It is time to call it quits.
It is time for you to go back to the West.
Throw in the towel on the Black Sea.
You, too.
The time has come.
Come together and act as a team.
I am not talking about religion here.
My voice contains a human element.
This is a gratuitous insult.
You and your nations are powerful, but you are helpless.
You have no authority over your belongings or yourself.
It is something I keep saying.
That is all there is to it.
Otherwise, everything is possible.
I swear by Allah, the Creator of All.
I swear by Allah, the Almighty.
One day, Gaza will feed you calabaza.

He went on and on about his childhood
About how he walked miles to school barefoot in snow
Oh how we chuckled to his many stories
Grandpa spoke about where he and grandma first met
He rambled about life
And how the news was so important to watch
How saving money was mandatory
And material things wasn’t
I remember the smell of his homemade biscuits
baking in the morning
Long before the rooster crowed
He attended his garden faithfully as if resting was a sin
Grandpa’s words were heard miles away
Even if he spoke in silence
As a child he didn’t have presents for Christmas
So he explained that we should be thankful
Even if nothing was wrapped with a bow and given as a gift
I remember as he sat in his recliner
And his gray hair shimmered under the lights
And how all of us kids would laugh when he and grandma argued
This year will be different
Now it’s our time to reminiscence about him
He has decided to finally rest
Because Grandpa won’t be here this Christmas
                                                              
                                           -LaToya Martin

Your heart is not old,
That I can guarantee.
The actions may not be as bold,
However, I can still see.

The love you give is pure.
Nothing in this world can compare.
In my eyes you will never be lost.
As long as I can still hold you.

Our conversations may repeat.
You always keep it upbeat.
The repetition will place a seat.
In my memories forever a treat.

Great and grand,
Are before your motherhood.
You've earned it in blessings,
And in honest hard work.

The wit and charm you give,
Will be well learned for us to live.
Lives happy and filled with laughter.
When we do, it shakes the rafters.

He will hear it soon,
For your heart he will swoon.
Then you will be gone,
We can only hope for a new dawn.

You are loved so completely.
I know I can only do my best,
Which you taught me.
So I return it to you for your care.

No more worries,
Don't have to hurry.
This is now a resting.
It is us he is testing.

Love you to the moon and back.
I will be fine with your watchful eye,
And gifts given to me.
So don't cry..

It's been such a pleasure,
Far more than one can measure.
One last hug and my heart tugs.
Just do not want a goodbye.

My heart says see you later instead.
I kiss your forehead.
Sweetly like you've shown.
Thank you, for making me grown.

I sit down near an old tree,
or what could be mistaken as such
a man was planted there like one at least
I gaze in his direction curiously
Looking for answers to questions not yet asked

the lines on his face draw attention
depicted tales
crooked trenches of battle
stubbled stories of history
lessons learned from repetitive struggle

yet

his soul peers out from behind his rugged vessel
revealing images of a hopeful spirit
a softer surface than the rock before me
a kinder presence hidden from all but the studious

though no words need be exchanged
enough had been spoken
I leave him alone in his stead
to continue burning his candle

I wondered afterwards, as I do so often
maybe that light has been shared with me
maybe the man is a reflection somehow
or a messanger of conscious direction

oh, if only one could learn so much from a glance
Imbibe in a moment what took another a lifetime
then all would be fine, all questions with answers found
and I would find peace in my peculiar state

Respect your elders I spit
Respect those who've lived and work decades before you I snarl

I show no respect to you
I show respect if you earn it

The entitled generation that is anything but vs the old generation who believe themselves better.

"Respect your elders!" The shout that answers my "*******"
I'll show respect when given.

Respect your elders, but only if they respect you

The chugs of the city train,
on collapsed lines, abused
by youth.
Rebelling against the generation,
their snobbish comments to deaf
ears,
wholesome, yet lost.
Views, taken, finally laid to rest,
let the new world take over.

It is coming.