Wonder
I opened my arms
hugged her tightly
I felt the fire
of her body
attraction of two that turned
into a conflagration
that burnt my essence
which reality?
Ι asked
the one in my dream
or the one that vanished
when Ι opened my eyes?
Red in Black
Day: 11/29/2025
The Circle
excerpt
Their attorney got the green light from the family to take the offer.
Now it’s just a matter of the attorneys putting the documents together and
getting the signatures in order.”
“When do you move in, buddy?” Talal asks.
“We have a closing date, the fifteenth of October. I pay on that day and we
can move in any time after that. I see us moving in toward the end of October, or
earlier. We still need to get a few more things, as it is a bigger place and needs
more furniture to fill it. This week sometime I’ll ask the agent for the keys. We
need to go in a couple of times to see the apartment in more detail and see the
configuration of the place so we know what to buy.”
“Well, you won’t have much of a problem when it comes to finding new
things for the apartment; you have a good helper in that department,” Talal
points to Jennifer.
They all laugh in agreement with Talal.
Hakim takes a cup from the cupboard and pours himself a coffee; then sits
next to Emily and asks, “How are you?”
“I’m good.”
He notices that Jennifer’s mom has the sweetest eyes he has ever seen in a
woman; now he understands why a man like Talal, who loves to play around
with a lot of women, is so attracted to Emily.
“I’d like you to know that if there is anything, anything you need, please give
me the honor of helping you.”
Emily turns and looks with amazement at this young Iraqi man, who knows
how to treat a person in the most refined and polite way. Jennifer is a very lucky
girl to have him. Emily feels there is nothing this man will not do when it comes
to pleasing.
She gives him her happiest smile and says, “Thank you. I’ll remember that,
sweet Hakim; I’ll remember that, I promise.”
He smiles and puts his arm around her shoulders, “Always remember that I
can help you in a lot more ways than one.”
“I’ll remember that, as well, Hakim. Thank you for your kind words.”
Talal, who hasn’t missed any of their exchange, says with a light laugh, “That’s
my buddy. By the way, when are we going car shopping?”
“Soon, very soon!” Hakim laughs as well.
The time comes for them to make their way to the funeral home for the
service and Emily goes upstairs to finish getting ready.
Jennifer takes Hakim to the side and asks, “What was that all about?”
“What?”
“My mother, you asking her if she needs anything and all that.”
Yannis Ritsos – Poems, Volume V
Forgeries
How do people still walk, he says, how do they still
talk? The teeth fall off, the hair. Nails turn inward. Pockets
get holes from old useless coins. What points does the poem
invent? Stones upon stones, grass around the graves,
the chimney, leaves, words. You hit the windowpane with
your nail, you hear the sound. the other man can’t hear it.
newspapers killed people. The headless mannequin wears
a new black coat. In the tailor’s shop “Left, or right?” the
tailor asks; he insists: “Depending on the side the testicles
are, he says, one makes a suitable pair of pants” The straw
mannequin, vaguely amiable, agrees with a movement
of his invisible head.
Hellenic Canadian Literature 