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Just a Note - Eileen Manassian's Blog

About Eileen Manassian

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I guess you could say I'm a citizen of the world. I've traveled....and I've lived parts of my life in Iran, Lebanon, the US, and Cyprus. I am proud of my Armenian heritage. I was born in Tehran, Iran and soon after that, my family went to the States for my dad to work on his MA degree and many years later, to work on his Ed.D. I have a lot of the Middle East and the West in me, and at times....I feel confused about my identity. I do, however, cling to my Armenian roots and am outspoken about recognition by the world of the Armenian Genocide that took place over 100 years ago.

Since my parents had no common language, the language spoken in our home was English. Yes, I am most fluent in English, and I think, dream, and converse in that language, though I do speak 5 other languages to varying degrees! :)

I am melancholy/sanguine by nature and feel everything very keenly. My highs are SUPER HIGH...and my lows...SUPER LOW! I guess you could say...I'm INTENSE. I'm passionate about poetry to the point of obsession.

The events that have colored my life are the death of my mother due to MS and the war in Lebanon. As a child, it was hard for me to come to grips with the fact that my mother was ill, and to see her go from being a vibrant, well-loved teacher to a wheelchair bound, isolated woman was a very harrowing experience. I do believe, though, that there is a resurrection day and that, by His grace, I will see my Mama fully restored...free of wheelchair, able to sing, laugh, and smile again. The war in Lebanon...bombs landing all around, nights spent in bomb shelters.. has also scarred me to some degree.

What I'm most proud of? That would be my daughter...Shereen Natalie Ghali. She is the light of my life. Her name in Farsi means SWEET! :)

Currently, I teach English at Middle East University in Beirut, Lebanon. Poetry Soup has been a haven for me....most of the time! ;) I've developed amazing friendships here that are very genuine and real. My dream is to one day have my name on a volume of poetry! One can always dream....Thank you for making the effort to get acquainted. God bless!

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Just a Note

Blog Posted:8/7/2017 9:08:00 AM

Dear Soupers,

Just wanted to let you know that I will be away for about ten days. I'm off to Austria and Hungary. I just recently came back from a family holiday in Cyprus, and I did have my laptop with me and was able to post now and again, but this trip will be different. I won't be able to be in touch as much as I won't be taking my laptop.

I do hope to reconnect with you once I'm back.

IF you miss me (wink wink..that's a BIG "IF"), check out my latest poem, No Other. I recently found out that someone has done a dramatic reading of it and recorded it on Sound Cloud. I quite like it! I have the link to the reading. One of Andrea's poems is there as well. Hers is Tangled Vines. I don't know who this person is, but I enjoyed the way he brought the poem to life.

Here is the link for my poem: https://soundcloud.com/allouthelter/no-other-by-eileen-manassian-ghali

Enjoy the rest of summer! Oh, and if you happen to go for a good swim, think of the words of one of my favorite poems by Philip Booth, First Lesson. It always touches a deep chord in my heart, and I couldn't help but think of it while I was floating on my back in the Mediterranean Sea just a week ago. My daughter was there with me. How I wish she would take the words of this poem to heart!

Lie back daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

Blessings,

Eileen

Post Comments

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Eileen
Manassian

Date: 8/9/2017 3:58:00 AM

Thank you all for comments. I'm sorry I can't answer your posts as I'm on holiday in Vienna. Promise to get back to you when I'm home. Hugs and thanks

Casarah
Nance

Date: 8/8/2017 8:03:00 AM

Sweet poem, have a safe trip. I love seeing all your pics, makes me wish I was right there with you. Keep that beautiful smile on your face :)

Eve
Roper

Date: 8/7/2017 6:39:00 PM

Have fun on your trip. this poem is so very endearing.. the love you have for your daughter is like a flower in bloom guiding her essence. . ~*

Agnes
Krampe

Date: 8/7/2017 5:53:00 PM

Just listened to the reading. Lovely poem, and he is reading it so well. Thanks for letting us know about that. And his version of Andrea's poem is wonderful, too.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 8/7/2017 3:34:00 PM

Wow, I loved how this Helter guy read my poem, Eileen. Do you know who he is? Also, YOUR poem that he read was a wow. It is so deep, Eileen. I just loved it and also this little poem you have shown us by Phillip Booth. (thanks for letting me know about this sound cloud!!)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/7/2017 5:10:00 PM

Did you notice I had called the reader Heifer? My eyes are SO bad. I finally realized when I went there again, his name is Helter!!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/7/2017 5:09:00 PM

Eileen, it's a very long poem (prose) so I am surprised it would have more views. Yours is very beautiful and I have just now put my poem on FB and mentioned yours as well. thanks for your kind words.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 4:54:00 PM

I'm glad you liked it, dear. Your poem has more views! :) You are Little Miss Flawless! I've always maintained that...and I still do. Off to Vienna in a few hours. Hugs, dear.

Jan
Allison

Date: 8/7/2017 10:58:00 AM

the soundcloud is good Eileen how did you find out about it? have a wonderful holiday:-) hugs jan xx

Agnes Krampe
Date: 8/7/2017 5:54:00 PM

WOW -having somebody TATTOO your poem on their body means it is altering lives.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 4:54:00 PM

I know...that really touched my heart. She has it tattooed on her rib cage. It's part of the poem, Too Much Sadness for Me. Hugs, dear.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/7/2017 12:17:00 PM

I've found my stuff on the web but never on soundcloud - well done Eileen and its very touching someone has your work tattooed forever:-) hugs Jan xx

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 12:14:00 PM

I could give you more examples, but the Sound Cloud I just discovered recently. I'm glad to know some people out there appreciate my work. :) Hugs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 12:13:00 PM

Hey, sweetie! I periodically google my name! I'm so so amazed by all the places my poems have gone. One is used in an educational website, several on the homepages of some very good websites. They have gotten into educational books. One girl has part of my poem tattooed on her body. I find that from what was written in the book God and Tattoos: Why are people writing on themselves.

Agnes
Krampe

Date: 8/7/2017 9:35:00 AM

Oh, this poem is wonderful!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 9:36:00 AM

Glad you like it. I came upon it eons ago when I was in my twenties. I copied it down on paper, and till this day...it moves me. Even back then I was in love with words. I will be in love with words till my dying day. Hugs, Agnes.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 9:35:00 AM

Thank you, dear. Much appreciated. :) Hugs

Agnes
Krampe

Date: 8/7/2017 9:34:00 AM

Have a good trip, Eileen.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 8/7/2017 9:38:00 AM

Much appreciated, Agnes. :) Haven't finished packing yet, but I wanted to let everyone know that I'd be away for a bit. I will be back! Till then, take care.

My Past Blog Posts


Happy Birthday, Richard! Date Posted: 9/8/2024 3:37:00 AM
How is this Possible? Date Posted: 8/1/2024 2:16:00 AM
Where Poetry Goes, I Follow Date Posted: 5/16/2020 10:01:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Richard Date Posted: 9/8/2019 2:23:00 AM
Greetings and Apologies and Explanations Date Posted: 10/11/2018 12:09:00 AM
Happy Birthday Paul Callus, My Collaborator Date Posted: 2/16/2018 3:51:00 AM
A Request Date Posted: 11/28/2017 3:16:00 PM
Happy Birthday, Richard Lamoureux Date Posted: 9/8/2017 2:47:00 AM
Voices for Change Date Posted: 8/23/2017 9:44:00 AM
POTD and Thanks Date Posted: 8/9/2017 4:24:00 AM
Just a Note Date Posted: 8/7/2017 9:08:00 AM
Prayers for Broken Wings Date Posted: 6/7/2017 5:08:00 PM
A Message From Flo Date Posted: 5/18/2017 12:54:00 AM
Charming Charmaine Date Posted: 5/1/2017 8:44:00 AM
In The Midst of Life, We are in Death Date Posted: 4/27/2017 5:00:00 AM
Words set to Music Date Posted: 3/7/2017 2:14:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Mr Seal Date Posted: 3/1/2017 1:54:00 PM
POTD, PATIENCE and PRAISE Date Posted: 1/26/2017 1:54:00 PM
The Love of a Friend Date Posted: 1/13/2017 3:25:00 PM
On Brazil...Tattoos...Hacksaw Ridge and Weight Loss! Date Posted: 11/17/2016 7:44:00 PM
Happy Birthday, Richard... Date Posted: 9/8/2016 6:55:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Demetrios Trifiatis Date Posted: 8/15/2016 1:45:00 AM
Double Whammy! (The Power of Words & I'm a Youtuber now!) Date Posted: 5/20/2016 6:33:00 PM
Happy Birthday Mama Bear Date Posted: 5/18/2016 5:35:00 AM
In Joy and in Sorrow Date Posted: 5/2/2016 12:09:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
4/25/2025	I Write of Love	Rhyme	love,romantic love,
4/8/2025	Survive and Thrive	Carpe Diem	life,light,uplifting,
4/4/2025	Afterthought	Rhyme	abuse,betrayal,love hurts
2/21/2025	Heavenly Odyssey	Rhyme	muse,poetry,poets,
2/20/2025	The Will to Live	Sonnet	dark,depression,lonelines
1/27/2025	A Murmuration of Memories	Free verse	lost love,memory,nostalgi
12/29/2024	Untrue	Rhyme	betrayal,heartbreak,lost
12/7/2024	In the Early Hours	Rhyme	christian,devotion,jesus,
11/26/2024	No Longer	Quatrain	betrayal,recovery from,
11/22/2024	Come Visit Me	Dramatic Monologue	appreciation,community,po
11/17/2024	A Time For Me	Rhyme	future,longing,time,
11/7/2024	Waning Moon and Blazing Sun	Quatrain	angst,feelings,hurt,lonel
11/2/2024	The Untold Casualties of War	Rhyme	angst,mental illness,poli
10/19/2024	From the Mouth Of a Lebanese Child	Rhyme	child,hurt,war,
10/19/2024	Fight or Flight Mode Switched On	Quatrain	depression,loneliness,men
9/17/2024	Positively Sure	Sonnet	blessing,uplifting,
9/11/2024	Show Me Your Justice	Dramatic Monologue	god,judgement,
8/9/2024	It's Always the Drummer	Quatrain	cute love,dance,music,pas
7/31/2024	The Rape of Lebanon	Rhyme	anxiety,war,
7/27/2024	I Miss- for Contest	Rhyme	feelings,friendship love,
7/25/2024	Live or Die Politics	Quatrain	jesus,leadership,politica
7/22/2024	Held Hostage	Rhyme	break up,dream,recovery f
7/21/2024	He Rules in Splendor	Personification	happiness,how i feel,natu
7/18/2024	Love Stronger than Silence	Free verse	poetry,silence,
7/17/2024	Celebrity Crush	Free verse	celebrity,feelings,hero,s
7/13/2024	Heal, Little Heart	Free verse	love,self,
7/10/2024	Against My Will	Rhyme	longing,loss,lost love,
7/9/2024	The Making of a Genocide	Rhyme	corruption,death,
7/8/2024	Packing and Unpacking Pain	Rhyme	loneliness,marriage,pain,
7/7/2024	Take Me Away	Dramatic Monologue	passion,
7/6/2024	My Rescuer	Rhyme	destiny,hero,relationship
6/15/2024	Poems Past	Rhyme	community,feelings,friend
6/14/2024	The Treasure Box	Haibun	death,longing,loss,mother
6/9/2024	God, Tell Me Why	Rhyme	angst,christian,death,god
6/7/2024	Obsession's Redemption	Dramatic Monologue	crush,feelings,passion,se
5/27/2024	I Wish I Were Beautiful	Dramatic Monologue	beautiful,beauty,poetess,
5/22/2024	I Wish You Knew	Dramatic Monologue	hero,inspirational love,t
5/12/2024	Yours	Narrative	desire,first love,kiss,
5/4/2024	The Seasons of Our Love	Dramatic Monologue	longing,lost love,nostalg
5/3/2024	I Hate this World	Quatrain	anger,angst,planet,world,
4/29/2024	My Favorite Star	Rhyme	crush,dedication,tribute,
4/8/2024	Unruly Thoughts at Play	Rhyme	Lullaby,nostalgia,romanti
4/3/2024	When Moon is Full	Blank verse	absence,lost love,
10/15/2023	Poets Are a Funny Lot	Rhyme	poetry,poets,
9/23/2023	Romantic Reminiscence	Rhyme	how i feel,romance,
9/6/2023	Why Leave So Soon?	Rhyme	death,student,tribute,
9/5/2023	I Loved You Once	Rhyme	longing,lost love,romance
7/25/2023	This Too Shall Pass	Quatrain	courage,mental health,
7/25/2023	My Mental Health	Rhyme	anxiety,mental health,
1/15/2023	I Miss You	Rhyme	longing,lost love,
12/4/2022	I Want You	Free verse	desire,longing,passion,
9/25/2022	The Passing	Dramatic Monologue	feelings,passion,
1/24/2022	The Introverted Mood of Night	Rhyme	heartbroken,lost love,
10/19/2021	Where Will He Sleep Tonight	Rhyme	child,pain,poverty,
6/4/2021	It Was Easy	Free verse	mother daughter,relations
3/27/2021	Forgotten	Dramatic Monologue	feelings,friendship,
6/16/2020	Free Lebanon Today	Acrostic	conflict,courage,
6/5/2020	Never Silent	Free verse	discrimination,judgement,
5/14/2020	To the Fallen of Covid 19	Iambic Pentameter	tribute,
5/7/2020	Fireflies Or Fairies	Rhyme	imagination,longing,love,
4/27/2020	Lockdown Lockout	Rubaiyat	loneliness,marriage,solit
4/15/2020	Don't Come Around	Quatrain	poetry,poets,pride,writin
4/14/2020	A Sweeter Scent	Sedoka	mental illness,
3/31/2020	The Worst of Deaths	Sonnet	dark,death,loss,love hurt
3/27/2020	Through Alleys of My Mind	Sonnet	longing,lost love,
3/19/2020	Where Poppies Grow	Iambic Pentameter	devotion,longing,
3/6/2020	The Fickle Fate of Friendship	Rhyme	appreciation,forgiveness,
3/6/2020	Heaven's Gift	Rhyme	daughter,love,
2/3/2020	Poetry Soup Ponderings	Rhyme	community,encouraging,
10/25/2019	Some Things Never Change	Rhyme	daughter,love,
9/26/2019	A Rush of Emotions	Rhyme	inspirational love,relati
9/16/2019	Let Them Sing Their Love Songs	Rhyme	love,song,
7/11/2019	Life	Personification	life,
6/7/2019	In Response To Dylan Thomas	Villanelle	life,perspective,tribute,
4/17/2019	This Easter	Rhyme	inspirational,religious,
12/13/2018	This Thing Called Love	Iambic Pentameter	love,
11/20/2018	The Day You Gently Let Me Go	Rhyme	lost love,
10/10/2018	Dancing Desire	Free verse	desire,
9/23/2018	Blame It On the Cat	Free verse	metaphor,missing you,
8/28/2018	Undressed- a Collaboration	Rhyme	longing,passion,
8/2/2018	Be Silent	Dramatic Monologue	passion,poetry,
7/16/2018	You Keep Me Grounded	Narrative	friendship,
7/5/2018	To Albert Bandura: I Wish You Knew	Iambic Pentameter	tribute,
6/28/2018	A Gentle Slam	Dramatic Monologue	community,poetry,poets,
6/26/2018	Celestial Sphere	Blank verse	passion,
6/18/2018	They Ask Me Why I Love You	Lyric	i love you,
6/15/2018	You Are My Poem of the Day	Dramatic Monologue	poems,poetry,poets,
6/15/2018	You Wear Away At Me	Dramatic Monologue	heartbreak,how i feel,
6/6/2018	A Wordless Sky	Rhyme	poems,poetess,poetry,
6/5/2018	I Miss You	Quatrain	daughter,i miss you,
6/1/2018	All That Remains	Rhyme	betrayal,lost love,
5/30/2018	The Markle Sparkle	Enclosed Rhyme	celebration,princess,wedd
5/29/2018	My Need For Love	Dramatic Monologue	how i feel,longing,love,r
5/28/2018	My Lover's Words	Rhyme	sensual,
5/8/2018	My Wonder of Wonders	Rhyme	love,
5/8/2018	It Is Not So Easy For Me	Dramatic Monologue	how i feel,truth,
5/5/2018	The Ghostland	Dramatic Monologue	community,poets,
5/4/2018	Hersheys Kisses In My Bed	Rhyme	sensual,
5/4/2018	I Wish That I Were	Limerick	passion,sexy,
4/28/2018	In Memory of You	Iambic Pentameter	death of a friend,

My Photos

ps_10868200_10152923271006037_4057096670631779385_n.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
The Wedding Ring	Quatrain	angst,marriage,night,
The Perfect Womens Club	Free verse	women,change,
If I Were Asked	Epigram	girlfriend,love,wife,
In Your Poems	Free verse	dedication,words,
Feelings	Epigram	imagination,introspection
Snowflakes	Epigram	angel,grief,love,
The Mirror Is a Liar	Rhyme	dedication,metaphor,
Super Soupers	Prose	fantasy,writing,girl,me,p
The Dream I Live	Epigram	devotion,dream,love,
Locked In a Jar	Terzanelle	love,heart,dark,dark,hear
Powerless	Villanelle	love,me,dream,dream,magic
Cliches Debunked	Quatrain	happiness,humorous,old,bi
Love Returned	Senryu	love,
Space	Rhyme	dream,space,
Forever Demands	Nonet	love,universe,
What Is This Space	Quatrain	blue,inspirational,
Ghost Guitar	Couplet	love,
Paint Your Dreams On a Canvas	Free verse	art,beautiful,inspiration
A Placid Lake	Epigram	introspection,philosophy,
Friend	Free verse	friendship,perspective,
Warrior Princess	Terzanelle	fantasy,
A Thousand Dark Secrets	Dramatic Verse	anger,angst,bereavement,p
The Real You	Senryu	devotion,
Lifegivers Response	Free verse	bible,celebration,drink,j
Every Now and Then	Lyric	love,miss you,
Red Is the Colour of Passion	Free verse	love,lust,passion,
Articulation of Tears	Free verse	hope,life,sad,
A Dream Weaved	Free verse	beautiful,celebration,for
Fireflies	Haibun	love,nature,me,light,ligh
Bengal	Personification	nature,
Haiku Versus Rhythm and Rhyme	Haiku	on writing and words
Beyond Infinity	Free verse	introspection,universe,
Half of a Heart	Concrete	health,heart,
The Ghost of You, a Love Letter	Free verse	beautiful,loneliness,love
Away	Free verse	life,
Mirage	Free verse	life,lost,love,
I Touch Your Existence	Light Verse	love,
Walk a Mile	Free verse	philosophy,
Torchlight	Free verse	beautiful,love,romance,
In Search	Free verse	beautiful,bible,god,
My Insolent Heart	Free verse	addiction
My Mind a Ship In Darkness	Free verse	adventure,,Lullaby,
She Whispered	Light Verse	inspirational,life,women,
Hurricane Eileen - the Storm	I do not know?	dedication,
Icarus Rejoice	Free verse	art,beauty,love,
The Mighty Hand	Blank verse	grief,life,mystery,
How I Miss You	Free verse	passion,romantic,
Initiative	Free verse	friendship,life,longing,l
The Aha Moment	Haiku	death,
Little Star	Light Verse	love,memory,
Shabbat Shalom	Free verse	beautiful,devotion,love,r
Life	Prose Poetry	life,love,philosophy,
The Huntress	Free verse	beautiful,desire,love,
Five Stars	Quatrain	dedication,poems,
Lately I'Ve Been Feeling Like:	Free verse	relationship,
Fire Rises	Rhyme	passion,passion,
A Quivering Heart	Rhyme	love,life,
My Ultra Babe -	Ballad	beauty,desire,devotion,lo
Hands of Light	Pantoum	faith,god,heartbroken,hop
A Mountain's Challenge	Free verse	introspection,life,
My Friend	Free verse	absence,angst,blue,
Love Can Smile	Ballad	love,
Hidden Key	Free verse	creation,dance,dream,univ
Bewitched By Beauty	Free verse	dream,romance,romantic,
Cinder Girl	Rhyme
Rebel Girl	Ballad	beautiful,beauty,best fri
Ugly	Acrostic	beautiful,image,
That's Good Enough For Me	Rhyme	family,marriage,proposal,
To Be With You -	Ballad	desire,
The Big Bang	Free verse	beautiful,creation,love,s
The Teacher	Free verse	teacher,,literature,
Unspoken Words	Quatrain	words,
Kiss the Wind	Light Verse	beauty,cry,desire,love,
Flower Song	Free verse	beauty,love,romance,
True Hearts Beating	Terzanelle	dedication,love,beautiful
Paint With Fire	Acrostic	appreciation,beauty,desir
Beauty Abides	Blank verse	beautiful,desire,dream,em
Fool the World	Light Verse	philosophy,poetry,
Charmileen	Acrostic	poetry,poets,
Marhaba	Light Verse	heaven,history,mystery,
The Lives We Choose	Free verse	freedom,universe,
Betty Boop From Beirut	Quatrain	dedication,love,
Opened Book	Free verse	books,emotions,metaphor,
Casse - Broken	Light Verse	confusion,cute love,heart
King Sun and Goddess Sea	Couplet	sea,summer,
Another Man's Clothes	Free verse	introspection,
Lament	Rhyme	destiny,sad,
Rainbow Symphony	Free verse	color,
Simple Words For Simple People	Prose	analogy,beach,beautiful,b
I Want To Leave	Light Verse	heart,lost,love,
The Mourning After	Narrative	grief,loss,son,
The Cutter	Free verse	confusion,depression,suic
Clerihew Soup	Clerihew	tribute,
On Sunday Morning	Free verse	body,desire,love,soulmate
Figment	Free verse	beautiful,
James Bond the Poet	Light Verse	humorous,life,love,romanc
All I Want For Christmas	Couplet	christmas,
The Question Mark	Light Verse	life,success,
If I Can Fool You	Light Verse	romantic,
Warm Solar Love	Free verse	love,moon,romance,romanti

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Richard Lamoureux	Canada	Read
Ilene Bauer	United States	Read
Demetrios Trifiatis	Greece	Read
Donna Jones	United States	Read
Harry Horsman	Australia	Read
Heather Ober	Canada	Read
Richard D Seal	United States	Read
Painted Hunter	United States	Read
Andrea Dietrich	United States	Read
Poet Tacito	United States	Read
Kash Poet	India	Read
Ken Carroll	United States	Read
Jack Ellison	Canada	Read
Arthur Vaso	Canada	Read
Liam Mcdaid	Ireland	Read
Charmaine Chircop	Malta	Read
Tim Ryerson	United States	Read
Paul Callus	Malta	Read
Mel Merrill	United States	Read
Justin Bordner	United States	Read
Tim Smith	United States	Read
Maurice Yvonne	Canada	Read
David Meade	United States	Read
Kik Lil	Ireland	Read
Emile Pinet	Canada	Read
Kp Nunez	Philippines	Read
Laura Breidenthal	United States	Read
Lin Lane	United States	Read
Frederic Parker	United States	Read
Casarah Nance	United States	Read
Suzanne Delaney	United States	Read
Jan Allison	Isle Of Man	Read
Eileen Manassian	_Not Listed	Read