Never the one to be left in the dark, 
As all chaverim let loose - each with his own bark
Writing relieves, so much pent up stress,
Looks like the chevra, with pressure is blessed.

Mirth and laughter, these forums do cause,
Despite breaking, with frivolity, the poetry laws.
Writers, composers, them do we bless,
Alas, James is not here, to clean up the mess.  

What mess? you posit, ask, and declare,
No need to look far, yonder or there,
Broken souls so many, at every turn and rest,
Even great masters and clergy, failing the test.

Oh should they find, this bit of heaven on earth,
Where the masses, refugees, discover rebirth,
Until Hashem floods our world with purity so sublime,
We will just have to give chizuk, in prose or in rhyme. 

So I’ll raise up a quill, and attempt mine own turn,
For these days it’s not praise that we’re trying to earn,
Rather joining together, of our loneliness free,
As we fete and compete, and we praise GYE.

Lay down secret burdens, and make secret friends,
Let the anguish of decades find hope of an end, 
There is healing and wisdom, and sound advice here, 
And at times Cordnoy gives ya a kick in the rear!

There’s no lack of frustration and failing found, 
Folks stretching their hands out, from down on the ground, 
Yet this ladder we’re climbing, it pierces the sky
It’s for giving, and living; ascending on High. 

There are great men to learn from, and writing in rhymes,
Euphoria, sledgehammers, bad setbacks at times,
Yet they’ll find peace of mind, who were lost and forlorn,
On this ladder to heaven where souls are reborn.

cordnoy wrote on 18 Jan 2024 15:32:

this is my first time I'm trying this... (the following is a real story) 


That guy is so successful in life
He has amazing talent and a special wife
His services are in high demand 
He earns yearly a few hundred grand

I'm such a failure compared to him 
My struggles are so great, while his are so slim
When we see only the surface, life seems so unfair
But you never know, so don't compare

That guy later became the talk of the town
When his name is mentioned, people frown
He struggled silently with addiction and was mentally ill
At one point he attempted himself to kill

His wife is with him no more 
He's not rich, but very poor
Never judge by what you see with your eyes
There is so much more behind the disguise

People are fighting silent battles which we don't know about
Instead of judging, give them the benefit of a doubt 
Thank Hashem for all the good that he on you bestowed  
For he loves you and he's your father so proud 

Now, dear Hechochma, you can have your thread back,
now that we're done with our hijack,
Please keep the posts coming, your Chochma to share,
With the brothers and friends who about you do care,
Your struggles, your wins, we do want to hear,
We'll listen, we'll offer, we'll encourage and cheer,
(we'll help you sit down if you get kicked in the rear!) 
We always want to hear about the light in your days,
Or your nights and your flus and the crazy oy-veys,
So please, oh please listen, and come take your thread,
We'll give up the rhymes to hear you instead!

*Standing Ovation for the Oilam!!!*

Shkoach everybody!!!
cordnoy wrote on 18 Jan 2024 16:03:

Thank you very much, Cords :-) Compliments that I have to google to understand are better than jokes that I have to google... And who knew a woman ruled over our nation during שעבוד מצרים - only cords...

@eerie I will continue posting but don't let that stop anyone's creative writing!

Had a decent day today, with the occasional average shemiras einayim struggle.

Otherwise, bh, the comeback from the flu is happening! Learning is just way better than not learning, I must say...

Day 32.

Getting close to the top 100. I know it may not be the technically correct way to do things or what have you, but I get way more motivated from seeing my placemark push higher in the rankings... Just brings out a little fun competition and excitement. At 106 now - I'm comin'!

hechochma wrote on 19 Jan 2024 04:38:

cordnoy wrote on 19 Jan 2024 06:29:

From you Cords, I'll accept even a recycled compliment ;-)

We are waiting for Hechochma Tichayeh Baalehah…

Thank you ChaimO for the beep...

I've been feeling low today - MS blues were postponed this week to Sunday. Had a wicked asthma flareup which didn't help.

Not sure why. My regular low thoughts - what am I going to do with my life, what am I doing with my life, who am I anyway yadayadayadayada.

Whatever, these thoughts go away as soon as I start being productive and stop mopin' around. Starting to get there after having slept away the afternoon.

One thing that was not on the table, however, was pornographic material. Certainly, by now everyone knows that I don't watch porn - I try not to make a big issue about it, but there were some fellas asking me about it today... One was named Ishbish Dickens, the other was Lucifer Beelzebub... Ah and of course good old Nick... No matter, they didn't realize who they were talking to... I ain't no porn-watcher, not by hook nor crook...

Day 36:
I'm sick. Headache, body aches, deep phlegmy cough, deep fatigue, etc... Stupid thing is - I don't have fever. What the heck! No external validation of my sickness at all. So I'm still going to teach and trying to make it to second seder but just hitting the sack when I have no kochos. I doubt my own brain - am I really sick??? Except I really am. Blah.

Refua sheleima

With his flowing beard as white as snow,
My dear friend R' Chaim O,
Posed a challenge, asked nothing less,
Than to define the nebulous notion - "Success"

I pondered, I thought and I contemplated
My brain swirled, stewed and percolated
Finish shas, write seforim on every inyan?
Become a mechanech, zeriya and binyan?
Prayers full of fire and holy passion?
Selflessly give with love and compassion?

Perhaps success is to do with all of my being,
To live in the moment without quite seeing,
To fully be with all of my doing,
Instead of sitting around with my brain stewing.

Well, that's all nice to speculate,
But my brain still continues to percolate,
Looking for an answer, a direction that's real,
Something I can see, follow and feel,

An Anan to guide the journeys by day,
A pillar of flame when the sun starts to fade,
Through the forty-two journeys of a poshiter yid,
Alas, I am lost, and farewell I must bid.
(Just saying Good Shabbos, don't get any ideas...
Stuck here with my thoughts, help out and come free us...)

The dark traveler paused for a moment, his face hidden in the shadowed cowl of his long cloak. A chill wind was blowing, carrying the scent of the freshly fallen snow. There were wolves howling somewhere. He checked the brace of daggers at his hips, and the great broadsword strapped across his broad back, their keen blades glistening in the pale moonlight.

42 Masaos had he passed.
There were many more to come. Miles to go before he could sleep. Yet, as he began walking again, along the path that would lead to the mountain pass, the traveler was humming a quiet tune, hands swinging as he strode with purpose, briskly, into the night. 
Promises to keep, indeed. Yes, he would.