Today a new poem, about plants, strenght, abstraction.

"Plants" by Nélio José (Nampula - Mozambique)

 

The birthing arrived, the life’s embryo,
And then the plant, strength, reborn again.
It grows and hovers, among nations, in Africa,
As a synonym for abstract wealth, it is eternalized.

The earth’s promise, green as ever,
Always bright, in the sun that fills in the sky.
Beautiful as caressing rains,
Plants, the eternal seal that Africa inherits and
guides.

 

The original in Portuguese:

Plants

Veio o nascer, o embrião da vida,
E depois a planta, vigor renascido.
Cresce e paira, entre nações, na África,
Eterniza-se como sinônimo de riqueza abstrata.

Verdes como nunca, a promessa da terra,
Brilhantes sempre, no sol que encerra.
Bonitas feito chuvas que acariciam,
Plantas, o eterno selo que a África herda e guia

 

Enjoy.

Today we share a first poem about Spring. We need it so much.

 

It Felt like Spring, by Liselle P. (USA)

It’s home time, as I make my way down the long winding steps,
which feels like going down deeper into a dark tunnel that never ends.
As I pushed the door wide open, a soft, rush of cool air embraced my face
as if trying to say high and I miss you, let me give you a hug.
It felt like Spring; it’s in the air.
I smiled as the air captivated me and romanced me, the skeletal trees
swayed to the breeze, as pieces of its loved ones fell to the ground.
They didn’t mind, because they knew their glory will shine one day.
As they held on with their roots, their frames all dark, old, twisted
and bent, like an old bent lady with a walking stick, trying
to keep her balance. It’s just a matter of time to be alive.
As I walked along the sidewalk, the smell of Spring, the buds popping out
from plants as it signifies growth, life and another journey.
The green grass sprouts, given another chance to glistened in the sun
as the chlorophyl makes its green color shine once again.
The white mountains of snow still standing, perched upright,
as if looking into the heavens for their friends to come again.
The seagulls speak to each other in deep conversation,
as lost friends trying to catch up on the latest news
where to get the grubs.
Mother Nature is working her magic to bring back the bright light.
It’s slowly coming. I can feel it, smell it, and taste it.
I stood still, closed my eyes and let the moment captivate my mind.
A déjà vu experienced came over me, but it’s not over yet,
it’s just getting started and I will be here to
welcome you home Spring, fully.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

Literature and nature bring us together. A few years ago, Darwin studied gravitropism, i.e., a growth response, of plants, to gravity. He removed surgically the caps of roots and then verified how they would grow. To his surprise the roots started to grow without the influence of gravity. This is to stress that nature contains mysteries and influences our imagination… Poetry seams to follow the same principals. This is the case of the poem that won the 2^nd place. Congratulations to Jill Hall.

 

“A Quarantine Visitor” by Jill G. Hall (USA)

 

In the quiet summer sun

on my San Diego patio

a plump lizard basks.

“Hello,” I whisper. Her

smile sly, eyes button-beads,

skin resembling grandma’s purse.

 

Prolific in our childhood garden

my brother Sandy saved them

in shoeboxes, fed them flies.

Sometimes he’d pick one up,

snigger as its tail fell off, 

wiggled about. He’d chase

me with the terrible    

Tyrannosaurus Rexes

in his outstretched hands.

Terrified I’d cry, run away

until the day I grit my teeth,

stood my ground, patted its

crusty head. After that

he stopped pestering me.

At least not with reptiles.

He often kissed them until

one bit him on the lower lip

and like mom would say he

screamed bloody murder.

I think he still has a scar.

I feared those dears had

become extinct long ago.

It’s interesting what a coronavirus

can do to shift the balance back.

 

Enjoy.

Dear Authors and Friends,

We decided to publish today all the results of our Contest: Pre-Finalists and Finalists at once.

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

POETRY

 

1 th - The Lady of Coram (Ireland) – by Claire O' Connell

2 nd - Paint Me (Mozambique) – by Stelio Filipe

3 rd - God the Rock (US) – by Janine Canan

 

FICTION

 

1 th – Breathless (US) – by Mona Winston

2 nd - Very Precious! (Brazil) – by Odenir Follador

3 rd - The Warning (Brazil) – by João Araújo

 

 

More Selected Poetry

 

Humanity; Reconciling with Nature (Nigeria) by Chimezie Ihekuna

A MORNING SUNRISE (US) by Joan B.

Totem (Poland) by Eliza Segiet

REDOLENT (South Africa) by Adiela Akoo

noi doi ne ciocnim OR we two collide (Romania) by Ion Calota

RAIN AND SALT (Italy) by Alberto Arecchi

PULSANT LIFE AT SEA (Brazil) by Tauã Rangel

THE NATURE (Brazil) by Luiz Pereira

Our hearts are roses (Brazil) by Lindalva Casteluber

LIFE CHANGES LIFE TURNOUT LIFE TURNS (Brazil) by Paula Andrade

LET THERE BE LIGHT! (Brazil) by Thayanne Silva

 Necessary (Brazil) by Leon Lus

YOUR LIGHT (Brazil) by Edilson Leão

LAW OF RETURN (Brazil) by Ilva da Silva

LOVE (Brazil) by Simone Souza

Song of the nature (Romania) by Savu Elena-Corina

I see one world (Brazil) by Beatrice Medrado

Toxic relationship (Brazil) by Beatriz Gomes

Embracing sky (Brazil) by Jeanete Shimara

Inspiration (Portugal) by Pedro Vale

To the nature (Bangladesh) by Md. Mahbubul Alam (John)

What a beautiful life! (Brazil) by Viviane Parreira

 

 

 

More Selected Short Stories

 

FOR AN INNOCENT LOOK (Brazil) By Thayanne Silva

It's just appearance (Brazil) by Adriani Alini da Silva