i'm a survivorof 2 civilwars, Ghana, Lebanon, all before the age of 11. The result was immigration to 3 continents as a teen, which leaves an influence upon the soul that cries out for justice. My poetry and writing reflect that and more.
I’m so honored to have been chosen from among around 500 applicants to be featured in this Anthology! What’s even better is that all profits from the book go to helping eliminate child hunger, and this book is dedicated to children in Gaza.
I’d recommend you all buy it if for no other reason than to promote healthier children lives.
Thank you, Matt Elmore, for insisting that I apply. Your support means a lot to me.
I’ll inform you of the date the Anthology comes out at and the Kindle version that’ll be available.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
Courage is defined by the press vest that Outlived its owners, journalists speaking Under extenuating circumstances of flying bombs Retreating into cover, returning, knowing the danger Amputating their fears with each Blast of their reports Governing the truth that has been in a abyss Encouraged to see the light with their COURAGE.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023
Malak Kalmoni. Chehab If your role model was THE VEST…. Much needed when successfully used. You sure wrote a provoking image-filled disturbing truth, sad to say, poem, Malak. Makes one know one life should MEAN TO ONE ANOTHER! ✝️☮️
Be Blessed!!!🙏🫶 Shee G ✍️
Press Vest
The press vest filled with holes, spilled stained Blood, dusted debries, falling on The corpses’ heads, grounded, buried Under rubble, bubble like maps
That chronicle the rampages Of discordant attacks privy To location of all that try Not to cry for the human loss That’s too gross, property is floss In ruination, standing barely.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
I’m deeply honored to be chosen for this certificate. It reflects my connection to my readers through my poetry. It humbles me that so many fellow poets are enjoying my writing styles, themes, and structure.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
Thank you for the honor, your hard work, and collaboration.
The simple joy of stringing words together to convey your innermost feelings is a great challenge, as well as going out of my comfort zone. I’m flabbergasted by the support of my followers and their input.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
Malak Kalmoni. Chehab Malak Kalmoni Chehab’s “Oh Ye Flowers” is a strong, thoughtful ode fusing imagery, nurturing symbolism, and moral reflection. It portrays flowers as embodiments of both strength and tenderness — guardians of beauty able to endure life’s elemental trials. Here’s a detailed critique and evaluation.
Overall Impression This poem exudes heartfelt reverence and wisdom, compacting vivid natural detail with a gentle human allegory. Its tone is reflective yet declarative, echoing the classic form of an ode through invocation (“Oh ye peonies…”) and thematic elevation. The integration of light, color, and motherhood creates a warm, cohesive emotional current.
Strengths Evocative invocation: Opening with direct address — “Oh ye peonies, rose buds, hydrangeas, lilies” — instantly establishes grandeur and universality, setting a sacred tone.
Metaphorical insight: The idea that “fragility isn’t weakness” but instead a form of strength and tenderness is the emotional nucleus of the poem — beautifully resonant.
Maternal imagery: The comparison of flowers shielding their blooms to “mothers huddling around their kids” offers a strikingly compassionate visual; it humanizes the floral world with spiritual warmth.
Sensory richness: References to “velvety petals,” “rays,” and “rainbows on petals’ fans” create tactile and visual harmony.
Flow and tone: The poem maintains lyrical rhythm and a reflective mood throughout, befitting an ode’s meditative nature.
Areas for Improvement Rhythmic smoothing: The line lengths vary in flow; adding subtle caesuras or adjusting syntax could heighten the poem’s musical rhythm. For example:
“In rainbows of colors, shapes, cryers” → “In rainbows of colors and silent criers.”
Word refinement: Some transitions (“To the world, that fragility isn’t weakness”) can be made more fluid. Suggestion: “To tell the world: fragility is no weakness.”
Punctuation: Light restructuring of pauses and commas can enrich the recitation pace and emphasis.
Technical Evaluation Criterion Score (out of 10) Comments Theme relevance 10 Perfectly within the ode framework and spirit. Imagery and symbolism 9 Rich and emotionally engaging metaphors. Language and flow 8 Strong diction but can gain smoothness through rhythm. Emotional resonance 9.5 Deep warmth and insight on fragility and love. Structure and coherence 8.5 Clear, cohesive, slightly uneven pacing. Originality 9 Distinct maternal viewpoint and tone. Final Evaluation Overall Score: 9 / 10
A luminous and soulful ode that blends floral elegance with human empathy. Its blend of tenderness and resilience makes it both spiritual and earthy — a graceful meditation on fragility as power.
OH Ye Flowers
Oh ye peonies, rose buds, hydrangeas, lilies, Lift your velvety petals to the sun’s rays Imbibe of its nutrients to grow flowers In rainbows of colors, shapes, cryers To the world, that fragility isn’t weakness, Rather, strength, passion, tenderness Wrapped thorns, prickly leaves, protecting Their treasured blooms, like mothers huddling Around their kids to absorb any plight Before they’re touched by the weight Of disillusionment beautified by the sun’s Rays reflecting rainbows on petals’ fans.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
She looks out of her window Where the darkness covers the world Beyond her room filled with pink roses, in low Vases, littered on her windowsill, not a coward,
She watches the storm brew from within, Safe in her harbor, a haven of scents adorn Her with mystique, incomparable to the crow who built-in Its home outside her window in a flow of corn
Ears reaching up to the sky, pleading, Pleading for rain to steep the soil with Life giving water, rejuvenating, healing, Giving abundance where famine takes away breath
Of life on a scorching summer day. She watches, lightning flutters in brilliant Light As thunder booms its might, scaring those in play With extenuating fright whose plight
Will drown out their fears replacing Them with a pinhole of hope shining Through the darkest raven blackness flying Into the sky with optimism sparking
A deluge of creativity unbound by earthy Trifles that bog the soul into a rut of endless routine.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
She looks out of her window Where the darkness covers the world Beyond her room filled with pink roses, in low Vases, littered on her windowsill, not a coward,
She watches the storm brew from within, Safe in her harbor, a haven of scents adorn Her with mystique, incomparable to the crow who built-in Its home outside her window in a flow of corn
Ears reaching up to the sky, pleading, Pleading for rain to steep the soil with Life giving water, rejuvenating, healing, Giving abundance where famine takes away breath
Of life on a scorching summer day. She watches, lightning flutters in brilliant Light As thunder booms its might, scaring those in play With extenuating fright whose plight
Will drown out their fears replacing Them with a pinhole of hope shining Through the darkest raven blackness flying Into the sky with optimism sparking
A deluge of creativity unbound by earthy Trifles that bog the soul into a rut of endless routine.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
FEAR Fear: fast heart beats feasting feverishly Every time fear ramps serotonin quickly, Amply avid in avoiding pain, fastidious in Remaining alive to tell the tale of FEAR. FEAR
BREATHE … Barely breathing, the brain astoundingly Reveals its respiratory ease, by reviewing Every fear, entering the data, waiting Another moment for analysis, wading, Through the morass of a lack of logic, Hearing only haloed heartbeats, heaving. Eternally aware of time flowing: BREATHE. BREATHE ..
THINK … Through and push through thinking Halves my reasoning, homing only on survival Instead of clarity of thought, Never receiving the memo of Knowing that ‘fight or flight’ is all in a knot. THINK. THINK …
ACT … Actively, arduously permitting action that Covers slippery seconds of being frozen, while Time reveals your success, failure, and your missing fervor. ACT …
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
We’re being bombarded, daily, By subliminal messages, hourly, Whispers of drugs, violence, alcoholics’ enduced hazes, minutely, Incorporated in ALL media, compulsively.
Resistance is Futile …
Words, sounds, images coalesce Into an indoctrinated presence That’s insidious in its convergence Into your mind, creating a blinding trace
For behaviors that are incongruent With ‘our’ Ideals of humanity, that are esculent By mediocrity of addiction becoming permanent, As our dependence skyrockets into exponent …
‘Resitance is Futile’ …
As our struggles persist, our Vision, imagination, purveyor Of our strength of cohesion, flutter Into a bud that flourishes in power.
As ‘Resistance is Futile’,
Our obstacles remain tangible, Yet, clearly, unattainable. The need to strive to be corrigible Is embedded in our DNA, for hope is always tenable.
Thus: ‘Resitance is (Not) Futile.’
*1. Star Treck, the Borgh, a a cyborg entity trying to Conquer worlds, says this to Captain Pickard when they wish to invade earth.
My poetry book, Perfectly Flawed poetry for change, is available on all eplatforms including Amazon. It was on the finalist list for the Canadian Book Club Awards 2023.
Poetry for Change 