Dreams I want to see sweet dreams In slumbers of calmness. Falling and rising with the moments. Creating world of my own. Cloning my own fantasies. Reality is giant mountain Hard to digest Making me forget the empathetic spears. I want to travel nowhere Like radiant of the sun Travels the world. I am hungry For progress, not for perfection cause nobody is perfect. My struggles are milestone One day, giving others to courage pursue.
A Book review by Linda S. Gunther
“ETERNAL” by Lisa Scottoline
With a trip planned to the wine country this past weekend, I couldn’t wait to get away for a few days. It was a long drive from our house at the beach in Northern California to Sonoma County, and I was in the midst of reading ETERNAL, an historical fiction novel set in the 1930’s and 40’s in Rome, Italy, written by Lisa Scottoline.
I get carsick if I read as a passenger which means I was incredibly frustrated during that 4-hour car journey. I had started the novel the night before and read about 135 pages, my eyes in the book until the last minute, digesting another 20 pages before my husband and I left the house on Friday morning.
I just didn’t want to put the book down. I like to run my fingers down the pages of a good book and because I’m a novelist myself, sometimes I make notes in the margins or bend the page corners because of something so beautifully written. I learn so much from every book I read, so I haven’t ever considered switching over to audiobooks. I sat in the car and suppressed my impatience until we arrived at our destination. At the hotel I flopped down on the cozy love seat, curled up in front of the fireplace, a glass of intoxicating Cabernet on the table before me and held ETERNAL in my hands, ready to savor every page.
The story starts out joyous, the three young protagonists as children (Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro) in Rome, hanging out together, biking the city, splashing each other at the foot of the Tiber River. The story begins with a love triangle. Best friends, Marco and Sandro are both secretly captivated by feisty Elisabetta. She favors one of the boys but loves them both in different ways for different reasons. I won’t say more about how this topsy turvy love story works out but it’s not what you’d expect and I mean that! Your heart will be turned inside out going through the ups and downs of young love.
The timeline of this novel spans decades through Mussolini’s rule of the country, the start of WW II, Italy’s unification with Hitler’s Germany, the Nazi occupation of Rome and the chaos that ensues with a barrage of anti-Semitic laws that morph into a living hell for all Italian Jews, one of whom is Sandro.
The back cover of the book describes ETERNAL as a sweeping epic and for me that’s a perfect description for this page-turning read, a heart-wrenching tale full of twists and turns.
The added bonus in this read was learning all about the craft of pasta-making! The secondary character, Nonna, the proprietor of exclusive Casa Servano, the only restaurant in Rome to serve the highest quality of home-made pasta, urges her protégé, Elisabetta, to finally take control of her young life, become independent of men, and savor everything there is to know about cooking and how to run a flourishing restaurant business.
If you enjoy a good pasta as much as I do, then you will swoon over ETERNAL’s Chapter Eight-five where Elisabetta prepares spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clam sauce), complete with the fresh chopped garlic, oregano, parsley, salt and olive oil. I could actually smell the dish on the page as the narrator described the precise preparation. As soon as I read it, my meal out that night in the wine country was a plateful of linguini and clams with a robust glass of Coppola Cabernet.
One of my favorite historical novels of all time is Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, now being made into a film. In my opinion, the intriguing characters in Scottoline’s ETERNAL, their complex relationships, the deep dive into the internal dynamics of all three families and the delicious nuggets of Italian culture sprinkled throughout, places this novel in the same league as The Nightingale. And so, I give ETERNAL the highest rating of 5 out of 5!
Linda S. Gunther is the author of six published suspense novels: Ten Steps From The Hotel Inglaterra, Endangered Witness, Lost In The Wake, Finding Sandy Stonemeyer, Dream Beach and most recently in 2021, Death Is A Great Disguiser.
Her short stories have been featured in numerous literary publications. Linda’s passion for travel and continuous learning fuels her fire to create vivid fictional characters and unforgettable story lines.
Title: Hell on Earth
(Perception of Reality)
Genre: RAP/HIP-HOP
Waking up from sleep
Still in the ill state of slumbering
Anticipating bliss but sunk in pain
Wondering ‘why wake up?’
Another day of working out
To become the real biggie
But being forced to do the smalls
Subconsciously waking up to breaking up
Happiness kept at bay
As if joy is kept at arms length
Seeking inspiration to glide against the tempest
Only to realize this is hell on earth
The living projection from hell
The world being lived in
So twisted that what’s left in it ain’t right
Hell on Earth
Chorus
Hell on earth
What an experience!
The perception of reality
Look at all directions
That’s a pointer(2ce)
Verse 2
Lost in time
Sought for the time machine to bring me back
Only to realize I was in the past, present and future
My predicament was Not Obviously Waiting
The Ascertained Generation of Existence
Likened to flying kites back in the day
And the present AI activity
Expressed Excruciation marking the pinnacle of adversity
The hell of the poor
The paradise of the rich
Making pain to create gain
That’s the contradiction
The programmed nature of man
The Defined Attainment of Time Embraced
Tantamount to the Hell on Earth ordeal.
Chorus
Hell on earth
What an Experience!
The perception of reality
Look at all directions
That’s a pointer (2ce)
Verse 3
In the train of thoughts
emanates a dynamic release of flaws
Depicted by overwhelming concerns
Put forward amazing challenges
Death and life polarized the essence
Judgmental in the first place
Biased at the end
Consequential absurdities
Tantamount to retributions
Worried About Revolution as panacea to war
Thought of projecting bullet bars from mars
But outpaced by the mind-blowing speed of light years cars
Heaven the next option
But its 12 Pearly Gates an obstruction
Couldn’t believe the vision
Blamed it on pseudo information
But it became crystal clear
The fact emerging
Then it was true
The hell on earth situation
Chorus
Hell on earth
What an experience!
The perception of reality
Look at all directions
That’s the pointer (2ce)
Flutter of an Eye The "Flutter of your Eye" on the day you passed away Reminds us of a "Butterfly as it gently flies away" And as we see the grazing deer we know that you are near We long to hear your voice and see your smile again And know we will again someday and will hold on to the memories until then. We will always remember that day and the ~"Flutter of your Eye" as you drifted away~ Sending our everlasting love and hugs up to you and We want you to know we are thinking of you! Your Spirit Your touch, your voice, your warm embrace The bright smile that lights up your beautiful face These memories of you we hold on to and remember each year Especially when your birthday is here. We take comfort in the love that you gave us and We know "Your Spirit" always surrounds us! Sisters My parents blessed me with two "Sisters" to share my love with in life There for each other through thick and through thin I couldn't imagine my life without them The bond that we have is as strong as our faith We wouldn't have it any other way As we grow old together through the years Through happy and sad times, up and down times Holding hands through laughter and tears I thank my parents and the Lord above for My two "Sisters" that I adore and love! Take Me With You "Take me with you" whatever you do I will always be a part of you In the good times, bad times, happy and sad times "Take me with you" down the road I will be by your side wherever you go Part of me lives in you since I've gone away "Take me with you" I'm there to stay Salute a Soldier “Salute a Soldier” and show your support for The sacrifices made even lives were cut short They will always stand tall even after the fall “Bravery of a Soldier” will be remembered by all! “Salute a Soldier” It’s the right thing to do For all that’s been given for freedom for you!
“Flutter of an Eye is a short collection of poems written by Tammy Spears in homage to her mother, who recently passed away in 2007 from lung cancer. The chronology order of the poems reflects the last two stages of the grievance process: depression, and acceptance. The first arrangement of poems reflects memories of the poet’s mother and the poet’s future without her. Towards the end of the book, the poet reflects on the blessings she has in this life. Flutter of an Eye is meant to help and inspire those who have lost a loved one.”
— The New England Book Critic
My name is Tammy Spears and I am the author of the inspirational poetry book “Flutter of an Eye”. My poetry book has been published through iUniverse of Bloomington, Indiana. My poem “Flutter of an Eye” has also been published in Upon Arrival-Interlude by Eber & Wein Publishing. Various poems have also been published in the 2021 monthly editions of Neighbors of Bowling Green and Franklin Kentucky Magazines.
The book was written in memory of my beautiful Mother, Diana Hullings, who passed away at a young age of 61 from lung cancer. (“MOTHER” is a poem in my book). My mother was and still is my inspiration in life and I wanted to dedicate my book of poetry in her memory to share with family and friends to be inspired as well.
My book of poetry contains inspirational poems of love for a Mother and a Mother’s love, blessings in life, love of family, love to share, God’s gifts and blessings, honoring the military, life experiences, seasons of change, memories of a loved one, reminiscing and cherishing precious time, and love of a child and spouse.
I also have material to publish my second book of inspirational poems that will be titled “Fluttering On”. The meaning of the title of the sequel is that my mother is “Fluttering On” with us as we are “Fluttering On” without her.
We only have “one life” to live, so make an “Impact” while you can, “Reach for Hope” when in need, “Come Together” and “Lend a Hand” to make a difference, “Cherish the Memories”, “Precious Time” and all of “Life’s Blessings” God sends your way “Year After Year”. Won’t you “Take me With You” on The “Walk” of life’s journey? (All of the quotes are inspirational poems in my published poetry book).
The one message I would like to convey to my readers is to Cherish Life and the many Blessings God sends your way! “Dream”-“Dream”-“Dream” you can make your dreams a Reality! This was taken from one of my poems in the book called “Dream”.
My advice to aspiring authors would be to pursue your writing as an author if it is a passion and make your “Dream” come to light!
+
WALKING Water
Support my feet
Looks like Liquid
feels like street
I'm Heart filled Dreaming
I could go Home
But Bring Here Heaven
just now on loan
LOVE lift my thought
Above Being tried
As STEPS ON Liquid
are not denied
WALKING Water
Support my feet
Looks like Liquid
feels like street
............
by John Edward Culp
Saturday Morning
February 18, 2017
The Survivor The once healthy cell Has been invaded like hell The once healthy hair Has fallen throughout this fair Like drifting wood in the river afloat Winter snow on the ground, melt it connotes Sunlight cascading to the forest floor Feeling uncertain, thus, you close the door The strength you have to surpass them all Unwavering faith will not falter His call You fought the illness uncalled for You’re the greatest survivor of them all. Life If life is like picking the right song Choose the one that bangs the gong To the rhythm of the beat that is in bloom Like the windy beat of air in a lagoon Swiftly flowing, the rhythm in your ear That’s how smooth you want life to appear Like trees laid into the sunny rays Field of dancing flowers full of grace If life is like picking the right song Choose your band and favorite song Trials in reality you cannot shun Yet after the rain the sun will surely shine Facade When I met you decades ago We were young, free and on the go Uncaring for whatever it might be My heart throbs for you endlessly You got my heart from the start Yet treated me wrong from the day we start You tricked me with all the lies It was long enough for me to realized What we had were all facade Made most of my days gloomy and sad My brain unquestionably says No! But my heart undoubtedly says Go! Behind the hidden memories Lies all the troubles and worries A painful yesterday Is now a memory far away Too many years have been wasted With all the trials busted Facing all challenges to pursue Until one day... I’m so over you Youth of Yesteryears Those were the budding days So young & carefree with your ways All you do is play the race Until the beaming sun hides its rays Those were the youthful times When life doesn’t have to rhyme When folks’ counsels do not matter Never sorry for a dreadful scatter Those were the blossoming years Shedding pointless tears Dwelling on wasted years For some worthless fears Those were the years gone by Treasured mem’ries long gone by Old secret mem’ries gone by Reminiscing will give you a little cry
Jazira Munding Ismael aka Jazira Mi
A published poet, photo enthusiast, and an aspiring novelist, she is a registered writer/author with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Philippines. Her passion for writing awakened her curiosity to explore genres like romance, and fantasy, mystery and dystopia.
Her poetry collection entitled “Poems of Life” speaks for itself as life’s intertwined roads are filled with wonders, challenges, both highs and lows. She also has a booklet on marriage vows called “I Do”, both of which, were published by 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing, Philippines.
She regularly lectures and critics poetry writing contests of Poetry Hub, an international online platform of aspiring poets from countries like Nigeria, India, Somalia, Zambia, and its neighboring countries. She has gained notable following on Instagram (My writing Journey- Jazira Mi) as well as in her photography world: Fotografia y Viaje Alrededor.