Thank you kindly Keith. St Sophia's is as important to Orthodox Christianity as St Peter's in Rome is to the western Christians. The ONLY country that actively seeks to support the Christians of the East in Syria (who are almost all Orthodox) is Russia which is an Orthodox Christian nation.
"During Hussein’s regime I visited Iraq and its northern areas, and I was in Mosul. I visited ancient Christian monasteries. I saw this pietism of people and was glad that Christian churches calmly exist in the Muslim environment. Now almost nothing has been left. The monasteries have been destroyed and the churches have been blown up, 85% of Christians have been either eliminated or expelled from Iraq’s territory. And this could have happened in Syria,"
Comment is about Genocide (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thank you dear Keith. Amongst many other atrocities the invading Turks destroyed many of the libraries, and librarians, in Constantinople. Libraries holding not only ancient Greek manuscripts but texts in Aramaic, Hebrew and Persian. These texts going back 3000 years were destroyed gratuitously. The Turks didn't, and don't, place any value on the Byzantine inheritance. They are barbarians all! Erdogan, and his Daesh-supporting regime, should be kicked out of NATO now!
Comment is about The last Byzantine (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thank you, John, for your comment. I agree.?
Comment is about Silly Rabbit (blog)
Original item by Brian Hodgkinson Jr.
Moving observation on desperation, Aviva.
Comment is about Real Lows And Artificial Highs (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
In answer to your question, Brian: No, nothing can be better than that.
Comment is about Silly Rabbit (blog)
Original item by Brian Hodgkinson Jr.
Just seen this, MC. (We've been away on holiwags to Scarbados). So effective in its simplicity.
Comment is about BEDDED BLISS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
In a sense, anything affecting the state of being is a condition. But
to be selective and discuss ANY in the pejorative sense is just reprehensible when there is no detrimental effect on any OTHER state of being. Indeed, it would show itself as a form of prejudice,
not least because there would be no likelihood of any sort of benefit
in any direction.
Comment is about Another Condition (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
That's the spirit. Obtain pleasure from the simple things so often
taken for granted. To which I'll add raindrops sliding down a
window; the distant laugh of a stranger; the whistle of a passer-by;
and the clean smell of a fresh new dawn as the sun comes up.
.
Comment is about Reasons To Be Grateful Week One (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Indeed. A prime example of "They also serve who sit and wait" - even when it's hundreds of thousands of miles away above
another planet. His exposure to those stresses certainly didn't hinder
his advance towards a venerable age back on Earth.
Comment is about EQUAL IN GREATNESS (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
I can see it now - the words readily reproducing the image. Something to crow about! Nice one.
Comment is about Old Crow (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Thank you Ghazala and Nigel for commenting ?
Thanks also to everyone who clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
By the way, this poem was untitled until today...
I had to spend a while thinking about it...
But I'm really happy with the title that it now has.
(And now, THIS poem ^, has also got a title)
'This poem was untitled until today'
Comment is about Real Lows And Artificial Highs (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thanks for all the likes folks, they are most appreciated
Comment is about Wordsworth's Shroud (blog)
Original item by Graham Parker and his musings
Friends who have
reached those lows
can pull you free
if you let them.
Comment is about Real Lows And Artificial Highs (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
A surreal but interesting read.
And just enough gaps to thread our own meaning through?
I think I know what this poem means, but I could be wrong.
Comment is about Meeting The Day (blog)
Original item by Adam Whitworth
Thank you for reading the poem. I'm glad you enjoyed it.?
Comment is about Aviva Rifka Bhandari (poet profile)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Nothing but plain truth.?
Comment is about Real Lows And Artificial Highs (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Gratitude in atitude wins grace?
Comment is about Reasons To Be Grateful Week One (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
A tribute worth reading.?
Comment is about EQUAL IN GREATNESS (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
You can find more of my poetry here in WriteOutLoud or simply by searching on line for DAVID SUBACCHI.
Comment is about EQUAL IN GREATNESS (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
jan oskar hansen
Thu 6th May 2021 11:17
Thank you, Stephen, Stephen, Holden and Julie for reading this one and the likes. Not a nice poem at all.
I felt like a bit of an imposter writing this one, as I have no experience of the subject matter. But I thought perhaps it might speak to others.
Comment is about Chlorine (blog)
Original item by Tom
Beautiful imagery, there is a sadness but yet a recognition of power.
Comment is about Poisonous flowers (blog)
Original item by Sanja Atanasovska
Invade
knight takes maiden
each intimate attack
rapturous rewards await.
Comment is about War Of The Sexes (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
I think you need to re-read the history books or maybe contemplate why most countries of the world have police forces and justice systems of one sort or another, all of them existing far longer than you seem to have thought, and maybe you should consider... why did we need police and justice systems if everyone was as kind to each other as you seem to believe they used to be?
Comment is about Where are the old days? (blog)
Original item by Jadia4708au
Thank you for the likes both Stephens. Ghazala and Holden.
Thank you Stephen G, feeling much brighter today. What a difference a day makes. ?
Comment is about The Fourth Of May (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks, Aviva. I had forgotten about the butler. And thanks to Nigel, Stephen and Holden for the likes.
Comment is about Detective Stories (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Glad to hear that, Julie.
Comment is about The Fourth Of May (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
<Deleted User> (13740)
Wed 5th May 2021 17:01
'Thank you for Waiting' was new to me, but it has everything.
Comment is about Simon Armitage launches library tour at 'Ashby-de-la-Zoom' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
If homosexuality is a condition, well it is spreading like wildfire with more and more celebrities, or famous people coming out of the closet every day. A condition afflicting more than 10% of our population that we know of statistically. (how many more are hiding their condition?). I am not afraid of catching this condition, I have had numerous intimate relations with men suffering from this condition, AND I AM FINE!!!
Thanks Keith, J.D.
Comment is about Another Condition (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Thank you for your comment Stephen ( & enjoying your book, The Shape Of Trees, by the way!)
And for the additional ?? Tony, and Brenda. Always appreciated ?
Comment is about Beyond (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thank you very much Stephen. The outlook is much brighter today.
Comment is about The Fourth Of May (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Throwing a few of these your way, Julie ????☀️☀️☀️?️
Comment is about The Fourth Of May (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
John,
Thank you for updating your profile as it brings you more into focus. Now I am able to see the exterior which hides the interior where so many fine poems come from.
Regards
Keith
Comment is about John E Marks (poet profile)
Original item by John E Marks
I think you have misunderstood my comment DK. I meant grateful for your work not the brevity of it! I can see why you read it another way. Apologies!
Comment is about Short Poem (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Thank you for all the kind likes for this poem.
Comment is about Dawn Chorus (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
A poem which drenches my heart with tears at the sheer impotence of the West. A powerful poem indeed. A poem which speaks the unvarnished truth. I am drawn to the sentiments expressed in the last two lines of the second stanza. A poem in honour to the fallen faithful, who were abandoned by their fellow Christians who saw no profit in going to their rescue.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Genocide (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thank you to Ghazala, Brian, Stephen and Nigel for commenting! ?
(I'm sorry that somehow today I can't think of individual replies)
Thanks also to everyone who clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
Comment is about The Hardest Tears (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Wed 5th May 2021 03:21
ouch!
by the way, love your new photo on your blog.
wink.
Comment is about Graham Sherwood (poet profile)
Original item by Graham Sherwood
Knowing the dream
we once had
crushed into submission
starts the nightmare.
Comment is about The Hardest Tears (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
John,
A poem to commemorate the ultimate fall of the Byzantine empire and the blood which stains the sacred places now desecrated. Your photograph of St Sophia's, for that is what it will forever be, is magnificent and a symbol of its rich Christian heritage built on the foundations of those devoted to the what was taken from them. The photograph speaks of the ultimate victory.
I see President Biden has at last acknowledged the Armenian massacre.
May they rest in peace.
Thank you indeed for this
Keith
Comment is about The last Byzantine (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
A gentle poem which takes the reader from a desperate situation to the fruition of friendship and love. It places love above sex which is the order where these emotions should be. It is a poem of transformation and personal healing found within the hearts of two people are are honest with each other.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about The Accidental Best Friend (blog)
Original item by J.D. Bardo
Tue 4th May 2021 20:40
Thank you Stephen, I really appreciate it ?
Comment is about Pharisaic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thu 6th May 2021 23:30
Thank you John for commenting ?
Comment is about Real Lows And Artificial Highs (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari