Søndermarken Park in winter, by Vilhelm Hammershøi
a b c d f g l m n p q r s t u Tutti
Saidwhattha (N.G.) Saidwhattha (N.G.)

Most of what I write or enjoy reading has a significant amount of word relationships and phrasing that evoke imagery. Whether it's prose on people or life or metered rhyming verses I find that the way they read should have not just metaphor, word plays, and all other typical "poetic" usage, but should also have a visual quality that is some what like painting or illustration. I'm not saying I do this well in my own writing but I'm merely stating what I am going for as an artist. Like anything creative, the more of yourself you put into it and dedicate time to, the better it ultimately becomes. The collection of poems that are subtitled Nest in the Black Tree is a series of concept pieces. The setting is in the Bad Lands (purgatory). When a "Soul" has been born it belongs to the Watch Tower(God). Once one is created the Clock Maker creates a "vessel"(a human body). The Time Keeper starts the Heart-Break-Timer and this would be the life one is given from begining, life, old age, and the end. When the timer runs out the soul must be delivered back to the Watch Tower, but to do so is tasked by the Sprinter(an angel). The Sprinter takes the soul across the Bad Lands running as God's Speed. The Bad Lands are filled by an evil race known as the Wretched. The Wretches are ruled by the war machine Brontus Singlairn. Brontus wants the souls the Sprinters carry to turn them from a life into a Wretch(demon). The Poems are free-verse prose left open to to the imagination of the reader and to the foundation of the story. "Space, Universe, Stars" are part of the idea of creating a setting, being that this is a place of the in "between", and also is a way to give a little more poetic depth. One day I would hope to get the "The Nest and the Black Tree" published. This is where you, the reader, comes in to give me comments and ideas for this evolving story. —Nicholas Gress —Saidwhattha

Sonya Ki Tomlinson Sonya Ki Tomlinson

Namaste, Although I am now residing in sunny Florida, I grew up in Queens, New York. I am the eldest daughter of Jamaican, West Indian immigrants. We were a lively family, five siblings altogether with plenty of love and joviality to go around. From early on, I loved creating stories. My brothers and sisters also keenly enjoyed listening to them. But, being the natural artist, I preferred to retreat into the silence of my room surrounded by my dolls, where we would embark on all sorts of imaginative and adventurous tales. My siblings would listen with their ears glued to the bedroom door, occasionally a giggle of delight escaped from the other side of the door. This interest in story telling gradually metamorphosed into the art of penning poetry. Over the years I have written many poems. The fascinating thing about the imaginative process that I've observed, is that there seems to be some sort of bridge that connects us to the creative source. This is similar to what I experienced in my childhood, a quiet space within, beyond me where creative ideas flow endlessly. On another note, I am also an artist. But, LOL, all of my paintings tell a story too. My work is a visual and poetic diary of my spiritual journey. From the highest peaks in the Himalayas to many of the sacred ashrams in holy India I have been blessed with the opportunity to journey through that divine land eleven times. My spiritual quest began on June 6, 1970 with the birth of my daughter. During the birth I had an amazing out-of-body-experience which catapulted me out of ordinary three dimensional awareness into an astounding, metaphysical reality which I know survives and surpasses death, misery, joy, materialism and all that is dualistic and worldly. A space of being in which Pure Love, Life and Light exists Eternally. This event inspired me to explore the intriguing inner realms of Self through Yoga, Meditation, Rosicrucianism and other spiritually laden paths. I have written two books. The first, "Sai Rapture, The Ecstatic Journey of a Modern Day Gopi " portrays my spiritual journey. The second book, "108 Bhakti Kisses, The Ecstatic Poetry of a Modern Day Gopi" is a garland of poems celebrating the divine in everything.




Alto