Firstly, how about some 800 year old success in the form of squash? An archaeological find feeds not only minds but bellies as well.

If you have the opportunity, consider donating crocheted and knitted hats and more for war-torn Syria, with organisers who state “We have a goal to collect knitted, crocheted or store-bought sweaters, vests, socks, mittens, hats and blankets to help the Syrian children.”

Finally, Segullah’s latest journal is online!  With a luminous poem “September Morn” by Melonie Cannon, and a spy-style visiting teaching caper by Andrea Landaker, in “Observe, Then Serve”.

Remember, we are always wanting submissions for the journal and guest posts!

First Draft Poetry is by Kel, from thinking about writing.

Not Just Ink

It’s not just ink that sinks

deep into paper

right to the quick:

The flare of hurt

the prayer of a dusk

the scrawled fury

of toddlers fighting over –

Well, who knows what –

But ink and the yoga stretch

of letters carry the thought

the moment of breath

into your head without

much effort at all…

Once the ink is released.

And the doubts whacked with a stick

andor weapons of mass destruction

descend like the sour blanket

from your childhood

And you’ve picked at the words

pinched them and made them step

or fall two spaces to the left

then back again

And chewed a hole in your lip –

and calm –

wondering if it’s worth the effort.

It is.

Even if –

especially –

nobody else reads it,

knows the ache and purge and

thrum of your words

better out than in

lifejackets can be made of words

fortresses stronger than stones built

one syllable at a time

and sometimes the words

sink deep

or float to unexpected places

where somebody turns

or writes

and says

me too.

Continue reading at the original source →