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282 · Dec 2018
Sad
Shamai Dec 2018
Sad
Today is a sad day
Ever have one of those
When the tears roll down your face
And you don’t really know
Where they are coming from
Perhaps it is
The rainy day outside
Or life’s longing for itself
Or perhaps
Just perhaps
It is a reminder
That joy
Is just around the corner
273 · Oct 2018
Inside My Pocket
Shamai Oct 2018
Empty pockets
Gather dust
And children’s toys
And other stuff

I reach inside
And never know
What will come  up
And what will grow

Turned inside out
The pockets reveal
A history
The things we steal

Many things that gather
And find their way
Inside my pocket
It’s all okay

One day I think
I’ll write a book
Of pocket stories
Will take a look

A Herstory
A gathering docket
Of all the stuff
Inside my pocket
268 · Apr 2022
In My Heart
Shamai Apr 2022
Oh great One
I look for you
In the temples
And in the churches
I look for you
In the books and in the verses
In the air and in the song of the bird
I look for you and the tears
Come down my cheeks
For the only place I can find you
Is in my heart
267 · Nov 2019
A Longing
Shamai Nov 2019
There is a longing in my heart
That knows no bounds
It calls to me
Through tears
That catch on my eyelashes
And cling to my cheeks
A longing so deep
And so wide
That nothing but love
Can truly penetrate
There is no other
No thing
That can catch my attention
Other than
Your love
267 · Jan 2022
In the Moment
Shamai Jan 2022
I want to sleep
And sleep doesn’t come
Because
I think about things gone by
And things to come
And
I try to bring myself
Back to the present
It’s so easy
To let go
And think about
Things I want, or need, or would like to see
Happen
And
I bring myself
Back to the preset
What will tomorrow bring
And what was yesterday all about
I think
And remember
And try to make sense
Of things
And
I bring myself
Back to the present
Because
It is only
In the present
That I can live
Authentically
263 · Apr 2019
A Wish
Shamai Apr 2019
I don’t understand politics
The comings and goings
The ups and the downs
And the ego crowing
The lies and deception
And covering things up
They yell and they scream
And each other interrupt
Let’s put a woman in charge
And see how things will change
To the women men will bow
Now, won’t that feel strange
Women care for their families
And can surely multi task
We can watch them live truth
Vulnerability to unmask
So if politicians could finally
Put away their war toys
And grow into men
Instead of little boys
And listen, really listen
To all that we say
We might finally have humans
Present for us everyday
262 · Apr 2022
Just Sitting There?
Shamai Apr 2022
Sometimes we just sit there
We sit and we wait
For others to take the lead
Don’t feel it’s our fate
And yet strength lies in numbers
And we need to stand tall
We need to play our part
And reach out to all
The world doesn’t change
From a very small selection
We all need to play our part
With love and affection
So from a place of compassion
I ask you to get up
Speak truth and devotion
With a loving cup
262 · Jun 2019
Just tea please
Shamai Jun 2019
A little bit of milk
And sweetener, just a touch
I’m making up a tea
And  don’t want to have too much

A little bit of toast
Butter, jam upon the top
I love to have   my special snack
I don’t know how to stop

Perhaps I’ll have a plum or two
Or a banana that is ripe
Some chocolate, smile on my lips
Now that is more my type

Of course some ice cream, cherries too
Whip cream would make it swell
And nuts and sprinkles, silver *****
I promise I won’t tell

Alas, the tea is all I have
I have to watch my waist
I dream about the other stuff
Would love to have a taste
261 · Aug 2023
life/death
Shamai Aug 2023
I take a breathe
And the breathe stills my being
And brings a depth of resting
In the no thing
All around me I am surrounded
By a sense of stillness
And I dance in the joy
For no thing
Is where life begins
An intake brings me closer
To that which is not
And I remember a time
When other was more than now
All is still
My body feels heavy
And then
Light as a bird
I lift off
Into the unknown
For death
Is just another side
Of life
231 · Nov 2018
Rain
Shamai Nov 2018
Rain
Dripping down my face
Waiting for the moment
To catch the lashes
That protect my eyes

Sounds of movement
Water ripples
On the pavement
And large splashes
As cars go by

My face lights up
At the thought
Of clean air
And moist ground
And happy
ducks
220 · Apr 2019
Oblivion
Shamai Apr 2019
One never knows
Where life is going to take them
On a journey
Of unknown origin
Walking a path
That no one
Has ever tread before
And it feels
Like I’ve been here
Forever
And yet
I don’t know
Where I am
So come with me
On a journey
Of no origin
And bitter end
Walk with me
Into
Oblivion
218 · Nov 2018
All Alone
Shamai Nov 2018
So many people
All around me
And yet
I feel SO all alone
It doesn’t really matter
How many people are around
What matters is
What is inside of me
And
I feel SO all alone
217 · Mar 2019
A Cry for Help
Shamai Mar 2019
Our world used to be a glorious place
Seen green and blue from outer space
And now the ice is disappearing
And water is scarce and animals endearing
Are disappearing and we ask why
And we turn inside out and with tears we cry
And we ask for some help, for changes to occur
And all we get are blank stares and end sight is a blur
And we wonder why now and what have we done wrong
And all that comes out is a plaintiff song
And we write to congress and we make our pleas
To bring back our flowers and all our bees
And on deaf ears our words do fall
And we try to make louder our earnest call
And we gather and talk and try to make amends
And no one answers and we continue to descend
Into images of destruction, a lost world, a lost cause
And we try to make changes and bring in new laws
And the words of great people are cried out in vain
As our great planet we try to contain
We plant trees, gather water, grow foods that are good
For the human race and the standards on which we stood
And the make-up we have won’t let us give up
Or get caught in a system that is so much corrupt
We will sing, we will dance, we’ll make a lot of noise
We will threaten to take away all their war toys
We’ll fall to our knees and beg ‘please, make things right’
And we know we will never give up on this fight
So come along with me to bring green back again
Removing the rot and the ugly, black stain
Fresh air and fresh water, healthy trees a plenty
Into action and away from what is just mentally
An exercise in futility into one that’s our future
Where people are conscious and able to nurture
A new generation with people who care
With trees and fresh water and lots of fresh air
216 · Mar 2022
PEACE
Shamai Mar 2022
Peace is a place deep inside
A place where you can go to hide
It’s warm and fuzzy and helps you feel strong
When in that place nothing can go wrong
When you feel vulnerable and in some pain
A place of peace will be your plane
Let go of fear, let go of foretelling
Living in the future is not a place for dwelling
Live in the present and feel the peace
Of letting go stress to release
For peace is a dwelling that you can feel
It gives you strength when life you deal
It helps you move past feelings of woe
It helps you be happy, it helps you to grow
For peace is a longing to be more than that
A place of silence in which to chat
And then to quiet your inner thoughts
Will remove your blemishes and all your dots
So you come out more than you came in
And you become more than you have been
216 · Dec 2021
The Sleigh
Shamai Dec 2021
The thrill
Of stepping onto a sleigh
Knowing that soon
I will be
Flying
214 · Mar 2019
Summer Stay Forever
Shamai Mar 2019
Hanging ivy overhead
Flowers blooming in their bed
I wish Spring could be forever
And winter? No,  no,no, no never
I love the warmth upon my head
The shining sun and I feel fed
My over boots and heavy coat
Are put away with a little note
So winter won’t come back too soon
I can stand outside and watch the moon
And take a summer swim in my pool
The summer breeze is not too cool
I laze around reading a book
Not much to do, nothing to cook
BBQ outside in summer weather
And flowers blooming on the heather
Mother Nature do you think
That winter could be over in a blink
And summer could stay forever more
In summer clothes, warm to the core
213 · Jun 2019
Grieving
Shamai Jun 2019
It’s not easy to feel  the loss
To allow ourselves to go into the pain
Knowing the overwhelming depth of emptiness
That we are going to sustain
212 · Feb 2022
humility
Shamai Feb 2022
I am human
And
I am less than more
When I think of myself
In relation to the world
I understand
That
More is less
I’ve learnt that
To be human
I must give up my ego
And accept humility
As my power
For it is only in being humble
That I can achieve
I am more than I was yesterday
And tomorrow
I may be less
By recognition
There is a power that comes
From knowing
That to be humble
Is to be
My truth
210 · Feb 2019
What is Life?
Shamai Feb 2019
What is life
If not a conglomerate
Of differences of being
What is life
If not a place of chaos
Where mind reigns
What is life
If not
A hurry scurry
Of useless endeavors
What is life
If not
A gathering
Of ignominious experiences
Meant to teach us
About
life
206 · Dec 2018
Life
Shamai Dec 2018
Life
Is a very peculiar
State of being
Filled with
Longings
And pinings
And letting go
Of what we used to think
Was important
And no longer is
Changes
Always in flux
Life has a way
Of keeping us
On an ever changing
Track
Of
Life
206 · May 2019
Perfection
Shamai May 2019
I tend to be
So *******  my self
Thinking that perfection
Is what I need
When in fact
It is
The perfection
That is
My ruination
203 · Nov 2018
Humble Pie
Shamai Nov 2018
Today I will eat humble pie
A delicacy that reminds me
That I am no more
Than my parts

I will learn that there
Is more to life
Than I ever imagined

I will be reminded
That ego has no place
In a sane world
And that
Other and I
Are One

Today
I will be reminded
That it is better
To eat Humble Pie
Than to think
That I am
The only
One
200 · Apr 2021
Animals
Shamai Apr 2021
Isn’t’ it just strange
That as humans
We are more animal
Than we care
To admit
We act on instinct
Thinking we
Have control
When
In actuality
We
Don’t
197 · Jun 2022
Poetry
Shamai Jun 2022
Poetry
Is such a necessary
Mode
Of communication
It reaches out
And catches my spirit
In an attempt
To describe
Life
197 · Dec 2018
All Alone
Shamai Dec 2018
Loneliness is the feeling
That, even when there are
Many people around
You still feel
So alone

Like
The world is going on
All around you
And you
Just
Aren’t a part
Of it

Alone
Like you don’t belong
Anywhere
And no matter what happens
You still feel
Like you're
All alone
197 · Jun 2022
Waiting
Shamai Jun 2022
I wait
Wondering what it is
That I am
Waiting for
My life has always been
A wait
And I wonder
What
It is
That
I’m waiting
For
195 · Jun 2019
My Story
Shamai Jun 2019
I want to paint
I want to put
Colour to canvas
And watch it grow
A story coming forward
From a colour
Well placed
Imaginings from the mind
That play out
Across the white canvas
That grows in words
In wisdom
In actions of youth
Played out
Across the expanse of
A desert
Or a park
Or a water scene
That is remembered
From long ago
Art
The chance to
Tell our story
With canvas
And paint
193 · Oct 2018
Freedom
Shamai Oct 2018
The awareness that life is endless
And known through its expression
Of boundaries
Set by us to finite
The infinite
To harness the Self
Through the self
Freedom is deeply felt
In the physical pit
Of humanity
A place of extremes
And limitless
Experience
And gratitude
184 · Nov 2018
Today
Shamai Nov 2018
For today
I’m going to
Listen better
Speak less
Observe more
Be true to myself
Overcome obstacles
Laugh, sing, dance
And Live

Haiku

Just because I’m me
I will become more than that
And live to my Truth
184 · Apr 2019
An Upside Down
Shamai Apr 2019
I wish I had
A hand to hold
A heart to enfold
An ear to fill
A dance until
I wish I had
A friend to embrace
A child’s hand to trace
A tale to share
A story to bear
I wish I had
180 · Feb 2022
Just for Fun
Shamai Feb 2022
Red and green
What can it mean
Red and runny
Now that is funny
Red and yellow
Can be quite mellow
Red and white
Now that is right
Yellow and ****
That can be smart
Yellow and green
What can it mean
Blue and white
It’s  quite the sight
Green and blue
This one’s for you
Red and blue
Another for you
Yellow and long
Might just be wrong
Black and white
That’s quite the sight
Violet and blue
It sticks like glue
Yellow and red
Enough said
178 · Feb 2019
God Haiku
Shamai Feb 2019
God like perfection
Love, compassion in motion
Always living Truth
174 · Apr 2023
I am me and you are you
Shamai Apr 2023
Why is it that people can’t see
How simple life can be
If they would only recognize
How closely come the ties
Of what we expect of others
And what others expect of us
If we could only be ourselves
Without making such a fuss
If truth be told the only thing
Important for us now
Is just to feel we’re recognized
Sacred space for I and thou
If you could just allow me
To be me and not the you
If we could just be sensitive
And take the final cue
For you works well for you to be
It does not work for others
We all are here to do our part
As sisters and as brothers
So please accept me as I am
I’m perfect in all I do
And understand that who you are
Does certainly work for you
Please do not place me in a box
Formatted from your creation
We all came here as separate selves
Stopping this will cause stagnation
When you can accept that I am me
And you are who you are
When I can feel like all of me
Is really not bizarre
When you can say you love me
Just as I am right now
I will then stop my proving
And may simply just allow
For being me is why I’m here
And being you is important
Can we just hold each other in love
And be more in concordant
171 · Nov 2018
Happily Ever After
Shamai Nov 2018
Once upon a time
There was a young girl
Who had been fed on
Cinderella stories
And happily ever afters
And she believed
And looked
For her Prince Charming
And he never came
So she pretended
That the next man that came into her life
Was her prince charming
And that she would have
Her happily ever after
And
She didn’t
169 · Nov 2019
Alone
Shamai Nov 2019
Sometimes I sit alone
And wonder where the world is
And why
I’m sitting all alone
Have people forgotten me
Or are their lives so busy
I have been put on the side
Alone can be
A very lonely place
And I try to keep busy
And soon
I begin to miss
The company
168 · Dec 2018
I AM
Shamai Dec 2018
I am
But a simple minded
Persona
Created with ease
By others
And then I wonder
Who
I truly
Am
167 · Jan 2022
TODAY
Shamai Jan 2022
Today
I will be more than I was before
I came into a world
That was created
By others before me
And
I entered
Not knowing
Wanting to learn
Wanting to be more
I have learned
That
To make the world a better place
Begins with me
If I can remember
To always leave things
Better than I have found them
Then
I have learnt
The lesson
Of life
Please
Tread softly on the Earth
166 · Jun 2022
Tread Lightly
Shamai Jun 2022
I walk a path
That others
Have walked before
It makes no sense
To tread on land
That doesn’t
Create change
And my life is worthy
Of
Touching others
I am
Therefore
Others can be
164 · Apr 2019
Keep on Going
Shamai Apr 2019
Life never seems to be
As I thought it would
Planning, examining, thinking
And finding out all is for naught
A different trajectory
Into a land
I know not
Finding footing
On ground that
Is in constant
Motion
Weaving and falling
Into experiences
That I have little
Practice of
And I pick myself up
And keep on going
163 · Nov 2018
Why and When
Shamai Nov 2018
Why do I
Listen to other people
When my heart tells me differently

Why do I think
That others know better
Than I do

Why is my belief in myself
So tainted with unreliable
And indifference

When will I
Start owning
That
I am
OK
162 · Dec 2018
Can you Find my Words?
Shamai Dec 2018
I seem to be
At a loss for words
Don’t know
Where they’re hidden
And want to
Get them back

Perhaps
They’re just on vacation
Or taking a nap
Wherever
I need them back
In order
To  write
Some Poetry
160 · Nov 2018
Emotional Eating
Shamai Nov 2018
Emptiness
Gnawing at me from the inside
Saying
Feed me, feed me
And the pain only subsides
When it is fed

Overeating
Stops the feelings
That come from
Deep within
The gut wrenching
Pain
That I no  longer
Want to feel
And
It follows me
And I feed it
157 · Mar 2022
FEAR
Shamai Mar 2022
Fear
Real
Raw
Rising in the body
Debilitating
Restrictive
In form
Keeping us from reaching
Our
True destiny

Fear
Incomprehensible
Limiting
Behavior following
That creates
Both darkness
And light

Fear
Another way of saying
That we are
Vulnerable
And no longer
Invincible
In an
Ever changing world
Of destruction
And rebuilding

Fear
Powerlessness
Inability to move forward
Stops us
In our tracks
And
Can lead
To
Destruction
Of self
Disclosure
And awareness

Fear
I have
And
I release
For in that fear
Lies decades
Of
Emotional upheaval
That dominate
Our being

Rising above the fear
Gives us the vantage point
Of future

Fear
I bask in you
For you bring
Awareness
Of self
And possibility
155 · Dec 2019
Achoo
Shamai Dec 2019
*** it’s here again
A cold is in my nose
It’s dripping and I’m snorting
For pictures I won’t pose
It’s red at tip and sore to touch
It’s dripping in my food
The sneezing and the coughing
Put me in a very foul mood
I hope this cold will end soon
And cause me no more pain
My tissue box is empty
Here comes a sneeze again
I hope the sun comes out soon
So I can go outside
Perhaps the warmth will warm me up
Better to have lived than died
This is the season for the germs
I did not take a shot
Even thought my doctor and his nurse
Really thought that sure I ought
The cold will end then back to work
I will have to go
My xmas vacation is over now
Achoo, achoo….I know…
154 · Oct 2018
Schedule
Shamai Oct 2018
Each morning
I do the same thing
I follow a pattern
And that makes me
Feel safe
Because
When I don’t know
What my day holds
I get nervous
And question
My life
And feel empty
Like I have no goal
And life purpose
So
As long as
I keep on schedule
I know
Where I’m going
Or
Maybe I am truly lost
153 · Jul 2019
anyone out there?
Shamai Jul 2019
There is a vacancy in my heart
That calls to be filled
By someone who knows
Life’s meaning
153 · May 2022
Neshama
Shamai May 2022
Is there something inside that wants to come out
Is it time to scream is it time to shout
What is all the fuss what is going around
That raises the spirit and makes a big sound
Can you guess what it is can you figure it out
Can you think and think what’s it all about
I truly don’t know just know it’s real
But it really must be quite a big deal
So shout and scream and make a noise
Standing still with equipoise
It’s time to be real it’s time to stand out
We know what it is without a doubt
Neshama it’s time to take a stand
Coming out is what you planned
To show the world what you’re about
To be yourself and just hang out
152 · Jun 2019
Who Are We?
Shamai Jun 2019
What is sadness
But the tearing from asunder
The thought of who we are
Into what we have become
The recognition that
We have facades upon facades
Of who we wish we were
Instead of
Who we are
We fight so hard to become
Only to find out
That we are not
Who we would like to be
And will never be
Because
The truth is that
We cannot be
That which is not
That which is beyond us
The truth lies
In finding out
Who we are not
And then discovering
That
We always were
152 · Mar 2019
Make Peace
Shamai Mar 2019
Don’t step on the dog
His bite is worse than his bark
Don’t fly the coup
Birds splat in mid-stream
Don’t backside a cow
Smells are forever
Don’t silly a goose
Her eggs are mighty tasty
Don’t slither a snake
You never know where his cousin lives
Don’t bother the animals
Just make peace with the world
151 · Dec 2018
Haiku/Aging
Shamai Dec 2018
Young mind and old body
Aging has finally caught up
By surprise, I’m there
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