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Dear Readers,

Please remember to viisiit www.snapshotsinmemoryofben.com

Free Form Thoughts

http://doingfine.org/redir/50bc6fe5.php

Where authors and readers come together!

Free Form Thoughts ...

When reflection looks back upon memory,
I see you quietly thinking.
Gone now you have been for ...
well, I've lost count.

You know how it is ... important thoughts occur to us
when we least expect them,
such as happened last night ...

"I'm learning to live without you ..."

and I realize I've been here before.

It shouldn't be so difficult, right?
And on some days, it's not, but
there are moments when it is and
I regret my many mistakes.

I don't know why I stopped singing Eliyahu Ha Navi to you ...
I only know I wish I hadn't.

Words of regret ... there are just so many of them.

Dare I say any more?

In the way of things, complacency precedes regret,
and it is precisely when that has occurred
that one realizes how irreversible is the irreparable.

Alan D. Busch
March 6, 2008

"Simply Musings Pondering Prayer"

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"Simply Musings Pondering Prayer"

Subtle although not hidden,
our strength reside in Thee.
Weighty affliction we shoulder,
enable us your servants to be.

Take hold of His hand in crisis
like Mordechai before no man bow.
Walk humbly with thy Maker,
know how very blessed art Thou.

Acknowledge His majesty each morning,
Your obligation to Him let be,
Dutifully recall before alighting
Ana Ha Shem, I thank thee …

Speak from your heart with devotion
though He utter not a word.
Listen quietly lest His message
reverberate in echoes unheard.

Say these words at your bedside
Your neshuma hath He returned
Offer His gift to others
Fear of heaven hast thou learned.

When at last resistance surrender,
selfless thou art become.
Give back more than you’ve taken
whilst clinging to devotion profund.


Alan D. Busch

March 5, 2008

Where authors and readers come together! Dear Readers, please visit me at the above website. Below I present one of my favorite poems. Wouldst I had penned it ...

I do not know who first penned this wonderfully poignant, prayerful poem which I have typed in italics, followed by a short personal commentary; its verses are few but powerful in their wisdom. This is one of those good things you've heard about; you know ... the ones that come in small packages or, if you like, a virtual blueprint of parenting-especially for younger parents just starting out. I've always loved it and have carried it in my head and heart for nearly thirty years though I often wonder how well or badly I measured up during my own early parenting years ...

"Oh give me patience when tiny hands

Take a really close look at your young children's hands ...are they not amazingly tiny and beautiful? Everyone I hope has either experienced or seen a baby grasp with its whole hand but one grownup finger! My favorite fingers belong to my daughter Kimmy; they are beautifully long and slender, and I've loved them ever since I first beheld them upon her coming into this world! I kid you not ... that her fingers were what first caught my eye.

tug at me with their small demands,

I recall Ben trying to redirect that forkful of dinner away from mine and into his own mouth, seated as he was upon my knee and apparently under the erroneous impression that I was to feed him only!

and give me gentle and smiling eyes,

May your eyes mirror the heartfelt joy of your child's achievement; in other words, let your eyes always see and be seen as they were when you witnessed that first baby step! May they always "remember" that moment!

keep my lips from sharp replies.

Teach by example of speech ... moderation, patience of tone and content. Guard thy tongue for once having spoken ... well, the efficacy of "retraction" is entirely fictitious.

and let not confusion, fatigue or noise

Child rearing can be and is often raucous, enervating and frustrating at times ... step back!

obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys ...

Don't ever pass up an opportunity to smell a flower with a child or watch a butterfly flutter about!

so when years later my house is still,

You know they'll fly from the nest one day! While there, keep it cozy, warm and welcoming!

no bitter memories its room may fill."

May our parenting mistakes be few and minor in nature so that our children will return to the nest with their fledglings in tow! If you make it this far, commence*KVELLING!

*Kvelling ... when your heart pounds with pride and joy upon witnessing your child's accomplishments.

Alan D. Busch

"Shacharis Musings"

Dear Readers,



I am pleased to announce that my original piece of poetry "Shacharis Musings" will be published in the coming weeks by Poetica Magazine, Poetica Magazine, Reflections of Jewish Thought "A fierce light beats upon the Jew." C. G. Montefiore


“Shacharis Musings"

As morning light little shines
in still wee hours before dawn’s rise
speak to Him before day begins
through visions of angels’ eyes.

Praises of kindness and words proclaim
majestically soar o’er ocean sand
the majesty of Creator’s fame
know whom before dost thou stand.

Close thine eyes to worrisome day...
With shroud enwrapped o'er thee
bound both arm and head adorned
closer to Him a moloch be.

Ancient hopes on pages worn
in prayers long seen through tears,
awaken molochim early morn
to pray for length of years.

Examine each day ere too late,
In prayerful haste lest thou proceed
Secure a place at Heaven’s gate
Prey not upon man dost heed.


Alan D. Busch
March 3, 2008

Eight Years Ago

"Eight Years Ago" ... on going reflections of a bereaved father in memory of Ben, now in the eighth year of his permanent absence.


Since we bid thee farewell
Eight years ago,
many tears that morning did shed.
Into cavernous depths we lowered thee
united to souls art thou wed.

I want you to know
I have lived as well,
as best I could I did try.
Nary a morn, noon or night did pass,
couldn’t ever help I but cry.

I felt so bad all those years
When your days of youth deprived
while sickness stole so much our strength
from wells that might have thrived.

Much like you, what did we do
when alone there left to lie.
Living our lives lest we stray
from faith otherwise worn and tried.

It is hard to explain
these feelings I have
without you, my life to live
day by day, I can’t but think
my life for yours I wouldst give.

Alan D. Busch
February 26, 2008

To purchase a copy of Snapshots In Memory of Ben, please visit www.snapshotsinmemoryofben.com or reach me at alandbusch@aol.com

Please visit http://www.snapshotsinmemoryofben.com/ to purchase a copy of Snapshots In Memory of Ben

"The Wall"

“The Wall”

In days long since, from ages ago
ingather to His Makom flock
among whom dost Thou dwell
Ha Shem likvod Yisborach.

L’ Adon Ha Kol l’sha-be-ach
To Him we devotedly send,
Prayerful shards, writ kvitelach
To whom our knees do bend.

Open thy hearts kedoshim
to His avodah, tahor and pure,
gather at His feet molochim
beware lest thy doubts doth stir

Whence this devotion unfailing?
ere stones stand thou demure
open thine lips heaven upward
thy portion in shamayim secure.

Hear please our supplications,
of which uttered none profane …
wherefore our faith sustaineth
memories of pious refrain.

Alan D. Busch
http://www.snapshotsinmemoryofben.com/
Alan D Busch (author) on AuthorsDen