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Just as a sudden rain falls after a sunny day Most great poems are sometimes unexpected The poet lingers around its first word for hours Making little dots on the first line of his book Each time the idea perches like a bird on a tree He hurries to work with hopes to see it end And growls as the winds lift these birds away Always the first word; Just as difficult as Hosting a Christian crusade in Yemen. The poet will be gummed to his chair all-day Staring at his ceiling and scratching his hair What can be more difficult than a first word? Surely his mother will call out from her room "Do you know where I kept my underwear? The poultry house needs to be quiet. And go tell the neighbor's dogs to stop barking." A difficult mother can be more difficult Than the difficult first word of a poem. Most great poems are sometimes unexpected And their first words are mostly difficult As the word itself, 'Di-f-fi-cult'. It makes you stare at everything around you; From the quiet wall gecko on the walls To the industrious ants around your food crumbs From the tweeting birds outside your window To the messy state of your laundry room As difficult as the poem's first word was to mold When the inspiration unexpectedly sets in As spontaneous sex does occur at times The poet will write a story about his mother How she was as difficult as his poem at first He will add a description of the wall gecko With descriptions of those industrious ants And he will question why they act the way they do. Nsikan

Tammy Spears' poem "Autumn Breeze" has been published in the Opal Writers Magazine. Congratulations, Tammy! You are an encouragement to keep writing! https://opalpublishing.ca/2023/09/30/autumn-breeze Autumn Breeze written by Tammy Spears ©Author of  “Flutter of an Eye” The trees so tall and full of leaves Will become so bare in the “Autumn Breeze” As the color of the leaves swirl in the wind Reminds us that winter is just around the bin For now enjoy the colors so bright That light up the road they cover at night As the leaves swirl in the “Autumn Breeze” Remember in spring they will again cover the trees.

Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, and did not begin a music career until 1967 at the age of 33. Last night, my phone kept on buzzing to tell me that Leonard Cohen died. I was not a good friend of Leonard’s and I don’t even remember where I met him, but it was either at some event arranged by Louis Dudek or Irving Layton. I was a student at McGill University at the time and writing some of the poetry that was published in my book, At the Foot of Sinai. I think it was Louis who wanted me to meet Leonard, whose poems were published as Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), the first book in the McGill Poetry Series. My book was published as the first book in the Hillel Poetry Series. Leonard was an excellent poet but was disappointed that he could never meet expenses, living as a poet, even after the success of the Spice-Box of Earth (1961), and his novel, The Favorite Game (1963). He was to move to the United States to become a folk singer-songwriter. That was a much more lucrative career. I followed his career and loved his successes and was even (mistakenly, I believe) introduced to some of his fans in the UK as a friend of Leonard Cohen’s. I loved his songs and imagined myself as another “bird on a wire, a drunk in a midnight choir.” As it was written, “We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries.” We have also lost a great poet and inspiration. And we wish only good to his family, his friends and fans. May they remember him for good and may his poems and songs live forever. Baruch Dayan Haemet 8-11-2016 by George Farkas

Congratulations to Manan Agarwal on his graduation from the Center for Management Studies, Jain University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication this June. Manan volunteers with ArtsKeeper in our Computer department. He is an experienced SEO specialist. He helps generate and grow organic traffic through keyword optimization and targeted content. Manan is passionate about emerging technology, the environment, and cool sci-fi stories.

Musician and Mother of Stephen Spielberg Everyone was so pleased when Leah Adler walked to each table greeting each guest like a guest in her home. She expressed an interest in her guests, in what they were doing. The food was excellent, but it wasn’t for the food that we went to the Milky Way. It wasn’t because it was an excellent place to get a kosher dairy meal. It was to see Leah Adler again, the mother of Stephen Spielberg. Yes, there was always a vain hope that we might get to meet her famous son, but the character of the place was distinctly her. The music that played was her playing in her younger years. But it showed her talent and her choices. Quiet, so that we could talk while eating. Not a typical place for a business lunch. Others who were eating there were also learning Jewish texts, having a romantic lunch, some regulars just sitting and eating, but everyone was so pleased when Leah Adler walked to each table greeting each guest like a guest in her home. She expressed an interest in her guests, in what they were doing. Yes, it was her place. On the way to the washroom, one saw posters for her children’s films, a sign of a mother luxuriating in the accomplishments of her children. She was short with white hair reminding me of my mother in her later years. She walked slowly and the last time I saw her, an attendant accompanied her. Always smiling, she sat at our table, and spoke to us. I had given her a copy of one of my son-in-law, Adam Stotland’s CDs the previous time I was there and she remembered and told me that she enjoyed it. Just what I expected, like the friend she was. With all her guests and friends, I will miss her. Condolences to her four children and the entire family. I can imagine how much they too will miss her. Baruch Dayan Haemet George Farkas

I’m always in a state of wonder about what drives people, real and fictional. Why do they do what they do, often against their better judgment? Speculating on motivation is what gives me the juice to write. I find the possibilities of short-form writing of all kinds infinitely interesting. My latest obsession is the ten-minute play. What an exciting medium to work in. Its challenges sometimes drive me nuts, but I’m okay with that. Here’s a list of my books to date: ● A Run on Hose, a short story collection ● Key in Lock, another short story collection ● The River Throws a Tantrum, a children’s picture chapbook, illustrated by Sarah-Joy Goode ● Shy, an anthology of essays and poetry, edited by Naomi K. Lewis and me ● At This Juncture, a collection of fictional letters ● Waiting, an anthology of essays, edited by Julie Sedivy and me My short stories, essays, flash fiction, and ten-minute plays have appeared in magazines and journals in print and online. I’m not sure what the difference is between a journal and a magazine. Maybe it’s a napkin/serviette thing, a distinction between indistinguishably. In recent years my plays have found audiences in festivals and staged readings in the United States and Canada. One of my plays, “A Memoir of Jackson,” can be purchased for production through the ArtAge catalog. My thanks to the ArtAge Senior Theater Resource Center for making my play available internationally. My other passion is editing. I have worked both in-house and freelance. For years I have edited short stories, essays, novels, creative non-fiction books, academic and professional articles, and corporate documents. For some years I curtailed my editing practice to concentrate on writing. But I enjoy writing and editing in equal measure and am now happily taking on more editing contracts again.

Mind to Mind how sublime touching thoughts like raindrops falling through a cloud in time no beginning, no end we bear gifts in this our destiny our strings so finely tuned in an eternity with no beginning without end © L. G. Rogers Jan. 19, 2023

Between our lips Shared kisses pass And wine Never tired of old passion Mad music Seductive, Intoxicating dance Of ancient fashion Til at last you lie Beneath my shadow As hearts, driven to Love and lust's gallop, Falling at last to rest One heart beating Against the other. Donovan Baldwin

I would not hold back the sun But, there is that moment In each arriving dawn, When I wish the day Would wait a moment, Allow me to savor that Morning glow that appears Up in the sky and in my breast. • Donovan Baldwin

Whether you are writing an academic dissertation or business document or preparing a full-length novel for publication, the Mini Style Guide will prove invaluable. It is divided into three parts: Part 1 helps you navigate the intricacies of English grammar and punctuation and clarify commonly misused words. It outlines ten ‘golden rules’ to ensure Plain English, and explores inclusive writing, copyright and plagiarism. Part 2 clearly outlines how to structure a manuscript for publication, explaining the correct sequence of parts. It explains how to express titles of various artistic works, how to treat numbers, and how to present references. Part 3 surveys the confusing array of publishing options on offer from traditional publishing to self-publishing to help you make the choice that best suits you. Plentiful examples, templates for standard forms and letters, and a glossary of printing and publishing terms make it an indispensable tool for authors, editors and students. Author Bio Denise O’Hagan is an award-winning editor and poet, born in Rome and based in Sydney. With a background in commercial book publishing in London and Sydney, she set up her own imprint, Black Quill Press, in 2015 to assist independent authors. Her work appears in various journals including The Copperfield Review, The Ekphrastic Review, Quadrant, Books Ireland, Eureka Street and Hecate, and her awards include the Dalkey Poetry Prize and the Adelaide Plains Poetry Competition. Her second poetry collection, Anamnesis, is due to be published in October 2022 (Recent Work Press). https://denise-ohagan.com

Upon a rude table, In a simple cabana On the shore, Between sea and forest, Two glasses, Cheap red wine, Golden candle glow, As sun sinks, And shadows lengthen, And golden glow of Flickering candles Sets the mood, I fetch my old, ragged Book of poems, Lay a plate of cheese, And coarse bread, Set old vinyl spinning. Soft guitar music Touches my mind like a kiss, And you enter... - Donovan Baldwin