Poetry Planet International magazine (February Edition) by Poetry Planet Magazine

February 2022

The Administration Team Marites C. Ritumalta Chief Administrator Gigi Balita Tanushi Singh Antara Bose Jeffrey Cejero Vicki Hangren Hauler Moderators/Conductors Elmer Buduan Gamulo Odum Kingsford Maria Dulce Leitao Reis Marvin Omosemen Pamela Tennant Evaluators Marie Ezekiel Ruth Alfar Editors Vee Barnes Marites Ritumalta Ailenemae Ramos Tanushi Singh Columnists

The Poetry Planet International Magazine February 2022 edition does not only focus on the month of the Hearts but on loving oneself and appreciating what we already love, with collaborated love poems from poets around the world and writers’ different version and ideas of the definition of soulmate. THE FOUNDER

Printed and Published by: Poetry Planet Book Publishing House Rosario Pozorrubio Pangasinan 2435 Email: maritesritumalta@gmail.com Contact number: 09554960044 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher/author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Poetry Planet International Magazine

TABLE OF CONTENTS Featured Artist------------------------------3 Wilmer Joel S. Decano Featured Story------------------------------5 Clarizza Joy B. Tumenes

Soulmate Stories---------------------------6 Chrissie Brooks Selma Kopic Gail Constable Margaret Karim Pamela Tennant Okoi Amadiowei Jacob Anne Maureen Medrano Esperidion Naids Ladia Amrita Mallik Loreta C Bande Gopal Sinha Maria Elvira Fernandes Correia Poetry Corner------------------------------------12 Deluke Muwanigwa & Naids Ladia by Madhuri Kulkarni & Michael Dulake Amb Maid Čorbid & Margaret Karim John David Meadows & ©Pamela Tennant Sudha Dixit & Ency Bearis Marivic C. Miranda & Edmon Libres Muhammed Hamim & Mon Maya Mongar Harsh Sharma & Rosie Licudo Ozigbu Alexander & Eward Kellen Marion Remnant Parish & Gonz Jones Charito Gonzaga & Vicente Valdez Jr AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE by Vee Barnes----------------------------------24 INDIAN PERSPECTIVE by tanushi Singh------------------------------25 MIGRANTS VOICES by Ailenemae Ramos-------------------------26 A PIECE OF MEMORY by Marites Ritumalta-------------------------27 Short Verses------------------------------------28 Contributors’ Hub-----------------------------30 Captured Moments---------------------------31

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

FEATURED STORIES AN EDUCATOR WITH A BIG HEART Wilmer Joel S. Decano “One Man’s trash is another Man’s treasure” those words sunk deep in my heart as I walked in the scorching heat. The streets filled with the sounds of rushing vehicles in the air, as the excitement of finding new treasures filled my mind. With the sweaty looks and joyous laughter of my students, I didn’t feel an inch of exhaustion as we looked for crumpled papers, plastic bottles, and tin cans. While collecting and counting the profits of our short adventure, the thought of seeing more children smile while they get fed brings utmost joy to my heart. I and my students planned this whole adventure with the smiles of little children in mind. The ache in our bodies was replaced with a larger sense of fulfillment and joy as we saw the fruits of our labors go into place as we held the feeding programs for more than 200 kids. Just seeing them eat with their heart’s content with their sweet little thank you invigorates me to do more. My volunteering ethics has been inculcated to me by my parents. I grew up in a family that was very altruistic and generous. My parents always had so much love for others that they used most of their time to support and help them. Those loving qualities that they displayed reached a deep place in my heart. Their fine example helped me to become the person I am today. I am now governed by the guidelines and principles my parents taught me. And as a teacher, I try to do my best to be able to display these qualities not just through my words but also through my actions. That’s the very reason why I go out of my way as a teacher to bring a smile to other people's faces. Of course, it’s never an easy job to be a teacher. It takes not only a lot of experience and knowledge to be an effective educator. It also takes a lot of dedication and passion. And my burning passion led me to countless endeavors and sleepless nights. But all of my efforts proved to be worthwhile.

With the support of my parents, and with my own endeavors I now hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education (BEEd) from the University of Luzon (Formerly Luzon Colleges). And I have finished my academic requirements leading me to Master of Arts in Education (MaEd) Major in Educational Management from 2002. I have also been involved in various training in different levels including District, Division, National, and even at an international level. Now I am doing my utmost to apply all the things I’ve learned in my work as an Elementary Master Teacher in Exodus Elementary School, School Division of Rizal, Region 4-A CALABARZON of the Department of Education in the Philippines for over sixteen years now.

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

My passion and love for my craft brought me rich results. Especially when I became a National Champion in a teacher competition in Instructional Materials Development in the Least Mastered Skills in Science 6. One of the achievements I was most proud of was when I became the first runner-up to finish in GURONASYON’s Search for Most Outstanding Elementary Teacher back in 2017. I am always so grateful to my parents who shaped me to be the person I am today. After those prestigious awards, more recognition and awards kept coming. I also became a recipient of Gawad Pat National Award (2018), Gawad Panulat Awardee (2018) Natatanging Guro ng Bayan National Award (2018, Gawad Sikhay Awardee (2018) and I have been bestowed as the Asian Achiever 2018 Awardee with the highest distinction as Most Outstanding Educator and Red Cross Volunteer Advocate. Other than my Extra-Curricular activities, I never failed to bring my A-game into my teaching profession, all because of my love for my work. And my hard work yielded me great results as I won several more awards. I was adjudged as one of the Ten Inspiring Educators in the Philippines National Award (2019), Outstanding Volunteer National Award (2019) Gawad Sikhay Awardee National Award (2019). Innovative Teacher of the Year National Award (2019), Outstanding Writer of the Year National Award (2019) Outstanding Teacher of the Year National Award (2019). Excellence Award as Master Teacher (2020). 2020 First Instabright National Awards Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Writer of the Year, and Innovative Teacher of the Year. Most Outstanding Master Teacher 2020. Gawad Ybarra Awardee 2020. He received International Recognition World Best Teacher Asian University International 2020. IQRA International Best Teacher Best Teacher 2020. Excellence Awards. Excellence in World Literature Awards. Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize Award. As a teacher, I try to do my best in everything I do. It is my goal to not only educate others but also to help and inspire them to become the best they can be. I want to share my knowledge and experience with the younger generation to help them strive for higher heights.

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

Dedication Driven by Three Fs Clarizza Joy B. Tumenes

One time in March 2021, I suddenly felt unwell and visited my doctor. She recommended me for medical examinations such as blood tests, ECG, and thyroid tests. The results showed normal findings and the doctor said I do not have anything to worry about and I am well. I proactively said, “Don’t you think I am stressedout doc?” She replied, “You know what, stress is a state of mind. If you think you are stressed out, you just need to take a break and learn to love your work”. This brings me to reflect on my own whole being as a teacher. My personal idea of dedication as a teacher is driven by the support system that I have and the strong desire to build future generations. I realize that among all the factors that I dealt, and dealt with faith, family, and feedback are the most powerful things that enable my love for teaching. My faith has given me the strength to show love to the people around me. I am very much empowered to instill the fundamental truths about life. My faith has been encouraging me to do the right thing to do. I always stand firm to be responsible with all my actions and decisions that will help me carry out my duties and responsibilities and anything beyond that as expected of me. My family is always a part of my journey as a teacher. I feel delighted when I give joy to my family in the form of accomplishments and even supporting their needs. I also consider my students as my children – helping them unleash and develop their potentials and instill the right discipline when I need to. I also consider my colleagues as my brothers and sisters – sharing things and lifting them up in difficult times. In like manner, I realize how feedback from people enables my love for teaching. Feedbacks – positive or negative serve as my reference and opportunity to grow. They further challenge me to become better as a teacher and as a person. Feedback from my learners and parents is what I like the most. The genuine gestures of my learners give me confidence and at the same time learning opportunities.

Maximizing their suggestions and innovative minds make me feel like I conquer the world. With their feedback, I believe I am making an impact in their lives. I realized how fragile our body would be that the way we perceive and think about things affects it. It is valuable to be an educator, taking a break is needed but what is more important is how we develop in ourselves the ability to stand firm despite of the challenges, especially in the time of the pandemic. With the right perspectives and sound mind, everything is well with me. I am fueled with a strong support system. Find yours!

February 2022

SOULMATE STORIES SOULMATE Chrissie Brooks There was a time, a million miles away when all I had was a hole in my heart - a cold and lonely place, unfulfilled, a dark place where not even I could go. I would laugh at the term soulmate how could such a thing exist? I believed that those who talked of it had forced themselves to believe in love because it was the only way they could justify their relationships. Me? I knew such a thing did not exist and then I met you. You opened your arms to me in that frigid meeting place and said the words “Welcome home Darlin” and somehow I knew. I was home. I was exactly where I was supposed to be and I never wanted to leave. Since that day, since before we joined as man and wife, that dark place in my heart is gone, replaced with your love. Even with the physical distance between us, you were never far away and those that met us could see instantly that we were bonded in a way they could never explain. There are times I wonder about life before you, how I could have been so sad and never realized it, never known the beauty, strength, and purity of unconditional love. You showed me that we can open our hearts, let love in, feel the warmth of another heart without giving ourselves away. You showed me how our souls can dance and feel each other no matter how far we are from home, from each other, and no matter what is happening around us. My heart and soul have been at peace since that very first moment and although you left me while we slept, my heart feels your love and my soul still dances with yours. When the next great adventure begins my love, we will be together again. Two hearts, one soul forever. -------------------------------------------------------------you are still there and we are together every second of every day. In verses and notes keep we it alive and everything can be and pass, but our love will survive. And there’s no alternative. As long as we live, our love will live.

Poetry Planet International Magazine

THE WAY WE WERE Selma Kopic There’s a lot of love all around us, but ours lasts and resists time It’s another as-yet-unseen film story with an uncertain ending as exciting and unpredictable as life itself. You remember each of our encounters, I remember your every word. Your words are music to my ears, they never caused either sorrow or tears. You tell interesting life stories, you solve my problems and worries. We share common love and sorrow. We live from the memories of yesterday, and hope for a better tomorrow. The fire burns in us like the first day. We like to kiss and walk hand in hand, we love the same city and the same country. Even though the years fly by, our love doesn’t fade. We know what we want, but we don't know the way how to be together, how to overcome obstacles. But we still hope, we still believe in miracles. It happened once, it happened another time, fate will see to it that we don’t miss a chance for the third time. We have the same desires and interests. You compose music, I write lyrics, you play, and I like to sing. We love nature and travel. From your touches my skin becomes smooth silk, gentle as the music you create. I shudder at the mention of your name. I love that you always want to be close to me. You are always willing to help, you know to listen to. I love what you care about my opinion. I love watching you sleep and listening to your voice. We are each other's choice. You are tall and strong, at the same time gentle and romantic. People still spin stories about our love, they don’t know any couple so harmonious the way we were. I'm still here,

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

SOULMATES FOR LIFE

WHAT IS A SOULMATE?

Gail Constable

Margaret Karim

Soulmates are two people bonded in life but not always forever. I found my first at fifteen, so young and innocent. We learned everything together, how to kiss, to join our bodies, first heartbreak of physical seperation. He loved me through the hardest time in my life and we married. In each other, we sought the missing pieces we weren't aware had been holes. One child created on Christmas day, born in Fall to our joy. Parenting was a new joining so amazing we did it again. Our dream to travel became trips to eight countries. Our world had become our family and our business instead. We were us against the storms of life, making our way together. Reaching outward, we touched our community in service and entertainment, supporting each other along the way. Our children grew within our love, two beautiful young adults. Who could ask for more? It is said that perfection tempts the anger of the gods. Did we do that? I saw how hard you tried when I became ill. Our lives turned upside down in a year. Drifting apart in a sea of pain, desperate in our silence, the painful splitting into two of what had been one. The day you left you took half of my heart and left half of yours behind. Soulmates, I know we were that. Twenty-eight years of completing each other was our "meant to be". No regrets were found. What began in joy and ended in profound sadness was our soulmate journey completed with love at its core forever. Onward but now detached, we began our steps toward our next soulmates, those for the ending years of our lives and we greeted them with open hearts, except for those pieces that only we could share. Yes, I have loved before but in this moment, I am blessed to find someone who completes me in different ways, a soulmate just the same.

My favourite definition*, paraphrased, is "a person perfectly suited to another in temperament, sharing similar attitudes and beliefs". Does not specifically relate to romance, or a singular soulmate. Yet, for many, the term is synonymous with one person and true love. Constantly striving to meet that special person who will make life complete. This obsession often leads to unrealistic expectations and subsequent disappointment. Of course, ideal partnerships do exist, a theme explored and immortalized in literature music; the Arts, in general. Thus contributing to an overwhelming belief in " the one". However, in my experience, increasing numbers of people appear to be questioning this traditional version of a soulmate. Each one of us is a burgeoning mass of interests and contradictions. Surely it is ridiculous to expect one human being to satisfy our every need, throughout a lifetime. Many of us now realize this, seek a handful of intimate friends, alongside a partner. Individuals who complement separate facets of our personality, with whom we share an affinity. Their presence is indispensable to holistic well-being. All provide structure and meaning to our lives. This, to me, defines a soulmate. Perhaps, it is time, to revise our understanding of the concept I raise a glass, in grateful thanks, to my circle of soulmates, at home, and virtual. You know who you are. Note* Paraphrased definition from Webster internet dictionary.

Merriam

Be a published author, read the back cover for more information! 7

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

YEARNING HEART

POSITIVE PARTNERS

Pamela Tennant

Okoi Amadiowei Jacob

When I was young, I had stars in my eyes and magical hopes for the future in my heart. I began reading high-level books before I was 6, which made it hard in school, but I had an eager mind and imagination, I had to visit all those worlds. My mother was my perfect soulmate in the beginning. She was all things to me, mother, father, siblings, provider, best friend. As I grew I struggled with making friends. I was extroverted and friendly, but at the same time I was often snubbed and bullied, and I became quiet, withdrawn and eventually, I started acting out for attention. No soul-mates for me during my formative years except my dear mother. I looked. Oh, how I looked. My heart yearned for someone to love and be loved by. Thoughts of love became deeper as I grew into a young woman but nothing ever worked outright, only wrong, very very wrong. For many years I thought I was unlovable and for good reason, but hope springs eternal. I've never had a soul-mate, never been with anyone who was anything like me. I had a lot of friends as long as I had something they wanted or needed, but they disappeared quickly enough when I had nothing left. In philosophy, you are not complete unless you find your other half, your soul-mate. “The SplitApart Theory” The first-ever written reference to each person having a destined mate was given by the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato (427 BC348 BC). Plato's theory was that each human being is part of one soul, which they only have half of. The idea is that the soul was "split-apart" and separated from each other– and, since that time, the two halves have been forever searching for one another to join together and regain their sense of originally created wholeness. Fascinating stuff, but not helpful. Still, my heart yearns for something it's never had. I guess it always will.

I was living a life of Lonely Londoner till my third year in the university when I came across an elegantly charming gorgeous young lady who was purely polite in manners. Ebiere, a beauty paragon became enthused with me hence expressed an unprecedented level of love towards me for which I reciprocated with my version of love. I was under an apple tree, thinking about financial frictions shrouding my career. I was engrossed in those thoughts hence didn't notice Ebiere, standing beside me. She held me to herself with her heavenly hands whose warm effects prevailed into my other extent. "It's all right, there is a solution to every problem in life. Please, take it easy! ". She then embraced me tightly to herself, and tears dripped down her cheeks. I really felt something far beyond mortality, her beautiful body, with sharply pointing breasts, resting on my chest hence could not resist but succumbed to her pleadings. We left that scene as she led me to her apartment in female hostels. She wrote a cheque with an amount of money that was bigger than my head. I rejected the cheque and queried her source of income. Ebiere was not surprised because she quite understood my class in society. I was about to leave her apartment suddenly when she gripped me and whispered with an excellent violin voice. "I am not as you think, I am a decent girl and a Princess. I usually avoid men but there is something special in you that propels me towards you which perhaps is divine. We are one from somewhere else. You are the only human person that is mostly in my mind. If you avoid me, this world will miss me in the next nearest minute". I apologized for making her feel otherwise and we settled it all. Since then, Ebiere and I had become one in mind and emotions, wishing each other wholly well in all aspects of life. We have both graduated from the university, and are getting set to establish the legacies of our love for each other in marriage.

February 2022

MY SOUL’S BETTER HALF Anne Maureen Medrano Esperidion There are billions of people existing and encountering here and there in the world and we believe so that there is “THE ONE “who is meant for us. A person that is likely similar to our personality, someone that is perfectly fitted or suited to the other’s temperament, someone we considered the other half of our whole, one that we share a deep connection with that nobody could explain even ourselves and someone whom we called soulmate. Does a soulmate necessary to be a lover or a partner? We often believe that our soulmate is the person whom we love and we call spouse, but I have a different perception and experience with regards to my soulmate. My soulmate and I met when we were in secondary, we were both strangers to one another yet we hit it off immediately and were so comfortable with one another and there’s a connection we both can’t explain. We had a lot of things in common, we have the same taste and judgments on foods and fashion, and we are equally clever with regards to our discernment towards others' real attitudes. We understand and hear the words of our silences, by mere eye to eye contact we can transcribe the message and we had strong telepathic communication, we feel each other's blues and pains. We always had each other’s back, had each other’s shoulders to lean on, had each other’s hand, and lend each other’s ears to listen. We had a great bind that time and lack of communication isn’t an issue. We clap and rejoice in each triumph, cheer and lift up one another, criticize and bash each other for better and we had pure and genuine affection which is often misunderstood by other people because of the sweetness, tenderness, and care we’re dedicating to one another. We may be acting like a couple or we may be seen as a lover but honest to goodness we never had a romantic relationship. Thus soulmates are not always involved in a romantic relationship, we may find it with our friends or family. It doesn’t always need to be romantically connected.

Poetry Planet International Magazine

THE SPACE BETWEEN TIME Naids Ladia

T'was a holiday of Halloween when I went to the jungle to find ghosts and witches. While searching for them, I met one gorgeous prince riding a golden horse. He waved at me and we talked for a moment. We didn't notice the time, the sun is setting then, so I went home and left the prince in the forest. The next day, I found him in our front yard, humming a soft melodious song in the air. We roam around the place.. He was a very nice man, I found true friendship in him. Many days passed, he talked about love, about plans, about the future and I accepted him in my heart. The story became real and that is now the “I” and “He” in this prose. He is from the country of pharaohs, I, in the pearl of the orient seas. We have the same faith and we have perfect chemistry. We laugh at our nonsense jokes. Days had passed and true love was born in our hearts. We miss each other's company. He is the nicest gentleman amongst millions of men. He never played my feelings. Time and space have never a reason to doubt, be jealous, and cheat. Respect is then in our table, understanding is our chairs and love comes anywhere from windows and doors. The love between us is as deep as the Mediterranean where beautiful corals are in the garden of mermaids. In its seabed grows abundantly thousands of pearls and became the stars of my sky. The fulfillment is all in the will of our God..190 days from now, I'll fetch my soulmate in the airport.

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

SOULMATE: A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC

SOULMATE AND ETERNAL SUNSHINE

Amrita Mallik

Loreta C Bande

Two souls uniting in an exclusive lifelong bond accomplishing completion in each other forms the crux of the ‘soulmate’. People tend to believe that soulmate is like a puzzle piece, who aligns in perfect harmony when he meets his partner. Although it is something that can’t be proved or measured, many disciplines attach great value to such relationships based on spiritual healing, past lives, and other abstract concepts. According to Theosophy, God created androgynous souls which later split into separate genders. After purging all Karmic debts, the two will reunite into one, and return to the ultimate. New Age theory postulates that a soulmate is a separate entity. A person is drawn to him to fulfill a specific mission. It indicates a potential spiritual sibling relation. As per tarot card definition, consensual intercourse ties souls. Two persons acquire a shared fate. However, the concept of a soulmate is a little controversial. The notion is toxic as it increases expectations from people. It sabotages relationships and undermines healthy romantic love. Unlike star-aligned relationships depicted in movies, TV shows, and books, real-life relationships differ. This belief leads to significant disappointment, for a person assumes that things should always be perfect. It is better to assume that one should create one by learning about them, navigating challenges, and sticking to each other through all the happy and hard times.

The idea of having a soulmate somewhere is like preconditioning to a life in paradise with eternal sunshine. It's also like a riddle wrapped in logical error or a cheap flick with a happyever-after ending. It has a verisimilitude of an ancient story by Aristophanes, a comic writer who's Plato's contemporary. In the tale, a two-headed hermaphrodite was cut apart by Zeus out of jealousy. They were saved by Apollo but remained separate. Both are fated to find their halves forever. A romantic aspect of the search of the one-in-amillion compatible of a person was made the focus in myths, legends, tribal tales, or in religious stories teaching platonic love. It's the story of the contrast of the doppelganger and its evil. Both are stories handed down orally to entertain or teach a lesson. Somehow, it had been used as societal conditioning or a societal construct made to elicit a response favorable to the belief of a certain social or religious group. Here, a member must be critical to see through and find the truth. What is the contemporary view of what a soulmate is? To many, a soulmate is a person with whom one has a feeling of deep affinity through perceived similarities in attitudes, qualities, traits, or even principles. These may give way to either platonic or romantic love. It generates comfort, intimacy, compatibility, trust, or even spirituality. The feeling of mutuality is generally unspoken yet it has the power to connect and unify them with a great sense of euphoria. Verily like a riddle full of logical loopholes one may live a lifetime never finding his soulmate. For one, our personalities are not fixed for we keep changing in response to our varied experiences and the demands of the society we are in.?

----------------------------------------------------------------Besides no two individuals are alike, not even the twins, for each of us is unique. To keep anyone's hope high amidst the drudgery of life in a lockdown, I may leave one to think of fairyland where a soulmate waits for a blissful togetherness. There the hope to go on under eternal sunshine is a life string. If this makes one happy, then why not

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

SOULMATE

MY OTHER HALF

Gopal Sinha

Maria Elvira Fernandes Correia

A soulmate is someone that my soul recognizes and resonates with. It is characterized by the connection of minds, mutual care and respect, unconditional love, and a better understanding between the two. The transition point may come at different points of life for different people. Sometimes even a husband-wife pair fail to become soulmates. It could be more than one and of different types. We may come across them at different stages of our lives and they may play important role in our mental, spiritual and personal growth. There are five types of soulmates -- friend soulmate, teacher soulmate, karmic soulmate, twin flame, and past-life soulmate. A Friend Soulmate shares the same attitudes, habits, and beliefs and in whose company one feels calm, at ease, compatible and comfortable. The relationship is based on mutual trust and maybe romantic or platonic. There may be more than one such soulmate, coming and going at different stages. Marriage is quite a possibility. A Teacher Soulmate may or may not be a friend or relation, but comes to teach, encourage and inspire positive feelings and leaves. The Karmic Soulmate is one known in the past life and trying to reconnect again. It may be an intense, passionate, intoxicating, but not a lasting relationship. They can meet in life to teach or change and then leave. Twin flames are interesting and have a passionate romantic relationship, as if spiritually married. There can be only one twin flame. They can love, heal, teach, enlighten and challenge. The Past Soulmate is a past-life soulmate, who appears familiar and comfortable. They come throughout one's life and change one for the better.

You were meant to me as I was meant to you. God on his majestic will predestinate us to meet each other one, and Loveday after days grow. You are so gentle and shy, and you think not to deserve my love and passion. - No darling, I do not deserve you! - A kind girl who comes to the enlightenment of days mine. If you complete me on everything, I hope I am doing my work well - fulfilled your days, not only with Love, but also on everything you needs from errands, taking you to the doctor when you are not fine, visiting relatives, and helping you take care of our kids to teach them the right way, and not detour to Wrong. Our offspring should be an example if we teach them well and prepare them for the world outside, and I know not easy to walk a journey. The moral ethics and principles of God on commandments, they shall follow to have a mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritual life good. Being parents is no easy task, we have to support each other one to raise a family at its best. I know but our love forever will be on Earth and in God's Paradise, we forevermore the seed we flow along with our mundane life. No regrets, no sorrows, no griefs, The Love we raise utmost treasure any one of us could find. My heart, my soul I give you, I will always cherish you with mellifluous words, and against my chest leaning your head before sleep, a Lullaby to you sing as if you were my child. My Love, my baby, my soulmate I Love you. ------------------------------------------------------------For a Hindu, marriage is basically considered a holy union of two souls, made in heaven. The relationship is supposed to continue for seven more lives to come. Here love evolves gradually, mostly between two unknown people, but lasts life long, if not more. A husband and wife are supposed to remain forever each other's true soulmates. ,

POETRY CORNER

Poetry Planet International Magazine

YOU & I I was there among beautiful trees and flowers, My mind -- full of words My soul-- full of loneliness I saw you there looking fair wondering what it would take us to be a pair. talking to you or writing a letter Or a short verse would be better So I wrote this poem just for you About our loneliness And the way we were. That time when you were watching me There in the woods all alone I thought about how different life could be If only you could come close along You carried my lonely moments And lavishing you with beautiful comments That's why I wrote this verse for you Feeling something totally new Hoping for answers to our loneliness The love we had and the way we were. Soon as I read your love poem I thought what would will I be Maybe; without you, I could no longer exist Without you, I could have no life without you, I am nothing Without you, I couldn't be me. You became my angel and knight My hero, my savior My defender, my protector. You became the wings I need for flight my triumph and my victory My inspiration for all my life My hope for another sunrise After all the darkest nights. So let us soar in the sky together Like eagles in a plight And gather those stars above It will forever light our home Never again be apart Like the way we were.

Collaborated poem by Deluke Muwanigwa and Naidz Ladia

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

February 2022

THE WAY WE WERE We first met at the metro station..in June... Pleasantries exchanged...we started off so soon... From acquaintances we became friends. Talking hours together was our recent trend. (MK) So glad that I met you, and found a new friend And I know that it's true, as we both comprehend We have a deep love across oceans blue Where friends are for life, so glad I met you... (MD) One day while waiting for you...I felt I think so much about you... You came and I noticed your inclination towards me. My heart fluttered with happiness and joy... Time flew.. the way we are... making us inseparable. I was going through the simple yet lovely notes...sent by you... Every time I read I felt they were new. Months passed by...you were feeling low... I held you in my arms... trying to comfort you as you broke down... (MK) Do you remember that night in November You started healing my scars. When I was so tender, like a smouldering ember Where we danced around the moon with the stars You came gently spoken, my heart badly broken So you took me right under your wing Soon I was coping, my eyes were wide open And you gave me a reason to sing. (MD)

You loved to sing and dance... I sat back and enjoyed ur song... Your love held me in a trance... The heart skipped its beat.. as you gazed at me for long... Days and nights never pass without our talks... As and when we take long walks. You are the gentle breeze...my soul desired for... My faith and trust in you never falter... (MK) My eyes were soon dry by the love that you gave No more would I cry and you made my heart crave Your kisses so tender on our first Christmas eve A special night in December, where you made me believe. We merrily danced around the beautiful trees The way your love pulled me away with the breeze We sat hand in hand as we watched snowflakes fall And I now understand why I answered loves call (MD) We looked in each other's eyes lovingly... The ambiance around us was heavenly. Your mischievous smile created havoc in my tender heart... I vowed. We shall never be apart. The Christmas tree was a witness to our love... We stood there. The way we were. Soaked in all hue... Together as we glided across the aisle...

Our journey of life commenced its sail... A collaborated poem by Madhuri Kulkarni and Michael Dulake

Poetry Planet International Magazine

WAY OF HAPPINESS Through many diversities I changed this only way To be happy with you And your time starts now We choose only one way To be happy once again And meet new persons Across the globe and sphere In which I am supposed now To be forever alone my dear Love is so unique and fashionable That I want just to be only who I am I want fresh and amazing feelings To have only with you my dear love But time cruises for both of us That we must onl survivr one era And one marriage which creates For both of us new transversal time Way of happiness we choose forever But time is still sad for me and you (Amb Maid Čorbić)

Do you remember the old days? Hasn't time flown past All those negative people Said our love would not last A cupboard full of memories Of those early years Little money, plenty of dreams Hard work, a few fears Life often unkind We started anew Supported each other Made it through Navigated through sorrow Celebrated joys Welcomed our children One girl, two boys Five decades later Proved doubters wrong Our shared values Remain strong (Margaret Karim)

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND My how time Has taken its toll In the mirror we find We've grown so old. Let us together reminisce. About the years forever To be surly missed. Can you remember those Early days when we didn't know. Life was a maze with twists and turns Quite a few ups and downs We lived we learned We fooled around. Longings of the loves of youth We were proud and immortal Or so we felt that was the truth Streams of time in infinity's portal. Oh those days at the beach Where the wild seagulls flew All hopes seemed within reach Our dreams sure to come true. Those days! Those wondrous days! Thy will never come again Never thought I'd miss the old ways Truth felt more real then. How poignant those sweet memories Daydreams of way back when We were strong as the breeze In a verdant Spring that never ends. Yes better days we've never seen In every way we were young and green. With loving hearts and smiling faces Until death does us part and time erases.

By John David Meadows & ©Pamela Tennant

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

THOSE WERE THE DAYS Sudha Dixit Those were the days when moon Had allure and the breeze Blew with such musical tune Our tryst was under trees

Ency At that time, you and I Such in blest night for us With breeze in lullaby Had(the) love story, it was

Ency Bearis It was under moonlight With scent we talked dearly Lovely words with delight In connivance sweetly

Sudha Yes! It was a love-lore Wish, it could have lasted I muse in sun-set zone How those moments wasted

Sudha The words were well-sounded Hypnotic in effects Our joy was unbounded, Miss that magic connects

Ency Those were the days, love blend Years we’re in love story We thought ‘twill never end But we’re not meant to be

Ency Thence moon was in eyeful Motivated breeze thus To touch leaves in tuneful As serenade to us

Sudha That unfulfilled deep love Even now makes me sad But past in treasure-trove Does have some moments glad

Sudha Music had filled our chat Lost in its melody We were far from planet Absorbed in rhapsody

Sudha Let’s reminisce past quick In the positive ways Enjoy the nostalgic Memories of those days

february 2022

Sudha Dixit with Ency Bearis

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

WE ARE EDUCATORS Dim path with education abounding Temper shrank wave by procrastination Too much things on the mind heavily laden Taken for granted things that are golden Judge people who are in need are burden Made fun of the mistakes of some braggarts Pride raises made the relationship apart Took for granted the desire of sweetheart The dark side of us that made us empty Our mind was cluttered, weary and drifty Tried to search life's solidarity Until one day God used an instrument Prayer warriors are so evident The Lord's grace and mercy is sufficient We've learned not to rely on our strength Able to accept the committed wrength Grateful as educator, a molder Of young mind who can be future leader Who can make changes in society We will continue to serve our purpose In spite of the outbreak of pandemic No matter how challenging the teaching New trends, strategies, and modalities. (Marivic C. Miranda) ) Work from home is now the big deal Just to compensate that pandemic brings Satisfaction depends on the mind of a person But we do the best we can to satisfy everyone As human we have flaws and limitations I am happy that my partner is an educator, Because we have both same perspective views That may go in same direction along the way We both exchanges ideas to uplift each one In order for us to be functional well no matter hard the plight is Children who are longing knowledge to feed in Despite the Covid-19 quarantine their education still in Nobody can stop their learning even it is in the middle of the rain Their education continue to flow as the river flows, Like the knowledge that flows in their minds as it grows On our part as educators, we continue serving them With a big hearts and minds, letting in all of them, Making them satisfied and busy answering module with zest And guided by their parents who religiously doing their best, Just to help their children amidst pandemic temporary infests My friend, my fellow teacher, I am so thankful that you inspires me Making me busy inking, an endeavor that brings happiness to me, A task that I do not expect, because I thought I do not have You inspired not only me, but our students as well whose witty have It's our fate my friend, I believe this is the way we were that we have. (Edmon T. Libres) 17

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

SEDUCTIVE STRANGERS

I was mirthfully hiking around a fetching park It was ghastly raining, lightening before dusk Everything disappeared, merely a candlelight Under a tent of wayfarers, winking in my sight There're mysterious phenomenon's, got amazed. You twinkled partially as an angel in my vision Wished tirelessly to see, I got sunk in meditation The atrocious rain became slight, the dawn bright I kept precisely cogitating about you entire night My heart was occupied, but not yet greeting. We both were welcomed by the wonderful sunrise I got greeted after you as I was about to mesmerize I had been in envision, our destiny commenced forth Frequent presence of intriguing places, I wasn't in sloth We had fallen in love as we were like seductive strangers. Precisely, I vanished from the sight of the world Every verse was versified solely for my world As our precious communication and courtesy Got drowned in the ocean of love and intimacy I was utterly hypnotized by your tranquility. Every breath was inhaled in our brawny relationship Every mighty word, ornamented in our partnership Erstwhile, I was squeamish, and both in obscurity But our magnetic pen unified us, by fidelity and loyalty As everything was viable and we were seductive strangers. Existing together on this detached earth, We never got to know each other with it's mysterious art, Presence of those hilly areas, weird cliffs, and smooth mountains, Acted as a barrier for our foundations. Yet, we were anonymous to each other. I sighted the eastern sun before you, And wished the moon good night, earlier the dark it became, But we greeted the same dawn rise And watched that brilliant moon with elegant eyes, Unknowingly, you breathed near me. Somehow, we got connected online, Our initial greeting was extremely fine, It prevailed with your pen of love rhyme, While It extensively caught my heart which was never a crime, There, I was cheerfully drowned in your ink. Your mighty ink brought us even higher, While I used to read late-night serving full attention payer, I felt every word you penned was certainly for me, And overjoyed your lines with abundant glee. Then, you subsisted solely in my sanity. Once, we were strangers but not now, That magical pen united us somehow, By Muhammed Hamim & The existence of nature's terrific art didn't matter, Mon Maya Mongar Thereon, we had purely attached together, 18 Seriously, the distance didn't question me.

Poetry Planet International Magazine

February 2022

LOVE: A SPIRITUAL ART The past days, like autumn We met as the mesmerizing moon rose from the dark bottom The wind of serenity blows with us The storm of cruelty, again and again, hits us

The fluttering birds in the sky set my longing. Staring at your slowly fleeting silhouette, I am missing The nights are too long for the unspoken wish From the old memories, we always both miss.

Yes, I am blessed to have you in my life Suddenly conquered over my strife Yes, I had terrible times Taking in comforting- chimes

The reflection of time and space keeps unchanged. The tenderness keeps leading our hearts to togetherness The moon and stars still hanging in there. Magnificently, you and I are both present there.

I think of you My inner soul yearns for you You; the finest part of my day We move on together in all way Even though, calamity could collapse the world Our pure bondage can never be blurred We faced many condemnations of caste and creed As we stubborn peasants sowed the love-seed I recalled moments, we spent together I promise, I shall remain with you forever Oh! your remembrance enlightens my soul I became immortal; your memories are alike nectar bowl We miss the loving handgrip and the voice we knew so well We miss the breathing presence more than we can tell The fact that you are no longer here will cause me pain But, you're ever in my heart until we met again The way we were is still well- settled in my heart Yes, our love is a spiritual art (Harsh Sharma)

Our stored moment's ink in the book of time. Verses of our romance written in rhymes Smiling over and over again while eyes stare. Anthem of our heart we always care. Love is the most beautiful moment. But we are silent to the sonnet we both spoken. Yet it's too painful to remember our parting Perhaps, we just choose to forget it without looking. We both long for our memories. It resonates from. the warmth of your stares. The old flames ignited from long long ago. The way we were, tears start falling so. Our love is my big fantasies Once upon a time, I'm in so much tenderness. I tried to ignore and forget it. But missing you is still in my head. The way we were is still engraved in my heart. You own the most important part and never depart. (Rosie B.Licudo) •

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

I STILL REMEMBER I still remember the captivating day when you and I met, Unknowingly on the way, We both were just a piteous child, Also with lots of shyness and mild. Free as the wind, Like a soaring kite, Like an eagle in the sky, Like the humming sky, Like the blooming of the flowers, We were led by the path we took. When we ambled school at young, We hold hand in hand and cherished what we sung, Exchange exquisite smile to cheer up our fate, For our loving soul to meet together in this state. Stumbling, rising, carefree, we were, We free fretted about the marrow, Living each moment to the fullest. Spending a day with you is not a waste, Nor it is of the better taste, It is the auspicious day To be deserve, To who had been truthful to serve. Like a shade in the scorching sun, In an endless desert like an Oasis, On a bruised heart like a soothing balm, Was the way we were. The most essential friend Without any lines of end, At that moment you were the greatest gift, Whose position never gonna change. Like the rising of the sun, Like a fearless lion, As unique as our name, We never hesitate to swim against the tide. Like the petals of rose flowers, We wandered lonesome in the cloud, Yet we were dearest Friends. Like the rising of the moon, Like pitter-patter, Like the whish-whoosh whistle, That's the way we were.

Like a rain drop, Like lilies on a lonely hill, Like the morning dew, O! Just the way we were. I can only recollect the past now with tears, Like a feel of the spring From mountain top. Those days had gone so fast, And those memorable days are now past. You're now totally changed within a year, Which made me shredded the tears. Fair as the moon we were. Like a shooting star we were. Like the Brooke's of the stream so peaceful, That's the way we were. We were Sparkling, glittering than diamond, Like the sea breeze, Penetrating the body. Like the flowers and the butterflies, Like little little birds, Jumping from side to side. That's just the way we were. I thought you won't change ever? Yet my hand won't leave you never. Because the way we were are precious, Memories which still smell delicious. by Ozigbu Alexander & Eward Kellen

Poetry Planet International Magazine

SPECIAL MOMENTS REMEMBERING THE TIMES Gonz So many Precious Moments have outlined who We Are They shaped, defined, and illuminated Us like a star What We have holds Value that only we can diminish Together is how We started and Till Death Do Us, We will finish. Marion Our special moments ring so dear to my heart We are in the top ten, in the Lovers Forever Chart We are the museum that showcases our abstract art Picasso has nothing on our, divine love from Heaven’s Heart. Marion Flashbacks in time came into my mind When our love was truly divine Some days we ate our cheese with crackers and drank some wine Under the full moon light, that brightly shined. Gonz The way We were has Kept Us Together, and has brought Us this far The Ride has been Amazing and Love won't let little things mar Those Flashbacks U speak of are what have carried Us through They Built Memories that Aligned and Strengthened Our Foundation too. Marion Some days we were attached together Like a peacock with its fan feathered We practiced love songs in stormy weather We were both in our I belong to him and to her sweaters. Gonz To this day our attachment still remedies It speaks to our Spirits and that voice offers tranquility The long walks and talks were precursors to Destiny And We both played our part aligning A mental ecstasy Marion Our long walks in the park after dark were the best of both worlds I felt like you were my most adorning jewel my precious pearl That night you grabbed me by my hands and we just curled We held each other under the oak tree, becoming unfurled. Gonz No situation will overpower our Love, All doors are closed to resent It's A Complimenting Relationship where Either Supplements That's how We started and to this day it remains It's The Circle, no start no end, Our Entrance was Our Claim Marion These memories keep me forever in love with you That’s why I am forever your bae, you are my boo It’s hard to find a love like ours because we are true blue You are my lace and or buckle to my love forever lasting shoe Gonz I Love The Way We Were and the doors It's Opened And the paths made available through the chains that were broken That could've held Us back, but instead they catapulted Leading Us to Happy Ever After as All Negativity halted

February 2022

Marion Parish & Gonz Jones

Poetry Planet International Magazine

THE WHEEL OF LIFE THE WAY WE WERE CHARITO A new beginning is always in evolution of our wheels of life, I am evolving with the love the way we were out of strife: My world is twirling in auric circle of your unconditional love sent from above, I couldn't imagine myself without you in everything i have, I love you each day my love till my gray hair stays with you at my side VICENTE Life begins a conjugal felicity in our heart Dreams turn into reality never to be apart; You keep on telling me the cosmic love and words are not enough I spend my time thinking about our destiny making no barriers, no gap, The longing that lives through the year begins to start. CHARITO I found my higher inner self in your oneness with our love blessed by God, We rode in roller coaster of ups and downs almost fallen and thrown from stormy sky above; Miseries, agonies, disasters almost drove us out of sanity,. But you hold my hand so tight i could feel solace in your serenity; We grew so tenderly and gracefully moving on developed into a cosmic love. VICENTE It may sounds amazing how we get into our ways as a lover, God has his blessings to fill the mystery of unifying together; Nothing can harm the happy days with our enthusiasm, We stand firm together unmindful of the severity of the problems, Our sincerity to deal the storm, answered our prayer. CHARITO Time is of great value that we both never wasted, You set me so free in exploring my own without being manipulated; i count my zeros as blessings with you completing me, Our love stays whole with our heart and soul in one big happy family; People around us wondering how the way we were being humiliated but never ever defeated. VICENTE You are set to be mine dearly precious as the rain, We walk through the aisle of assurance not to be blown by the wind; For the wisdom of loving and vivid understanding, No space to doubt, giving comfort is trusting, You open your heart to me, which our decision not in vain. .

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine CHARITO I still remember how we first met that your eyes were glued, I was blushing i couldn't look at you trying hard and subdued; We tried to look at others embarrassed of a tight situation, We started to laugh at our confused emotion; And started our beautiful love story almost misconstrued VICENTE We met unguarded looking through the vision of love, Being stranger seems making magic to a heartthrob; Though embarrassment downplayed seriously, Ushers colour of sweetness to us spontaneously, Fears and tears to say " I love you" out loud. CHARITO I am sorry my love if there are times I'm falling apart, Young and innocent as we were in mending each others broken heart; Our intense selfless love prevailed over eternal ignorance, Most people around us were living with it as their utmost importance, That almost influenced our values withering with all the pains and hurts to depart. VICENTE The trials that we have even made us stronger in stance, Entrench for the strength of our relationship in advance; I have look at life of a better apprehension, Gain at the consequences to situational impression; Adhere to establish our relationship having values of tolerance. CHARITO The wheels of life goes on and on as the way we were, Dualistic nature is the rule devoid of man's whimsical pleasure; Let us live our life to the fullest without feeling guilty, Reflect on Jesus in redeeming ourselves with self love without self pity; So free wit our cosmic love without measure with our dualistic nature. VICENTE Life goes on and on to set me dreaming through the years, Count on me opening my angel's arm to live with you forever; Marriage is a success if we have God in between There's harmonious union the way we were to be seen, To share the cosmic love and time believing as we grow in dualistic nature together.

February 2022

By Charito Gonzaga/Vicente Valdez Jr

Poetry Planet International Magazine

AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE Vee Barnes

THE MONTH OF LOVE Oh the sweetest month of the year. I fear I won’t have love this year, but I remember years ago that doesn’t feel that long ago. I remember the sweet embrace, the loving kiss, how hands would trace. I remember endless nights, the make up sessions from petty fights. I remember so many things, sweet gifts wrapped with bows and strings. Talking up a storm all night, the happiness without the fight. Love is sweet I do remember like a beautiful sunrise in September and all the little things that made it grand better than I know the back of my hand. So I will not weep for love that’s lost. I have memories never lost. I have songs I often sing when I miss what our love did bring. For I have friendship in lost love and I have gifts from up above. Three children sparkling to fill my night that I love with all my might. They alone bring a different sight, that there is no need to hate or fight. Their my love for the month of love and they’re my gift from up above. I do not regret what had once been, love bought me gifts unlike what I’d seen. It showered memories of splendid delight and gave me the will to continue to fight. So love really is the sweetest darn thing. the glue that is rhythm of all living things. So I celebrate love the gained and the lost it was all worth it no matter the cost. To love is to live, to live is to hope, so that we can cope. Whatever the pressures whatever the strain. With love there’s a rainbow you’ll see in the rain. So I hold my love as though it’s the last. Regardless of trauma or pain of the past. Love is eternal a guiding light to always remind us to not give up the fight. February 2022

INDIAN PERSPECTIVE Tanushi Singh LOVING WHAT YOU ALREADY LOVE How many of us are willing to truly accept where we are in our lives and be content with our circumstances? Why is gratitude one emotion that doesn't come easy despite the understanding that it is also the only emotion that has the power to change the way we feel and help us to truly heal. Gratitude is a pathway for the law of attraction to go where we want to be. Acceptance leads to gratitude. Once gratitude sets in, it reduces the weight of the burden we carry on a daily basis to move forward from our problems. The trick herein lies in loving what you already love. Though easier said than done, I believe the pandemic has been a wake-up call for bringing into perspective the idea of accepting and loving all that we already have. When in a moment humans across the world stood stripped off the basic pleasures of living. We began to see the truth in understanding the extent of how much we already had. These blessings we often turn a blind eye for our tryst to reach our dreams, we usually forget to continue loving all that we have. With no social interaction. Lack of connection with nature. Lack of basic human connection. We felt utterly deprived and helpless in the face of covid19. If only we had shifted our perception that there was much to be thankful for. Family. Friends. Food. Job. This is essentially everything we truly need.

Poetry Planet International Magazine In our career, we are driven to live our dream but in order to grow and climb higher, we often forsake the essence of enjoying what we do and why we began doing what we are doing. It requires conscious and constant awareness and mindfulness of all that we do in a day. From our relationships to simple household chores to all the roles, we play as a friend or colleague or parent or lover, if we could seek why we do what we do. If we could find a way to nurture our ways of interaction with the ones we love, relationships and marriages could probably thrive longer. Parent-child relationships would be more joyful less stressful and a job wouldn't feel like a never-ending road with no route to satisfaction. The urge to want more and see what we don't have rather than being thankful for everything that's already present is a subtle grey that overshadows the true colours of our daily lives. Loving what you already love needs constant awareness of letting gratitude rule the transient state of human mind. Making space for acceptance of every hurdle can make all the pain seem temporary and give room to inner growth and ultimately make way for meaning and understanding what we really need in our life. There's light at the end of the tunnel and with that, I truly hope after this difficult time (pandemic) is over, we as humans learnt to live more and love more while we touch base with the essence of loving life.

We love each of these and can not live without them. But how many of us are able to truly spend time with our families. Our relationships are forever transient and evolving. So it takes a lot of effort to keep the love alive. Love is more often than not overshadowed by the intrinsic need to succeed. As parents, we love our children but in order to make them successful or independent, we often forget to make them feel heard, accepted, and simply loved for who they are.

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

MIGRANTS’ VOICES Ailenemae Ramos

TRUE LOVE A MILLION MILES AWAY Is true love still exist? Is it still possible to believe in one and lasting love nowadays? I used to believe and trust my instincts in many circumstances. I always foresee the future ahead of me. When I feel like something is going to happen and sometimes, I can feel if it is a kind of happiness or can lead to heartbreak. I love my family. I love my kids. Yes, I do! I don't like to think that I will leave them for long period. I can't forgive myself if something happens to them while I am not with their side. Only married people understand the feeling of how can be miserable and happy at the same time. The unexplainable feeling of being happy and content while you are crying deep within your soul. In a one and lasting love, the smallest distance is so great and the greatest distance can be bridged. We all know, we've found that one and lasting love when we see ourselves falling in love with the same person over and over and over again despite being miles away from us. "Is it worth waiting for someone who left us for the sake of our family?" This is the question we commonly hear from lovers partway, where one of them need to leave the other to work in a foreign land, searching for a greener pasture hoping to give his/her family a better life, which everybody aimed for. "It is not going to work between you two." A phrase we often hear among them. Indeed, being far away from our husband/wife is very challenging. When one missed the other, their absences can drive them crazy. After all, long and lasting relationships are only for strong souls. For those who truly believe in magic. A magic that will bring them to fantasies. The fantasy of being in love no matter what happens. No matter how hard the circumstances bring them. In reality, when we are miles apart and our communications are limited to texts messages, calls, struggles for video calls sometimes, every single word means so much.

We always learn to save the best for the one we love. We get stronger and we will grow together just like we will never be apart. And the most important part of being miles away from our one true love is that;  our Significant Other THINK about us the same way we do.  our Significant Other CARE about us the same way we do.  our Significant Other LOVE us the same way we do.  our Significant Other TRUST us the same way we do.  our Significant Other RESPECT us the same way we do. YOU are not alone! YOU are on this journey together, the joy, the heartbreaks, the tears, the pain, the loneliness. "Distance sometimes lets us know who is worth keeping and who is worth letting go." Everyone experiences loneliness and heartaches. The distance between our loved ones creates huge walls that are very hard to break no matter how strong we are. Yes, it's true! True love doesn't require us to sacrifice ourselves. We can love someone from a distance and still live in the moment. Being apart teaches us how to acknowledge each other flaws. It teaches us how to strengthen our feelings and no one can separate our two hearts that care. Indeed, if two people are meant with each other, no distance is too far, no time is too long, no other reasons will break them apart. If we can just think of each other worth, care about each other's feelings, love, trust, and respect each other from a distance, then we will be unstoppable once we were together. When we feel like nobody cares for us, when we feel like giving up, when we feel like we never belong, always remember, why do we hold on for so long?

february 2022

BLOODLINE He is the realization of her mother’s dream, the apple of the eye of his father, and the missing piece of the puzzle that completed their happiness. It could have been a typical happy family if not because of the insensitivity of the neighbors and of a relative who saw him grow and knew his history. Busybodies are everywhere, they just couldn't hold their itchy tongue spitting venomous words that hurt and break hearts. I have known Carl (not his real name) since he was a little boy, for he was a year older than my eldest daughter. Being the only child, his parents generously showered him with love, giving him almost all he wishes to have. Nobody would have thought that he was adopted since he resembles his father, and their neighbors are well aware of this fact. As he grows older, he is often the victim taunts and rumors… Calling him names that puzzles his young mind. But he never give them attention, after all, he is much loved and cherished as their only child. Too much pampering and all turned him into a playful and a very mischievous young man, his mischief has made one neighbor so mad that she directly told him the truth about his real identity… “ You are just adopted, you are never a part of the family, you are actually sold by your real uncle to your parents”. Those words pierced his soul and almost destroyed his life… He is 14 years old when he learned the truth of his identity, his father, sadly admitted those facts to him. And her mother was so upset and furious with the neighbors that she wants to sue them. Unexpectedly though, he calmly told them, “I just want to know the truth Mommy”… She was in tears, she never wanted to break his son’s heart, but it is the whole truth… Society’s mindset about bloodline often blinds that it hurdles them to open their hearts to love and accept people that have no connection to them. Carl’s story is a realization that even if he was loved by his parents, some relatives and neighbors don’t… Because they are not connected to him by blood…

Poetry Planet International Magazine But a bloodline is just the name we carry, and others can adopt our name if we accept them to become a part of our family… We just have to open our hearts, throw the stench of discrimination, and with empathy that turns into one of the deepest form of love… With that love within, they can develop a very close bond even if they are not connected by blood. Going back to Carl’s story. He has accepted the truth and he kept loving his parents even more because he has learned to appreciate everything they have done. He also mellowed down from being mischievous to a more loving son. He has come to know about his biological family but decided not to search for them, after all, he is complete, he receives and enjoy an actual paternal and maternal love not everyone experiences in their lifetime even of those who have real parents… Bloodline or not, haven’t we all had one color of blood? Who can differentiate the difference?

*Marites Ritumalta’s 10th book coming out this February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

This lock to my heart Requires a key To erase history

(Vee Barnes)

The world is locked Behind various conflicts Love is the key we must turn.

(Jun Valerio Bernardo)

Love is the key that Opens the iron lock Of a hard hearted soul. -(Wellington Nwogu)

You retain your freedom, Love locks without chains Willing heart surrenders

(Sarita Khullar) february 2022

Unlock your hearts Let the love free flow Reining love in the world. (Shikha Gupta)

Not my heart but my whole life wanting for freedom A carefree life.

(Dolo Res)

Unlock my heart With the key of love and affection Stay there with devotion.

(Rita Chugh) 28

February 2022

Poetry Planet International Magazine

Let me seal my love For it is locked, And yours through eternity. (Gloria A. Yu)

Disdainful in solitude Stigmatized and cast away A heart lies locked in a box

Just imagine, If love could be locked, Experienced and cherished forever.

Our love is sealed With a promise and a vow Of long lasting and eternity..

(Vee Maistry)

(Ning Gaspi Gaton)

(Kirti V)

Love shackles two hearts together The key forever lost In the hands of Fate.

Your love Fixed deposit in my heart Never to be unlocked.

(Liege Lord Lanre)

(Ritu Kamra Kumar)

The fence falls but The lock on our love Is me and you forever.

Turn of events Evokes heartburn At the cusp of time

Better to lock my heart, Than to love someone, To give me heart attack.

(Gail Constable)

(Mir Samsul Haque)

(Ben-Hur Sistoso) 29

CONTRIBUTORS’ HUB

Poetry Planet International Magazine

CAPTURED MOMENTS

February 2022

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