Please add your name to this call to end the war on Gaza.
To preserve formatting, this poem is being presented as a pdf which can be accessed here.
eve is a librarian, storyteller, poet, mother of four adult offspring, keeper of a cat with golden eyes, and spouse of a husband who keeps bees.
Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us by Kitty Templeton Fighting for their freedom Guns ablaze in glory To the Russian invaders horror 8 thousand people killed 8 million left their homes One hundred thousand soldiers fell Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us Armed with Ak-74’s Submachine guns –(Fort) 224’s Sniper Rifles Glock 17’s Machine Guns Tanks, Combat Vehicles Long Range Rockets Horitzers from US, Canada, and Australia Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us Armed to the hilt, But more to come To win this war After a year How long can it go? To win this Alamo? Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us They’ll push Putin back Set his tail afire All for freedom to aspire Knock ‘em dead Artillery tanks added to his dread Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us Keep ‘em out Keep ‘em out Keep em out of Kyiv Take back Donbas Give ‘em Crimea instead Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us Search for arms Search for fire Search for the flag They can acquire Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us NATO is getting stronger Sending guns, Ammo, and firepower Leave the Russians in the dust Till their tanks turn to rust Ukraine is the Texas of the West-us Fight on, Fight on To win the day For your homeland of Ukraine Copyright 20230 by Kitty Templeton
Madeleine “Kitty” Templeton is a Singer/Songwriter, Author, and Poet. She has published one book entitled: Understanding Socialism (2022), and one Anthology Poetry Collection from the group Poets on the Green Line entitled: Poems from the Green (2023), and is continuing to write a second volume of her first book, entitled Understanding the Dangers of Socialism for Students. She’d like to publish more of her poetry books: The Truth and The Search, and other more recent poems in her own anthology, someday. Kitty still continues to release her music Soul Coffee (2004), Spirit in the Snow (2016) and her most recent album The Music In Me (2023). Please visit her website at www.AuntKittysCorner.com for more information!
Nowhere to Hide by Liz Fortini the crowd looks on as he calls out for his mama “Say….His….Name!” his lifeless body can’t call out anymore, and emptiness fuels the long day police think Americans will agree, the kneel of SHAME their actions turn to darkness in their defense “Say….His….Name!” they work on keeping activists back, forming perimeter lines I…Can’t…Breathe! they could’ve tased him, he’d be led away in handcuffs they could’ve maced him, he wouldn’t escape from the back of their squad car instead, they put their knee on his neck he pleads and pleads “please” “please” “please” without a sister, watching the whole world react without a brother or daughter, each minute more heartbreaking people marching from the streets “Hands…Up…Don’t…Shoot!” they shout sweeping into American history books WHY? memorials, candles, photos, smiles, anecdotes, lines are drawn.. “Justice…for….George!” we wait for the day of justice “Eight…Minutes…Forty…Six…Seconds!” the day arrives, come close now, gather ‘round the tv anxiety grows as we watch, a great weight settles on us “Black…Lives…Matter!” “Bre..onna…Taylor!” police thought Black Lives didn’t matter “Hands…Up…Don’t…Shoot!” the trial leaves nowhere to hide, guilty on all three counts “Say…His…Name!” “George..Floyd!” and justice fuels the long day Copyright 2023 by Liz Fortini
Liz Fortini has been reading poetry and prose for many years. In addition to translating poems of French and Italian poets into English, Liz also submits her poetry to Havik: The Las Positas College Journal of Arts & Literature. She lives in Northern California with her husband Ron, and their dog Jax. Liz is a lover of nature.
The situation in Gaza, as we all know, is dire. After the horrific murder of innocent Israelis by Hamas on October 7, innocent Palestinian civilians are now suffering the consequences. More than 17,000 have been killed so far, according to media reports, and most of those of those have been women and children. Electricity, communications, food, water and fuel have all been cut off and, according to CNN, the majority of Gaza residents have been displaced.
Donations of all kinds are needed to help innocent Palestinian civilians survive, and there are several ways you can help.
The Oranges from Palestine fundraiser is now closed but you can still donate directly to UNRWA or start your own fundraiser.
Either way, please show your generosity and help Palestinian refugees in need.
The following individuals donated through my Oranges from Palestine fundraiser:
Be brave by Samar Najia Let us be brave- Let us not heed the passiveness of onlookers And hide in the shadows of their silence But let us grow louder and bolder with the justice of our cause Let us not join in the chants of hatred against an oppressed people and forget the face of a orphaned child let us grieve the sorrow of mothers who mourn their martyrs Let us not paint the dead with colors of race so that we can turn our hearts away from the living in their hours of need But let us grant them the same respect reserved for our kind Let us not bury the truth of stolen homes And allow the anguish of one story hinder the power of one hundred others. But let us walk in the footsteps of our grandparents and reclaim our cherished homeland. Let us not fear the flag flying from our windows even if it is in tatters or don the habits of obfuscators who have us believe we are not their equals The flag is our heritage and it is still flying Let us not stylize our speeches with sanitized statements And peel the humanity off our words so that they offend no one But let us sear the hope for our cause in every sentence Let us beware of turning a page of history into a book of lies If we allow history to turn to propaganda, then surely propaganda will become history Let us verify and reverify until we know only one truth Let us not seek too much solitude if it prolongs our sadness But look to the shade of others for healing and hope To be alone when there is so much abandon is heavy on the soul. Let us not carry the rage of our oppressors or the vengeance of the oppressed before us Let us always seek peace even in the corridors of war Even when all we have known is pain Let us be brave Let us be brave Copyright 2023 by Samar Najia
Samar Najia is a Palestinian American poet and writer residing in Virginia. Samar writes about the Palestinian Diaspora through her family’s lens and the hidden scars of dispossession. In 2022, she completed a mixed poetry and prose memoir, about the repeated displacement of her family. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University and has worked in banking for over 20 years by day and advocates for Palestinians by night. Samar is married with two grown sons.
A Brief for the Defense after Jack GIlbert by Bonnie Naradzay Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter – We are rushing to supply more billions, bombs, with phosphorus thrown in, drones and planes, too, that dropped 6,000 bombs in the first 6 days in Gaza, which is quite a feat, targeting hospitals, UN schools, no place to hide for the people trapped in the world’s largest open-air prison, so convenient for retribution, for the world’s empty abstractions, (who can envision so much death, destruction, nowhere safe left to stay, all food, water, medicine barred; children made to pay) for all the years of sorrow that are yet to come. Copyright 2023 by Bonnie Naradzay
Bonnie Naradzay’s poems have appeared in AGNI, New Letters (Pushcart nomination), RHINO, Kenyon Review online, Tampa Review, Florida Review online, EPOCH, Dappled Things, The Birmingham Poetry Review, The American Journal of Poetry, Poetry Miscellany, and other places. In 2010 she was awarded the New Orleans MFA program’s poetry prize: a month’s stay in the castle of Ezra Pound’s daughter, where she enjoyed having tea with Mary, hiking the Dolomites, and hearing cuckoos call during mating season. For many years, she has led regular poetry sessions at day shelters for the homeless and also at a retirement center, all in Washington, DC
Loss by Michael Ferrel Soldiers and Generals have no imagination. They do not see that bombs become cradles for children, And their flying missiles— coffins and unmarked graves. Can’t they see that their advance is a funeral march? Their guns are crutches, newly minted for the battle, Their tanks stately hearses, ready to carry the dead, And their artillery no different than ambulances --Rushing forward to attend the fallen. Their cheers of victory are keening wails; Their loud celebrations a sombre wake, While their prayers for divine assistance Are the Devil’s ready call to arms. In war, guns are like flags: Nation against Nation; People against people. Chaos and loss—a carnival of death. I weep for those whose loss is absolute, For those vanquished, or lost in rubble, And for those forsaken enemies who Have once more lost their minds. Copyright 2023 by Michael Ferrel
Michael Ferrel a retired social worker in Toronto. His blog is Cosmic New Thresholds
About Holocaust Denial by Marion Cohen Knowing it happened won't help. Those who made it happen knew it was happening and they just kept making it happen. They wanted it to happen. They'd make it happen again. Copyright 2023 by Marion Cohen
Marion Deutsche Cohen is known, in particular, for her writings (poetry and memoir) on three topics: spousal chronic illness, late pregnancy loss, and math. She is the author of 33 books; her newest poetry collection is “Disturbing Shapes” (New Plains Press), and her latest prose collection is “Not Erma Bombeck: Diary of a Feminist 70s Mother” (Alien Buddha Press). Forthcoming is “Reasons and Remedies for Insomnia” (dancing girl press). She is also the author of two controversial memoirs about “well-spousery”, a trilogy diary of full-term-pregnancy loss, and “Crossing the Equal Sign”, about the experience of and her passion for math. This year, her work has been included in six anthologies. She teaches a course she developed, Mathematics in Literature, at Drexel University’s Honors College. Other poetic inspirations are classical piano, singing, Scrabble, thrift-shopping, four grown children, two grown step-children, and six grands. Her website is marioncohen.net .”About Holocaust Denial” is from her book , Stress Positions (Alien Buddha Press, 2020).
Child in a Tunnel (after Jospeh Fasano) by Grace Cavalieri Come here come here child place your head here on my chest this is all a game going in the dark together an adventure see all these people in the room they're here to protect you and that candy bar in your hand melting on your fingers put it to your lips suck suck the bar here's a cup of water sip sip this is a game to see how long we can stay without crying come here on my chest I will put my arms around you let us count the number of heartbeats we hear in each other’s heart let us feel each other’s fingers and count them again and again please know everyone here is our friend everyone is here to protect you to love you there's nothing to fear the dark is going to change as soon as the new day comes it is all a game we play how many stories we will tell each other I tell you about the bird I saved when it fell from its nest and the kitten I found almost drowned in the well let me tell you about the flowers that just needed water to live here have another sip from my cup now lay your sweet head on my chest and close your eyes and when you wake all will be light. Copyright 2023 by Grace Cavalieri Grace Cavalieri is Maryland’s tenth Poet Laureate. Her new book is The long Game, Poems Selected & New (The Word Works) She founded and still produces The Poet and the Poem for public radio, now from the Library of Congress, celebrating 47 years on-air. Among other awards, she holds two Allen Ginsberg Awards and the CPB Silver Medal and is an Academy of American Poets Fellow. Cavalieri has written 26 books of poems as well as plays produced on American stages. Women in history is her specialty, and the last play produced was Quilting The Sun about ex-slave quilt maker Harriet Powers, 2017 NYC. The last 25 years of her podcasts have been sent to the moon on Lunar Codex.
