Surrender

burning bright

each a candle in the night...

what secrets are their to find

hidden in Al-Aqsa mind...

Torah's yoke

or

wooden cross

iron nails

and

silver's dross

I wonder

the 

hand

that

guides

this 

pen

which city

or

power

is

the poet's

ken

but

to

submit

where

all

whims

flow

some say

it's the place

that

wisdom

knows

a river runs beneath 

a place

where gardens 

grow

but last shall be first

and

first shall be 

last

and the sidewalk speaks

of all the places 

I'll go

Author's Note

Crazy people gibberish

Reviews

[Gregoria Ahmed]

John, I think your note “Crazy people gibberish” reads more like a defense mechanism--because truthfully, there’s nothing meaningless about this piece. It’s deeply symbolic, almost mystical in its cadence. Each fragment unspools a thread of surrender--not just to faith or fate, but to the idea that guidance, memory, and questioning coexist in spiritual tension.

"each candle in the night" evokes quiet resilience, lighting the dark with something personal.
"Torah's yoke or wooden cross" places human conflict and belief in a shared lineage of burden and redemption.
“The sidewalk speaks of all the places I’ll go” is the poem's haunting sendoff-a nod to movement, possibility, maybe even mercy.

If this is gibberish John, then it's the kind that whispers rather than shouts. It's full of longing, memory, and questions the soul asks when no one's watching. I'm grateful you gave it form.

[John Sullivan]

Part defense mechanism... part I do tend to go on manic tirades on social media from time to time, especially with politics being what they are in the States these days... but regardless, thank you so much for such a review! I'm honored you got so much out of my little poem. Know I will return the review favor soon, I've been a bit under the weather lately. Always a pleasure.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

Rest deeply, John, your health is the true priority, and every word you write is already more than enough. I've been under the weather myself over the past couple of weeks, so I truly hope you find swift healing. As always, reading your writing is a gift.

[Betty Hermelee]

Whatever is in you mind at the time..whether or not it makes sense, does not matter... it's your emotions and your thoughts, "crazy" or not....poetry is just for that!
Warmly, B

[John Sullivan]

Thank you for your thoughts, Betty. And thank you for stopping by. Allow me to say hello, I know it's been a while. Hope all is well.

[Chris Shaw]

I wonder the pen that guides this hand …

I have often wondered the same John. Sometimes I look at a poem and think, did I write that? Let the words flow. I don’t find crazy gibberish here. Hope you are ok. It’s been a while. All good wishes to you.

Chris

[Amy R]

Wow, very thought provoking. Very well penned.

[John Sullivan]

Seven months later, thank you very much, Amy. I hope this finds you well.

[Amy R]

You're welcome, what are the odd, 7 is my lucky number.. keep good poet

[John Sullivan]

Mine too! What's in a number... 7 is a good one...

Thanks for reading.

[Thomas W Case]

Beautiful work, reminds me of Shel Silverstein.

[Desert Knave]

I like this gibberish, but love the closing lines "and the sidewalk speaks of all the places I'll go". Very, well, "zen" ?. Anyhow, an enjoyable read. ~Jim

[John Sullivan]

Seven months later, thank you for your kind thoughts, Jim. Hope this finds you well.

[Kelly Scheppers]

We poets have such an erratic relationship with the pen and the muse. But when it all materializes into a finished product, we are truly pleased, but not a minute before! I keep tweaking my work, and when I finally read it without doing so, then I know its complete. That's my gratification. Good to meet you, John! Your gibberish reads pretty cool, actually...so perhaps I'm crazy, too!

[John Sullivan]

Eight months later I am somewhat taken aback at the kindness of your greeting! Good to meet you too. Such questions... where do ideas come from anyways? Those little nagging voices in the head? Mentall illness? God? Some cultures talk about the spirits, the angels, or the djinn... or maybe we're just all nuts. But ah, the empty page, set before us. Thank you for your introduction, and I'll be sure to return the review favor soon!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Eight months later, and I'm still hanging around here! Lol, good to see you've returned, John! Welcome back!

[Lorry]

And when you question that pen and its flow, poetry is born!
The unending thoughts and questioning barely make sense to ourselves, but somehow when you introduce the pen to paper, the chaos ceases and sense begins to unravel the nightmare that is our thoughts.
When the pen finally finds rest, we find it too.
Superb write.