Mostly the Ghazal is far from religious in its subject matter and indeed the form appears to be blessed with an abundance of erotica. This is probably why the form became very popular in Europe in the 1800's and then later in the US with the "Flower Power" generation.

Unfortunately the essential elements have been lost with these "Modern Ghazals" and now is the time to revive them or at least make it known what those essentials were.

The Ghazal is a series of couplets each one capable of standing alone as a poem. The first couplet is called the matla or the place where the heavenly body rises. This sounds like a pretty good start for a poem.

This couplet also sets the meter of the poems and the rhyming pattern. In the true Ghazal, the last word/s of both lines of the first couplet must be the same and similarly, the last line of the following couplets must also end with the same word/s.

Modern Ghazals seem only to rhyme these last words. Below is an example which follows a more modern pattern.

It follows logically that although the Ghazal has no set length, if it has seven couplets then it also has the basic requirement of a sonnet; i.e. fourteen (14) lines. The other requirement is that it must also have 14 consecutive lines.

Some people also would state that it must also be Iambic Pentameter also to be a sonnet. The Italians who devised the sonnet, merely said 14 lines, and no meter was stated, similarly the Spanish and the French. The Ghazal originated in Turkey and so I would grant an exemption there also. The example below shows the same example as before, in a sonnet form.

Bitter Race Tonight lets have a drinking race Without your love no clock will race Fill the tankard with wine that's soured Competition in jars shall be the race Pour down the wine drink to forget Make our feet too leaded to leave the race Memory lasts longer than liquor poured Un-lived dreams litter the path I race Life's bitter brew this cup o'erflowed With thoughts that makes my heart race Horus and Bacchus joined me tonight Overcome by wine and slows the race Till consciousness by sour wine devoured Strikes me out of this hard fought race Ryter Roethicle

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Ghazal Challenge Replies Maryse Achong Ancestral Ties Indian Arrival Day Divena Collins Flames Of Passion Of Eternal Love Spirit of the Sea The Spirit Within Well Stone A Crow Whisper To Animals Ryter Roethicle All things must end Autumn’s Last Days Friends La Morte d'une Souris Quote Stars ZZZZ Time Nia Wynne August Leaves Good Cheer

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Maryse Achong Ancestral Ties “Come my children lets get together Take my hand brother and sister Look around you what do you see Rainbow people of La Trinity.” From many different countries they came to our islands, And so our ancestors made their homes in these islands. From Europe, Africa, India and China they came, And mixed with the indigenous folk of these islands. A huge melting pot of people is what they became, Representing all the ethnic groups of these islands. The term Rainbow People is just one popular name For the inhabitants of our beautiful islands. With no one race to call my own I can now proclaim I am a true product of my beloved islands. ----- In celebration of Indian Arrival day “Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.” Sanskrit Proverb They came from India to this new land of hope They left their motherland with their hearts full of hope. They crossed the Kala Pani with fear in their hearts Yet through it all they were sustained by their hope. They arrived on a boat called the Fatel Razack And whilst the journey was long they never lost hope. Both Hindus and Muslims came bringing their cultures, Though different they shared the common bond of their hope. Today we wear their clothing and relish their food, Celebrate their coming which was borne out of hope. Welcome again my Indian brothers and sisters You have shown us that once there is life there is hope. back to list

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Divena Collins Flames Of Passion Flickers of flames that dance unto the night Softly yields shadows through this night. Enhancing all that becomes within this glow Loves sweet passion flamed by candle light. The moon may shine its fullest in the sky And heavenly starlight may glisten bright. Natures evening perfumes may fill the air Of fragrant glowing petals shaded white But nothing in this world of love compares As candles flicker softly through this night. Candle 1 - Vladimir Kush ----- Of Eternal Love When soft and gentle breezes blew a kiss Which placed on parted lips a tender kiss. Whispered then of love, true love divine Desirous within a sensual touch of bliss. Spirits soar while lovers become entwined Creating precious moments to reminisce. Both heart and souls eternally combined, This unconditional love shall always exist. Love with cherished hearts cannot be blind When placed on parted lips a tender kiss. ----- Spirits Of The Sea Her spirit arose from the depth of the sea From her watery grave in a relentless sea. An unrest spectre returned from the deep From a sunken ship, `twas lost to the sea. She arose from her darkened silent sleep As gales broke her silence across the sea. She called for her lover as she did weep His spirit to rise from the deep blue sea . Together they flew from the oceans keep Arose as doves, from the crest of the sea. ----- The Spirit Within So warm this spirit that glows with love Deepening the thrills of sensual love Within pleasurable dreams of desire Enticing emotions within this love The flames of passion flicker higher Sparked once again the joys of love. Awakening of emotions transpire A warmed spiritual calming of love. Fantasies of dreams now retire To embrace close together with love. ----- Well Stone A Crow Two fine blackbirds had perched on a pole For blackbirds often like to rest on this pole. Six crows came and knocked them off the end, A man came from Poland, called himself a Pole. He sparked up a bonfire striking two stones Threading six crows through the metal pole. He roasted all the crows on his barbeque Licked clean his fingers and the metal pole. Down flew the blackbirds saved from this folly To tell you the story of crows, and the Pole. ----- Whisper To Animals A whisper of kindness is all they need Soft gentle words even animals need. For they have got feelings like our own Whichever the species, whatever breed, They all need love, and are not alone A little fondness, to calm and to feed. Spiritual rewards have oft` been known Animals in need could be close indeed. A trust and affinity has to been shown Together like us, true love is their need. back to list

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Ryter Roethical All things must end Save not a thing it all must end It’s inevitable all things must end. Why must someone have to die Why must there have to be an end Why is it only then we realise That it’s too late, we’ve lost a friend All things have not been said have they? Say it now, drop your pride and bend Friendship is still the greatest wealth Why must we wait until the end? When it was his world - Vladimir Kush ----- Autumn’s Last Days Streets of clouds with the sun peering through Settle to reddened slumber as the day is through. Black clouds threaten the blue morning skies A sight that may prove the drought is through Birdsongs are lesser from almost wintry skies As all avian merriment for a while is through. Homeward drives made difficult by glary skies Led by chilling winds that are knifing through. Soon those drives will be made with darker skies And misty fog with headlights punching through. ----- Friends Save not a thing it all must end All things must come to an end. Why must someone have to die Why must there have to be an end Why is it only then we realise That it’s too late, we’ve lost a friend All things have not been said have they? Say it now, drop your pride and bend Friendship is still the greatest wealth Why must we wait until the end? Declare your love or regret forever Love is the riches you cannot spend The dead take nothing with them All things must come to an end. ----- La Morte d'une Souris Today I had to kill another mouse He was small and grey a nosy little mouse. Lately I had killed several around the house They were probably kin to that little mouse. If only they would keep away from my house I wouldn’t have to kill each little mouse. But they came and searched my house And I found traces left by each little mouse. They ate my food, and shat within my house I resolved that I should kill each little mouse I placed traps in various places in my house And one by one, I killed each little mouse. And in one of the toilets in my house I flushed away the body of each little mouse. Should another one come into my house It’ll get the same deal as any other little mouse. ----- Quote Love knows not it’s depth until separation Kahlil Gibran We know not how much we love until we part, What greater pain is there, than when we part? Each time we meet is now a loving ceremony And for awhile nothing is able to keep us apart That love we had together is naught but a memory But how can anything tear that revelry apart? Remember love is not just another sweet revelry True love is when two lovers become one part. All this is merely one poets simple philosophy To ease the pain each time we have to part. ----- Stars Wandering hand in hand easily we touch the stars Let us dwell there and be free amongst those stars. Life and love give birth to moments of shadows Each shadow pales and falls away before the stars. When lovers touch, loving and love become as one But loving and lovers are more glorious with stars. The moon has become the light for all that is love The deepest love begins under the light of stars. There is no reason to love, love removes all reason But all reason is lost, and all love begins with stars. Other Worlds - Vladimir Kush ----- ZZZZ Time Finally with dark it is the time to sleep Indeed the sun is in the deepest sleep. On the stage of life no-one’s left to play The actors are all gone, and fast asleep. Daytime creature await another day Covering and protecting as they sleep. For awhile the trees no longer sway And it seems that all has gone to sleep. The stars begin to fade and go away Now it’s the time for the night to sleep. Night Prod - Vladimir Kush back to list

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Nia Wynne August Leaves Shadows fall over me Much the way August leaves. For breath of October Forgets how August leaves. You're looking charmed Just like green August leaves. Is there any magic When our August leaves? Recalling how we shared Before our August leaves. Sun lights the hours now As you find August leaves. ----- Good Cheer Tis now the hour of dread and fear Mysterious, no good nights cheer. The ways of subtler minds dream Any words of love for good nights cheer. Sweet of wine and romance dancing Are the best ways of good nights cheer. Every word a means to draw lines In sands of time, there's good nights cheer. Once there was a time I could fly, Kathy wishes for good nights cheer. back to list

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