I miss the hug

A hug that they give you and you forget the weaknesses of your existence.

I miss a kiss

The kiss that someone give you and your stomach make those noise like is full of butterflies

I miss the smile

That childish smile that you have

U are smiling and all nature become

Pink

I miss the walk to the beach

The waves

The perfume of the salt

I miss the sunshine and the sunset

All the simple things that I had

I miss the generosity of people

I miss the kindness of grandparents

I miss the relaxing moments of drinking a coffee

Now, they all want your friend, your position, your talent, your contact, your potential, your life almost but no one…

Nobody want to get in your shoes

They are too tide.!!!! 

愚かさの夢

a dream of foolishness

プーシキン『神聖喜劇』に花栞恋と死のためその勿忘草を

Pushkin’s

flower bookmark

in The Divine Comedy

for love and death

that forget-me-not

椅子坐り足首の下なき少女それでも生きよガザの廃墟に

girl in a chair

with no lower

than ankles

still live！

In the ruins of Gaza

偽善者の甘い蜜には気をつけろ麻薬のやうに汝を洗脳す

beware

of the sweet nectar

of hypocrites

brainwashing you

like a drug

友逝きてしばらく筆の止まりけり春雨つづき灰湿るかも

a friend has passed away

and the writing has stopped

for a while

spring rain continues

ash may be damp

生まれては死にゆく夢に右往左往するこの世の人の無粋かな

to dreams

that are born and die─

the inelegant

of the world’s people

who move right and left

南天の実は人知れず落ちてゐし春に逝きし友は空と地に盈（み）つ

the heavenly bamboo seeds

had fallen

unnoticed

a friend who passed away in the spring

filled the sky and the earth

人類の滅びしあとの春の月見る人もなく澄みにけるかも

the spring moon

after the fall

of mankind

no one will be there to see it

It will be crystal clear

愛求めさまよひ続ける人愚か愚かさゆゑに愛をし信ず

those who continue

to wander in search of love

foolish

People believe in love

because of their stupidity

失望を重ね重ねて桜花咲くころまでの遠き道のり

disappointment

after disappointment

a long way

until the cherry blossoms

bloom

裏切られ来しことさへも人の常山茶花ひらく無垢の紅かな

even coming

to be betrayed is

what people always do

open sasanqua

In immaculate crimson

恨みなぞ愚かさの夢人よ知れ生死の迅さの虹のはかなさ

resentment is

a dream of foolishness

know, O man!

that the speed of life and death

is as fleeting as a rainbow

夢の世をうつつと信じさらに未来を夢みる人の業（ごう）し哀しき

believing

the world of dreams

to be reality

and the karma of those

who dream of a future even more sad

花咲かば散るのは定め勝敗も夢の遊戯や何を浮かるる

when a flower blooms

it must fall

winning or losing

is a dream game

what is there to be buoyant about?

深き根や冬の土壌に蜜を吸ひ春来たるれば白き花成る

deep roots

suck nectar from the soil

in winter

when spring comes

they will be white cherry blossoms

Reason for the Rain

There was all this talk about Botticelli.

There was all this wine in our veins.

There was all this rain.

And all those people coming and going

Through my brain

Dancing on the ferry to another shore

Changes of scenery, of geography

Changes of heart

And there was this wall between words,

Erected with pain.

Will this rain ever stop?

Will the summertime

Open a window

And let the sun shine

From inside

Through my eyes again

After all these years

Of waltzing all alone

All by myself

Amidst the crowds?

Notes toward a Ballad

The August sun is intense, I undress

On the beach, sand in my toes

I hold sunrays in my hair.

I take refuge in a café 

On the nameless street

Tired of the heat

White wine goes green in my glass

Sun still fire in the sky.

No shade, no break,

His eyes dance on me,

They burn my skin 

I accept the figs he gives me

They are too soft. 

The coffee is too strong.

And the sun doesn’t give up.

And he does not give up. 

And now I lie awake pretending

That he lies awake

And that the whole world is awake

As we were then

In that summer heat

In that café

Without a break.

RECIPES FOR A POWER-GRAB

Scenario #1

A country rich in minerals and trade

located on a gateway to the globe—

just might change hands if pressure is applied.

Attack! And say you’re bringing liberty.

Attack with well-armed troops, with drones and bombs.

Ignore all blood and grief. You come in peace.

Accept surrender. Now this goldmine’s won.

Scenario #2

Work from within. Don’t fire a single shot.

Build a base of angry guys with gripes.

Unite against a common straw-man foe:

immigrants, women, LGBTQ.

Repeat bold lies. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Once you’re President, usurp the power

of Congress, and the country’s highest Court.

When you own both—no checks, no balances.

Then bust departments one-by one; install

head honchos with no skills, in debt to you.

Appoint a scapegoat– purge department staffs.

You now pull all the strings. No oversight.

Then strangle the economy with tariffs.

A trillion dollars can be milked this way.

Populace will be beaten, fearful, broke.

The country’s yours, and you’ve not fired a shot.

Scenario #3 

By tactics fair or foul, gain full control

of weapons that could atomize the planet.

Use the threat of nuclear revenge

to bend all countries to your will. The Heads

of States who moan about earth’s climate woes

will buckle when you threaten Armageddon.

They know that you don’t bluff. You never lose.

You’ll own the biggest empire ever known.

Copyright 3/2025                Patricia Doyne

A LIGHT SNOWFALL ON THE SIDEWALKS

It is the time,

the Times,

to be writing

about…

the place I visit

as often as

Time allows–

Canada, to be

the place I write

about–

I know you

my country–

damn the politicians

and all the time

lies use their mouths,

to fool the clock,

fool us, fool the fools.

It is time,

the place I find

is my country–

Canada, I want

better for you–

can I speak of you

like you are a you?

Canada,

you allow me to know

travels, many times away,

as someone calls it–

“a time away”– I will

take it, Canada,

I want to write

about you–

damn the Liars!

All the time

it has taken me

to become, to merge

into the Times,

right here where we

can easily touch

something…or somehow

someone real close…

very real…please.

A DEFINITION OF FREEDOM

So far,

as a

Canadian,

I

can say

whatever

I want

to the

World.

WHY SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT LOVE

Robert Smith

unlike any other

Smith

has come through,

until this morning

his song titles

hadn’t reached me,

but today I

take upon me

the cure

and open

that which has always opened

when great songs

have reached me,

I have been through it,

and so have

so many others

who won’t allow themselves

to be shut down,

to be dumbed down,                            to be the witnesses,

to become the ones

you know you are,

as Allison Goldfrapp                            has asked us

to become, the ones

who must lead now,

the ones who knew

what to do with Love,

unlike me,

at the end

ready to walk endlessly

into all the voices

trying to be human,

but were fooled, were

led from their true voice,

were no different

than the voices of

the Wild, they didn’t know

they possessed,

the voices that led me

into a place

I never want to leave,

now the place, with you,

please stay with me.

Chad Norman, Truro, NS, Canada

His poems have appeared for nearly 40 years in literary publications across Canada, as well as a number of other countries around the world, also translated into Albanian, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Turkish, Italian, Czech, Vietnamese, Portuguese,  and Hungarian.

In October 2016 he was invited by the Nordic Assn. for Canadian Studies to give talks on Canadian Poetry and read from his books at Borupgaard Gym in Copenhagen, and Risskov Gym in Aarhus, as well as other readings in both cities, and Malmo, Sweden. Because of that tour Norman started the manuscript, Counting Coins In Denmark And Sweden.

 In October of 2017 he read at various Eastern Canada venues in Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal, reading poems from his Selected and New collection, published by Mosaic Press (Oakville, ON).

In October of 2018 he read at various types of venues from universities to cafes to pubs throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales, while there he visited Swansea and slept three nights in the room where Dylan Thomas was born. A celebration of Canadian Poetry took place during this tour too.

His most recent books are a children’s picture book, B And Boy, 2023, Cyberwit. Net (India), and a new collection, Parental Forest,  out with AOS publications (Montreal).

Finally, Norman’s poem, The Shoulds, has been selected to be included in the Vagabond Lunar Collection, part of the time capsule scheduled for a Fall launch to the moon.

 He is currently a member of  The Writers Union Of Canada, PEN Canada, and a volunteers for 12 local crow families.

Critical Analytical Reading of “Voices” by Eva Lianou Petropoulou – Greece .

By : Kareem Abdullah – Iraq .

Introduction: Eva Lianou Petropoulou’s poem “Voices” offers a profound exploration of the paradoxical nature of human emotions and responses in different situations. The poem presents a series of thought-provoking questions, drawing attention to the complexities of human behavior in the face of both joy and suffering. Through its introspective tone and concise structure, the poem challenges the reader to reflect on the deep connections between emotional expression, the human mind, and the concept of free will.

Analysis:

Title – “Voices”: The title immediately introduces the theme of communication and internal dialogue. “Voices” can be interpreted as a reference to the various calls for help, freedom, and peace that people make, but also to the internal voices that dictate how we react to different emotional states. The plural form of “Voices” suggests the multiplicity of perspectives and experiences, implying that the poem is not only about individual experiences but also about collective human emotions and struggles.

Theme of Contradiction in Human Emotion: The central theme of the poem revolves around the contradiction in human emotional responses. The poet asks, “But why we cry in our happy moments / And laugh…..when we are in a very difficult situations?” This rhetorical question serves as a powerful paradox that challenges the reader’s assumptions about the nature of human emotions. Typically, crying is associated with sadness, and laughter with joy; however, the poet disrupts these associations to point out how human beings sometimes react in unexpected ways. This highlights the complexity of human psychology and the ways in which people navigate their emotional landscapes.

Self-Defense and Human Instincts: The poet suggests that perhaps this contradictory emotional behavior is a form of self-defense. The line, “Maybe this is the self defense of our organism,” introduces an interesting psychological concept: the idea that our emotions, even in their paradoxical forms, may serve as protective mechanisms. This idea evokes the notion of the fight-or-flight response and the instinctual ways in which humans protect themselves from stress, trauma, or emotional overwhelm. The reference to “self-defense” could imply that emotions such as crying or laughing in inappropriate contexts might be subconscious ways of coping with internal or external pressures.

Exploration of the Human Brain: The line, “Still discovering the human brain,” reveals the poet’s awareness of the ongoing research into human cognition and emotion. The statement highlights the mystery of the human mind, which is still being explored by science. It suggests that despite our advancements in understanding the brain and human behavior, there is still much to uncover about the complex mechanisms that govern our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The Concept of Free Will: The closing line, “What is certain… / It is that we have free will,” serves as a pivotal moment in the poem. After exploring the unpredictability of human emotions, the poet affirms the certainty of free will. Despite the paradoxical nature of human emotional responses, the poet suggests that we still retain the power to make choices and exert control over our actions. This line introduces an element of empowerment, emphasizing that, regardless of how complex or contradictory our emotions may be, we are not entirely at their mercy. The affirmation of free will serves as a reminder of human agency in a world that can often feel chaotic and uncontrollable.

Conclusion: Eva Lianou Petropoulou’s “Voices” offers a rich and thought-provoking meditation on the complexity of human emotions, the mysteries of the brain, and the role of free will in shaping our responses to life’s challenges. Through its paradoxical statements and rhetorical questions, the poem invites the reader to reflect on the deeper, often contradictory, nature of human behavior. The poem’s ultimate message—despite the uncertainty and unpredictability of human emotions—is that we, as individuals, have the capacity for free will and can exercise control over how we respond to the world around us. In doing so, the poem not only engages with deep psychological and philosophical questions but also affirms the resilience and agency of the human spirit.

Voices

So many people cry for help

Cry for freedom

Cry for peace

But why we cry in our happy moments

And 

Laugh…..when we are in a very difficult situations?

Maybe this is the self defense of our organism

Still discovering the human brain

What is certain…

It is that we have free will

Eva Lianou Petropoulou ( Greece )

She is an awarded author and poet from Greece with more than 25 years in the Literary field published more that 10 books.

Her poems are translated in more than 25 languages. She is President of creativity and art of Mil Mentes Por Mexico Association

Greece Mexico 

Official candidate for Nobel Peace prize

2024