A LOVE FORETOLD
We met each other for a reason
The myth was one foretold before we ever spoke
From the beginning our hearts were so close
Our thoughts often the same without even talking
Our hearts together beat in perfect rhythm
as we both rested in each other's arms..
A most beautiful and perfect dream together
I know at times our dreams could not find each other
in the sharp brokenness that we both have lived through
But our hearts together are like a shrine in a temple
We both religiously worship in each other's love
Nothing can ever tear it down; it is too strong
God will surely bless such a love as ours...
SORRY BABY, I WIN
One look at his face and into his eyes
I was hooked at that point but he wasn't surprised.
Six foot six, with long wavy hair, women fell at his feet
but he didn't care.
"Too Easy" he says, with that sweet evil grin
At that moment I thought, I should run far from him.
But my heart was curious, it knew no bounds,
So I decided that I would just stick around.
I'm glad I did because there was much more
than this strong attraction that went straight to my core.
"I'm not a nice guy" he told me quite sharp,
but I knew there was goodness in this bad boy's heart.
The love for him I had was quite real,
it was far more than just lust or his strong sex appeal.
He made me laugh and Wow!... what a smile,
so I stayed around if even just for a while.
Since that day, the tables have turned,
For me his heart melted, it passionately burned.
He thought he was immune to any emotion
No love in his heart, no speck of devotion.
Little did he know he'd have no control
against this tough but loving woman's grasp on his soul.
Now it's me who possesses his sweet, evil grin,
"Love Conquers All, Sorry Baby, I win".
Longing for My Place in This World
I thought I knew where my place was in this world long ago
But I find my purpose changes like the beautiful seasons,
and I gladly change with each season in my life.
I never was impressed by riches or fame, even though I have had them
I have also been poor in money but my riches were in my life lessons.
The only thing I ever wanted, was a stable home with children.
I got my beautiful children, but a stable home was never meant for me when I was younger. But... It kept me moving and it taught me so much. There was nothing I could not get through because of doing everything in life the hard way.
It took a long time for me to see the purpose of that.
I never look at a hard time as something bad, but another lesson learned in my life.
Now, in the latter part of my life, I know where my place is. It is everywhere.
It is wherever God places me at any given day. That is where I belong.
If someone needs me, God will place me there. I have been all over the world without leaving my home. I have learned from people who I have never met. I have loved children who aren't mine. I have empathy and I am so grateful for every person I have in my life. I love so many cultures and watch in wonder at their lives.
And I am so glad that God has shown me that my place is not one place or for one purpose, but in many places and for many reasons, and it is exciting!
And, I am truly thankful that he uses me everyday in a different place in this world. I love my life!
Escaping Reality
In my secret world that only I can see..
the trees and grass are always green, if only this could be.
I'd never have a worry about memories of pain..
only golden days of happiness and joy that pours like rain.
I've lived so much reality I often have to hide
within my world of make believe to mask the pain inside.
Where fairies, knights and princesses become the real thing.
They take me to a magical place where I can laugh and sing.
Please take me from this darkness from where I've seen such things
as blackened hand prints on my skin and painful tears that sting.
Though all of them have disappeared now from the naked eye,
the scares they left upon my soul have killed the joy inside.
So once again I travel back to my peaceful, secret place
to escape the cold and violence that I lived outside its space.
Kristy Raines was born in Oakland California, USA and is a poet, writer, author and humanitarian/activist.
She has five books getting ready to publish soon, one with a prominent Poet from India which will launch hopefully soon called, "I Cross my Heart from East to West", two fantasy books of her own called, "Rings, Thins and Butterfly Wings" and "Princess and The Lion", and an anthology of poems in English," Walking Without You, one in French, "Little Rose Poetry", one in Arabic called," Jasmine and Roses". She is taking a course in Arabic to write this book. Kristy has received many literary awards for her unique style of writing.
If I head away.
Maybe then my worth is known,
If I leave a mark on your heart.
My parents miss me,
They have been waiting for me for years.
Looking at the streets where my childhood was left
You know my worth again.
You can't find me,
Your dreams are telling the truth-
You look for my laughter, though,
You can't find them either, my friend!
You ask the moon where I am
He is ashamed of not being able to answer.
I repeat again, my dear ones,
You will never find me
Mokhinur Askarova daughter of Bakhadir was born on May 13, 2006 year in Jizzakh city.In 2013 year she went to the 14 th school in Jizzakh city. She is also a member of about 20 international.organizations and the owner of more than 50 international certificates. a graduate of the special course of the world famous"Oxford University's Home study center"course, published the first poetry collection "World" announced.America's "Amazon"his poems were published in "Raven Cage"magazines of Germany,he was invited 3 times as a guest of"Assalom Jizzakh"show.
Kelly was mowing their front yard when the snake landed on her arm. She figured it was from a tree, and it tightened its grip on her arm like a boa constrictor and lunged at her face hitting her glasses and cracking them. She ran right over her rose bush, the lawn mower spitting red petals and thorns, and she screamed “Help me, Jesus” twice, shaking her outstretched arm. Her disabled husband heard her and moved down the ramp of the carport with his cane as quickly as he could, hearing Kelly holler for Jesus.
Jesus didn’t come swooping down from heaven to save her, but the hungry hawk that had picked up the snake in a field of peas about a half mile down the road and then lost its grip and dropped it onto Kelly circled back and nose-dived toward her arm, its claws slicing her arm while grabbing hold of the snake. As Bud made his way to the yard, he waved his cane and hollered, “Get!” several times.
When the hawk had a firm enough grip, it took off with the snake writhing in the sky, and Bud got Kelly to the emergency room where she was treated for lacerations and bruising. The doctor told Kelly that the right glass in her eyeglasses was cracked and kept the snake’s venomous bite from her eye even though her readers had to be trashed.
Ghost of Lincoln
We never thought we’d see a ghost through binoculars in the White House from our view on E street by the South Lawn. We’d hiked from our hotel early in the evening with a light fog settling over the city. Along with our binoculars, we had a 35-millimeter camera with zoom lens, so we could get any close ups of the Obamas, but my friend Grant said, “Damn. That looks like Abraham Lincoln standing by the window.”
“Let me see,” I said. “By God, you’re right. Get some pics. He’s wearing a dark suit and a top hat.” He took the camera, focused, and snapped about twenty shots.
“I hope I caught him. He didn’t move and then evaporated.”
“We might even be on one of those reality TV shows if his image is on the film once it develops.”
“That would be cool.”
“Yes, it would.”
The Lincoln room was just a couple of windows to the right of the rotunda on the second floor. I’d looked at it online, since I knew those areas were off limits on our tour the next day. Lincoln may have been the most iconic of all the ghosts seen in the White House. He’d been seen by first ladies Grace Coolidge, Lady Bird Johnson, and Jacqueline Kennedy. He’d also been seen by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, both of whom had been guests in the Lincoln bedroom. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt also reported feeling Lincoln’s presence as she worked in her office in the Lincoln bedroom, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s valet once ran screaming from the White House after seeing Lincoln’s ghost. Even the Ronald Reagan family had some experience with Lincoln’s ghost. The Reagan’s dog Rex stood at Lincoln’s door and barked and barked, and Reagan’s daughter Maureen and her husband had reported ghostly images when they stayed in the Lincoln room.
“Why would he haunt that area? It wasn’t his bedroom. It was his office and his Cabinet room at the time.”
“I’m not sure. I think Laura Bush redid the room, but the rosewood bed was purchased by Mrs. Lincoln along with some of the furniture. It was where Lincoln first read the Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet, and there’s a copy framed and hung on one of the walls. Of course, Lincoln himself had ghostly experiences there when he was President. He reported hearing the ghost of former President Jackson swearing and stomping around.”
“That’s wild and wasn’t there something about a child?”
“Yes, the Lincoln’s son Willie died at twelve from Typhoid Fever and had been seen by some staff of President Grant. Maybe he’s looking for his son or maybe he’s just thinking about the massive loss of life in the Civil War.”
“Most places aren’t nearly as haunted.”
“Why do you think that is? Age?”
“No, I think it’s because of the stress and the energy expended. Lincoln’s term had to be one of the most stressful. I’m sure all presidential terms have their own anguish, but his must have been incredibly difficult.”
“Yes, I think so.”
When they returned home to Illinois, the two friends had a great ghost story to share, and of all the photos snapped, one of them showed a grainy image of what might be perceived as Lincoln.
“Looks like that picture of Jesus someone saw on a slice of bread.” We both laughed.
“Or the Virgin Mary in a cloud.” We laughed more.
“Or what about that potato ship shaped like Elvis?” We laughed less because the joke was already getting old, and we both saw our reality show appearance evaporate just like the ghost of Lincoln.
“Yeah, they call seeing images that aren’t there pareidolia. Maybe we didn’t see Lincoln at all.”
“Maybe.”
Niles Reddick is author of a novel, three collections, and a novella. His work has been featured in over thirty collections and anthologies and five hundred magazines and journals including The Saturday Evening Post, PIF, New Reader, Forth, Citron Review, Right Hand Pointing, Nunum, and Vestal Review. He is a five time Pushcart, a two time Best Micro nominee, and a two time Best of the Net nominee. His newest flash collection If Not for You has recently been released by Big Table Publishing.
From southwestern Michigan, Jerry Langdon has lived in Germany since the early 90’s. He is an Artist and Poet. His works bathe in a darker side of emotion and fantasy. He has released five books of Poetry titled “Temperate Darkness an Behind the Twilight Veil”, “Death and other cold things” “Rollercoaster Heart” and “Frosted Dreams” Jerry is also the editor and publisher of the literary magazine Raven Cage Zine poetry and prose. His poetic inspirations are derived from poets such as Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As well as from various rock bands. His apparently twisted mind, twists and intertwines fantasy with reality.
Ishmurotova Sabrina Sarvar qizi
A little girl who missed her daddy
She is a child, but there is no childhood,
There are no exuberances, no masculinity.
Her heart hurts so much
A little girl who missed her dad .
Seeing her mother secretly crying
Her heart troubles again.
She can't tell anyone about her suffering
A little girl who missed her dad.
Hugging her dad's pictures
"I miss you dad", - she says.
A girl who didn't see mercy from Father
Why does she miss him so much?
A little girl of six-year-old
Listening to her longings, you say: "Ohhh!"
O, people, tell me what is going on
Listening to it, you will be feeble.
There are so many tiny hearts in the world
I don't know, how many at the moment.
But, a girl who missed her daddy
Don't cry from longing anymore
One day, you will be very happy
I have been receiving some rather vexatious comments from people I know casually through Social Media. I have been unfriended by many due to my position concerning the Palestinian and the Israeli Zionist conflict that has recently culminated into an atrocious and horrific war. Once again exemplifying the inhumane treatment humans are capable of inflicting upon their fellow man. It seems my position supporting the Palestinian people and detesting the persecution they have been subjected to since the illegal occupation of Arab and Palestinian homes, farms and businesses by Jews, has angered them. Israel has inflicted horrendous acts against the Palestinian people for over 70 years.
Appears the United Nations appropriated Real Estate they didn’t own. The British Mandate supported by the United Nations and advocated by the United States allocated land area to Zionist leaders for settlement 1917. Later amended to accommodate WWII Jewish refugees.
This Mandate granting property to the Jewish people extended rights of land ownership despite the property being owned and lived upon in some instances for generations of Arab and Palestinian families . They never took into consideration the legal rights of the Palestinian land owners. Prior to the British annexation of the territory it was part of the Ottoman Empire. An astonishing fact is the people were treated humanely and were extended all the rights of every other Ottoman citizen. Not so under Israeli occupation.
In 1948 Israel declared independence demanding to be recognized as an independent nation by the United Nations. 30 countries voted against the declaration but it passed anyway. No longer would Israel recognize the conditions of the British Mandate.
Soon after the new government implemented laws discriminating against Palestinians. The land allocated by the United Nations wasn’t large enough to support the immigration of millions of Jewish refugees. Israel determined it was entitled to areas inhabited by thousands of Arab and Palestinian people. The military quickly attacked Palestinians living in those areas with Israel forcefully confiscating the land. Over 726,000 Palestinians were evicted from their homes and thousands more were massacred. That was the start of Israel’s solution to living in harmony with other people in the region as they had proclaimed.
Since then Israel has adopted the practice of Apartheid. Their main objective during over 70 years of occupation is the genocide of the Palestinian people. Here’s Amnesty International’s report of their investigation into Israel’s actions.
Amnesty International has analyzed Israel’s intent to create and maintain a system of oppression and domination over Palestinians and examined its key components: territorial fragmentation; segregation and control; dispossession of land and property; and denial of economic and social rights. It has concluded that this system amounts to apartheid. Israel must dismantle this cruel system and the international community must pressure it to do so. All those with jurisdiction over the crimes committed to maintain the system should investigate them.
The Israeli persecution of Palestinians is extensive and too many to list.
Let me tell you, if my home was taken from me, evicted from my homeland, tortured, my people murdered and every other crime possible was levied against me, I would have no qualms about picking up a weapon and rage against Israel. Maybe I’m the one that should unfriend those of you advocating Israel’s atrocious treatment of Palestinian men, women and innocent children.
I’m unable to understand and far from accepting anyone’s support of Israel. Either you are an evil and sadistic person or just an uninformed. And if those descriptions aren’t accurate then I deduce that you’re just an ignorant idiot.
The Passage of Time
Long vanished the ancient cold,
The song of the wolves, distant
Howling through the downy flakes
Drifting o’er rooftops and curling
From chimneys grown cold.
Time glows like a banked fire
Against the cold of eons past
Aching bones of lost love
Waiting in time to dance again.
Wilted the love posies given
By wooers besotted and forlorn
In the heydays of their passion
Never to hear sweet promises
Polished, refurbished and stored
In the heart-shaped boxes of time
Or wear the locks of hair in lockets
Of long dead lovers, sworn
To vows impossible to keep
Past the eons of their courtship.
Old are the dreams, forgotten
The glory of laughter and youth
To be lived as the wind whispers
Beneath the waves of thunder,
Grumbles into the caves of love,
Absorbed by the echoing walls.
Longing dies but lives in memories
Bursting forth in the glory of sunsets,
Waking on the sunbeams of morning,
And sleeping in the dust, tracked
Through the temples of timeless love.
Sacred Freedom
It’s the soul that is touched by space and time
And the heart that breaks to poignant rhyme.
A King can feel like a prisoner within his castle halls,
While the soul of the dungeon inmate soars beyond his walls.
Circumstance is what you make of your surroundings
A castle can be a fortress wherein fancy sings
Or a prison where only despair is given wings.
Each step is sacred that you walk in a free land
Thank God for freedom to choose where you stand.
Christmas Sonnet
This, our first Christmas, brings me such delights!
You are all the gifts I ever dreamed of;
Every Christmas tree trimmed with sparkling lights;
Every star on top symbolizing love.
You're every kiss beneath the mistletoe;
Every turkey, yeast roll and candied yam;
The angels I made lying in the snow;
You're my gingerbread man, my honeyed ham!
You’re every Christmas Carol I have sung;
You’re reindeer, Santa Claus and candlelight;
All the stockings filled I carefully hung;
You’re the sleigh bells imagined on Christmas Night.
You’re the glowing fireplace on Christmas Eve -
All the cookies and milk I used to leave.
Sacred Silhouette
Yours is the sacred silhouette outlined
Between me and the LIGHT of Creation –
The deep voice of love from outer space
Reaching me from the corridors of time;
The pulsating heart of constancy
Beating for me in echoing waves
Of unforgettable love, caught
In the beauty of thought and desire
To hold the night in each other's arms.
Your love touches every cell of my being.
You are the glow in the mist of morning;
The chirping cricket on the threshold
Of love’s open doorway to paradise.
You are evening’s quiet reverie
Enhancing my belief in a loving God.
You are the quiet breath of falling dew;
The glow of lilies in the moonlight.
You are a thousand fireflies lit by my desire
To know the tenderness of your ways.
You’re the taste of moonlight on my skin;
My silent steps on the path of yearning
As I walk in the sacred shadow of stars
Seeking your soul in love’s rocking cradle
Suspended from the limb of infinity.
Annie Johnson is 84 years old. She is Shawnee Native American. She has published two, six hundred-page novels and six books of poetry. Annie has won several poetry awards from world poetry organizations including; World Union of Poets; she is a member of World Nations Writers Union; has received the World Institute for Peace award; the World Laureate of Literature from World Nations Writers Union and The William Shakespeare Poetry Award. She received a Certificate and Medal in recognition of the highest literature from International Literary Union for the year 2020, from Ayad Al Baldawi, President of the International Literary Union. She has three children, two grandchildren, and two sons-in-law. Annie played a flute in the Butler University Symphony. She still plays her flute.
