The part in all
of us We Share
Well Being
Sets Foot on Every
Beach on a
Warm Breezy Day
I'm being an Idealist.
I'll Back down
When You're Back up,
and that's a Condescending
Style I know.
You Know Better
the Greatest Joy
than I could ever find
for You
The presence of LOVE
is , You You You Are .
I studder for good
Reason
It Bears Repeating
Sit Here and I promise
not to look at your shell.
The guarded Soul
makes its own
And your presence has
my Heart
on a Rock slain
Before and after the time
of Danger But no precision
can threaten my
Eternity
For size and mass are
Part & Parcel to the canvas
that, "What's it called?",
always Rises the caller to
Bring more Fresh Ideas.
What You Like
is Already
known
Faster than time to
Savor the
passing Brush.
By John Edward Culp
All Rights Reserved
first drafted on December 2, 2021
In a Castro Valley CA coffee shop ♡
Essay from Nguyen Thanh Hai
Christmas Monologue Will you come back this Christmas? When the December sun pulls together through the alley the bamboo bank swings and calls to the wind swallows call the flock to the spring ball... I'm still looking forward to this Christmas the day is still long...still a lonely garden. The girl from the past is no longer a baby Why does the rose flower quickly fade? My heart will be close to each other like flowers and butterflies on a busy spring day Christmas is here...why are you so far away in the middle of Christmas, my heart suddenly ached Nguyen Thanh Hai (Vietnam)
Essay from Norman J. Olson
is the art of Norman J. Olson Erotic Art?
by: Norman J. Olson
I do not get a lot of recognition for my art… in fact, few people, even people who know me, know about my artworks… partly, this is because I have never really tried to sell art or be a part of the local arts community, or any arts community, for that matter… also, I think that this might be because of the nature of my artworks themselves…
1) they are not formally innovative… in fact, they are pretty much old fashioned works in oil paint and various drawing mediums… 2) they are not topical/political and much officially recognized art today is expected to be topical, to have a purpose of setting the world right, or at least to make some kind of political statement… and 3) my art often uses the old European/art history trope of the nude figure… which, I think makes my art less than commercial, as people today, are very uneasy with using images of naked people as such in artworks…
some years ago, I discovered the world of Erotic art… Erotic art is sort of high toned porn, or art about sexual matters that is accepted in certain quarters, if it makes statements in line with current academic thinking on those matters… and has a bit more depth than the average porn video… people often assume that my art is erotic art in that it portrays naked people, occasionally sexual activities and seems more sophisticated than what most people would call “porn…” so, the question is, does my art fall into the category of “Erotic Art…”
the fact that it may, brought my work to the attention of the Wilzig Erotic Art Museum in Miami, Florida and my history with that museum led to an interview with me by Melissa Blundell, Director of Education for that museum… this happened last summer (summer 2021) and was one of the most exciting and public expositions and discussions of my art that has ever happened…
If anybody is interested in seeing some images of my artworks and hearing a discussion about my art including the question of whether or not it is erotic art, you can check out this interview at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/57268513383
Poetry from Mark Young
Yes, Coach A life broad- brushed is limited. Only so many ways of describing things. There- fore. Repetition, replication. Yes- terday he got up & looked towards the east, west the day before. Today he is out buying a compass, learning to do things by degrees. Minutiae. in sight Translucency on a different wave- length. Not light from behind but from with- in. How sweet the beets are. Leave the words out. Meanwhile So many things beginning with the same letter. No wonder he was confused. The court- yard empty & the flowers turned into dust. Never- theless he pressed on with it. Small animals were drawn to him. Reminiscent of a Monet painting Light is a skein on the water, is wool under the eyes of astronauts. Is the sky de- rided, a kind of panopticon. Light is a sty of argot- noughts, full of Goldwyn fleas.
Poetry from Michael Robinson
Lights of Christmas, 2021 For Andrea Molina It has been a long time since the snow fell from the sky in my life. Covering me at midnight on Christmas eve forty-three years ago. A night when lights were colorful as a backdrop to the snow. It was a quiet night of fear laying on the floor. Emptiness pressed upon me on that warm December night. The light faded and my heart stopped and the sounds ended. Oh, my God dying at twenty-one without anyone. A flurry of thoughts came from my childhood prayers. A second when my world stopped. “God save me!” He saved me that early Christmas morning. Forty-three years later watching those lights. Remembering dancing with the snow with angels. Michael J. “Midnight Poet” Robinson 12-25-2021
Poetry from Ahmad Al-Khatat
Ahmad Al-Khatat Grape Lips The liquor store said that They have sold their last bottle of red wine. I wanted a woman who rises in my apartment, and on the balcony like the sun back in Baghdad. The snowstorm will not change my feelings about her I am comfortable and independent just by thinking about her The wine melting its fruits on her lips -elucidates why I taste grape after kissing her. Some people faces are breathing not peaceful, It reminds me of the daylight of a hundred men and women who died I sob for them, and the world took my tears to a particular forest, Pour my sorrows’ to lifeless plants, leafless trees, and wasteland creeks. The moon in the midnight whispers in my ears I want to kiss her apple blossoms on her cheeks lightly I hope that I can farewell my grief the moment I kiss her neck gently By then, her warm hands caress my bitter body against her sweet flesh. 12/24/2021
Ike Boat reviews children’s author Dennis Mann’s latest appearance for Berganda
Title: BBR & BRR By Ike Boat
Graciously, as a gifted poetic fellow I often like titles of whatever I write to differ from others. Thus, I hope this title BBR & BRR will not take you on wonderland but a special roller-coaster to ensure that you read deeper to the punch-lines as a means to absorb within the mental faculties of knowledge acquisition in the world of literature. Well, the twist and turns of words by a rapper makes him or her a tongue-twister, but in poetry we often prefer to describe it as ‘Word-Play’, hence every poet or spoken-word figure becomes a ‘Word-Player’ to bring-out a sensible story-line in relation to performance. Any-way, let me not be like ‘Hum-Ani’ beating around the bush or even the adventures of Berganda finding a solution to ensure afforestation.
Lo, BBR is the chosen abbreviation Berganda Book Release and BRR means or refers to Berganda Reading Review as I’ve spent quality day-to-day time to engage in the usual Read Aloud Session – RAS of this educative and informative second (2nd) book of Ghana’s fascinating kids author in the personality, Sir Dennis Mann, founder and president – Wide Reading Among Kids – WRAK.
On faithful Friday,3rd December,2021 at 10am Greenwich Mean Time – GMT (Ghana Man Time). It’s commencement of the much anticipated and highly promoted Berganda Book Release ie(Launch),thus took place at the finest air-conditioned event-space dubbed Dreamer’s Hub under the leader-ship as well mentor-ship acknowledgement of Author Raphaelle Antwi in North Legon,Accra – Ghana,West Africa. Such a beautiful divine atmosphere with nicely created wooden bookshelf seen bold R-E-A-D. I meditatively absorbed and creatively came-out with Revise Every Acts Daily based on READ. Thus,such an aura to learn from AURA being Audience Of Ralph Antwi,an anointed and gifted man with ministerial as well mission-inspired speaking engagement both locally and globally. Aside,with over fifty (50) books under his author-ship and mentor-ship of multiple chaps. Factually,prayer points and topics of faith marked the commencement of program order as organized strategically by the author of Berganda book himself,Mr.Dennis Mann.
Incredibly,for me it’s a tip from the Central (Kasoa) ,Estate Top to Capital (Accra),Asylum Down area to kill ‘duo-birds’ with a ‘mono-stone’ in an environment of unfamiliarity, like a forest or village (rural) dweller coming to the city (urban) center with mind of novice about so many suburbs of Greater Accra Region,Ghana. Needless to say,the unfortunate happening of 1st December,2021 became a blow to the mind a bit but faith in God helped me to keep hope alive and focus on our scheduled Berganda Book Release #BBR on Friday,3rd December,2021. Oh,gosh! Airport arrival from Deustchland ie(Germany) as one of our special invited guests turned her home-going due to delay of PCR test results which is paramount for all travelers from all walks of lives. Well,it’s been close to decade since the first trip into Ghana, still Obroni Baa Dagmar Erb couldn’t embrace the triumphant welcome we prepared to offer her at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport. I’ve to state ‘God knows Best & God Knows Why!’
Sincerely, your Ike Boat chap as the Anchor and MC of BBR exhibited professional delivery with little infusion of Akan,Fante dialect and high percentage of Anglo-know-how on the microphone coupled with poetic free-style session of Spoken-Word performance as one act I’m popularly known coupled being an awardee. Obviously,salt doesn’t praise its tastiness but the gig of ‘I Live In Amanful’ #ILIA piece was just a nostalgia about conditions and circumstances of where I grew-up in my primary and junior high school days as well as secondary level of academic education. I can say with certainty that the interaction with attendees as audience,WRAK manifesto speech by prime author of the day,Mr.Dennis Mann as well as part of Berganda book reading bring to memory good protocol duty by colleague and bruder (brother),Sir Philip Marfo, a man with hard-working positive spirit and right attitude to works. Special virtual shout-out to all our Bergandalicious team members and participants! Lo and behold,someone nearly cap-sided the float and flow of passionate boat but timely appearance of our special guest Speaker – Author Ralph Antwi really remedied crucial fund-raising moment of Berganda Book Release – BBR than the launch of Mr.Pee Pee maiden book by Mr.Dennis Mann i.e(Author). Suffix it to say,I like the general atmosphere in relation to sights and sounds of BBR in Accra.
Finally, with respect to Berganda Reading Review – BRR, I commenced my usual Read Aloud Session – RAS on Wednesday 5th December,2021 at Room 15 of St.Sam Hotel in Asylum Down,Accra. Aside, I completed the entire 15 Chapters of it Content on Monday,20th December,2021 at the Mount-Zion International Gospel Church – MIGC Mission House premises, Estate Top, Kasoa – Central Region of Ghana,West Africa. Indeed, being an avid reader Berganda – My Forest,My Home is a must-get,grab and read book full of adventures. Believe you me,it has good story-line,subject-matter and central theme, thus can subsequently be turned into epic movie with wonderful characters, like Ahmed friend of the protagonist Berganda has traits compared to Ghana’s historic woman-warrior Yaa Asantewaa,the queen mother of Ejisu with such a spirit of heroism (heroine). Well,as the saying goes ‘Sweetness of the pudding is in it eating’, therefore I urge or beseech you to get in touch with Author Dennis Mann via E-mail Address: authordennismann@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +233247654113 so as to get and grab your copy for reading or bulk purchase for your children of ages 10 years and above. Better-still,it will be a good resource for your library. Of course, such a readable story-line with soft diction too makes your reading easy,lovely and enjoyable. Until then, from virtual to actual – Kindly,grab to read the Berganda book to experience it Bergandaliciousness! Thank You.
Ike Boat – Writes in a serene quiet mood atmosphere with soulful gospel songs playing background at the perching place of MIGC temple located at Estate Top, Kasoa – Central Region, Ghana.(West Africa).
Kindly, E-mail: ikeboatofficial@gmail.com or Whats-App: +233267117700 t0 Advertise or Promote on Time With Ike Boat #TWIB Show on Morrash T