Rainbow of Emotions: A Selection of Poems

By Djehane Hassouna

Rainbow of Emotions is a culmination of Djehane's life experiences. It is a map guiding the reader through the confusing labyrinth of life, unravelling the complicated pattern of her intricate journey through poetry. Djehane writes poems about nature, events, and feelings, about life as a whole. She expresses her hopes and fears, her triumphs and failures, her gratitude and resentment. Every poem is linked to her soul! Every poem is a masterpiece in its own right!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Dec 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780228832560

Djehane Hassouna

Djehane Hassouna grew up in Egypt where she received her formal education in French. Her fascination with French poetry and fairy tales has always inspired her writing. Djehane also speaks Arabic, Italian, and a little Spanish.Djehane received her BA in French from the Catholic University of America, her MA in Comparative Literature from Vermont College, and her PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her life, Djehane has continued to express her feelings through poetry in both French and English. As she writes, and as her emotions take shape into verse, Djehane becomes one with her poetry.

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Rainbow of Emotions

Copyright © 2020 by Djehane Hassouna

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-3257-7 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-3255-3 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-3256-0 (eBook)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Reflection

My Name

Black and White

My Grandfather

Father’s Day

A Good Parent

Sweet Refuge

Sunflower

Telepathy

Lineage

Friendship

Crossing Paths

Traditions

The Weight of Traditions

The Holders of the Truth

Cell Phones

Feeling Hopeful

The House of God

The Power of Prayer

Elevation

Advice to Cassandra

Dreamworld

Dreamworld Revisited

Biking in Place

Blowing Bubbles

Melodies of Nature

Merging with Nature

Light

Sky of Blue

Sun and Moon

Seasons

Sunshine

Sunset

Moonlight

The Sun Is Back

Heat Wave

Autumn Foliage

The Divine Artist

A Friendly Breeze

Clouds

Rain

On a Rainy Day

Umbrellas in the Rain

Flurries

Snow-ladies

Tiny Snow-flowers

Deep Freeze

Thunderstorm

My Friend the Sea

Seashells

Sky Dwellers

Songbirds

A Bird’s Protest

Keep Chirping, Little Bird

Red Robin’s Debate

Social Life in the Sky

Philosophy of a Big Bird

Danger Averted

Waltz of the Squirrels

House Plants

Fireworks: Extending Nature

A Creative Mind

Poetry

Calliope

Poetry Symposium

A Liberating Experience

A Source of Inspiration

The Doors of Knowledge

Bereft

A Vision Connecting Heart and Mind

Wisdom: The Essence of Life

Pride: Creativity Recognized

Languages: A Creative Vehicle

Do You Speak Art?

Cartoons

Feeling Blue

Tears and Smiles

Swiss Cheese

The Need for Courage

Wishes

Stress

Noise

Bills

Shock and Awe

Ever Since

The Others…

How Come?

My Heart is Dead

Absolute Silence

Crossroads of Time

Timelessness

A Witness to Eternity

Time Machine

The Sequence of Days

A Voyage at Sea

The Clock

Forever

Facing Life

Trying to Avoid Thinking

Restless Sleep

Shredding

Retiring

Little by Little

The Very End

Not Anymore

Nostalgia

Getting Older

Memory

Wrinkles

The Little Old Lady

Ocean Wave

Out of Hand

Illness

Tremor

The Unwanted Generation

Being Grateful

Freedom, Fear, and War

Freedom

Independence Day

Being Myself

Feeling Guilty

Identity

History Repeats Itself

Fear

Exploiting Fear

The Hungry Abyss

In Their Own Words

Not in My Name

Let Me In…

Lady Liberty

If Women Ruled the World

World Ablaze

What Is War?

Terror

Peace on Earth

Celestial Fury

Conclusion

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my daughter, Hoda Moustapha, for standing by me when I was organizing my first poetry book. She encouraged me day in and day out, giving me her full support until the book finally took shape. She participated in the organizational structure of the book, dividing poems into chapters that correspond to a unified theme. She helped me select the book title as well as the chapter titles, and she came up with the vision for the book cover.

I have to give her full credit for her continual efforts in performing the daily technological tasks necessary, efforts which would have been beyond my capacity. She advised me during the revision process and ensured that every recommendation by the editor was thoroughly addressed. Throughout the entire process, Hoda maintained all communication with the publisher.

Thank you, my dear daughter, I couldn’t have done it without you.

Introduction

My poetic journey began in my childhood, a few steps away from the Egyptian pyramids and the mysterious world of the pharaohs. I’ve always attempted to verbally express all the beauty surrounding me: gardens full of mango and guava trees, blue skies, and starry nights. As I whirled around in the grass, immersed in sunshine and the floral perfumes emanating from tulips and hydrangeas, I often felt unable to convey all this splendor into words.

My grandfather, who was my friend and my guide, encouraged me to recite Victor Hugo’s poems. His favorite line was Mon père, ce héros au sourire si doux from Après la Bataille. I always complied, and it soon became a hobby as well as a source of inspiration. My readings of French Romantic poems were always accompanied by a flow of tears. As well as reliving every feeling, I experienced the nostalgia described in the works of the great French poets.

My fascination with imagination inspired me to write my master’s thesis "Dreamworld, a Mysterious Dimension" at Vermont College. The majestic trees in Vermont reminded me of the gardens of my childhood home and further encouraged me to continue writing poems about my surroundings.

My love for the sea was shaped by the Mediterranean Sea, on the shore of Alexandria, which was the yearly destination of our summer vacation. I used to carry out long conversations with the sea, as I was overwhelmed by its power and beauty. When I was a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, my dissertation revolved around the motif of the sea in romance literature.

Since Leo is my astrological sign, I am always inspired by the feline’s power and strength in my poetic expressions. I like to write poems about nature, feelings, and emotions, about life as a whole. Our human condition is best expressed in poems since they focus on the particular as well as the general. I was motivated to keep writing while converting my emotions into verse. I thus expressed my hopes and my fears, my triumphs and my failures, my gratitude and my resentment. I feel that it is a blessing to be gifted with a poetic vision, and I aspire to make every poem a masterpiece in its own right. My friends kindly encouraged me, and I’ve never stopped writing since.

This book is a personal creative endeavor, a true manifestation of my deepest emotions. I started writing in 2004, shortly before my PhD graduation. I wrote a short poem for every situation I encountered. Although some of these poems were written many years ago, they are profoundly meaningful and remain relevant today: timeless concepts such as nature, hope, sadness, freedom,