look to Maya, Angela, Alice, Toni, Sonia Gwendolyn, Rita, Phillis, Ida That's just a few but I'm empowered at the pew Joyce, Priscilla, Kika, Michelle She taught me my existence Taught me how to face sticks and stones Never broke bones, but it cracked self-esteem
Kept my choo-choo train running I learnt to grasp greatness of the shoulders of Great aunt Shirley, GOLDFINGER! I knew that the world against you Was not a battle you couldn't overcome Stand by what you believe, and do what you love They will talk about you and your voice will be noted Your voice will be used time and time again in history Thank you Eartha. I won't compromise my existence and value To satisfy the simple minded, the small minded Because my women are in sight with insight
Š 2016 Pebbles WroteIt (Pebble$ Blog)
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
Sweet Princess Diana We were born the same year, but worlds apart Although I didn't know her personally, she touched my heart She was truly, a real life fairy tale princess Always beautiful, weather in jeans or formal dress A remarkable woman blossomed from that shy girl She captured the hearts of the entire world Even in her times of of pain, disappointment and turmoil To her children and her causes she always remained loyal Sometimes in her eyes, you could see her pain and fears But she managed to remain graceful through the years May God bless her children and guide them from above As she did in life, with affection understanding and love I admired her capacity to be selfless and kind Her light will forever shine, in my heart and mind Sweet Princess Diana 9-6-97 Love Princess Shelda Child Of The King Š 2016 Princess Shelda
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
WHO ELSE Who else other than you my dear mother, can influence and impress me? It's because of you, I am here! You nurtured, nourished, corrected and taught first lessons of a girl child! You are a treasure of love that cannot be measured by any means! Can I at any point of time count the pearls and gems inside that vast ocean of your heart's divine love? The pleasure, comfort and peace your soft lap gives, cannot be replaced by anyone! It's your love and blessings I received even before my birth keeping me alive even today. Your generous heart which fed
so many poor students, taking place of their mother has made a permanent impact on my mind. You never discriminated in the name of caste, creed or religion. You never forced your ideologies on me. If at all if I have achieved something in my life it is due to you, my dear mother. You have forgiven my infinite mistakes like the mother earth and I am flying like a bird on the sky of your immense affection. How can I return your love? Perhaps, the same way you loved all! You are the living God to me Oh, my dear mother!!! (c) 2016 B.S.Saroja 25/11/2016
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
SISTERS In the near future Sister shifted to the house of A shame for my society is a stranger A girl having no brother When married. She was not allowed to play Still they pray for the with any male child. High spirits of her brother and parents. Sister established a big house Gave birth to children. What a pity Still, a very fine thread of She is considered not her love own Is tied to her parents, her But another's brother Whom they not know yet. From her heart. (her in-laws) Sister never claimed any Her in-laws don't allow her share to speak From property As she is the daughter of Still they are considered another house. Extra weight on the head of ( the parents) her father.
In childhood the girls who had no brother Their feelings, their pain well expressed In folk songs. Says those sisters cry deep from their hearts " GOD O GOD give me a brother, I want to play with him I want to tie a RAKHI around the wrist of my brother.
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives
How can i tell With eyes full of tears Sisters in my country are burned alive For the sake of dowry. Really great, really great are Sisters of my Punjab, the male dominated, Really great are sisters of my India Patient, like the earth. ( C ) 2016 SURINDER SINGH
Surinder Singh has written more about his sister, our own Saroja BS. You may read it here: https:// plus.google.com/110044699174 381658307/posts/ aLxbrmCBHDH?sfc=true
Notable Women Who Have Impacted Our Lives Mother dearest My mother you are a special part Of all that's cherished in my heart, One of my life’s good sent angels Before birth were joined at our navels But nothing’s changed since then and now Cause you know all of me: both why and how You are an epitome of infinite love Undefined care and serene like a dove..
Your good-morning instructions that you never miss my nights remain incomplete without your good night kiss You are my pearl, my soul, my mate; You are the one to make my life great. Only a mother’s love can bare the depths of this ocean. You were present to relieve my stress and emotion. Spending more precious time with thee, I crave, To feed the memories in our hearts; there to save. © 2016 Sukanya Basu Mallik
Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi Dear My Loving Son, I write this letter with broken language, for I'm not qualified as you. So read it with correction of any errors. You are my lone son, who has been handed over to me by your father who died, while departing this world on his untimely death in an accident, when you were a toddler. My language is broken but my hearts and mind have not been allowed to be broken. That is why, I could have got through in rearing you. Now you are a young man of 27 with a high post graduate in medicine, the dream which was hatched up by your father and me. For realizing it into reality, I toiled and toiled doing extra works to hoard a penny by penny culminating into a huge sum, not for my dream that died with the death of your father but for your dream that you have desired to study further in any overseas country. That is why, I have sent you to the country of your choice. You study there concentrating your goal. And be a
great doctor. Do not bother for me. My aim is that our son being a doctor should render services to needy & poor human beings, without being money-oriented. I can bear it, if you cannot serve me. But I disallow and can't bear it, if you run after money, in lieu of medical services to the needy and poor rather than me. So as a mother, I advise you stick to and follow what is my dream and fulfill until your existence, otherwise our dream will go astray and my heart will be broken and my birth would be worthless, not only that your father's soul in heaven will weep and weep for good. And that I want. Take care. Spend hard-sweaty earned money economically. My blessings are always with you. God is great. Keep faith. Lovingly yours. Dt 27-December, 2016 Mother Š Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi
Notable Women Who have impacted our lives Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar (Burma) A Collaborative Poem’ By Maricris Cabrera & David Palmer © 2017 It is our privilege to present the story of this most courageous woman, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar (Burma), youngest daughter of Aung San, Father of the Modern Nation of Myanmar, after its independence from Britain. Born in 1945, Aung San Suu Kyi received degrees from the University of Delhi (1964) and Oxford University (1968). In England she married Michael Aris in 1972 and became the mother to two children. She returned to Burma during an uprising against the repressive Military Junta and became general secretary of the newly formed National League for Democracy (NLD). Her party won 81% of the seats to Parliament but the Junta refused to recognize the election. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in 1989 and spent 16 years in the condition until 2010 (she was freed for five years). Today she is First State Counselor (President) of Myanmar, and affectionately called Amay Suu (Mother Suu). Thus we address her as Mother in our poem This is an imaginary dialog between her and the people of Myanmar
For an extraordinary daughter Her journey has just begun. She is the heiress to her father’s cause And a soldier, who fought for his country A politician who fought for their freedom
That ended in his assassination. His people are grieving Now who will stand for their nation Who will look after his people? He died but his spirit lives on. "My people are calling me!" She has to make a choice. Between her loving husband and children or her people. She has a place to come back to call
home.
Forgetting us behind you.
The majestic country of Burma Where her people are not free to roam
But you came back and made all the difference.
She has to be strong and
[Amay Suu]
Stand before them with pride
I came back to save my people
Though she's forbidden to enjoy
Despised and betrayed by individuals
The sunlight for so many years.
Hungry for power
Nothing could separate her from her people
I will speak on your behalf
It is innate that freedom
Although the city gates are locked up
And dignity for her Motherland
against my beloved family
cannot be denied
It is never a hindrance because
Injustice must come to an end
My heart bled for you
for every human being
Seeking for freedom and peace for my people
[People]
And I will show to the tyrants
Mother, you inspire us
Should they leave me in virtual
From you we draw our hope. A whole nation under siege Prisoners of a few powerful old men. Why did no one find their voice, And no one speakwith courage? You, Mother came back from afar And sacrificed so much To give us dignity once more. Please tell us, were we worth it, These sacrifices you made? You could have run and kept on running
And I'll tell you the truth
darkness
In my cold room, that my heart and
Take back what was taken from us For so many long oppressive nights? [Amay Suu] It's very tormenting But I have come to believe
That my loved ones are praying for me That God is always by my side Giving me the reassurance That one day, I with my people soul
Will see the light of liberty, unchained
are with you
Feet running and free I have realized
[People]
Somehow, freedom has the cost
Mother we lost so much as a people
That we will have to pay
In the days of Burmese darkness
It cost blood, the blood of my father
They promised peace and order
And of my fallen fellowmen.
But at such a price. We were told Where to go, what to do, what to say
[People]
What to think. In fact, it was those who Mother, for years we felt sorry for you Living alone, forcibly removed from Dared to think who were singled out kindness To suffer that the rest of us would beYet you were the one solid rock lieve To which we could cling, the one It was better for the leaders to do Our thinking for us. That was safe.
Voice who would not be still.
But safe was killing us day by day,
While we pitied your imprisonment
Heartbeat by heartbeat. How can we
Perhaps we were the ones Occupying walking prisons of the heart.
Perhaps now you know the answer,
[Amay Suu]
Will we ever be free?
As long as I am here with you No one can dominate
[Amay Suu]
And no one can hurt
Wisdom gave me perpetual grace
Because we chose to be heard
I stepped down to mingle with guns
And it's a wonderful choice
Pointing at me. God has spoken
I have spent my life in this dark age
And we're all born equal and free
the true struggle for freedom is a noI have foreseen one day, no one can dic- ble thing. tate We find everlasting solace, so glorifying. Each man will choose his way And I have chosen the challenge Bound with ideals and principles that we're led. [People] But mother, we are only farmers And villagers, peasants, people Of the darkest jungle paths Simple, can we hope to make a difference? For years we have been led. Now you invite us to lead To take charge of our own destiny? Are you sure we are up to This challenge? What if we fail? What do you see for Burma’s future?
Š 2017 Maricris Cabrera & David Palmer.
MUSICIAN: JATHON DELSY Jathon Delsy is a composer from London, England. His aim is to create a sound that is totally original yet familiar and accessible. Jathon believes that music is merely a branch of poetry, indeed all art is just various aspects of poetry, the supreme art, and therefore sculptured sound, no matter how well made, is meaningless without a poetical persuasion and impetus. He dreams of songs incorporating the quirky creativity of The Beatles, the psychedelic grandeur of Pink Floyd, the classy passion of Eric Clapton, the electric libido of Jimi Hendrix, the apocalyptic drama of Wagner, the dazzling perfection of Mozart, the angular modernism of Webern, and the pioneering conceptualism of Stockhausen. He struggles for the crystalline ornament of Shakespeare, the metaphorical passion of Dylan Thomas, the artful modernism of TS Eliot, the surprising ruggedness of Ted Hughes, the profound symbolism of Yeats and the atavistic futurism of the Upanishads. He lives in Shepherds Bush, London with his wife, a cat and several budgies, and works as a music teacher. He is a committed vegetarian, and often eats a purely fruitarian diet.
Lyrics to Jathon Delsy’s Song, “Mad Moments” MAD MOMENTS A certain seed of ready rumor A crazy creed to break happy humor A merry measure of virtue in vain A pleasing pleasure, with pain A sticky strand of beauty's bubble A helping hand to make tricky trouble A vital vision of frivolous fun
Through secrets of sensation (DRIP DROP) I struggle now and then (PIP POP) To fly free from frustration (TIP TOP) And lose myself again A steady stream of st-st-staggered style A desperate dream to wake delicious denial An oily hour of adventure divine A poisoned power, just fine A sacred savior of such heavenly hell A habitual behavior to shake a sheltered shell A silly season of a quest for the queer A rotten reason, right here
I juggle Karmic Law (PING PONG) To be Queen of Creation (DING DONG) And lose myself once more Suddenly there, fantasy fleeting Mad moments of mystery, stole my soul A rare release of rude rehearsal A passing piece to fake real reversal A bitter battle of cheerful exchange A pretty prattle, so strange A lingering laughter of impossible pretense An affair that follows after to take fabulous offence An epic picture of a star gone astray A tragic gesture, each way Through secrets of sensation (DRIP DROP) I struggle now and then (PIP POP) To fly free from frustration (TIP TOP) And lose myself again Through temples of temptation (BING BONG) I juggle Karmic Law (PING PONG) To be Queen of Creation (DING DONG) And lose myself once more, more, more.
Through temples of temptation (BING BONG)
YouTube Link to watch Jathon performing “Mad Moments” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Ngvigv7Uo
Mari Felices YOU HAVE ME
I will stay.
you have me thats all I want to say please keep it in mind and never doubt of me.
I love you More than a lovers do I care for you More than you should know.
you have me please listen to what I say Its not just a pledge Nor simply a word.
You have me Will you promise me to stay? Š Mari Felices Watch her perform this on YouTube at:
No matter what happened. You have me. No matter what they say.
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=3xaChruaW6g&t=158s
HARMONY IN LIFE We live in our own little domain. Each one of us has two worlds, one inner, and another outer. The inner world determines our state of mind, whether to be happy or sad, fit or unfit in our outer world. Harmony is the inherent nature of these two worlds. No harmony outside means no harmony inside and that the inimical notes have harmed the musical composition of one's life. The whole universe moves in an eternal cosmic rhythm but our irregularities and misconceptions by our distorted vision create conflicts resulting in disharmony. Some thinkers questions about the disharmony in nature because " when life to animals means death to plants and the blood and bone of animals means food for man, is it harmony?". Things are not what they appeared to be. Looking partially along the cross section of something makes little sense. But when we view it in its totality it makes sense. Similarly all events, all happenings are the definite intentions of the Master of the universe. But we ordinary human beings can see and grasp only bits and pieces of this depiction. Our perception is very limited. Our feelings are not that accurate. Our consciousness is not the pure expression of divinity. If we do not possess clarity of thoughts, true nature of feelings, awareness to the inner meaning of happenings surrounding us, inner harmony is not possible. Lack of inner harmony results in the lack of harmony outside. When chaos rules our mind how can we expect peace outside? Tranquility, when attained inside harmony outside can be attained. (c)2016 B.S.Saroja
MUSICIAN: TRANSFORMATION EARTH
https://youtu.be/3n93x-l0CG8 Transformation Earth joined Canvas to My Soul in September, 2016. This is his second time appearing in the pages of inSIGHT Journal
Doreia Jewel Ragheb Artist, Painter, Poet
“Farmhouse” Oil on Canvas 2016
i am a brush i am painting by the hand of life i am painting sweet things to give light and bright to make autumn becomes spring i will color the wishes in beautiful colours
to give hope and beauty i will add orange on blue to make everyone not feels blues to give life in everything i draw ©2016 Doreia Jewel Ragheb
Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi Poet, Sketch Artist This drawing was made by me in Aug 2001, when drawingmood arose in the mind, as painting &. drawing skill of me is a god-gifted and I haven't taken any formal Drawing & Painting Art Education. But it depends upon my mood. Post creation this pencil drawing from a picture-book, I haven't drawn any picture until 2016.
This is another piece of a pencil-drawing created by me when my sketch creating mood rushed to the mind in Aug 2001
AleXanDréa When Eccentricity and Art Collide
Title Unravel Me Digital Abstract (Free Hand) , Jan 2017 ©AleXanDréa
Structured Poetry
俳句 短歌
俳文
handcrafted cross on the poppy head mother's milk tears Under the Basho © 2016 Laughing Waters
haiku 俳句 Candlelight dinner secretly adding some salt © 2016 Eva Limbach
grey and overcast nature reflecting my mood Mal ward ©
tanka
短歌
splitting snow clouds over the lake just now Musa embraces me in peace © 2016 Rika Inami
walking alone across the snowy field my footprints left for somebody I don't know yet © 2016 Eva Limbach
paper moon our whispers turn into magic... skipping all the heartaches forgetting all the troubles © Willie Bongcaron o1.1o.2o17
haibun
俳文
prancing filly princess in poverty robin tweets
morning wave rocking the boat my hand
she was crossing a muddy street when she caught his eye working class daughter, walking like a queen, knowing her worth
Bottle nose dolphins really smart animals. They can recognize boats by the sounds of the motor. Southern rose crew always bring fresh fish to the dolphins so they always guarantee you will see dolphins.
diamond discarded young man entranced spider web capture
pink sunrise salmon river coming upstream During oil spill in 2010 Southern rose was used to rescue dolphins from oily water to the safety. Dolphins was swimming behind the boat to the clean water. Many animals was saved, some didn't make it. stars blinking in the dead fish eyes dying sunrise I hope people understand how precious and fragile our planet November 2016(C)Laughing waters
he was just visiting and had lost his way one glimpse of her proud beauty, he knew she’d be his poet songs castles in clouds love dreams awake no suitor had been successful capturing her heart before but Stephen of Hereford spun a good story swans pairing mating for life home across the pond she had to leave with him, had to know his story’s ending home could no longer be the Rhondda Valley, no longer a place, now home was a person migrating birds nest on far shores dawn the new day had grandpa not been the poet and story teller he was this poem you read would never have been written. © 2016 david w palmer A haibun attempt
Je T ‘aime, Mon Couer inSIGHT Salutes Love And Valentine’s Day
Soft feelings of heart Seeking elixir of life Rosy lips full of honey Pushing willingly Towards bodily desire Invite to act ardhnarishwar For the sake of progeny O my love In this season of love Accept the invitation of mine There can't be better celestial time To be my Valentine Š 2017 Arun Sharma
Clarity Mapengo
Oh my, A new love Oh my, These energies Like electric charges they are Winnowed from the core Separated from my seemingly infinite slumbers I am recharging again
The invisible me Roaming in what I never knew to be an electric field Tapping into forces I never knew existed I am awakened To see the best of this life Recharged by this illogical encounter You struck me like a dash of
lightning Passing through the isolated zones of my heart I am fully charging With love, with joy, with peace Incomparable flames burning within me No more eyes with a tiny glow like the November sun But rather they are becoming brighter than the golden beryl stones A new me in the making Slowly I’m grafting onto you My new love Š2016 Clarity R. Mapengo
Karen Hayward Essex, UK When kisses say I love you. First kiss, lips grazing as butterflies swarm through our existence, time momentarily pausing. As light consumes dark, dark consumes light. Souls dance in wonder, uniting, entwining their essence... this is not the moment in time when I will know your love at a depth unknown to others. This is not the memory I will recall every time I search my mind for our beginning. I will swim past, delve deeper into the darkness, Walk the un-trodden path of my mind follow the lost scent of pain, I will find the moment that defined our love, there in a shroud my broken pieces cocooned by your being. Rationality departed, etched motives, my soul shattered, shards of bloodied spirit spill monumentally across pristine
reality, the chaotic remnants. Intensity overload as I break and break and break again. There you are lips grazing mine fingers upon my face, hand in my hair, eyes watching me, no words spoken just watching filled with fear, filled with love. Lips grazing as you reach through the shards of shattered crystal, love rising through me, not the fluttering wings of butterflies, but the sudden rise of knowing beyond all realities, this is the kiss that will define the moment when I know what it was to be loved by you. Karen Hayward Š2016 (Image and words)
SMART ME, BEAUTIFUL YOU Oh, look at you beautiful You're so cute and gorgeous, As my heart starts jumping And emotion runs high; I keep my palm on heart Try to hide you from it, But as soon as I touch you It flee away to reach you; Knock, Knock and done As your heart kisses mine, They close the door hard And lock it from inside; Few days passes by After much melodrama, They open the door softly As they come united; Now give me your hand Let us get married now, No need for proposal As our hearts are engaged. Š Singh Vikas, 2016
Juliet: The world may not know Just the thought of having you
Romeo: The day we met, my sun arose In glories banishing colorless night I looked, with wonder to see
My heart feels the afterglow
It's glories streaming from your face
For the rest of my life you
Hopeless gloom you did erase
Are my angel in disguise
As warmth and tenderness awoke in me.
I want to grow old with you
Colors returned to claim what is their right,
You are the dream that never dies
In embracing you the joie de vie I chose.
Things always get better with time
Once I thought dreams belonged in the night
My verse will flow and reach out to you
But you have made me see them in daylight
A love so beautiful Written by you and me Take me to your river Hopes and miracles will set us free Our dreams find our souls Don't let your love fade away I will always be here to stay I will be your Valentine And forever you're mine.
We see a future once impossible Draw to embrace us, unstoppable We loved as friends, but knew we had Found at last one to be our Amistad But intensity, commitment drew us on Love's fragrant flower blooms in our garden Here do I give you this promise for all time. Forever I am yours, your Valentine.
Š 2017 Maricris Cabrera & David Palmer
My Rosey Love
Prompt and solid Alluring me into you
Mmwahh
Mwahhh
That is how you greet me Whenever you calls everyone we meet
I coming running
Those hooded eyes of
Always a yes
yours glimmers
I can't deny you
The sweet curved lips
And you can't deny me
meeting mine The miss enfold us together
either The love of passion meets So pure and sincere
Rocking in your hands
Just a thought of you
Tight hugs
Makes me glide and
Soft and warm
rosey as the rose
Purest as the snow
Turmoil of emotions in me
Rosey as the rose
Thr quench of thirst
Mwahhh
The hunger of taste
No words can elaborate
Mwahhh
the love
My dear love
Mmwahh
Š 2017 Amethyst Crystal
Tender touches Skilled as the galloping horse
Little footprints in the snow Everywhere they seem to go They have not arrived from anywhere A step here a step there Hinting to you of fun To just get up and run Come dance with me While angels sing playfully Children's voices from memory Here I am now remembering I'm calling you out...let go of all vanity For the sake of humanity Ohhhh man what a fight this has been Take my hand lifes ready to begin Forget your next thought Where your afraid to get caught Steal my heart and run with it Burning with passion As we both are laughing Please oh God please.... Whatever hurt you just let it be Come out and catch snowflakes with me Š 2017 Kimberly Leuthner
LOVE IS... sun dancing on the foamy clouds sangria splashes on my wedding dress my baby's cry box of the finest candies on rainy day when girl just need good cry the scent of mother's bread a helping hand reached out to help a stranger on a darker day the rainbow bridge Creator's kept the promise your eyes each time I look I simply drown, save me farmer on tractor ride across the field cat-mother welcomes kittens to the new world, church early Sunday ringing bells in sky, so many things a simple things in our life we can related to the big word LOVE (2) 2017 Laughing waters
Your kisses A fire lit In the depth Of my soul Your touch A powerful charge CPR to my weary heart Heartbeats Of a love revived Your breath Scintillating Like a gentle whiff Vanquishing all the barriers Of passion within me Your voice Music to my ears
I play it again and again Calming the hurricanes in my soul Your being The embodiment Of patience and wits Of gentleness and respect Of compassion and passion You are The company For keeps Forever mine (c) Clarity R. Mapengo
within her breast there beats so blessed a heart of purest gold the smile upon her moistened lips a beauty to behold and in her eyes the stars do shine they glisten , glitter glints divine to have and hold as we grow old our song of love through days untold enduring love is hard to find but once its found don’t look behind Š Garry Spooner 29 December 2016
Love is‌ Love starts as a small seed, much like that of the Mustard seed. As the mustard seed grows into a majestic tree so it is with love, as it matures and ages, it grows spreading joy, bliss and encompassing all within its reach. Love is like the embers of a dying fire, sparkling, glowing and radiating heat and light into a harsh world. Love can also be like ice, cold hard and unyielding. Love is an emotion that must be shared. Sharing love increases the power of love tenfold. An emotion that is shared by man and wife becomes the bond that unites them for life. Love is the most wonderful feeling that one can experience. Š Phil Renaud 2017
Dance Me Home! Dreaming through the wood I walk Psithurism in the air rivulets of water running crickets orchestrating moving shadows playing trick with the Moon nocturnal plants in selenotropism whilst the night and I are sharing an intimate moment
A susurrant sound a familiar voice, you call for me Is that you calling me? it is you, your soul exudes star light, star bright
resplendently surrounding me my soul leads me to its mate O' sweetheart, I've been waiting Our souls are singing a duet just for you and I Hello my star light! Take my hands, sway me in your arms lest us wait a minute longer hold me, kiss me, dance me home where we belong Š2017 EqCi psithurism : the sound of wind in the trees and rustling of leaves selenotropism : grow in response to moonlight susurrant : a soft whisper
Love is a feeling of the heart Even in absence and miles apart That certain glow Like new fallen snow
Burning deep inside desire That sets your soul on fire Š Robert Gillette
LOVE IS..... A puncture in the soul is love. One more name of pain. Ever and again, inadequate to suffice a heart’s cravings, Loitering at the back of your heart, just as a painful stone. The soul yearns an emotion, a bridge to connect your beau. Of all you think, do, say it attracts approval and assistance. It needs to be respected, honoured, and its sentiments to be treasured. Expects of being trusted, hopes for a new faith each day. Not to forget its sensuous face, the carnal needs are to be quenched. Love means meeting by the salty sea. And endlessly talking about the setting sun. Provision to the link, a name of commitment. Love is seeing him and grinning surplus times, The moment, the heart beats faster when you hear his name. Love is turning each stone to mutate the destinies, And bringing the dreams home, to paint the realities. Love is an endless flow in the aura of a person, It becomes a life, when two hearts beat to rythmn one.
My sincere apologies, as I disbelieve all of the above. Having walked as far as possible from this so called “love”. So lounging back as I envision myself in love, I calculate not the times we unite. And when we do, it is the things we do not talk , “the unspoken words”, Is love. This string is nameless, that connects our souls.
I breathe in contentment that it just exists. It is insignificant if I get to see him or not, With certitude I indeed see him everyday. I recognize and respect my kismet, My heart is efficient to love for eons. In accordance to the will of karma, I love you more, with each passing micro-second. While strolling I surpassed another milestone. The person I was erst allured to, when profound it got, I started seeing him in each one I sauntered around. Thereafter, it intensified, when in him I saw HIM, And yes that lovable moment, I started loving HIM. Because I could see HIM everywhere in everyone. I ultimately reached the destination of my LOVE. And I am happy as he is everywhere with me in HIS form. So all I want to do is preserve this love in my heart, NO MATTER WHAT the world says. My heart is finally happy. Because when I started loving a person, I ended loving the universe. So, for me, LOVE IS DEVOTION.
Š Dr. Tanvi Shah
MY CUTE LOVE You and me A complete world When you call me Jaan
Many butterflies flying in my heart When your lips touch my lips Many roses fall from heaven When your fingers Write your name on my body That moment a new world create Where only love spread all around Your breath is my favorite music Which my ears always want to hear My love your love flow in my veins My day My night My life, My world Is incomplete without your cute love. Š2017 Roopam Bishnoi
Love Is Love is The way you feed my heart When I ask "Honey can we talk?" and you really listen, Love is A bond that only we can break and even when it's difficult We won't let go Not when we know losing us is at stake, Love is Your mouth wide open Snoring in my face and not wanting to be in any other place, Love is The arguments and heated discussions and how the both of us look for the solutions Neither of us willing to settle for dissolution, Love is The silent talk
The smiles, the nods and the blown kisses That reassures each of our hearts, Love is When you try to pull off sexy But you come off sweetly goofy instead, and you have no idea how much I burn for you then, But ultimately love can never be fully defined in a poem I will run out of words first, For I can say I Love You A thousand times a day But it's still not enough How could it ever be enough When I can't live without you Baby, It always comes back to us That's where Love is. Jack Dankof Šjdankof2016
Love That heartfelt Emotion Tearing me inside outside
I just want you Copyright (c) Nasreen Malik 2016
MAGIC
Always eternal
=======
Together we're whole
Love is a magic
Love is a magic
Bewitched by your eyes
A gem, a charm
Infatuated longing
Carrying us onward
Eliciting sighs
Forever through time.
Delight in warmth Held in your arms
Š 2016 Mal. Ward
Breast filled emotion
Dancing Deer
For you are my heart Love is us Cast by our soul
I FOUND LOVE For meaning I searched Combing the deepest seas for hidden treasures Coveting the rarest lilies for beauty. In you, I found its definition. From the windows of your soul peace rained on me. From your touch, joy flooded my being. An avalanche of hope; you brought. A glittering glow of radiance, your presence offered. A new man you turned me into. Infusing my bones with a fresh vigor. Sweetening my heart like ambrosia to the mouth. You are my angel. © 2017 okonta kosi Love is... The feeling of the hushing sounds of whispering flowers 'pon your vanilla skin The way darkness is viewed and diamonds shatter to dust to fill it with stars It's the secrets kept 'neath the shadow of a butterfly wing, a touchable touch-less creature; that is what love is to me... (c) 2016 matt aguilar “gutter punk”
Land of Love Come my love, take me to the land that's filled with beautiful Red hearts floating in the air, above the calm blue sea, and with pure red roses bursting out through the misty water falls. There We will see standing amongst the green, tall trees a white horse, with a red bow around his neck holding the rose of true Love
A rose that is filled with lighted sparkles, as our lips touch ever So gently, and our tongue's interwine each other. Holding you tightly with embrace, and with such passion burning through The still of the night This land will always capture our silhouette of true love, and its Happiness for now, for forever, and for eternity. I love you, my love, you are my destiny, and my soul. My heart is taken by you, and This beautiful land of love Š Tanya Jean Williams 2016
MAGNETISM LOVE Not a mere word while speaking about attraction between Boy and girl Or Man and woman. Its impact is just Amazing!!!
Hears the echoes of Heart beats reverberating from the loved one. Feet can't stand in one place. Runs fast with full focus To meet its sweetheart!!
When Love at sixteen Remains the same or even more at Sixty Dreams of carnal pleasures, It's a real Valentine gift Romantic ideas most awesome one!!! run like a horse!! (c) 2016 B.S.Saroja Scorching sun, 29-December, 2016 Lightning or thunder, Drizzle or downpour has no effect on the mind of a loving heart. Eyes only hues of romance;
Valentine's Day That day is the symbol of friendship, prosperity brotherhood & love And it is a Valentine’s Day Every year, it tells us, this world is a heaven, not above In various parts of the world, today people are celebrating Valentine’s ray The fragrance of flowers is everywhere. The sun is shining as it shines And the sky is clear By the beauty of Valentine’s, a poet is inspired to write glorious rhymes. Once again, history of love & friendship are getting a new story The streets & roads are shining with cards and flowers glory Every year, we wait for this precious day The greeting cards and flowers, people are imparting in the way. Some beloved flowers are singing Some beloved are looking so smart Some beloved flowers are swinging Some beloved are reciting poems in front of their sweetheart. New charming flowers are sharing internal feelings with their
lovers Today, they are making their new lives covers The sound of beautiful song is in the sky This scene is touching everyone's heart's eye. On the other hand Some people are spreading brutality and hate They are trying to make our world into the bloody sand They don't know, love, friendship and brotherhood are our fate. The Winter's girl and leaves of trees are falling To get love, friendship and brotherhood's pace Valentine’s Day is calling And the mother earth is feeling delighted to look at Valentine’s grace.
© 2016 Baleshwar Purohit
Quotes on Love Hosted by Mark Norris "Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could."-Barbara de Angelis
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them." --Thomas Merton
"This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love: the more they give, the more they possess."-Rainer Maria Rilke
"The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love." —Margaret Atwood
"To love for the sake of being loved is human, but to love for the sake of loving is angelic." --Alphonse de Lamartine
"Ignorance and bungling with love are better than wisdom and skill without."Henry David Thoreau
"I Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
My Valentine, My Passion © Harold Bo Clapsaddle All my nights held survey to trade a crow for a dove with chaste eye it doth sway crowning verse, honoring love. In time, my heartbeats measure in a million songs when set my loves sheets wrongs be lost as heaven belongs. My rose with velvet curves vainly blossoms passion’s will in perfumed waves tingles nerves caught amongst petal thorned skill. My Valentines olden myrtle rod ‘tis tamed winters chilly welcome yet by a whimper I get her nod asleep in my lap we are as one. Such as we both, young and old, have forever thought of together we are one with our caring passion in God’s love.
ENTHRALLED An Etheree to my Valentine
Love starts small a pleasant interest, but then, before you know it, she becomes your passion, and you would move the heavens and earth just to please her and think nothing of it, for she is the one for whom sun, moon and stars orbit. Š 2017 David W. Palmer
Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi Gujarat State, India (L)iving (O)rganisms (V)enting (E)motions L O V E - POEM Love always snatches away sleep from Over-loving lovers waiting for dawn to Living Organisms Venting Emotions is love meet Of two kinds: platonic & sexual. Vehemently pre-sunrise, until insomnia Very sexual love varies & vitiates at last, Gets the eyes, leading them waiting and Entertaining much platonic love for good. waiting Living organisms venting emotions is love. For dawn after dawn for meeting to their lack of Love is like fire & flame for lovers, ever Contentment at all, for luring charm of On burning, if not able to be one soul to love. face Living organisms venting emotions is love. Venom of the world, lastly be one soul Ensconced lastly in heaven, to immortalize Love is inclined to separate true lovers, for Themselves a past love-legend in history. Overall love itself is jealous never wishes Living organisms venting emotions is love. a Velvet like easy way for them to merge inLove is very soft like a rose but with to thorns, Eagerly, so for true lovers, love seems to Very obstinate in inflicting much pain be Voicelessly to lovers until they be Bitter or sour, albeit love is sung sweet voiceless, love Eccentrically love imbibes pleasure until Sweet love in the mundane world. So Lovers meet their mortality to be many immortal Faces Love has, but changeable, appearSouls merging into one soul in the end ing that As per relationships appear. Qualifies their immortal souls to be born Living organisms venting emotions is love. again as True lovers for true love,once more Š 2016 Lawyer Jagdish B. Joshi Living organisms venting emotions is love.
Meet Our Poets Irene Riz Washington, D.C. ESSAY: How I Started Writing Poetry
If it is possible to be born twice, I am the case. I started writing poems on the big sheet of paper covering my desk in the confinement of a little storage room where I was paid to be sitting eight hours a day guarding a collection of paintings. It was in Moscow. I was eighteen years old, I took a gap year before going to college and I was as free as a person could be in soviet country - Russia was USSR at that time. I was studying math until things became looking too clear and bright, a humming buzz filled my ears. The feeling of lightheartedness and cold hands is probably familiar to you, I felt that too. Later I learned that Indians call it kundallini awakening. To let this energy out I needed to write and I was writing, covering that sheet of paper on my desk slowly unrolling it from the right and folding it back on my left. I was in the middle of unrolling film that only could be seen by me. From time to time the workers would come and bring new paintings for storage, I needed to quickly register the new piece in the journal and came back to my desk. Math and poetry were my company. Did I tell you, the room did not have windows, with the exception of the one I was creating on my desk. The story is getting too long. I have to tell why I was born twice. Before my emigration to US I burned my notebooks and flew to a new land light if not to count a cast iron frying pan that my mother asked me to take. New impressions, new culture, new language which I started to like for its action-filled, verb-rich vibe...Publishing scientific papers, raising family, travel and research all these factors and old me. I am slowly giving up to my kundallini and for the last couple of years I write again. I am still in a cute awkwardness of teens in writing. But I will grow up. Talking to over four hundred refined ears is a divine privilege.
Dialogical Poem Inner Conflict (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs) For six weeks this past fall, Gelda Castro (Gel Poetry Garden) and David Palmer held a poetic dialog on what is essential to the human condition. The discussion was based on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs. The inquiry was pursuing the idea, what does it take to be a fulfilled individual. That discussion is reproduced here.
INNER CONFLICT: INTRODUCTORY
[Dave]
DISCUSSION: WHAT MAJES IT ALL
Have we lost our way in a sea of stars?
WORTHWHILE
One life boat alone comprises our hopes Traversing our sun circuit, Oh, so far;
A Collaborative Series between Gelda Castro (+Gel Poetry Garden), Rio de Janiero, & David Palmer, Seattle, Washington
We must make connection, pull the same ropes Find strength in each other, love, and regard. [Gel]
[Gel] We are one of among almost 7 million a common, admirable house, planned with love, by the the hands of the Creator ... But what we perceive increasingly sharp, It is the feeling of loneliness of the human being ... What does a man need to feel happy, complete? ...
When we are in crossing, we think and feel First for our sorrows, our questions, our needs. Rarely we see to the side that perhaps The way of my neighbor has more stones than mine. Most of the time, we know how to connect But have not learned to touch the soul by our side [Dave] Now is our time to return to our core Essentials that guide and shape our destiny
Things we omit in life to our peril. We are building our lives piece upon piece Foundations secure what rises above Then, pray tell, let us ask, What should come first? {Gel]
Alone in the crowd Man fights a battle Himself, while thousands of questions Aggregate in his weary mind Instinctively he projects a Hierarchy An order for his needs, a Human Pyramid: Have I met the physiological needs of my being?
The right Someone to share and make all the difference in our existential projects
Do I have a sense of belonging to my family?
[Gel]
As well as in the family of Man?
We punctuate them, one by one, and
How do I relate to Love, both to give and receive?
As a daily prayer, as anyone who asks and expects
How can I resolve my lack of self-esteem? And how can I transcend what is basic
Thus, we ask ourselves: What will come tomorrow?
To rise to my level of self-realization?
And where will tomorrow find me?
[Dave]
INNER CONFLICT (DISCUSSION #2)
Ultimately, these questions will culminate
PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS (Maslow’s Hierarchy, Level 1)
In a manner, intimate and common to every person:
Revising our searches and needs
the long awaited and sought other half,
[Dave]
Someone in whom we confide, sharing
Who would dare say that one life be valued
each of these harrowing questions that robs our sleep
More highly above another? When each
And, occupies our full attention.
Arrives in this existence Creation Fresh, straight from the hands of God? Why
one should
the first part we must think of
Be a President, another snatching
as individuals, pursuing lifelong basic needs,
Purses; why one should gain the birthright, while
is fully satisfied safety, before we can reach
The other only lentils? Perchance that
the other stages with more tranquility and emotional control,
Princely potential lies in chains for some:
Whereas, when these basic needs are
‘Tis hard to be the sage to whom all bow
stunted,
Their hearts in reverence at every word
We see in our lives, a constant personal dissatisfaction,
He speaks, when hardly be there morsels for His hunger to abate. How grand is man When God-like, imagines what is not, then
For someone to relate well with others, and everything around them, it is necessary, first, To be well even within ourselves.
Makes it into being? How low he sinks
How can a soul is living when struggling
When desperately security be
For survival? Thoughts of education,
Absent? Give him his due, and watch him shine!
Recognition and attainment, mocking, To say the least. A child sent to bed Repeatedly with an empty tummy
[Gel]
Cares nothing for geometry, physics,
If we consider the base of Maslow's
Nor history. Desperation drives us
pyramid
To disaster, where morality and Civility are lost ‘neath one pursuit: When sun arises on the morrow be The last man standing whatever the cost. To lose this war in the urban jungle Is to cease to even exist at all. Truly, can we not say, that God was right, We are our brother’s keeper? He cannot Raise his sights while life remains so fragile. [Gel]
When we talk about love, it is important To be aware that feeling is in our essence With such magnitude that in itself, It is able to do great miracles, cures, Changes and great achievements. Therefore, we can say that someone lacking Basic needs is perfectly capable To love and to be loved, thus to be in harmony Within himself and others, since love is the vital
Values, roles, patterns of thinking are means
Force that opens paths and lights lights and ennobles
Of finding identity, which in the
the individual as a whole. Only love is able to supply
Becomes the huddle gathering around
All needs and searches. Therefore, the look of love
Knowing my place where I fit in completes
Goes beyond our physical eyes because it transcends All to which our intelligence reaches.
[Dave] Knowing where I’m going presumes I know From whence I came. Sense of self forged in life Begins within the home. Babies learn trust In cradling loving arms. Mother, Daddy
End guarantees survival as the tribe Protecting their weak and vulnerable. My picture indicating my purpose. [Gel] Now, we come to the crux of the whole matter: It is known that we had at the origin, the same zeal received from the Creator, but fate takes us in Far different ways and situations ...
Be there to support all survival needs.
Will it be the destination interfering in our lives, or
We learn to think on who we are through all
will we be 'human'? Could we not
Associations, my village, tribe and
contribute,
Nation. Within our group we understand
Providing better luck to each other?
Ourselves in context of relationships;
Š2016 Gel Poetry Garden & David Palmer
All Intellectual Property Rights Retained by each author
INNER CONFLICT (DISCUSSION #3) MASLOW’S HIERARCHY: LEVEL 2, SAFETY & SECURITY [Dave]
Savage streets, where life is cheap, and measured By the dime-bag. Relief is hard to come-by When the Law’s blue line is perpetrator Of outrageous crimes against citizens; Gangs rule by intimidation and Threat, yet provide the most visible means Of identity, for you are somebody When you belong to the whole and are not Alone out there in an indifferent world. What does a young man care when all he knows Is that iron bars, three hots and a cot Await him in the dimly dying twilight Of his day? Who cares about school achievements When you just saw Jamaal lying facedown On this bloody street, oozing red ribbons
Ends, these trenches of war. People are raising their walls, in a vain attempt for safety, becoming prisoners in their own homes. On the streets, some are already paranoid, thinking that at any time, a bomb can be detonated on the corner, in the square or in the Mall Where are the powers that should protect us? To whom should we turn? Moreover: against whom we must protect ourselves? It is with great sadness and concern that we perceive, That man seeks protection against man himself Do you know, then tell me, please, where is our security?
Of his life force, bloody L.A. sacrifice? Dave] ]Gel]
It is true, my friend, you ask difficult
What is happening to the human being? We watch, stunned, at the lack of security In the whole world. Today, we no longer know where it starts or
Questions, one’s to which satisfactory Answers seem not forth coming. However, My mind is drawn to an aphorism
“In descending darkness, we either curse It’s presence, or light a candle against It.” We either give into panic and Let Fear be our overlord, or decide That the life we love and values we cherish Are too precious to be simply surrendered. Do you remember Paris, and the day
Gunmen burst into the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the magazine, and killed Indiscriminately because cartoons They published were found objectionable? The people of Paris, indeed the whole World rallied to support freedom of expression And gathered in the streets, shouting, “Je Suis, Charlie!,” (I am Charlie). I know that What I offer may not be much, but I Would rather stand up to bullies and say To the advancing night, like the song I
Immediately, it comes to my mind that we do not come to this world by chance, or by our own will I believe that even most incredulous in men's situation is that we as human beings are not selfsufficient as well. Yes, there was a beginning, the Creator of all things We were carefully planned by the Great Author of Life, by His immense love, He have shaped us, breathed into us the life and love. While men seek solutions in men, there will always be disappointments
But if each man returning his gaze to the Creator, We will have from Him the answers and solutions needed, the safest route, shelter and security that everyone needs
Of mine, I AM GOING TO LET IT SHINE!’*
Oh, Men! Open your eyes, mind and hearts, the solution is within reach of everyone,
Forever, my friend! Forever!
It is at the beginning and end of all things.
Learned in Sunday School, “This little light
[Gel] The man of the twenty-first century is faced of so many atrocities committed by Man himself, causing a lack of security to one’s person and society. Too often, we ask ourselves: Where is our security?
It becomes so very clear to me. We were Not created for the primary purpose of fame, Nor even the accumulation of things We were made for deep and intimate relationship With another person. I see this everyday As my wanderings and wonderings take me Our security will be safeguarded when men recognize and seek
Where my feet may go and my thoughts
the Creator answers to these questions ...
May soar. What it all comes down to, by the end of the day
On that day, all mankind will be in harmony and security!
Is that I get to sit down with her, and we talk About what happened throughout our day.
© 2016 Gelda Castro (Gel Poetry Garden) & David Palmer
No recognition received, nor poem written
All intellectual property rights retained by the authors
delight
[Lyrics to the Song, "This Little Light of Mine," by Ava Burgeson Christiansen, are in the Public Domain, no copyright infringement. Music ©2000 Renewed, GIA Publications – but we are not Publishing the music]]
Means anything to me until I see the In her eyes, and hear her tell me, “I am so proud Of you.” I, of course, want to read her writings, Ponder her poems, and marvel at her pensées du jour Which are always the fodder for my deeper introspection And reconsideration. That we matter to each other,
INNER CONFLICT (DISCUSSION #4)
“LOVE & BELONGING” (Level 3) [Dave] The longer I live, and the more that I see
Truly makes life worth living. To know I belong to her And she to me, makes this life beautiful and so satisfying.
[Gel]
respecting him/her
Human experience, in its supreme wisdom,
In all integrity, that form the values we admire in him/her.
Comes to us, to teach us that alone, we are nothing,
And from there, take care to build a story together, promoting
We build nothing, we get nowhere
what is best in the other half that completes us.
In personal relationships, this is clearly evident. We can conquer the world, but if we do not have someone so close, to share this feat, it has no meaning The certainty that we belong to the other and that the other also belongs to us, in its totality, is something we seek throughout our lives. So it's something we lack More than a sense of well-being, security and confidence, Belonging is the process of discovering the other day-to-day. It is putting us in the other's place, and so
This bond, narrow, intimate, is guided by the greater and deep feeling we named Love! [Dave] Building a story together. Indeed, my friend, that is every couple’s task. We are people of story, people with a history, people who daily Discover that significance is marked in milestones of memory. What unites me to my Love is the awareness that from the day We met, we have been building that narrative. I am no longer the sole
Author of my life. She has taken up the pen and inscribes upon my soul Her uniqueness, her beauty, her vision, her desires. And to her, I do The same. And we are both changed, strengthened and made complete In the verse we write upon the parchment of our souls. Thus it was even When Grandpa won Grandma’s heart on a river bank in the South of Wales, And invited her to join him in the greatest authorship of their lives. She
Left her home of the tried and true, the known and expected, and sailed Across the sea to pioneer with him a story that would stretch the Continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, because she had to know Exactly how his story would end. It became hers as well. Two generations Later, this process has not changed in the least. I am who I am because she Writes with me, and we create identity, narrative, movement, climax and Fulfillment. Tending the garden of our souls, the beauty we create becomes us. I would not have it any other way. She and I. Authors of our destiny. Such is love.
a single name, which is different Of all other names, which resounds in the soul as a tablet of salvation. In this name is engraved not only his story, but also the seal of his soul and heart So we understand that in that person, and only in that person is our home, Our peace, our reason to move on, without fear In this person, we recognize the meaning of life, joy, good will In this special someone, we are able to cross miles and deserts, Only to obtain full happiness with the one who belongs to me,
The one my heart chose to be mine and so, we will be sealed
[Gel] The path taken to belong to another is not always easy
One in the other, by the Perseverance gathered in Love!
There are ups and downs, curves and slopes, some thorns, doubts,
Š 2016 Gelda Castro (Gel Poetry Garden) & David W. Palmer
And when everything seems dark, the heart is the first to signal: do not give up!
All intellectual property rights retained by the authors
Stop! Listen! The voice of your heart calls
INNER CONFLICT (DISCUSSION #5) LEVEL4: ESTEEM: PRESTIGE & ACCOMPLISHMENT [Dave] Although we share our sojourn upon this planet, 7 Billion strong, Few of us have ever witnessed a sunrise
failing solely of those in Las Vegas, As Hunter S. Thompson described. We know our humanness, Oh! So very well. Yet, we creatives, creatures of imagination and vision, long for so much more: That the trail of our sojourn upon this rock be marked with mementos of our passing. standing at 8,848 meters The glory of Chomolungma is a sight reserved solely For those with stamina, strength, training and determination To conquer her glacial flanks and breathe with supplementation Her rarefied air. Just so, our pyramid described by Maslow reaches To heights many admire, yet to which so few attain. Sadly, shelter And safety issues remain the realm in which many struggle finding life. Fewer know the joy of sharing that one special so satisfying life long love. Although I never can, nor shall, nor will move beyond her – my greatest gift, It is upon the ledge that she and I have created that dare I see the realms We may explore together. What does it mean to know esteem, not positive
Regard from others, but regard, yes, even love for myself within? Too many Rise each morning, behold the mirror’s tale staring them in the face and cringe. Fear and loathing of one’s self is not the
As Anne Frank wrote from hiding in Holland, “I want to live forever, and through My Words, I shall. Therefore, I want to be a writer.” To which I can only say, “Amen!” [Gel] I think that while Maslow applied his knowledge to the theories of the wellknown pyramid, he instinctively put a little of what he saw, lived, heard, and found on the human journey If we reach the top of our personal, interpersonal, and intellectual goals We climb the mountains of adversity with determination, courage and focus. Only the brave will cross the dark valleys, the difficult shortcuts, the dangerous cliffs to which human beings are exposed Life is a daily adventure that demands from us a balanced high-esteem, at the same time as a self-knowledge of who we really are and what we want However, it is extremely necessary that during climbing the human creature Join one to the Divine to understand that it is from there that comes his ability to cross limits, conquer spaces and gain recognition and pretense.
If, alone, we have brought so many conquests ... imagine what we are capable of conquering if we unite with the Creator, to the one who helps us even in what, to the our eyes, seems impossible. I am sure that every conquest made with a good dose of persistence, determination and faith is like a catapult that lifts us to the top of the mountain allowing us to live the experience of ESTEEM: PRESTIGE & ACCOMPLISHMENT. It is the crowning of the efforts applied in the limits of our resistance. And so we will be remembered for our deeds and the manner in which we have conquered them. [Dave] So, my friend, how do we define the idea of a life, well lived? To what will we look back when all is said and done,
And our hour upon Shakespeare’s stage draws down The final curtain, as other players wait impatiently to take Our place in the spotlight of adulation and appreciation? Would it not be this: that with all the powers of creative Imagination, like my Creator God, I saw what was not yet With eyes of faith, spoke of them as though they were, and with
My pen, my hands, my tongue, my mind, wrote, shaped, shared and Dreamed them into existence? This, to me, is humanity acting out The Imago Dei, the Image of our God in which He formed us from Ochre banks of sticky red clay, and shaped the form which we know
Today, and Breathed in to us that Spirit, and whispered in our Collective Ear, “Live, my Child!” We know him best when like him We take the raw form of existence and transform it into usefulness, Beauty, Expression, Movement, all to bring Him greatest pleasure. This we know instinctively to be so true of us. We live because we have Purpose, and like Him, look back upon the things our hands have made And say, “Behold, it is good!” This be why many fail to live barely into Retirement. Obsolescence is a fate worse than death. What we create Most of all, in the end, is Purpose and Blessing, by which we are remembered.
LEVEL 5: SELF-ACTUALIZATION [Gel]
[Dave]
There is an important detail that will make all the
Many aspire, but few attain, perhaps no more than one percent of us
Difference when we have reached the top.
Live to know that we have fulfilled all of our potential in life. Why does
As we go up, we must learn detachment From everything that is superfluous ... from everything that makes us small, From everything that weighs our souls and suffocates the heart. So, little by little we get to know each other as We really are and what really matters in the journey of life Once we know each other well, we should Get together too ... while together, we walk and climb to the top By supporting each other, the climb will be more uplifting. So that when we get to the top, we can breathe deeply together And feel in us better, more aware and fuller people and we will look To bring back dazzled with the beauty seen from above is always together We will shout, echoing our voices: "It was a beautiful journey! It was worth it !!! ©2016 Gelda Castro (Gel Poetry Garden) & David Palmer All Intellectual Property Rights Retained by the Authors
INNER CONFLICT (DISCUSSION #6)
It seem, that the older we get, the more life becomes a series of sad Compromises between our ideals and our attainments? Between our dreams And our realities? Why do we spend more time scratching line items off of our Bucket List of things we want to do, places we want to go, people we want to Meet, rather than add to it every single day? Why must adulthood be the Graveyard of the dreams of youth rather than the mountain peak of their Fulfillment?. The aphorism was misappropriated to Henry David Thoreau, that “Most Men lead lives of quiet desperation and die with their song still in them.” Well, Call me the Rebel Poet, but I am unwilling to depart for that great Undiscovered
Country with my Life Song unsung within my soul, nor the crucial words unspoken
However, in the logic of life, things happen very differently.
To those I loved the most, nor the dreams I cherished lying mothballed in the attic
For many reasons, ranging from the influence of the environment
Of decaying memory in tatters. What if? That should be the motto of our lives.
In which each was born and lived (personal influences) and all the rest
Why not? The motivation that takes us out the door into the unknown each day.
Which comes from everything we are getting and losing throughout the process
“Here Am I, Send Me,” the verse from Isaiah 6 we quote most often. To live fulfilling
Self-knowledge and interpersonal relationships (external influences).
Our potential, touching lives, reaching for the stars, changing the course of normal Human life expectancy. WHY NOT, my friend? WHY NOT? If this be living in the clouds
There are many studies with various theories, however it is difficult to Know in which moment an individual has lost the thread of that plot that is life, And that, as a consequence, he was unable to develop his capacities
Then let me build my castle there and see what most have stopped dreaming about.
And talents that would lead him to get the sensation and well-being
This is why I have written three-hundred sonnets and why I yet write more. What lies
That personal fulfillment is able to give each of us …
Deep inside me, my meditation on what life can and should be, will be sung by my pen If not my lips and vocal chords. Let your life be the story you live to tell and sing about! [Gel] Well, what most of us dream as the goal of achieving happiness, Is to reach maturity with all the selfrealizations achieved, or, more or Less, a good part of them with others remaining to be conquered.
[Gel continues]
I think to myself that, since man is a creature endowed with so many Talents, such greatness, indisputable ability, but still "creature" Above us, creatures, is the Creator, who enables us, yes, but who does not Gives control of all things; we control many things, but not everything. We discovered millions of things, but not everything Maybe that's why, let's go on living, and running in such a hurry after our dreams We're in a hurry
However, there are reasons that, as the poet said: "that reason itself does not know" ... that is, that we can not interfere or even understand completely.
day will be recalled. How dare we
[Gel Continues]
Done in fitful steps and starts, at least begun. The employment of all of our
However, this thought should not be accommodation. On the contrary, since
We know that there is a Creator, who has enabled us with countless talents and abilities, we have to go through this life, trying ... trying ... It is certain that we will achieve some successes, sometimes we will not But we must try, with courage and gratitude to Him who sowed in us The most genuine and admirable skills for our accomplishments!
Turn them in unused, unkempt and moldering in boxes in the attics of our minds. We are here to do his will, to change the very course of human events if only
Potential must be guided by vision exceeding the boundaries of our own lives. Like Martin Luther King, may we also say, in the twilight hours of our life, “I may Not get there with you, but I’ve been to the Mountain Top, and I have seen the Other side….” And, like him, may we sew seeds of promise that sprout into dreams
Planted in fertile fields of impressionable hearts: those, in short, who follow in our’
[Dave]
Steps and take up our banner where weakness, age and mortality make them drop.
I believe it is high time for us to live life upon a deeper level
To be self-actualized is to be paradoxically living for the good of more than just me.
Given that the interval between the cradle and the ground is Oh! So short,
But living that my fellow members of the human race live themselves in this
We need to seize upon the only thing while lies uniquely within our grasp
Transformative Purpose. This life I live must leave unmistakable marks which clear the path
And that is the NOW in which we live. We cannot wait for more auspicious Times. It is Now or it never shall be. You mention God, my friend, I think that Is so wise. For He has set us here in place equipped with imaginative power And the fiery drive to make, to do, to become, to create living new beauty. Our talents are on loan from him, and one
For more to follow: “This is the way, walk in it, INDEED!”
[Gel] In fact, allow me to make a simple analogy: Reaching maturity is the same as reaching the top of the pyramid.
How many things we have built, how many projects we have done, How many talents I have developed in my daily achievements, How many wonderful people were part of our ascension as a person! Yes, we do not always get everything we want, so what? This is part of our growth. Goals must be too high, always Getting to the top does not mean stagnating or stop walking, ever! It's just a time to slow down to admire all the beauty around, And so, unhurriedly, take advantage of the smallest details that we glimpse. It is knowing how to measure waiting, joy, anxiety, heart racing, but also Have under control some doubts, uncertainties, inherent in any crossing Thus, we, simple, but, adorable creatures, as we conquer something,
Must not stop dreaming, we will continue to dream and unveil new Horizons, new mountains and challenges In the book of life there is no law or paragraph that establishes a certain Age or time to make our dreams come true. Dreams can only be missed when we give our last sigh. So do not cover so much, do not expect so much, do not regret it so much, never compare yourself to someone, you're a unique copy, so fabulous! Believe in the life inside you, yes, you are alive, and, this is a gift! Live day by day, dream, with your feet on the ground, dance and take your beloved to dance, know your limits, your potentialities, occupy your mind, your life, your heart, your whole being with good things.
What can you expect to happen in your Canvas Community? Mondays: Laughing Waters presents our new Word of the week to incorporate into our poem. Fun challenge Tuesdays: Structured Poetry Class on different Sonnet forms for you to try. Wednesdays: Your Prompt Based on a Picture. Write something a bout what Laughing Waters prepares for us. Thursdays: Photo Prompt Winners announced from the previous week. Saturdays: “Saturday Brunch” Maricris Cabrera & David Palmer select top poems and art based on intriguing excellence. Sundays: “Sunday Dinner” The day YOU have your say in who is picked as our top poets for the weekend. We honor our artists, too.
Short Stories Duane Phillips On to the Past I am writing this so there will be record of the events I experienced. I fully understand that what I will describe is miraculous at best. They sound like the pure fantastical ravings of a crazy person. I have pondered what happened many times. Did they really happen? For some time, I had serious doubts but I must tell what happened to me.
know nothing about who they are.
There is a family legend about David Phillips. He is my great, great, grandfather. The story goes that one of his brothers was drafted to fight in the Civil War but David went in his brother’s place. During the war, David sent money home to his wife but the brother somehow intercepted it and kept it I have been working on my family tree for himself. The story goes that the for many years now. While I have en- wife nearly starved to death but was joyed learning about the past of my helped by none other than Jesse family, I also have found it a bit frusJames. After the war, when David got trating. Too many of the people in my home and learned what his brother family tree are simply names and had done, he took him down to the dates. I have no pictures of them. I river and was going to kill him. Some-
how, he was persuaded not to do it.
other gleanings I have been able to find, I often would wonder what it would be I was determined to prove or disprove like to meet him. By that, I mean to go this story. I found a book about the Iowa back in time and meet him. Would he 15th Volunteer Infantry, which was the believe I was from the future? I highly unit in which David served. This book doubt it since I wouldn’t believe anyone does specifically note David as being a who came to me saying they were from substitute. It also states that he and a the future. Still, that never stopped me group of drafted men and substitutes for imagining the possibilities. arrived in Atlanta on November 14, 1864. They had no officer with them David died in 1920 so he must have since one that started with them in Dav- known people were flying airplanes. I enport, IA left them in Nashville. Since work for an airline. How would he react General Sherman began the March to to the fact that there are planes that the Sea on the following day, no one carry 500 people? What would he think knew what units to which these men about an iPad? Would it all be too much belonged until they reached Greensbo- for him? The more I considered going ro, NC towards the end of March 1865. back in time, the more I wished I actually could do so. Now let me stop the ruTherefore, it seems to me that David mors now that I was obsessed. I am not was unable to send money home until an obsessive person. I consider myself the end of March 1865 at the earliest. well balanced and I am not prone to exAfter Sherman’s army left Atlanta for Sa- cesses in thoughts or actions. vannah, they were not in contact with the North until they reached Savannah. Nevertheless, there came a day when Communication was minimal at best an individual contacted me. I won’t after they started north through the state how this communication was initiCarolinas. ated. Also, I won’t divulge any details of subsequent contact with this person. I While reading this information and often wondered how he knew that I
even wanted to travel back in time. I only mentioned that to a close friend and I know he would never mention that to anyone.
time. He would be like a river, a source of energy and power to help me get through. However, unlike some science fiction, he didn’t have a vehicle in which to travel. I had to be in a location and would move between times at that location. It was best to do so in a place where there were no known buildings or something in which I might appear. A body coming into a different time inside a building or tree could be devastating to the body. Therefore, only traveling back to known times and places were recommended.
Suffice it to say that this man, whom I’ll call Carl, didn’t just walk up to me and say, “I heard you want to travel back in time. I can help you with that.” He took his time. Looking back now, I can see he guided conversations. He led me. On one hand, it angers me but he did deliver. I did go back in time. There, I said it. In case you are wondering what this is all about, I am writing about my time travel to visit my great, great grandpa Once belief in the possibility was estabDavid. lished, we discussed what to expect upon arrival. Of course, the topic of giving There are many details about Carl I will away details of the future was first and leave out. Maybe there is someone else foremost. I already believed it best not out there like me. I don’t want to taint to say anything about what I knew of your impression of him one way or an- the future. In reality, other than a few other. Was he an angel in disguise? I details about David, there was little that honestly don’t know. This I can tell you: I knew. Also, my knowledge of US histoThe more I got to know him, the more I ry around the time I would be visiting trusted him and believed what he said. was minimal. Therefore, it was doubtful I could give anything away. He said I could visit the past. As long as I knew where I wanted to go, he could ar- Carl said it was important to wear range getting there during the desired clothes from the era in which I would
visit. I wasn’t sure how to get such clothes. Nevertheless, since I decided to see him a couple years before he died, 1918, we both felt it easier to either make clothes from the style of that time using similar fabrics.
will do in every possible situation since he is there for all of them.
All time as we know it exists in every possible scenario of our choices. For instance, if there is a point to where we must decide whether to lie or not, He is active and present in the afterlife of our lying and telling the truth. Each different choice begins a different level of life for each individual and they all exist simultaneously. Therefore, God knows what we
I lay there with my eyes closed. Part of me still didn’t believe this was possible. I wondered if someone would yell, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!” Nevertheless, I began to relax and focused on specific things of that time and place. Slowly, I could feel myself drifting. It was as if I was falling asleep.
As I listened to Carl explain this to me, I tried to wrap my brain around the possibilities. Then I remembered that God told Moses His name was I Am. It made sense We came to the topic of my duration to me that He calls Himself that since He there in 1918. How long would I be away is all and in all. He is everything. Nothing from the present? Would my family no- is too big for an infinite God. tice if I was gone for a few days? He explained that since we are human, we I knew David lived in Meadow Grove, NE. view time as linear. Things flow from one I had found maps of the town and surthing to the next. God, as the creator of rounding area. I knew that he owned time, is not part of it. He is in all time. He property in the center of town across is just as active in the happenings of the from a set of railroad tracks. In order to past as He is in the now. Also, He is active be safe and to minimize someone seeing and present in every possible facet of me when I crossed over, it was decided I time based on our actions, thoughts, and would be outside town when I crossed deeds. time.
Then there came a sensation that is hard to describe. It was as if there was a soft rain. Like warm raindrops softly splashing upon me, I could feel tension washing away. I was floating, traveling but I wasn’t moving. The world moved. It was as if the universe moved at my command. My mind willed and it obeyed. More drops fell and it was as if I was being washed away. Bit by bit, I was going away. Not me, my flesh was leaving me.
my eyes or across my vision. It was more than that. They moved by, around, and through me. But the colors, oh, the colors. Hues never seen by human eyes. There is no way to describe them but the brightness and clarity are unsurpassed by any seen on earth. It is like at one time only seeing black, white, and grays and suddenly seeing color. There are no words for it.
Slowly, I descended back to reality and back into the facade that is the human Was it really my earthly body that was body. Our bodies are mere housings to leaving? I retained my spirit and it was our spirit. Once we can glimpse beyond infinite. Great mysteries of the universe the veil, we are forever changed. As husuddenly seemed common knowledge. man consciousness began to return, it It was as if without a body, I was free to seemed that I was cold. However, it isn’t do all things unencumbered. Human that I felt cold. I believe it was more so flesh greatly restricts all that is possible. that after feeling the warm “raindrops” It is a governor that squelches all the and being in such an ecstatic state of bepossibilities that we truly are. ing, the only alternative was to feel cold. I was back in the real world. But in I reveled in that moment, that eternity which world was I? In what time? for it was both. I was all time. I was a split second, a flash. I was eternity. It How did I transport my body across was pure energy. There were colors I’d time? Is there some compartment into never seen before. The veils of my eyes which we can stow the flesh while the were removed and visions danced spiritual man, our true selves, goes across. I can’t say they danced before about unencumbered? I honestly have
no answer for this though I have long considered what actually happened. I am certain I was actually in Meadow Grove, NE in 1918. It wasn’t a dream. The thirst I felt while there was real. I ate food and drank water. I shook hands with David, and embraced Sarah, his wife. I know what I felt. It was different from the ecstasy of the out of body experience. It all felt natural.
lite and would ask people if they knew David and his wife. Hopefully, I would get assistance in getting to his house.
Since I was south of town near the Deer Creek Cemetery, I started walking north to town. David’s house was at the south western corner of an intersection in town. I was certain I could find it. I debated on how much interaction I would have with people other than people I knew to be family. I decided I would act the part of one who was visiting a relative. I would introduce myself and be po-
Once arriving at the house, I walked up onto the step and knocked on the door. I heard heavy footsteps moving toward the door. A very tall elderly gentleman opened the door and looked quizzically at me. It was David. I recognized him from the 2 photos I have of him. He asked, “Can I help you, young man?”
I reached the house with basically no interaction with other people. Once there, I couldn’t help but think he wouldn’t be in the house. What would I do if he wasn’t there? If Sarah was there, I could speak with her if she was willing. Still, I had to believe she wouldn’t turn away Still, once arriving in 1918 there was a family. If she or David asked how we period of adjustment. It was more like a were related, I planned to say something time of mourning. My world was infinite to the affect that I wasn’t certain but I for a moment but I was back into the fi- knew it was family from out east but nite world I had always known. I didn’t moved to Illinois. Since I was born and want to go back to that. Nevertheless, raised in central Illinois, I would use as that is why crossed time. I wanted to vis- much truth as possible. That would it David. make it easier to keep my story straight.
A million emotions ran through me. It
almost seemed like another out of body experience. He I was facing a patriarch that has fascinated me for many years. There he was in the flesh. I wanted to hug him. Did men hug in this time period? I stammered as I removed my hat, “Hello, my name is Duane Phillips. Are you David Phillips?”
front porch. Whenever someone walked by or rode by on a horse, they called out greetings. Most people stayed for a moment and chatted. I couldn’t help but notice how people took time to speak to each other. It is such a contrast to modern life. I remarked on how friendly people were. Sarah asked, “Aren’t people nice where you are from?”
“Ye, yes I am. Are we related?” “They are but people tend to keep to Still holding my hat in my hand, I rethemselves. They are more selfish. I plied, “Well, yes, sir, we are. I honestly think it also has something to do with don’t know how but you are famous in them being more affluent. Since many our line of family. I do know that some of them have more money, they are relatives out east moved to Illinois some more comfortable. And like many peoyears ago. I was raised in Farmington, IL. ple of wealth, they try to keep it all for Anyway, I’ve wanted to meet you for a themselves.” long time. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Sarah asked, “You must be rich yourself? We noticed you don’t have the hands of A smile broke out on his face and the a working person.” crows feet deepened around his eyes. He stuck out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to I had a bit of panic. I wasn’t sure how to meet you too. Come on in.” Then he answer. Finally, I said, “I guess you could called out, “Sarah, we got company.” say I’m rich. I know I’m richer than some but not near many others where I’m Later that evening, we sat out on the from. To be honest, I work in the
aviation field. I was very fortunate to get this job since airplanes are so new but they have a lot of potential. We believe one day people will start paying to fly to places rather than take the train.”
on top of the trains. Did you have to ride on top of the train from Chattanooga to Atlanta?”
“That’s right, my brother Ola. He was drafted and he had a tremendous fear that he wouldn’t survive the war. He had a few friends that had been in the war that didn’t make it back. Also, the news reports at the time of the terrible fighting near Atlanta scared him. Even though we had one child and another on the way, I decided to go in his place.”
“I remember it all went so fast. The company was in the process of moving from the north part of Atlanta to the south. The next morning, we started for Savannah. I couldn’t help but think that, here I am in the middle of this war and I had no training. I had my own weapon and clothes. We traveled all day every day and lived off the land.”
“I read that General Sherman put a big priority on supplies getting to Atlanta. So much so that he made soldiers ride
“Yes, I heard they sent “bummers” out to get food for their units.”
Laughing, David replied, “No, no I didn’t ride on top of the train. There were 100, David and Sarah seemed to not believe 120 of us that left Davenport, IA to me but said nothing. Hoping to change Nashville. Some people got sick during the subject I asked David about his time the ride and got off in Nashville. The during the Civil War. I said, “I hope you officer in charge stayed in Nashville. I will not find me rude but I understand reckon they all made it the rest of the you were part of the Iowa 15th Infantry way but we were left with a young man during the Civil War. I realize there may who was a veteran. He made sure we be things you don’t want to discuss but I got to Atlanta. We go there late one heard you went in place of one of your afternoon but no one knew what unit brothers.” we belonged to.
“That’s right. Some guys were good at figuring out where food would be. You know, many of the southerners hid stuff from us but these guys could find it. I think some of them got better at sniffing it out as time went on. Meanwhile, I got some training here and there. There wasn’t much fighting at all. The veterans would talk around the campfires at night about the big battles. Sometimes, Confederate cavalry would ride in and cause trouble but that wasn’t until we got closer to Savannah. But we knew the end was near. We just didn’t know how close and not one of us wanted to die just before the war ended.” I hung on every word as I studied them both. I memorized every line in their face. I tried to soak in the way they smelled. I wanted this time to become a part of me. At some point, Sarah excused herself to get a bed ready for me and upon returning, announced she would, “retire for the evening.” I asked if I could give her a hug. She was a warm, grandmotherly woman and just felt the need to hug her. When asking, I mentioned it was common in Illinois to
hug people and wanted to hug her if she didn’t mind. She gave me a warm embrace. I stayed with David and Sarah until the next day. I didn’t want to impose on their hospitality and I felt I needed to leave. Sarah was very involved in her church work which was across the railroad tracks and down the road a few blocks to the east. I had few things with me, basically the clothes I wore but was in the process of getting things together. Sarah was at church and David approached and fixed his eyes on me. In a serious tone, he asked, “I want to know who you really are. Don’t tell me stories. There is something that doesn’t ring true with you. Tell me the truth.” A pang of fear enveloped me. I resolved to be as truthful as possible but not give away anything that could affect the future. I replied, “The truth is that we are related but I don’t think you would believe me if I told you the whole truth.” “Try me.” I pondered the consequences but decid-
ed to press on. “I really was born in Canton, Illinois and grew up in Farmington which is about 10 miles north of Canton. Most everything I have told you about myself is true. But, there are things I haven’t told you because they would sound too crazy to be true.”
“Please know I am not trying to trick you or take anything from you. Have I asked for anything other than food and lodging and just to get to know you better? I never wanted to scare you or cause you any pain.”
“If you are from the future, will hog and With a threatening tone in his voice, Da- cattle prices go up or down this year?” vid growled, “Out with it!” “I don’t know.” “Before, I tell you what needs to be said, let me ask you this: Do you feel I “Ha! See, you are a fraud! I ought to call am a threat? Do you believe in your the sheriff right now and run you out on heart that I am here to do you or your a rail.” dear wife harm? I think you are a good appraiser of a man and I believe you “I do hope you won’t. I am sorry I bothknow I mean you no harm.” ered you. I will leave, but know this: I don’t know everything about the future He only glared at me so I continued, because I didn’t have access to the in“The truth is that I am related to you. I formation. If you or Sarah keep a diary, am the great grandson of your son I’ve never found it. I know many of the George. I am your great, great, grandbig national and world events but things son. I am the grandson of your grandson that happen to you and other family Leonard.” members, I don’t know because no one took note of them. That’s a big reason David narrowed his eyes and said, why I keep a journal. I hope that in a “Don’t you try to flim flam me. Do you hundred years after I’m gone, someone think I was born yesterday?” will read it and get to know me a little.
After a slight paused, I added, “One thing I will tell you about your future, you will be loved and missed. Thank you for your hospitality and please give my gratitude to Sarah. Again, my apologies for bothering you.”
relax. I had tremendous doubts I could get back but I was grateful I had visited my great, great grandparents. I wished I could have met my great grandfather and seen my grandpa Leonard as a young man. I couldn’t remember if he had met my grandma yet. I didn’t think David was silent for a moment, thinking. so. Then he resolutely said, “I think it best you leave. You have been a gentleman. It was about this time the alarm went You are different and I hope you are tell- off. I was back in my bed in my home in ing the truth but it is too much to beNewnan, GA. It was 4:19 PM and it was lieve.” time for me to get up for work. It was at this point, I believed I dreamed the “I certainly understand your position. whole thing. For the next week or more, Again, thank you for everything.” Then I I was convinced it was all a dream. It walked out the door and headed south was a very life-like dream. for Deer Creek Cemetery. What has since convinced me it was not As I walked, I was greeted by Mr. Wer- a dream is the fact that my way of thinkner who was on horseback. I met him ing has changed. When something has the previous night. He asked if I was off happened that changes your manner of so soon and I replied that it was time I thinking, it must be true. Therefore, I get back home. He wished me well and I will continue to believe it actually hapthanked him. I wished him well also. pened until something else convinces me it didn’t. After arriving at the cemetery, I went to the spot where I appeared the day be- You may wonder if I want to go back in fore. I looked around and, seeing no time to visit someone else. Honestly, I one, I lay down. It was very difficult to want to experience eternity again but I
have deep reservations about negatively affecting family members or event. This is the only account I will ever share about this story. I will leave it to the reader to decide whether to believe me. Meanwhile, if you have a desire to travel back in history, you may start getting visits from someone who can help.
Do you have a short story that you would love to have published? Consider inSIGHT Journal! We are looking for more authors for the April 15 Edition. Deadline for your submissions is April 1. Get these stories to us, and read your own work in the next inSIGHT.
Short Stories Clytemnestra Aa Tomorrow is Another Day
Joya, a 35- year -old devoted housewife , lived in the suburbs of Sidney. She mothered two boys, Noah and a tranquil rural vicinity. Being a passionate artist, she was dearly charmed by the heart-filling landscapes of the countryside . Amidst natural scenery, she got poetically fertile. Nature provoked the poetess in her. That saturated her soul and occupied her wandering soul. However, she had a nonstop yearn for stage. She missed days she used to perform plays at college. That feeling kept kindling passion in her parched soul.It was time to do what should have been done years ago: Back to her lover ,the Theatre. That love affair that has never been consummated kept her on fire.She could re-
call every single word he whispered to her. His scent, the lecherous scent of wood, lured her senses. She was the adulteress who abandoned him for the warmth of somebody elses's bed. She was the Hester Prynne of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter>“ However, did she sin or was she sinned against? Was that an act of transgression as she got indulged in the profanity of leaving him behind, cold, void, dying?! All those thoughts boggled her mind. Her restless soul kept rambling trying to descry lucidity but all was otiose. Thus, she made up her mind to spark a change! On a Sunday morning, Joya felt it was the right time to spill her guts. As they were having breakfast on the terrace,
she said curtly," I wanna be back to stage ." Awkward silence prevailed. That lasted for minutes. Ralph, as usual, squinting with bulging eyes, kept his mouth shut. Only Lin's disruptive words could alert Ralph and bring him back to normal. Ignoring what Lin said, Ralph swooped on Joya armed by a hail of questions," What the hell did you say? Haven't we discussed this issue before?! Haven't we reached a compromise: I support the family financially..you raise kids and do housework! ?.." She couldn't buy that absurdity ! Bewildered, she stumbled for words. She toiled to summon her courage to retort." Am the maid then! What about my dreams, you know! I've always wanted to be an actress. I studied all those years to end up doing housework! That would trigger my demise,� sternly responded Joya. Ralph wasn't that flexible, easy-going man, and Joya was fed up with her meaningless, aimless life with him. "OK, then, we're done here. It's the end of us. I think it's better if we get divorced,� Joya beamed with decisiveness as her lips parted to that final threat! Wholeheartedly, she wished he would go lenient this time and allow that to happen.
vorce was the best solution for their dilemma. Heart-wrenched, Joya had to go through the excruciating process of divorce.She had to put up with all sorts of meltdowns. She was constantly enervated and dispirited.She did miss her kids.She missed laughing..playing..dancing..preparing them their favorite meals. They were her most precious gift. The gift she gave up on voluntarily! She didn't really want that to happen; however, her hands were tied. Her rebellious spirit was aroused as pain accumulated through out the years. She had to make a choice for life. She considered life with broken dreams as death incarnate, so she opted for a new life, a new dawn that would quench her thirsty soul and give her craving spirit a fill.
A year upon divorce, Joya started rehearsing for her debut on stage. She was too thrilled by the idea of restoring her lost identity. She worked her heart out to prove to herself that she was capable of fulfilling her long-awaited dream. She practiced day and night to show her real talent. She didn't get enough sleep, so unbearable migraine fits hyped. She resorted to painkillers but that was futile. Pain got way more severe. It wasn't until she had a seizure did she find out that However, Ralph was a man who pre- she had anaplastic astrocytoma, stage 3 ferred white and black to gray areas, so brain cancer!! he couldn't accept any negotiations. Di-
Are you a serious, non-fiction essay writer? You saw Irene Riz break the ice for us with her essay in this issue. We would love to publish your thoughts on the state of poetry and the arts today, or your thoughts on what makes literature great? Essays of up to 1,000 words will be well received here at inSIGHT Journal. Submission deadline for essays is April 1.
Are you a poet blogger? Are you publishing a book or are your books already available through online merchants? Advertise with us here in inSIGHT for free. We are here to promote you and assist the success in your career. Deadline for advertising copy is April 1.
Fiction Poetry Art Music Essays This is a mock-up image only. Final appearance of the cover subject to editorial change
Look for the next issue of inSIGHT Journal on April 15 Submissions welcome Feb 15—April 1 Post your submissions in our subdivision on the Community Page