Upon trying to stimulate my pineal gland
Through OM chanting for the first time
There before me in the silence that ensued
I saw a great void of raw existence
Frozen and unassuming
Like a door I’ve never opened
In a place I’ve lived my whole life
Everything and nothing was different
Staring at the cat between my feet
I reached down to touch it
And got to see where they exist
I should stop writing because
I feel like I’m bastardizing the eternal
Making a vain sport of it with a poetic devise
I am the very void upon which I now gawk
I took off my clothes to excuse my presence
I should not post this but probably will
Life remains a grand head game
Even after you’ve awakened the divine
Seeing the sacred should change one’s life
but now I’m not sure
Perhaps this is the true epiphany
On the day I was wending my way down south,
barely before crossing the border,
I was warned, when there, 'Don't drink the water,'
so as to keep body and soul in order.
But what about all those crops they grow,
are they hydrated, by any chance,
(and exported to the United States)
with bottled Evian from the Alps in France?
France is for Fun
France is for Romance.
France is for Always making memories.
France is for Nice days.
France is for Coffee.
France is for Eiffel Tower.
Yellow stucco-walled, for house;
That in front warm-paved.
Brightly blazing, pot on pot
Here and there seed-saved.
Of Summer, what is gazed through
In its setting's lace
Can but, in feminizing
Enhance, dear, your face.
Café au lait and croissant.
Dreamy visions of Paris by the Seine.
I close my wanderlust eyes.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2026
We’re absorbed
by the Saran-wrapped food,
the plastic cutlery,
tired brains monopolized
by the clutter of the meal tray,
numbed by hours of jiggling -
the carting of torpid bodies
through interminable distance,
wedged into
a restricted boredom.
Anesthetized – we fear nothing.
If the aircraft stalls,
if an engine fails
few will find the strength to panic,
we’ll keep decanting small bottles
of vin de table,
studiously apply hard butter
to soft buns.
As the aircraft plummets earthward
we’ll continue to struggle
with condiment sachets,
coffee creamers,
with small, molded cruets,
glad to be occupied
and totally blanked out
to what comes next -
or whatever.
Bravo La France..I trust this is so ? It will
Wake a nation maybe a world.?
And much better than war, may now reason take hold '
Change is the only constant,
and the wind of Ketu sweeps through France.
On the Eiffel Tower of time I stood,
watching Saturn’s scythe descend,
and Rahu’s shadow thicken over Paris.
The markets will collapse,
streets will burn with protest,
and her influence will fade
like an empire turned to ash.
Since 1792 she stood proud—
now she bends,
the first of Europe to fall
into the poverty of nations.
Nations, like men, are born,
they rise, and they perish.
France must descend,
and Europe will follow.
The wind of Ketu whispers:
“Look within, not without.”
But Europe, rich on stolen wealth,
has no strength of its own.
Wars shall rise between brothers,
borders will bleed again.
France is the spark,
Europe the forest,
and destiny the flame.
And the whisper of fate says:
“When France falls,
the world must choose—
to burn… or to be reborn.”
Bravest Sons of India – Neuve-Chapelle, 1915.
(Linking Pin Sonnet – Dr. Joseph Spence Sr. Style)
India’s sons marched where guns roared in flame,
Flame lit their path as the Lahore men onward pressed,
Pressed with the Meerut through wire none could tame,
Tamed only by hearts in brave Garhwal dressed.
Dressed for the storm, Gurkha steel cut the way,
Way through the fire where the Kaiser’s men stood,
Stood firm for the flag in that Flanders day,
Day paid in blood for the world’s greater good.
Good men they were, yet no grave bears their name,
Name clearly carved instead on memorial white,
White stone in France tells the tale of their fame,
Famed in the East, now in every nations’ sight.
Sight holds their valor where red poppies still sway,
Swayed by the winds, they march with us today.
© USA Goodwill Ambassador, Professor Dr. Jospeh S. Spence Sr. August 12, 2025. All Rights Reserved.
MAID OF ORLÉANS
Poem written for and submitted to “Myth and Memory” Poetry Contest, Vanya Evangeline, sponsor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A warrior saint came from the plains of rural France,
a beautiful maiden named Joan, dressed in simple clothes,
not of noble lineage, but of modest beginnings
her faith unmatched.
Shielded by heavenly whispers,
she took up a religious cause~
mounted on horseback, brandishing God’s mighty saber,
she fought for her country in the name of the Lord.
Unscathed from battle she emerged,
waving her banner of courage throughout the land,
but treason and betrayal
would one day bring her untimely end.
Alone she stood in the court of politicians,
falsely accused and forsaken; yet,
in the face of pain, Joan’s faith and resolve
would not be contained, her spirit and fortitude remained.
The humble shepherdess warrior, was bound to a stake
her body consumed by fire, her valor inspirational.
This humble warrior saint, later canonized and martyred,
continues to embolden and enthrall.
happenstance or happy stance?
fate so great, I do a dance
magic of day makes me prance
gorgeous day to live in France
An amazing structure stands for centuries.
Icon of France in Paris, the Eiffel Tower.
Gem of the paintings, portraits and poetries.
An amazing structure stands for centuries.
To feel its beauty, replicas in many countries.
Stands tall to enhance the tourism power.
An amazing structure stands for centuries.
Icon of France in Paris, the Eiffel Tower.
- S. D. Tiwari
On the day four beasts fell…
Their tails whipping the sky in smoke
Consumed by their own fire
Such commerce
Brought down an ancient spire
Little did the beasts care
A mighty success 5 years prior
When just one was saved
From confusion and mire
For as the cock crowed
In a mourning flame
If they would’ve recognized a sun
They would’ve known when thearthwon
April 16 2024
April 15 2019
All the best to France, may her people stay strong
Egalat'e and joi.' I wish you all the best
From here out and on.'
There was a man from France
Who was quite a handsome man
Pursued by a cougar
He tried to lose her
But she still got in his pants!
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