Gaza Sonnet
A doctor`s house with two daughters came under artillery fire
while he who worked at the hospital in Gaza
Trying to save life after yet another Israeli attack, lost both
His children, the military late apologized.
After the funeral, the good doctor did not seek help for his
Immense suffering , but carried on working while
grief unburdened was eating him up.
One day he went to the beach the sea was calm and blue
He undressed and began swimming he had to get away
A strong swimmer he swam long before an Israeli gunboat
blew him out of the water, red turned to pink and then
ack to calming azure as the warped thinking of the occupiers
said go he should have sought psychological help
For sorrow so deep that no well-meaning words suffice
Categories:
14, absence, anxiety, art, beach,
Form: ABC
“Purusha is covered by five koshas or sheaths.”
~ extract from ‘The Holy Science’
Forged from the elements, our form is dust,
enlivened by spirit, the breath of God,
layered by our lower and higher mind,
with bliss manifesting when heart has thawed.
Safely encased in these sheaths, is the Self,
which is who we are, a divine God-spark
and when the five sheaths dissolve one by one,
shining as Self, we then banish the dark.
Categories:
14, spiritual,
Form: Quatrain
A thousand different notes one hears
from the flute-like whistle of the thrush
to the chirp and twitter of the sparrow,
blended all into a single song;
Earth's welcoming of spring.
Sat there,
basking in the sunlight,
(the first in several weeks)
Spring's weather,
a hint of the summer to come.
Around us,
the wind whispers gently,
"Rejoice humble grass, it's time to break free"
and trees hurriedly recreate their leaves.
Spring is a time of freedom and growth,
as the horse which slept in its stable
hemmed in by the bitter cold
now roams the fields, completely free.
Amidst it,
dove white lilies and orange tulips thrive.
Nurtured by the glorious spring showers,
they sway and dance in its breeze.
Layered in scarves, gloves and a coat,
winter's icy embrace locking up her body,
nevertheless, under the frosted willow tree,
her eyes carry hope of that time
a mere three months beyond January.
Categories:
14, 11th grade, spring,
Form: Free verse
14 Coursing!
Reflection one,
Gematria is revealing,
14 is “Dai”, enough, done?
Tzoros are healing,
Rav C. Shumulevitz wrote “Con”,
Or “With” feeling “Busha”
For your missed mission,
Tzoros have done annealing,
Are no longer needed? Redundant?
14 also is “Zahav” or Gold,
Precious as a watershed?
Wisdom from Tzoros’ toll?
Speaking, thus the rock bled?
Small steps, downsize the goal,
Reframe anguished cries instead,
Wishful thinking? Fatigue taking hold?
Mussar to the head,
And to the heart “B’HisPaalus” bold,
7th inning stretch? Bullpen retread,
Journey & Destination are one fold!
Categories:
14, anniversary, courage, emotions, i
Form: Rhyme
Written: June 3, 2025, For contest by Brian Strand
************************
r d f
a r on my a e
i o c
n p
s
love's
w_a_r_m_t_h a
w
a
k
e
n
s my h
e a
r /\ t
nature's s w
e e re | f | rain |
t o o o
Categories:
14, love, rain,
Form: Haiku
Queen of Heaven Alleluia
For He Whom did deserve to bear Alleluia
Has risen as He said Alleluia
(Please) pray for us to Eternal God Alleluia
V. Rejoice and be glad O virgin Mother Mary! Alleluia
R. Because our Divine Lord is truly risen Alleluia
Let us pray
O God
Who by the Resurrection
Of your Son
Our Divine Lord Father Christ
Has vouchsafe (Grant, Concede)
To make glad the whole world
Grant
We implore you
That through the intercession of the Virgin Mother Mary
His mother
We may attain Eternal life
Through the same Christ our Divine Lord
Amen
Poetry Form: Free Verse
Date Typed:
Time Typed: 7:08pm
Categories:
14, christian, community, devotion, god,
Form: Free verse
Spring Hiku 14 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _
I ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I
I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I
spring red rose blossoms I ~ II~ ~ II~ I
I II II I
sprinkled in private garden I_ _ _ II_ __ __ _ _II_ _ __ _ I
scent on nuptial bed I~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~I
I . . . . . . . . I
I . . . . . . . . I
I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~I
Categories:
14, appreciation, flower, garden, spring,
Form: Haiku
A girl,(her long baby blue dress,)was sat
a pace behind me(golden earrings gleaming);
She smiled(her waterfalling hair fell streaming)
to me as I turned to her(eyes!)and at
(her freckles sparkled)a glancing cue to chat
(in her rosy lips)went teasing,—we scheming—
(a grinning wink,)—one kiss, then two or(dreaming),
who was the mouse? moreso, who was the cat?
At dinner,(candles lit her flickered face,)
a tableful of people,(how she glowed!)
she in a scarlet dress—but I alone,
apart from(her)the group, I turned a stone.
—(her crimson lips)she spoke(her frowned brow showed),
“I’m giving you a chance.—(please learn your place…)”
Categories:
14, beauty, crush, dream, girl,
Form: Italian Sonnet
From the outside it might look like my life has improved,
But in spite of how I like to be viewed,
I’ve never had to bite my tongue as often as I have in these last few months.
Just gotta chew on my words like food.
On the Southside of the city view,
The lights on the water shifted reflecting off the choppy grooves,
The night stopped by and gave me an eye.
Like my mother,
Tonight disapproved.
Tomorrow too,
Or at least I’ll assume.
For all the loud fights with myself,
I still feel awfully removed,
Almost asleep behind the lights because living lively is living like a ruse.
Take me as a bite,
Chew on my words for a while,
Spit out the waste as your cheeks grow full.
Taste the bile,
Brew on the thoughts for a while,
Hints of a sorry guile pace meekly on your tongue.
The push,
And the pull.
Categories:
14, addiction, age, anxiety,
Form: Free verse
flowered shirts and shorts
searching through the stacks of clothes
the first day of spring
Categories:
14, nature, spring,
Form: Haiku
Though matter may not be destroyed, the form
must be deformed; absolute fluidity
demands—with absolute rigidity—
that bonds made break free from an unstable frame.—
Erratic molecules and particles swarm
beyond the confines of lucidity;
But we, in stupor (and stupidity),
(poor things), give to fluidity a name…
I mean to say: Destruction is a must!
For,—given that something new’s to be built—,
creation draws from the dead flower’s wilt.
The energy that binds two atoms:tight:
is Love, attraction in the highest light!—
I mean to say: Destruction is the Just!
Categories:
14, creation, death, fate, growth,
Form: Italian Sonnet
The void sings to me every night
It's lullabies promise peace, freedom from plight
I know it desperately, desperately tries
To make me listen to it's lies
I hear it sometimes, in the trees
It whispers softly, in the breeze
I see it sometimes, in my bedroom
It shows me visions of my tomb
It haunts my dreams in every nap
I hear it at my door, tap tap tap
It walks with me and me alone
I hear it call my phone
It's getting harder to resist
It's promises of endless bliss
Categories:
14, death,
Form: Rhyme
In the clouds
An old man smiles
His face
Lit up by the sun
Pupils chase
a sinking flame-
Paradise?
-but a bittersweet escape
The evening seas
Beckon the moon
Stars’ wishes
Burn abloom
A fluttering gaze
Dissolving rays
Seeking
A long-lost face
Categories:
14, 11th grade, 12th grade,
Form: Free verse
Springtide wind,
Jade dew.
Blossoms perpetuating beyond mortality.
Categories:
14, 11th grade, 12th grade,
Form: Free verse
smallest ickiness
irritates sleepiness
zees intermittent
Categories:
14, sleep,
Form: Senryu
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