Segullah Journal

2009 Poetry Contest Honorable Mention October, 2007 Sharm el-Sheihk, Egypt  “But the Children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” Exodus 14:29    I’m watching bodies  from where I sit at the end of [...]

2009 Poetry Contest Third Place Thanksgiving, 2009 Munich, Germany   “For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28    She wept [...]

Dawn rides the morning air over silent houses and abandoned gardens, flickering light along the edge of the windowsill, ushering in my grandmother’s fearful cry. Like a crumbling yellow leaf dropping suddenly from an ancient oak, the stillness shudders and startles me from my dreams. I find her, golden, warm and white. Eyes, closed as [...]

My first child was an unexpected gift. I’d never really thought about children, and it didn’t occur to me that I could be pregnant. I had no idea how that big watermelon-sized lump in my belly was going to get out. No one told me about birth, and I never asked. I was that ignorant. [...]

“MELANIE, ELIJAH DIDN’T MAKE IT.” Those were the first words I heard as I drifted back into consciousness. I tried to respond—to tell him that I knew, I understood—but no sound came out. There was something blocking my throat; it hurt. What was it? I tried to reach and pull it out and hands stopped me. [...]

I walked into the room where you were; You looked so peaceful, resting there. So natural, like you’d looked many times over the two decades I’d watched you sleep. I leaned over and kissed your lips still warm, But not reciprocating now. I smoothed your snow-white hair with my hand. By small measure my heart [...]