another acceptance

Another poem accepted for this New Year!    Look for it Soon here!


http://madrushmag.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/mad-rush-1-lineup/

unbound CONTENT is proud to announce the launch of the last new book of 2012: Captured Moments, by Ellenelizabeth Cernek! You've read her poetry at vox, and in this collection you'll get to read more and see her beautiful art which graces the cover. 

What do I love about this book? It's our first book of romance poetry! As I write in the book's Introduction, "The poetry of Ellenelizabeth Cernek definitely falls into the category of romance poetry. You'll know it from first read, just like we sometimes know love at first sight." Curious? Well, there's only one thing to do about that: order a copy!

Captured Moments is available in print here: https://www.createspace.com/3741270 

Christmas Cactus

On a starry cold winter's night

A small cactus which has never bloomed

Drinks in the light

Of the Bethlehem’s star.

As the Glorious Light

Bathes the world with Joy

A small baby boy

Was born in a manger

The small cactus rejoices

And Blooms

All the color of the rainbow

In homage to the new born King.

Merry Christmas

Poetry and Music

In the cold snow,

poetry and music,

fills the quiet,

from the hands

of the child they call Shahenda,

Magical melodies woven,

as the wind inhales,

forever holding her songs in its breath,

until Shahenda beckons them,

to fill the world with peace. 

12/7/2011 © Ellenelizabeth Cernek

New Home For Christmas

After the fire, being displace and living in hotels for more than 3 months, we are now settled in a home in Sedona, AZ.  It took us a long time to find the right place for the family and our large dogs.  But settling in here is like a stepping onto another planet.  They roll up the sidewalks by 9:00 pm, and us being from the east coast, we are just getting ready to go out at this time.  There is a lot to adjust too, but the aha factor is like when you take a heavy sigh and release it.  Every turn in the roads around here there is something else to smile about.  So being displaced here is not as stressful as waiting for the house to be rebuilt  in New Jersey.  Thank God for J's middle son, who is taking care of the details of the rebuild.  Any additional stress for J, could mean bad news.

So the new home for Christmas will be here!

It’s Been A Year Now

Keeping Face for you: Eleanor Ruth Cernek: RIP 7/16/10

Eleanor was a fierce, passionate, strong and loving woman, true to the zodiac sign of Leo she was born under. She was a loving, wife to Martin, Mother of 4, NanNa of 4, and Great Nan to 2.

She was a dedicated volunteer to many causes true to her heart. If we as children didn’t find her home we needn’t look any further than St John’s. The children of St John’s school knew her as “Mrs.C” the hotdog lady, a second grade CCD teacher; she was a constant fixture at St John’s School. The many rummage sales, Barn dances, Craft Fairs, Penny Auctions, are too numerous to count, but everyone could count of Eleanor helping in one way or another. She had a nightly ritual of crocheting, and would donate her Afghans for these sales. She was the president of the Rosary Society several times, where she organized fund raisers of various and unique opportunities, one I remember well was her Lever-brother’s soap testing. So if any of you use “All” detergent our family tested it.

When Father Tom need help to thank the altar boys, Eleanor suggested taking them for a picnic to Interstate Park. There she cooked hot dogs and hamburger, while Father Tom would play ball or assisted them in fishing or crabbing in the Hudson River.

She was a den mother for the boy scouts, and leader to the girl scouts. She always had wonderful crafting ideas for the children. She would get Ivory soap for the boys to carve, and would teach the girls how to crochet along with other activities. She worked hard for both the boys and girls to achieve their unique badges, which would include marching in the parades, and hikes at Palisades Interstate Park.

The local Kids of 4^th avenue were special to my mother and father. Having the deli, and working 6 days a week, my father would always take Eleanor and the children on outings every Sunday after church. They would go to Lake Welch, Bear Mountain, and Interstate Park just to mention a few places. They would include many of their children’s friends along for the fun. The more the merrier was their motto. We were never short of space for anyone who wanted to come along. They loved sharing their love with all. After the passing of Marty, in 1977, Eleanor ran the deli and the Kids of 4^th Avenue would look out for her when she closed the store at 10PM. No one was allowed to mess with Mrs. C. I know she was thankful in having them hang out on that street corner keeping her safe.

Eleanor loved the beach. She was fortunate enough to have a small place in Toms River to call the summer home. Summer would start early the years she owned the house. We would open the season on Mother’s Day each year celebrating Motherhood. Eleanor, my sister Jane and I would have wonderful time on Mother’s Day at the beloved beach house. Most of the Mother’s Days in my memory were warm and sunny walking along the sand, and along the boardwalk of Sea Side. Even if you needed a jacket it was a warm and loving day we spent together.

Eleanor would open her summer home to many people throughout the years she owned it.

The small private beach on the bay at the end of the Gary Road in Toms River was home for my sons Sean and Dennis and my nieces Ellyanne and Jennifer for their summers. Eleanor taught them to swim, build sand castles; crab and fish along with letting them grow up into the wonderful adults she was so proud of. I believe they would call her awesome.

We would not stop going down to Toms River well into the early winter. We loved to walk along the boardwalk during the Christmas season. Cold and bundling the grandchildren in snowsuits, we walked and walked and walked. Eleanor was an avid walker all of her live, I believe that is what keep her slim and trim.

The numerous stories each one of her family and friends have are laced with love and kindness that was genuine and unique from only Eleanor.

I believe she is now at peace with the only man she ever loved, my father Marty. They are now together again, watching over all below with love.

We were blessed to have had Eleanor as Mother, and Grandmother and friend in our lives, and we pray that God welcomes her into heaven with open arms.

I Cry For Her

 
I carry gifts to my dear friend and her sons, from their wayward husband and father. Alha is a friend of my husband first, on meeting Sophia his wife, a beautiful friendship bonded between us, which spans across the seas. Now for almost eight years, her husband lives in New Jersey and she and her three boys in Egypt.
I carry a closed white plastic bag for her from this wayward man, for who she has been waiting these long eight years to return. With care she opens this white bag to find all the pictures of herself. I feel her pain swell within her, yet she closes the bag, and continues to speak, stands tall, and does not allow her tears to invade her eyes. Yet I know they are in her heart. I feel like I have betrayed her – yet I knew not of the contents of this tiny white plastic bag. If I had known, I would have thrown it in his face. How dare he do this to this beautiful and wonderful woman? And to do this by giving it to me is unforgivable.
She stands tall and bids good bye
And I cry for her.
©8/6/1999 Ellenelizabeth Cernek-Kashk