Tag: poem

Deep Kind of Love

I have been a big fan of the water and we will talk about that in another post some other time. I want to talk about that deep water metaphor thing right here. I know that I have talked about deep emotions, whether it is love or something else. I also know that I have talked about being in love at least once. Love, just like any other emotion or feeling is deep or complicated or both of those things. Together, can be a deep complicated mess and yes, I just made that up. I crave to be around people who love deep and hard. Why? Because I am like that person too. Lao Tzu says that “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” I think that deep type of love is scary and terrifying, but sometimes you just have to dive right in because if you will not do that, who else would?

We all have parts of ourselves that are hidden and below the surface. Like I said you just have to dive deep. That brings me to my next quote which explains what I have been talking about. “Everyone is deep but most are afraid to dive.” Some of the best things, including love, are wonderful and amazing. I want to talk about the other end of the spectrum, being in the shallow end. Those types of things are right on the surface or easy to find. There is nothing wrong with people who are in the shallow end, but those people are the ones who area afraid to go deeper. You have to make that decision for yourself in what end you want to be in because sometimes you cannot be in both, especially at the same time. Christopher Reeve says that in this quote. “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” Sometimes there is a difference between the two.

I conclude this post by strongly encouraging my readers to think about those two different versions of love. It is either that type of love that is deep or is a type of love that is shallow and not so deep. There is nothing wrong with choosing one or the other. I will leave that decision up to you, but I would strongly encourage to go for the deep type of love because it could last longer and does always leave you so empty. It is good to have someone you can have deep conversations with. Shallowness is not always appealing and does not always leave you satisfied, but that is just my own personal opinion. Whatever you decide, stick with it and enjoy the ride. May you find the love you always wanted to have. Deepness almost always gives you that connection, which is what life is about. Since there is a lot to be said about this topic, I will include 2 different pieces. Just a side note that Deepness, Part II is a working title because I wrote a poem for Part I, but Part II is a rework of the original piece. I will let the pieces speak for themselves. I know that there is so much more I can say about this subject matter, but that about does it for now. Cheers.

Deep Love

Any other girl could begging for your attention,
But you only want and have mine.
You never even try to mention

Those before me because you only intertwine
Our hands and hearts together, but
It was never with theirs. I try to trust the sign

That we are finally out of this deep rut,
But people will always try to follow
And tear us apart. We shut

Out those who do anything to hollow
Us out. They never dive deep
And only play around in the shallow

End. The love and willingness will seep
Through more than the doubts ever will.
We must always try to keep

A firm grip on a future that will fill
With happiness and hope for raising
A family together. We have things that are still

Within reach. Life can turn out to be amazing
With the right person while the wrong people just
Fade away. Everything around us will be blazing.

Deepness, Part II

I want deep and long conversations at 2 AM. Random drives
At night, blasting the music when we cannot go to sleep.
Darling, put away your sharp instruments and knifes.

You have a kind of love and connection that I want to keep
Around forever. I know that life gets dull and boring, but
I want to spend time lying under the sky, getting a peep

Of the real you. I want to know what you see when you shut
Your eyes and picture your life. I want to know every dream
And fear you hold onto. Darling, I hope that when you put

Out your hand you would trust me with it. Your stream
Of thoughts and ideas are safe. I am not the one to judge
You, but together I hope that we will become a team

And trust each other. Do not wash away the smudge
Or freckle because it shows that you have imperfections.
We are moving on ahead with a small push and nudge.

People might think we are moving in opposite directions
When we know we are both going exactly the same way.
We know that we can be perfect and mirror reflections

Of each other or darling, we will find a way to stay
Different. Life is no longer on a stage or in a play.

Old Drama

Remember when I talked way back when about leaving things behind? Well… one of those things that we have to leave behind is old drama. I do not know about you all, but I got teased relentlessly throughout middle school and high school. Those people who teased me, I do not associate myself with them anymore or at least I try not to. The worst thing is that they pretend to be your friend and do not remember that they treated you terribly back then. Yes, I am a person who loves drama, but that only comes in the form of theatre and performance drama. Trust me, I have dealt with drama, especially coming from a huge family, especially on my mom’s side. Someone is always talking about someone or not speaking to someone or spreading rumors. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Sounds like high school all over again. Please, I know we are back in high school with this bullshit, pardon my language. Two things I will not tolerate; those are fake people and old drama.

That brings me into my next point of combing the two. I do not have the time, nor the patience to be dealing with those kinds of people. That brings me to this…which is best explained in this quote. “Sometimes those who don’t socialize much aren’t anti-social, they just have no tolerance for drama and fake people.” The worst assumption that people can make about me and people who are very similar in this regard is that we are anti-social. We still deal with people, just not those who are trying to bring us down and I will take more about the type of people we should be around in a different post…later down the road. That is why I only associate myself with some people from school, especially middle school and high school. That brings me into my next quote. “Drama just does not just walk into your life. Either you create it, invite it, or associate it.” In other words, do not let drama come into your life. It will give you headaches and things you do not want in the long run.

I know that I keep telling people this, but walk away. However, this time I am saying to walk away from drama. You should never try to associate yourself with drama. That brings me into my next quote which says “Real people avoid drama. They know their time is too precious. and choose not to waste it on unimportant people.” Sometimes I should take my own advice. Do not walk right into drama either. Those people who create drama thrive off of it, so do not give them that satisfaction. I just wanted to thank an old friend of mine from middle school, Ms. Sareena, who inspired this poem. You taught me a valuable lesson of never entertaining or being fooled by old drama. The best thing to do is to extend an olive branch and forgive. However, if they do not take it and want to bring up old drama, then walk away. Keep walking and never look back. I hate to be harsh, but those people do not deserve to be in your life. Cheers and remember that you should try to live your life as drama free as possible.

Leave the Drama Behind

Do not be fooled by the old
Drama and by people who think
They know you. They acted cold
Towards you while they wink
At you now, thinking that you are still
Friends. Darling, they are dumb
Enough to want to catch up and fill
The space with stories, but some
People never change. They want
The gossip and the latest scoop,
Not knowing that every taunt
Still echoes. Go ahead and snoop
Because you have nothing to hide.
In fact you have been way more
Successful while they want to ride
With you to the top. They swore
To be your friend, but they
Have become masters at telling
Lies. Never let them get their way
And become manipulators. Swelling
With pride is their way of being
Secretly envious. They want your
Life because they are finally seeing
They are going nowhere fast. Before
You let them watch you fail, succeed
So hard that they have to doubt
Themselves. You will find no need
To satisfy them. Their drought
Is your garden, watered with hunger
And motivation to live above
The drama. You are not any younger,
Living in a world lacking love
And respect because those people
Will still love you, but you also find
Forgiveness under the same steeple.
Leave the hurt and scars behind
Where they belong. Right their
Wrongs even when they are
Far from being sorry. Clear the air
And leave it at that. Be a bright star.

Being a Second Choice and Backup Plan

I know that I have not posted for a while and I want to apologize for that. Anyways…I want to start off by talking about why this post topic is important because it is not as simple as it sounds and it is definitely a lesson we can all learn. Let me start off by talking about where I got this idea from. When I was an undergraduate at McDaniel College I was in an on and off “relationship” with this guy for about 1 to 2 years or so. To be honest, I was relieved when it was all over. The point is that while this guy and I were in this so called “relationship” or whatever you want to call it, he was always constantly choosing himself, as well as other people and things over me. He was pretty much making me his second choice and backup plan. It sucked because I wanted to mean something as much as he did to me, but it did not work out that way. This is going to sound harsh, but that was his choice and decision. He was making no effort to make me his priority and that hurt a lot. After that kind of relationship happened I promised myself to never try to put myself in that kind of situation ever again because it was not worth it. It taught me to never force someone to make that choice.

The whole point of all of this is to say that you should never settle to be someone’s second choice or backup plan. I just want to tell everyone that we are worth way more than that. That just does not regard a romantic or traditional relationship, but for friends as well as family and other types of relationships. Consider this following quote as a mantra to remember and it can last you a lifetime, I can guarantee that. “I’m not a backup plan, and definitely not a second choice.” I want my readers to remember that because being someone’s back up plan or second choice is not a good feeling at all. In fact, sometimes it hurts more when you do not even become someone’s choice to begin with. Do not take it personally because it is on them and not on you. In other words, there is nothing more you can do and you deserve to be someone’s priority, no matter what.

In fact here is a quote to explain what you should do if someone ever starts treating you that way. “When someone treats you like an option, help them narrow their choices by removing yourself from the equation. It’s that simple.” That is going to sound harsh, I know, but you sometimes have to do it. I get it if it something reasonable, but if they always treat you like an option and a choice then you have to walk away. You have to take yourself out of the situation, no matter how much it hurts to do so. That is what I strongly conclude to my readers… walk away if they start treating you that way. It is a survival mechanism and works in the long run. It is good for your own health so that you do not have to constantly worry about them and you at the same time. They have issues to sort through and you all should leave it at that. Hang in there and realize that I am right there with you. Just a side note…this poem implies a romantic type of relationship, but it can be used for almost any situation you find yourself in.

Her Over Me

You did not choose me because you always
Chose her or someone else over me. Maybe
Our stolen moments and your secret gaze
At me were not enough for us. When you see
Her instead of me, it hurts more than it should.
I thought we had something special, but the daggers
And harsh words came out instead of the good
Ones. The big and revealing truth staggers
Instead of standing up straight. I hated you for
The way you made me feel. It was like we had
A chance, but it was ruined. It was your
Lies and dishonesty that made me really mad
Like a thunderstorm. I could no longer stand
To look at you because everything came back.
I wanted something more than holding hands
And secrets. Darling, I wanted to black
Out and forget it all like none of it never
Happened. You always make it look so easy,
By pulling the trigger, plug and lever
On all we had. How can you not be so queasy?
But I guess you never really cared about me after
All so it was a simple solution. I never got
To see your smile or hear your laughter
And the reality is that you never once thought
To fight for me every single day while I was so
Wrapped up in you. I had to watch everything go.

Growing Up

Growing up…something that is terrifying to think about because when we used to be kids we wanted to be a grown up and when you grow up all you want to do is to be a kid again. For some reason it just happens that way because sometimes we want the opposite. However, some of us can still try to be kids on the inside. There is a quote I want to throw in here, which is super deep and meaningful by the way. “Soda becomes vodka. Bikes become cars. Kisses turn into sex. Remember when dad’s shoulders were the highest place on earth and mom was your hero? Race issues were who ran the fastest, war was only a card game. The most pain you felt was when you skinned your knees, and good byes only meant until tomorrow? And we couldn’t wait to grow up.” Sometimes we don’t have to grow up that quickly. Anyways, there are certain situations and things we go through that make us grow up, sometimes rather quickly. For me that situation came when I applied for college and decided to attend college outside of California. People took one look at me and thought I was crazy, but also courageous. I made that decision because I was ready for change and that is a part of growing up. Sometimes as we grow up we are ready for different things, places and people. That is also a part of growing up.

During those days of college I learned a lot about myself and was for the most part, able to make my own decisions. I made the choices who I made friends with, what classes I took, etc. I was learning how to be financially stable which is still a struggle, but I am learning. A lot of those things in my mind are all a part of growing up. That certain situation might be different for someone else. That is also a time where you find out who you are and what you want because that could have been different from the time when you were younger. A part of growing up is sometimes doing things you did not do before or losing people you were once close too. In other words, we outgrow those things and people. I want to thank those of you who have been there while I have been growing because they have never left my side. I even want to thank those who left me too because those people taught me a lot. That brings me into my next quote. “Whether you pushed me or pulled me, drained me or fueled me, loved me or left me, hurt me or helped me, you are a part of my growth and no kidding, I ‘thank you’!” You all are really a part of my growth, no matter what.

Another time that made me grow up was simply going from a girl to a woman and that was also when I turned 21 when I was in college. We go through all those changes when we grow up and although I am now past 21, it still feels like I am growing up every day. I do not think that growing up phase ever truly goes away. Someone may want to argue with me about that, but it is whatever. When you grow up you lose things, but growing up also may mean to keep some things and to also gain things. In addition to growing up we also grow, which is pretty much the same thing as growing up. It is just without the up part. We let things grow and blossom. I want to include this quote because it all the things we go through growing up. “As you grow up, your priorities change, nights out are swapped for nights in, your circle gets smaller and games, drama, and partying every weekend just aren’t fun anymore. You get to a point where it’s quality over quantity, like your your career, your relationships, your family and YOU! You want quality now. Something that’s yours, something real, something you can grow, something you’re proud of. As you grow up, you want a future, not just a for now. As you grow up things change, YOU change… and you start to like it that way.” This poem I included is a reminder for all of my readers that it is okay to grow/grow up because all things and people grow up, whether it is plants, people, feelings, etc.

Growing Up Into a Woman

Darling, I hope that you dry your tears
That you cry when you go to sleep at night.
Believe you are stronger than your fears
And that you are still the endless light
That glows. You are no longer that little girl,
But you are still a fighter and growing up
To become something more than a pearl.
You never lost your ability to see that the cup
Is still half way full. You are a good woman with
Optimism, magic and hope at your fingertips.
You have to be more than that fable, myth
And fairy tale. You write your own scripts
And stories. You are someone’s wonder
And super woman, but you do not belong to
Them. You may trip, but you never slip under
Because you are someone who is always true.

Never Wait Too Long

First of all, before I dive into today’s subject/topic I just want to take a quick break for a second to wish all the moms out there a happy Mother’s Day. Whatever mom you are, whether you are a single mom, adoptive mom, foster mom, step mom, those first time mothers, those trying to be mothers, those who have lost their moms, etc. we appreciate you all. Thanks for being inspirational and a part of our lives. We really would not be here without you. Thank you for being teachers, showing love, guiding the way, being role models, etc. I am lucky enough to have 2 moms. My birth/first mom: thank you for being my mom and doing what you do. My second/east coast mom: thank you for taking me under your wing and for supporting me throughout college/beyond. I hope everybody else takes the time to show appreciation towards their mom. It is something I will talk a little bit about in this post. Thanks for tuning in. Here we are, back to talking about today’s original topic/subject.

I know that I recently just talked about timing and fate in one of my recent posts. Furthermore, I want to dive right into something that ties in with that subject matter. I know that I have said that timing is everything. On the other hand, you cannot just sit around and wait too long. Sometimes by the time you stop wait and take a chance to something, that opportunity may be already passing by. In other words, it would be too late to take that shot and chance. I got a quote that fits perfectly into what I am talking about. “The good ones go if you wait too long.” In other ones, the good opportunities and chances go quickly if you wait too long. Remember when I talked about taking chances? Yep, that is what I am talking about. You have to take those shots and chances, even if it does not work out.

What also happens when you take too long, especially in telling people how you feel about them, especially with someone you really like is that someone else can come along and take your spot. In other words, someone else can come along and by then it would be too late for you to do anything. That brings me into my next quote. “Maybe one day, I’ll be what you need. But don’t wait too long, because the day you want me, may be the day I’ve finally given up.” Think about it this way, if you tell someone how you feel and you never know if they feel the same way. The best case scenario is that they can like you right back or the worst case scenario is that they do not feel the same way. Either way at least you go in knowing that you at least tried.

I know that people are told to “wait it out,” especially when it comes to feelings and things along those lines. Yes, in some situations waiting is super important, but a lot of the time you really should not wait. That is why I try to show appreciation for the people in my life. What happens if you do not show your appreciation/gratitude and then they die or something? They will die not knowing how much they meant to you, regardless if they felt the same way about you. Even if you had bitter experiences with them, it is better to be safe than sorry later down the road. This brings me right into this next quote. “Say it before you run out of time. Say it before it’s too late. Say what you’re feeling. Waiting is a mistake.” Even if you are afraid to say it, you should definitely say it all. That opportunity may never come to ever again.

Never Wait Too Long

Do not get all caught up in the hype of
Physical beauty when it should matter
About the goodness inside. That is not love
If you care about if a person is a mad hatter
Rather than loyal and kind. The truth is that
Some of the best people are a little crazy
And weird. Not everyone is always what
They seem. They could be like a daisy,
Ordinary or like a rose, beautiful but full
With thorns. You cannot always avert
From the truth and they can either pull
You in like a magnet or leave you in the desert
For days. It is your decision to make,
But make it wise and strong because
Once you make it you cannot take
It back. You may be missing out on what was
A good woman with kindness and understanding
In her heart versus a woman whose looks will
Eventually fade away. She will be commanding
Your attention, but not with the full spill
Of emotions and feelings to come with it.
She will make you feel empty when you got
What you came for. Only then will you admit
That you miss that woman who long forgot
You and is the company of someone who never
Took her for granted. She waited but not for too
Long. You know she is too good for whatever
Level you are at. In the end, she never needed you.

Timing and Fate

Sometimes people say timing is everything. I am going to dive right in and mention a quote right away. “Timing is everything. If it’s meant to happen, it will, at the right time for the right reasons.” However, timing can also suck big time, especially when it comes to people and certain situations. For example, you might meet the perfect person, but it is at a time when it just does not look or feel right. On the other hand you might meet the wrong type of person at the right time. It does not matter in regards to who this person might be because they could be a friend or something else.

The same things go for certain situations. For example, you might get the perfect job but it happens at the wrong time and vice versa where you get the wrong job at the right time. It rarely happens when you meet the right person at the right time or being in the right situation at the right time, etc. Remember way back when I was talking about patience? That can also apply to timing. You just have to put your trust and faith in timing because like I said before timing can either be for or against you. You sometimes have the urge to throw it all away and give up because it does not work out or it is taking too long. You know the saying if you stop searching it will come to you? I like to be reminded of that because I know people tend to forget and put that towards the back of their minds.

I am putting fate right into this post as well because although some people may not see the connection between the two, it is nevertheless important to make that link. I know that I keep on bringing up these sayings that people are familiar with, but bear with me as I am giving you another one. There is a saying that goes something like this. If it is meant to be (fate) it will come back or something like that. I think this quote can say it better than what I was trying to say in my own words. “Fate does not care about plans. If something is meant to be, it will be. I don’t know about you, but I am a firm believer in fate. Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes the reasons aren’t very clear. Some we find out almost immediately, and some we live our whole lives trying to figure out. Why you met someone, why you lost someone, why things happened the way they did. I’m constantly thinking about this. But ultimately, I know that everything ends just the way it’s mean to. Nothing I can do can change the outcome. It always ends well, and if it doesn’t…well, it’s just not the end. It’s that simple.” Fate in other words is when something happens for a reason.

Now that I look at that quote, I realized how much it ties in to the very first one in this post. There is so much more that said about fate, but I will leave it at that because people either believe in fate or not and that is perfectly okay. I am not trying to change anybody’s viewpoint because I am just trying to being respectful while teaching people things they do not know or are not familiar with. I just want to leave you all with at least one more quote. “And if you really need him, fate won’t let you lose him. Fate will bring him back. It may not be soon, but he will come back.” This goes for any person you can think of. Timing and fate are really that important sometimes. I also want to note here for my readers that fate does not always bring someone back because they are simply not your fate. Someone else might be later down that road. I want my readers to realize that and to also realize that you cannot always let fate decide for you. Sometimes you have to make that decision. Here is a poem or two to get you believing in timing and fate all over again, even if you are a non-believer. My final bit of advice would be to be ready for it, whenever it does come your way. Sometimes you might not want to let go. Cheers.

Fate

I know in my head that it is not meant
To be and happen right now,
But some day you might be sent
Back into my life. Somehow
Timing and fate works out.
That should not stop you from
Moving on temporarily. Never doubt
That you should feel sad because some
Day you will find happiness either
With or without me. if you find it
Without me then I will gladly leave
You alone because you deserve every bit
Of it as much as I do. I cannot let you heave
It up the hill alone. If someone else brings
That smile to your face and you get tired
Of the pain I will leave your wings
Intact. You do not deserve to be undesired
Because you are the one person who
Has the ability to make the world both
Bright and holy enough to be lead to the pew.
You deserve everything that gives you growth
And strength. They say timing sucks, but that
Is for the weak hearted. They say fate is for
The fairy tales and myths, but fate is for what
Makes us believe in them again. Let it all soar
High above your heads. Things happen
For all of the right and wrong reasons.
You should never let anything dampen
Your spirits. Fate is in all the seasons.

Healing

You know the saying “time heals all wounds?” Sometimes I wonder where that expression comes from, but let’s not worry about that too much. Sometimes time does heal all wounds, sometimes it heals some wounds and sometimes it does not heal any wounds. It just works out that way for whatever reason. Let us not worry about time that heals wounds because there are other things that heal wounds and scars. For me that would be words, music, writing, reading and poetry all together. For other people they find other ways to heal including therapy, being busy, etc.

There is this quote I found that rings so true for the healing process. “Everything heals. Your body heals. Your heart heals. The mind heals. Wounds heal. Your soul repairs itself. Your happiness is always going to come back. Bad times don’t last.” In other words, we all have something that needs healing, whether it is mentally or physically or emotionally or any other versions of healing you can imagine or think of. That quote is pretty much saying that almost everything can and will heal over a period of time or however long it takes. I want to point that out because everybody’s healing process is different. For some people it can only take days and for other people it could take weeks, months and sometimes even years to heal fully.

As I have said before and as that quote points out even your happiness will find a way to come back. Happiness has a way of healing as well just like almost everything else. Healing is a process and is something that takes time. It is something that you have to work on every single day, no matter what. Leon Brown says that “Healing is not an overnight process. It is a daily cleansing of pain, it is a daily healing of your life.” That goes for healing when you are in recovery from whatever issues you might have. As I have said before it takes time to heal. It also takes patience and trust because you cannot rush the process. Healing is one of the hardest things to do and is not that easy for the most part. Just stick with it and you may turn out to see something beautiful in the end. Just hang in there. Cheers!! Here is a poem to celebrate the healing process.

Healing

The words heal the heartache.
It erases the everlasting pain.
There is never any mistake

In the feelings. The words stain
The pages like blood and ink.
The flow replaces the rain

And tears. Everything I think
Hard about come alive in
The rhythm. I no longer sink

And relive every bad sin.
I am floating in the clouds.
I feel alive in my own skin.

Get me away from the crowds
And into my own quiet space.
Let the words become shrouds

And shields of armor. Trace
Over your story with your pen.
Let the gentleness and lace

Like pattern tell you when
To open up your heart. You
Will be able to fully heal again.

Keeping Things Private

We live in a social media generation, especially for the newer generation. Social media can be great for keeping up with friends, staying up to date of what is going on, that is how some people get their news, and just overall broadcasting information to share. Social media can also become addictive and too informative, hence tmi which stands for too much information. There are days when I use social media a lot and there are days when I do not use it all that much. I know that it varies from person to person. Broadcasting your business does not mean necessarily doing it on social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It could mean telling your friends, family and people you know.

I have learned that there are at least some things to stay private about. In fact, I believe there are at least three things that should be on the down low, which means that it is pretty much a secret and it stays between you/someone else or between you/yourself. Here is a quote explaining those three things. “Always keep your love life, bank account and next move private.” I happen to agree with it, especially as I have gotten older. I have made mistakes in terms of these, but I have gotten slightly better about them over the years. It is true that people begin speculating, but it is okay to let them speculate. The truth is that they do not have to know everything about you.

I think this is especially is important if you are in a romantic relationship because what happens if you are in a relationship, especially a new one, and something happens like you break up, but people know about it anyways. That is no good. It sometimes, in a sense, puts a jinx on your relationships. I made that mistake with my first and only boyfriend, so far. I have learned this from previous experience and my older sister has been a role model/inspiration. This also goes with almost everything in life. People should know some things about you, but you should keep some mystery. The only exception, my case and some other peoples cases is the best friend. This is the one person we tell almost everything to. She is one of the few people I trust completely. That person is the one exception, but sometimes there are things that person does not know and that is perfectly okay.

That is why you have to be careful who you tell your business to because yes, there are people who you can trust, but there are also people who you should never trust because they are just looking for gossip and rumors to be spread around. They want to get into your business. It is like being protective of yourself and setting up boundaries. It keeps yourself and sanity safe as well as protected. It is like protecting your identity and what you do. Yes, I do post some personal stuff, especially on this blog, but I do not talk about people specifically by name unless they are that important to me and when a lot of people know who they are. I guess all of this comes from having a big family, especially on my mom’s side of the family. I will leave you all with one more quote to sum it all up. “Nothing ever comes from too many people knowing your business. Being private and low-key is the best way to be.” Cheers everybody!

Keeping Things Private

Keeping things on the down low
Between you and me because
Not everybody has to know.

People try to sink their claws
Into us but they only want
The latest gossip. Their jaws

Hit the floor but nothing will haunt
Them more than not being able to
Know the real truth. Do not flaunt

What should stay private even when you
Make the next move, they should not always
Know that either. Protect what is brand new.

Let my complicated life be my maze.
I do not need people to enter their
Own commentary. It really pays

To be careful because some swear
To be faithful and secretive while others
Are just looking to pick you bare.

Why I Write

I have been writing poetry for as long as I could remember. I date it back to middle school when we wrote poems for English class. It has stuck with me ever since then. I always credit my 8th grade English teacher, Mr. Rose, for encouraging me to keep writing. People must wonder why I write, especially poetry.

The answer is very complex, but it makes sense to people who are the closest to me and it obviously makes complete sense to one person…That person would be me. I do not write poetry just for the heck of it, although I write a lot when I have nothing else to do. I write it for myself. I write it because it helps me make sense of what I am feeling, especially deep down inside. For other people, it is like writing in a journal or listening to music. It is therapeutic and soothing.

As a person who is, for the most part shy, unless she is around people she really knows, it has always been an important part of my life… the writing of poetry. I know that I have a hard time expressing how I feel, especially out loud and writing poetry has helped me break out of that shell. Writing is the best way to say what I need to say without feeling bad about it. In fact, it feels rewarding and freeing, especially if I am dealing with a bad situation or if I am otherwise weighted down. I write regardless if I am happy, sad, angry, mad, frustrated, etc. It is my way of coping with everything. I always try to carry around a notepad and pencil just in case if I get any inspiration. I even write notes on my iPhone.

In this world, you do not necessarily have to be a poet or a writer. As David Carradine says “If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.” In other words, we can all be writers and poets, but it matters more what you write and the content because it shows we have something to say or at least that is how I interpret that quote. People can disagree with me all they want to. I am leaving it open to interpretation.

To be a poet/writer you have to be open, especially to criticism, the ability to have guts and being vulnerable. That is what makes your writing better and more honest. I feel like honesty is the best policy. You choose what you get to write about. Natalie Goldberg says “Write about what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” In conclusion, when you are writer and Natalie is saying this as well, you have to be fearless and be willing to anything/everything. So I strongly encourage all of my readers to write, draw or whatever it is that expresses who you are and what you have to say. I promise you that it will be worthwhile in the end. It gives you a chance to be yourself or you can be someone else like in theatre and acting. That is the reason why I like theatre as well. There are simply no rules and you can do it any way you want to. Here are two pieces just to show similarities and differences. Enjoy!!

Writing

I get so lost in the words that I write.

The rest of the world fades away as

The words spill out like ink on paper

And beautiful images begin forming.

I do not notice the daylight bleeding

Into the darkness. Everybody talks

Their solitude and this is mine.

The paper listens to me and my pen

Is waiting for my command.

Here, nobody tells me the rules

Or how to write or what to write.

I listen to what my head and my

Heart tell me. Every story comes

To life and it captivates me.

 

Spilled Words

Words spilling out on a blank piece

Of canvas and images tumbling

Out. The doubt will stop and cease

 

Just for a moment. Thoughts stumbling

And lagging behind are catching up to

Me. Things that were once crumbling

 

To the floor like ash are rising up to you,

The one who never truly understands

Unless you know me. My long-lasting blue

 

Sky is different than yours. The strands

Running through my fingertips would never

Make sense to you. Hang onto my hands

 

So you know what I feel, but forever

Feels like a long time ago. Catch onto my

Every word. It will take however

 

Long it needs to for you to get why I cry

And the reasons why I write. Everything

I create are my friends. They make me less shy.

Being Yourself

I know that it is a topic that I have talked about in so many of my blog posts, but it deserves its own category and it is something that I will always continue to talk about since it is something that is very important to me. That would be being yourself. We are born into this world and I have to admit that sometimes it takes some time to figure out who you are. It also takes some time to figure out what you want to do. I remember a while back ago, I am pretty sure it was about a year ago, I was talking to this person who I know who said to me “You’re you.” I sat there and thought about it… I did not truly understand what this person meant. So in fact I asked them pretty much what that means. This person said “You’re you, but your personality is so much more.” In other words, you have to be yourself and your own person. You cannot lose your personality and what makes you who you are, especially to please other people. In fact, you should not be around those people if they cannot appreciate who you really are.

I am digging back into Mandy Hale, one of my many heroes, who says “Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, magical person that you are.” What Mandy is saying is that we have to be ourselves and we have to let people see who we really are, even if we have imperfections we do want them to see. We all have quirks, imperfections and things that only make us unique. You cannot be anybody else because as Oscar Wilde says…”Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” Live in your own skin and your own body. I encourage all of my readers to be themselves. It is truly the only person we can be. Enjoy the following poem.

Be Yourself

Live in your own body and skin.
Nobody can live the life you can.
It is your blessing and your sin.

You are always better than
Those who pretend to be
Someone else. Always ban

Negative flow. Fit your key
Into you own lock and open
It wide. You are not me

Or he or she. You are not a token
In someone else’s pocket. You
Are not the words spoken

By someone else. Be true
To the person you become.
Be flawed. Be one of the rare few

Who will always come from
A deeply rooted place.
Be full with life, not just some.

Always fill in, color and trace
Your own lines. Remember
That you have your own face.