Selected poems - based on the life experiences of Robert Nissim
TEENAGE HEART
In the realm where teenage hearts entwine,
A tale of love, both tender and divine,
Two souls aflame, their eyes did meet,
Yet fate's cruel hand laid down defeat.
A symphony of stolen glances played,
In hushed corridors where secrets stayed,
Their laughter echoed in the air,
A bond so sweet, beyond compare.
But whispers of doubt began to creep,
As hidden emotions were buried deep,
Society's rules and judgments cast,
Shadows upon love's blossoming vast.
Time flowed on, and paths diverged,
Their love's ember dimmed, no longer surged,
Thwarted by circumstance, a bitter pill,
Their connection strained against love's will.
Oh, thwarted teenage love, a poignant art,
A melody unfinished, a yearning heart,
In the tapestry of life, a bittersweet hue,
A love that once was, forever true.
THE RABBIT HOLE
In shadows deep, a rabbit hole,
A choice to make, a daring stroll.
The treasures hid, allure so bright,
Yet comforts fade, like waning light.
A dance between the known and new,
Familiarity, or worlds askew.
Excitement tinged with quiet fear,
A dual path, both far and near.
The rituals, like old, worn shoes,
Offer comfort, chase away the blues.
Yet beckons the call of the unknown,
A siren's song, a whispered moan.
Discomfort mingles with delight,
As senses stretch to take in sight.
New worlds, emotions, unexplored,
A tapestry of feelings poured.
The language blooms, like petals spread,
To frame the thoughts within the head.
A lexicon of wonders, vast,
From depths of rabbit holes, amassed.
So, traveler, with heart alight,
Navigate this dual flight.
Embrace discomfort, let it be,
For treasures lurk, both small and key.
THE BEACON
In the realm of tasks, I wield my spoon,
A futile dance beneath the moon.
A tunnel deep, a list so long,
Yet progress seems to crawl, not strong.
Each checkmark gained, a teaspoon's scoop,
Against the earth, a feeble loop.
For what seems crucial in this hour,
May fade with time, lose all its power.
Priorities, like shadows cast,
Shift and change, they're never fast.
Moods and moments, fickle guides,
Twist and turn like shifting tides.
Yet in the heart, a truth does dwell,
A deeper purpose, one can tell.
Established early, firm and clear,
A beacon strong, dispelling fear.
Goals aligned with life's true call,
A steadfast anchor through it all.
No fleeting winds can veer astray,
The course set forth in early day.
I seek within, find what holds true,
To guide my path, my steps renew.
For in the ebb and flow of time,
A steadfast purpose is sublime.
THE PARADOX
In shadows deep, where paradox lies,
Happiness dwells, a fragile guise.
Small joys, like sparks, ignite the soul,
Yet balance hangs on a delicate toll.
For in this dance of pleasure's sway,
My mind must turn its gaze away,
From equal sorrows, lurking near,
Lest ecstasy be quelled by fear.
In sequence, I seek moments bright,
Obsessed, I grasp for fleeting light,
Each gratification, a cherished gem,
Yet veiled from life's dark stratagem.
A mind unburdened, free to soar,
Would bear the weight of sorrow's core,
No room for rapture to take its flight,
If every sorrow claimed its right.
So let me revel in this curious game,
Chasing sparks, avoiding flame,
In pockets of joy, I find my stay,
A paradox that lights my way.
ENLIGHTENMENT
In youth's embrace, I sought my wealth,
In possessions, I placed my stealth.
Believing trinkets held the key,
To a life secure, happy, and free.
But as years unfurled, I yearned for more,
Larger, grander, I sought to score.
Yet in the chase, I lost my way,
A hollow path, where shadows sway.
Information became my guiding light,
Agency and power, I held in sight.
With knowledge, I'd shape the world anew,
Or so I thought, as the days flew.
Systems, machines, societies' dance,
I delved into their intricate trance.
Yet deeper I ventured, the more I'd find,
Security eluding, slipping through time.
Then came the revelation, a wisdom profound,
Serenity's secret, in stillness, I found.
For security, dear friend, is a state of the mind,
Not in things we amass, but in how we're aligned.
In the quiet chambers of thoughts and desires,
Lies the power to kindle life's radiant fires.
To shape our existence, to find peace within,
Is the truest wealth, where all journeys begin.
A FATHER'S JOURNEY
In shadows of ink and strokes so bold,
A journalist and painter, tales untold,
Prolific, relentless, his craft consumed,
Yet hugs and help, often assumed.
Homework left to the solitary pen,
Lessons learned, to navigate and fend,
From WWII's crucible, wisdom gleaned,
Wits the beacon, in times so mean.
Beside him, a Christian, pure of heart,
Selfless service, a noble art,
Almost a nun, in her sacrifice,
Her love, a beacon, a steady light.
Material props, anchors of the past,
Their absence leaves a yearning vast,
Yet deeper within, a wellspring dwells,
Where strength emerges, where truth compels.
Lost at times, in this shifting sea,
Seeking roots, a sense of glee,
Yearning for recognition's gaze,
To stand as strong, in life's diverse maze.
Through the tapestry of lessons sewn,
A unique path, distinctly grown,
From journalist's fire, and painter's grace,
Emerges a soul, finding its place.
PROTECTED DATA
In a realm of music, thrilling, bold,
Invited by a friend, my heart unrolled,
To a concert, a symphony, a grand delight,
But fate, it seemed, had a curious fight.
Amidst the crowd, I roamed, lost and alone,
No free seats in sight, in a sea of unknown,
A random seat I chose, my hope in place,
But strangers arrived, claiming their space.
Again I moved, my face red with shame,
But this bizarre dance repeated its claim,
Two more times ejected, bewildered, distressed,
In this concert's chaotic, seating-related mess.
Deciding to confront the enigma within,
Backstage, my presence, a dubious sin,
Security staff emerged, their faces stern,
To escort me out, lessons harsh to learn.
Outside, near a tranquil lake's embrace,
Interrogation began, hostility they'd trace,
Questions poured like a relentless rain,
About my past and purpose, a bizarre refrain.
The confrontation grew, their motives obscure,
One guard, a menace, his intentions impure,
A forceful push towards the waterside,
A battle ensued, as I fiercely defied.
For in my knapsack, a treasure was kept,
A laptop precious, not to be wet,
With vigor, I resisted, the struggle profound,
A dance of strength, on the lakeside ground.
Breathless and shaken, they finally withdrew,
Understanding they couldn't force me to rue,
Though the night unfolded, strange and wild,
I clung to my laptop, like a protecting child.
In the end, I walked away, mystified, perplexed,
A concert night's tale, in memory flexed,
With questions unanswered, the reason unclear,
A laptop saved, in a night filled with fear.
THE TEN WORLDS
In moments spun by Time's delicate hand,
A tapestry of potential, vast and grand.
Within each heartbeat, a thousand tales,
Inhabitants' essence, like ships with sails.
Experience weaves its intricate thread,
A quilt of wisdom, where dreams are spread.
Memories dance, a waltz of the past,
Guiding our steps, as shadows they cast.
Will, the sculptor, molds destiny's clay,
Shaping tomorrows, as nights turn to day.
In rooms so still, where seconds stretch long,
Lies dormant power, like a silent song.
Yet sudden, a spark, an electric jolt,
As inertia surrenders, a story unfolds.
The room comes alive, with vigor and fire,
A surge of potential, rising ever higher.
Bodies in motion, a ballet untamed,
Or minds interlocking, ideas unchained.
From kinetic frenzy to thoughts that ignite,
The spectrum is broad, the spectrum is bright.
For anything's possible, in this cosmic dance,
In every heartbeat, in every glance.
Moments hold multitudes, stories untold,
In the hands of the people, a future unfolds.
ETERNAL HEART
In the wake of Time's silent stride,
Artifacts and memories abide.
Each era leaves its mark, distinct,
A tapestry of days succinct.
Through corridors of days long gone,
Whispers of style, like a timeless song.
Memorabilia, a treasure trove,
A testament to how we strove.
The 60s, bold and free,
Colors clashed, and spirits danced with glee.
Bell-bottomed jeans and tie-dye hues,
A revolution, breaking old-time views.
The 80s brought a neon wave,
Synthesized beats, a bold new rave.
Shoulder pads and hairspray high,
Defiance painted 'cross the sky.
Yet as we journey, let it be known,
The medium shapes, but not alone.
The heart within, a constant flame,
Through changing styles, it stays the same.
For wisdom's birthed in every age,
A product not of fashion's cage.
Affections bloom, transcending years,
Their roots run deep, conquering fears.
So let the artifacts stand tall,
They tell of times, both grand and small.
But know, dear heart, you're more than this,
A spirit boundless, a boundless bliss.
THE FIVE STAGES OF LIFE
In infancy's tender grasp we start our tale,
Eyes wide, eager hearts, a world to unveil.
Learning the dance of life, steps yet unsure,
Innocence blooms, a future obscure.
Youth's vibrant tapestry, colors unbound,
Yet goals in the distance, elusive, not found.
Misguided pursuits, like ships lost at sea,
Time slipping through fingers, wild and carefree.
Midyears unfold, routine's sturdy hold,
Productive yet static, stories oft told.
In the grind we find purpose and gain,
Yet echoes of youth's fire still remain.
But as full maturity's sun climbs high,
A newfound clarity, a boundless sky.
Infant's wonder reborn, fresh and bright,
As time's fleeting nature comes into sight.
Savoring moments, like wine finely aged,
Time's furious pace, by wisdom, assuaged.
This stage, the most satisfying, we find,
The longest of journeys, the sweetest of kind.