Fish - A Haiku

 

Rainbow fish splashing 

Swimming round and round the pond

Shimmering here and there

 

Ellen G.

Cats - A Haiku

 

   Soft paws on moonlight 

A whiskered thought drifts through sleep— 

              The night learns to purr

Georgia

Luminosity

 

As I walked up the quiet block before sunrise I noticed that the glamorous gibbous moon had risen and was pushing the bluish - black clouds out of its way, determined to be seen by the earthlings below, and in so doing had created a beautiful halo around itself that pierced and peeped around the blackened silhouette of the bare trees not unlike an unknown actor pushing their way towards fame simply by working harder than their compatriots to be seen in a luminous and unforgettable performance!

Jim

Five Beautiful Things

 

Monday

A whole day with my grandson. I watched him squeeze play dough into a mold with the seriousness of an artist. 

Tuesday

It snowed and it was quiet and arrived beautifully without asking. 

Wednesday

Stayed home and sewed up a small cat plushie, a quiet reminder of childhood.  

Thursday

Bought a bouquet of white carnations as pale as winter light. 

Friday

My cat sat on my lap and fell asleep, trusting nothing could reach us.

Georgia

The Rebellious Resolutions of the New Year

 

Happy New Year!  I’m tired of making New Year’s resolutions that are kind, healthy and positive. You know, the ones that I can only carry out for a few days or for a month, the most. Then, I’m filled with guilt and regret that I didn’t last longer keeping my resolutions after the big ball dropped at Times Square.

So I decided to make a realistic and easier to keep list.  Below you will find a much more sensible and obtainable list of New Year’s Resolutions:

1.     No dieting.

2.     No exercising or joining a gym.

3.     No meditating.

4.     Stop monitoring how much sugar consumed daily.

5.     Quit saying, “It’s okay” when it’s not.

6.     Start using tit-for-tat and I got you back for wrong doers.

7.     Stop being sweet as sugar.

8.     Start being as sour as a lemon (when necessary).

Some might be put off by this much more achievable list of New Year’s Resolutions but before you turn it down, try it and you’ll see how much happier you and January will be!

Ellen G.

The Beauty of the Festival of Lights

 

Two moved out and ten moved in. The ten were the Tratnor family and shortly a new baby made it eleven. We were somewhat friendly with Sy and Faye, the original two, but the Tratnor household invited a warmer welcoming friendship. The parents wanted their children to experience a relationship with the elderly Ben and I, both nonagenarians certainly qualified. The first holiday of their presence on the block was Hanukah, Festival of Lights. The Tratnor large dining room window directly faced our house across the street. Their window framed a scene of the candle and oil lit menorahs. The parents ignited the sterling silver oil lamps; each child lit their own more humble menorah. Every night of the 8 days of Hanukah a new candle or oil was  lit and enriched the scene, A menorah is a 9 branched lamp. One of the nine candles ignites the others night by night. The origin of this event symbolizes the oil in the temple that was supposed to only last one day but instead burned for 8 days, representing the triumph of light over darkness. A household is expected to publicly display the lit menorahs in their front window to signify a Jewish home and publicize the 8-day miracle.

 

Last winter much to our delight, the Tratnors invited my visiting grandchild, Ben and me to join in the holiday celebration. We each lit a candle with the Tratnors assisting us in saying the Hebrew prayer. The room took on a soft warm flickering radiance as the numerous candles and lights joined the scene. All the flames had a powerful psychological effect creating a feeling of coziness, serenity and intimacy.  

 

The lighting was followed by a treat of jelly donuts. Pastries deep fried in oil help to commemorate the miracle of the 8-day oil burning in the temple. Potato latkes, also deep fried are a usual dish.

 

This Hanukah, once again the neighbors invited us to their home for candle lighting,  but snow and ice made the walk treacherous for Ben and me. This did not alter the invitation. Instead of joining them across the street, five members of the Tratnor family came to us, bringing menorahs, candles and jelly donuts . Since this was the third night of  Hanukah, three burning yellow flames adorned each menorah. We needed these small flames  to push back the darkness of all the overwhelming  grief reported in the recent news.   My humble house took on a magical beauty. On this cold ,snowy wintery night, the room was blessed with the warmth of the many beautiful  burning candles and the affection, kindliness and warmth  of my neighbors’ company .

 

Ethyl Haber

A Winter Reflection

 

It was a cold winter night; the sky was gray as the first snow began to fall. I stood at the window while the outside world grew quiet. 

I opened it slightly. The air was sharp, rinsing my lungs clean. 

Tiny flakes caught the streetlight’s glow, drifting like stars. In that moment, I forgot everything, feeling small before the weather, yet unafraid in the presence of something vast and breathing. 

The sky whispered to my heart, wrapping me in simplicity. 

It was a moment of wonder and new beginnings, a silent gift from the universe

Georgia