International Poet

Penmanship Blues As we consider all we've lost and all we've gained we must recall the cost and pay the debt to whom it had concerned, to whom we owe to those whose soul was earned, and those who stole we know those who convene and dream of life the same as those with fizzled days and burning nights we ask ourselves, tonight a sonnet? perhaps a verse as life proceeds, tonight a blessing? perhaps a curse we all agree what it may be it's certainly avoiding lies it's what we hear when voices lie it's what to do when tongues are tied and quickly we propel to dark even if small, we'll leave a mark we will proceed to write down life even if just by scraps of light.

The Anchor's Song I am the anchor No one touches the depths as I do. Only the waves and water moss know the beauty of my fall. I don't reveal my secrets except to the drowned I don't say goodbye except to the migrating fish. I chose the sea that my echo would not be lost as I hit the bottom. I chose the sea that I may not forget the water as I head for the ground I chose the sea to camouflage my tears with water that no one may see them. I'm the anchor falling freely in countries with no name sea shells and oysters only are my friends and everything hard wrapped in light I was born like you were born from steel, dust, and gold I will die like you will die but the ground will not forget me easily not as long as it is filled with all these scratches that my traversal creates. Translated by Nathalie Khankan Jamal Jumá: Member of World Poets Society (W.P.S.). Bio: An Iraqi poet, born in Baghdad and received his academic education in Copenhagen, where he has lived since 1...