May 8, 2012

Bob Sh’mal Ellenberg

OUR SOUL SHEDS TEARS

In my meditation this morning I began to concentrate on my soul; sort of looking for where it is in my body. I know though that my total body is my soul. It is not a place: It is all of who I am. As I sat and quietly and I watched my breathe, the term “soul force” came to…

 OCEAN’S CHOISE

Really! Flager Beach Ocean, what were you up to that day?

How do you choose?

It all seemed pleasant.

Enjoying our selves.

As we sat on warm sand; watching people play.

In waves not too rough for a brave few.

Then down the beach a bit, voices of alarm.

Oh, come now, it’s a beautiful, sunny, fall, day.

A few begin to run.

Why…

One of my thrills being back in Gainesville after three years is my return to the McRorie Community Garden on SW 4^th Ave. I planted it early this fall with the help of a friend who maintained it while I was away. I’m so impressed about how productive it quickly became with very large broccoli heads, prolific and large collard leaves, salad greens galore and other veggies.

            Something came to mind about gardening that I hadn’t quite felt before: How gardening is a…

After living in Seattle for the past three years, I moved back to Gainesville a month ago. My first impression, a feeling really, was that Gainesville felt as close to me as my skin. Lying in bed on one of those first nights I easily thought of all the things I love about this city. The first week I walked out on Bolens Bluff to the lookout platform on Paynes Prairie. I find that place as sacred and peaceful as any place I’ve meditated. A few days later I was on the wooded paths of…

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I can't help but wonder about the militarism of the United States and what can be done in order for change to come to our country regarding the way we arm countries around the world. I'm not sure what it takes to make this be different, but seeing all the people in Freedom Square standing so firm for what they…

Miki took at least three to four hours getting ready for her “dates,” as a high priced Hollywood call girl. Her ritual process began after she woke late morning to early afternoon, taking a half-hour shower. She would come out of the narrow bathroom that barely had room for the stall shower, sink and toilet,…

 Sh'mal Ellenberg

908 NE 115 St.

Seattle, Wa. 98125

shmal8@yahoo.com

352-256-9279

                                          A DEATH IN THE DUST

The young man was wearing a traditional Muslim skullcap, neatly dressed in stripped, loose fitting slacks, a lightweight, long sleeved, knit shirt squared off at the bottom, loose out of his pants; he walked into a temple unaware that he…

Sh’mal Ellenberg

908 NE 115 St

Seattle, Wa. 98125

206-268-0160

Shmal8@yahoo.com







CHANGING MARY’S DIAPER









Mary was frail, so weak she could barely get to the potty near her bed without help. When I came into her room to see how she was doing, she was lying, prone in bed, her knees, slightly bent up; her face, a bit ashen from not eating well and sickness, but still with her glowing, smile, so familiar to me. Having…

Dear Shaya:

Honest, honest. This ongoing poem began as I relate in the early stanzas, but I couldn’t stop myself, working on it daily as days unfold. It began just for you, to be shared with

Bahira; now I find myself wanting to work on it more and more to keep expanding

this mode of sacred telling. I have joked about Batina have ocd,…

I wrote this story for an under 300 word contest. The story came to me after standing by a stream in a park outside of Seattle that had a sign about the stream, that fifty years

ago, during spawning season, the stream was filled with salmon bank to bank. Next

fall I’ll have to check out how few there are. And there was a metal statue of

the otter in the park.…