Inspirations: Poems, Songs, and Reflections

By Laith Biltaji

Poet Laith Biltaji began writing songs and limericks in his head as a child, only committing them to paper later, as a teen. While he draws his inspiration for his poetry from everyday occurrences in his life, it was after reading Michael Crichtons book Travels that he decided to compile a collection of his poems and divide them into four categories: journeys, love, people, and songs.

Biltajis poetry is the product of his personality, which stems from both Middle Eastern roots and global exposure. It is a deconstructed, chronological documentation of his journey through early teenage years, adolescence, and adulthood, documenting influences, people, and his never-ending search for the understanding of life and the supernatural experience of love.

His new poetry collection, Inspirations, takes a peek at the inspirations that have shaped his life from his teen years to the present. The poems capture and crystallize the different levels of awareness that he has experienced over a period of twenty-five years. It is that distant region within him and in this world that he has endeavored to uncover and that comes alive in Inspirations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781475954937

Laith Biltaji

Laith Biltaji currently lives in Jordan.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Laith Biltaji.

Cover and inner illustrations by Rasha Hawamdeh

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-5495-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-5494-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-5493-7 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012919246

iUniverse rev. date: 11/05/2012

Contents

Another

Questions at Thirty Thousand Feet

Senseless

My Words Are Your Only Friend

Hallucinations

Reflections

The Search

Watching the Day Break

32

Earth

Equilibrium

Balance: A Reflective Journey into Darkness and Light

Heroes

My Demons

Reality Check

The Buffet Incident

Cin Cin

The Question

Evolution I—Sufi Thoughts

Evolution II

Now Here

Fool’s Gold

You Are My Man

As I Lay in Her Embrace

Come to Me

Emancipation

Fantasy-Reality

I Love You

I Wait for You, My Dearest

If We Could

In Another Life

In Too Deep

She Has Taken My Heart

Love and Honesty

New Dawn

One More Shot of Vodka

Open Your Arms

Our Love-2

Play or Love

Swedish Whims

The Dream

Thoughts of You

In the Absence of Love

My Words Are My Soul

I Have Found a Friend

Immortal Love (For Bana)

Juliet

The Boy with the Curly Hair

Last Words

For Justin

She

A Thousand Miles

Far Side of the Moon

Lead Me out of This Pain

Look out of Your Window

Nobody Else

Vignettes

What’s a Tear?

With Every…

Your Song

I Will Always Love You

To the loving memory of my grandparents, Husni, Hajj Eid, Sarah and Nazirah; to the continuous inspiration of my parents, Akel and Nawar, my children, Bana and Akel Jr., and my brother, Qais; to all my family and friends, who have always believed in me and encouraged me to be myself; to the people, moments, music, and journeys that have inspired me to write; and to the woman, the energy, and the love that is Rana Haikal, my Athena.

journey.jpg

Another

Another ride to the airport

Another security check

Another long line at check-in

Another stamp on my passport to validate another exit

Another boarding call

Another trek to the plane

Another Welcome on board; please take your seat.

Another takeoff; my heart stops, then slowly starts to beat.

Another battle to sleep off the miles

Another trip to lavatory confinement

Another Are you okay in there?

Another landing: bumpy, smooth, shaky—I don’t really care

Another Thank you for flying with us.

Another What is the purpose of your visit?

Another customs check; I am randomly chosen.

Another taxi—white, yellow, beige, or orange—Sorry, sir, this one is taken!

Another drive through another city

Another hotel doorman

Another bellhop with another beaming smile

Another hotel room, my home for another night

Another seat at the bar

Another shot of vodka to help me through

Another insomniac wandering in the lobby

Another "Nice to have met you; here’s