EDITORIAL

WELCOME

TO

OUR POETRY ARCHIVE

“Love…

It can unite people in purpose, culture and peace

Ultimately is has the power to unite the whole world.”

~ManHee Lee~

What is love? Love can be categorized in many ways, having various purposes revolving around its intention: adoration, devotion, loyalty, all displayed in a positive emotional outward affection toward others; but for some love is selfish; adoring, devoting and having loyalty only toward themselves. Selfish love’s only intended purpose is to fulfill one’s own desires with no regard of others. This type of love has a negative impact on people they encounter day to day, and ultimately effecting humanity as a whole. When mankind unites in the purpose of expanding affectionate concern for those around them, along with humanity as a whole, unity will be evident. The strong emotional impact of true selfless love can remove the mountains of hate and prejudice in the world.

The effectual intention of love and unity for mankind begins in every human being’s personal heart and soul. Once the emotion of love finds its positive direction in every man, woman, and child, life’s purpose finds a new and better road; the road to unity. Mankind’s purpose, in this present time, should direct its focus on the respect and/or concern of others. Our world needs to go beyond learned ideals and behaviors; beyond our daily routines; beyond our own for walls; beyond tainted perceptions, and ultimately beyond prejudice and misunderstanding of others. This world consists of many cultures, ethnic groups, and race. When humanity allows itself to be woven together, in love, our world will be seen in the true beauty in which it was created; a tapestry of wonder and a painted picture of hues never perceived or appreciated.

May we revolve our intentions and purpose around love and respect for others. May our adoration toward others be honorable. May our devotion to the unity of mankind be profound in its dedication to life. May our loyalty to all mankind be faithful, and committed to the purpose of removing partiality, hate, prejudice, hostility, and contentions, into a harmonious, symphonic masterpiece of peace.

“A road not traveled is only a wasted dream.

The journey begins from within.”

~Stacia Lynn Reynolds~

Today, let us move forward toward the road less traveled. May our steps be firm in purpose. May our dreams go beyond thought, into outward action. Let us not waste another day, but begin our journey to a new and promising tomorrow.

In the September Edition of OPA, we are pleased to introduce the respected poet, George Onsy, in his own words. I encourage all to read through the interview with George, and learn about his writing experiences, along with his aspirations in life as well. Our Poetry Archive would also like to thank every participant who has agreed to be interviewed, beginning with OPA’s first “Poet of the Month,” Ana Nedelcu, in April; followed by Sandy Sass in May; Michael Marrotti, in the June Edition; Thomas DeAngelo’s interview in July; then the interview of Irsa Ruci last month in August. It has been an exciting adventure, and a great pleasure reading everyone’s answers from the interviews.

Those who would like to participate in our upcoming editions, please send at least three poems and a profile picture, along with the explicit confirmation of your permission for publication in OPA well before the 21st of every month. Our mail address is ourpoetryarchive@gmail.com

Author Stacia Lynn Reynolds, editor, sincerely thanks each and every poet, poetess and reader who is actively involved in this wonderful blog and continued support of Our Poetry Archive.

From The Editorial Desk

OPA

A

WORLDWIDE WRITERS’ WEB

PRESENTATION!

PUBLISHED BY

OPA

OUR

POETRY ARCHIVE

ONLINE MONTHLY POETRY JOURNAL

http://ourpoetryarchive.blogspot.com

email us to:

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GEORGE ONSY

OUR POETRY ARCHVE FEATURED

POET OF THE MONTH

George Onsy

September 2016

OPA How long have you been writing Poetry? We would like to know the early stories about your growing up as a poet or writer in general. Who are your favorite Poets? What are some of your favorite genres to read and to write? Have they inspired you; do you believe in inspiration as a guiding force behind writings at all?

GEORGE I have been writing poetry for more than 25 years. As for the stories, it had begun with writing short sentences attached to my artworks or sketches then that has developed gradually to take a prose form then poems.

OPA What has been the toughest criticism given to you as a writer? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you write?  What has been the strangest thing that a reader has asked you?

GEORGE The toughest criticism was the question about the absence of musicality/tonality in one of my earliest works. The biggest compliment was a sincere opinion given by a Native American Clan’s mother, Judith Hall: “George is not only a poet, he is a magician of words inviting us to get out of the box”. Another, by a talented Indian poet: “The world is waiting for George Onsy to come to the stage”. But all that has done nothing to my way of writing except encouraging me to go on recognizing my weaknesses as well. Not the strangest, rather the most curious thing asked has been when I posted my poem on the woman; TO EVE EVERYWEHER FROM ADAM OF EVERY TIME, a FB friend asked me: “It’s fabulous the way you look at women, are you married?”.

OPA   What is your favorite poem you have ever written? Compared to when you first started writing, have you notice any big changes in your writing style or how you write compared from then to now?

GEORGE

My favorite poem I’ve ever written was number 8 of my Divine Love Series; YOU ARE LOVE, addressing God:

YOU ARE LOVE-8

You are love

And so often

In my distress

You surprise me

With a tender breeze

That softly soothes

My complaining skin

Oh, what a bliss!

And I wish to ask you:

Was it a whisper

Or a kiss?

Comparing what I’m writing now to what I wrote when I started, I would say, yes there has been a considerable development.

OPA   What has been your favorite part of being a poet or and author? What has been your least favorite?

GEORGE My favorite part of being a poet and author is to be able to experience the power of the eternal WORD sharpening it to be able to challenge the temporary, earthly power of the sword. My least favorite part is being too sensitive and emotional as well as, of course, being too busy always as I feel so tempted to write ever more.

OPA Did you get to quit your day job and become a writer and or author, or do you still have a day job and writing is something you do for fun? If you still have a day job, what is it?

GEORGE Thank God, He always provides me with an ideal job that would educate me, enrich my cultural view and, in the same time, give me space of time to practice my creative activities, poetry, writing or painting which I never do for fun, rather work seriously on as a message fit to God’s plan in my life. Therefore, I never have had to leave my day job which I do need to earn my living. At present, I actually work as a university professor and that enriches the human side of my character getting into direct contacts with new generations of young people to form them to be ready to serve Egypt, plus, enjoying good interactive relationships with my colleagues of different ranks and areas.

 OPA   Besides writing and reading, what is your most favorite thing to do? What genre are you most looking forward to explore during your writing career? Why?

GEORGE my favorite things to do beside writing are painting mystical works depicting the eternal world, improvising mystical music on my keyboard and meditation. The genre I’m most looking forward to exploring is writing novels, specially fantasia type and that’s because I would always like to invite the readers to experience a higher level of existence leading to enjoy the eternal in the here and now.

OPA: Do you think literature or poetry is really essential in your life? If so why? How does it relate to the general history of mankind?

GEORGE Absolutely yes. Because, as I’ve already said, it’s the very reason I’m here on earth during this life time, conveying a needed message to the world around me. I’m really dreaming to create a significant turning point in human consciousness in order to able to perceive and enjoy what’s eternal, what will really last, through our daily life.

OPA   Our readers would like to know your own personal experience regarding the importance of literature and poetry in your life.

GEORGE It’s an important outlet turning life challenges and suffering into something positive to share with people.

OPA Do you think people in general actually bother about literature in general?  Do you think this consumerist world is turning the average man away from serious literature?

GEORGE Not much, and this is quite unfortunate. I would say that that is not only because of the consumerist world’s influence but also is owing to the dramatic change of media from written to visual in our contemporary era.

OPA Now if we try to understand the tradition and modernism, do you think literature can play a pivotal role in it?  If so, how? Again how can an individual writer relate himself or herself with the tradition and modernism?

GEORGE In fact our world today does need a balanced blend of both tradition and modernism, hence, here comes the role of today’s writers. As about how, I believe that it’s a question of structuring creatively the genre written that can make such balance possible, acceptable and enjoyable to the readers.

OPA   Do you think society as a whole, is the key factor in shaping you up as a poet, or your poetry altogether?

GEORGE  Not only the society but also the things that are not seen yet do exist beyond the society and the entire visible world.

OPA Do you believe that all writers are by and large the product of their nationality and is it an incentive or an obstacle for becoming a truly international writer?

GEORGE The key factor to balance between nationality and internationality is to deeply conceive the organic relationship between the parts and the whole. When a writer, or even an ordinary person, fails to understand that balance such destructive obstacle would always be there.

OPA What 7 words would you use to describe yourself?

GEORGE loving .. sensitive .. creative .. hard worker .. calm .. meditative .. revolutionary

OPA   Is there anything else that you would like to share or say to those who will read this interview?

GEORGE I love you, you will feel my love through my writings and artworks to come. Thanks very much!

The editorial staff of this project: Deborah Brooks Langford, Stacia Lynn Reynolds; sincerely thank you for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.

GEORGE ONSY

GEORGE ONSY

TO EVE EVERYWHERE FROM ADAM OF ALL TIMES

It took you God

More than just one rib

To form her structure

So tender, so fancy

To let my impossible dream

Step out of the realm of fantasy.

It took you God

More than just one rib

To answer the yearning of my heart,

Modeling this living piece of fine art.

But God, did you really take only one rib,

Altering my whole anatomy, promising

To put instead, pleasure in place

Of loneliness and agony?

Yes, God, you did take that one rib,

Filling its gloomy void

With strawberry-red flame of fire

That when I just woke up

I found no name but called it “desire”.

Thanks be to you God!

For throughout my whole life

She waves wondering

Between reality and myth

And without her, my so-called life

Would have the very taste of death.

O God, if you had not done it

I would have taken

My very heart out of my core

And held it up, asking:

And this, God, what is it for??

George Onsy

© 2012

In memory of violence victims everywhere

TO THE BLOOD

O blood,

I wish you had

A sound

To crack the silence

Of conscience’s

Sleep profound

O blood,

I wish you had

No color

Reminding me

Of a flower

Once given

By a victim

To his lover

O blood,

Others’ or mine,

Stay on earth

To draw clear

A long-awaited

Red line.

George Onsy

© 2014

In Memory of the Little Child Found Dead on the Seashore

THE SEA DEFENDING HIMSELF

No, no, not me!!

It’s not me!

Who could do

Such a horrible thing

For whatever reason

It may be

It’s not me!

It is a creature,

Who calls himself

‘Human being’,

Who did it,

Didn’t he??

It’s not me!

Who made of myself

A refuge for desperate

Souls fleeing a graveyard

That’s once been

A dear homeland

Have you forgotten?!!

I’m not the harbor,

I’m the sea.

It’s not me

So, I’ve just

Thrown him up.

He never belongs here,

I’m only trying

To set him free.

It’s not me!

For if the deluge

Of innocent blood

Ever stains

My loyal blue

I would turn my water

Into tears to stay

Forever the sea

You wish to see.

George Onsy

© 2015

On Divine Love

To God ….

YOU ARE LOVE– 2

You are love

And so it happened

That you formed me

Out of the bottomless

Abyss of nothingness

With your vision

Of a divine poet,

With your hands

Of an almighty sculptor,

With your fingers

Of a harpist

Of eternal melodies.

Oh, oh, how I love

The miracle of art

I’ve come to be!

George Onsy

© 2014

YOU ARE LOVE – 4

That’s why

You so wished to have

Human arms to hug,

Human lips to kiss,

Human hands

To tenderly touch

Wiping off all tears,

And a human voice

To whisper promises

Of life eternal.

© 2015

George Onsy