Remembering

While in
the car I share
with him the adventures
of the past, remembering the
old times.

12/31/2016

Gathering

Road trip
to a good friend's
gathering, ready to
relax and catch up, done with the
old year.

12/31/2016

Peaceful

Peaceful
Saturday, a
beagle giving me a
playful nudge to wake me up and
begin.

12/31/2016

Discovery

My dream of having
someone to love has

Finally come true,
a dream embodied

By warm hazel eyes
and a steadfast will,

Someone who cherishes
my soul with fervor,

One who would stop
at nothing to make me happy.

I always dreamed of
sharing a life with

Someone who cherishes
true love, and I finally

Discovered that in you.

12/31/2016

Phone Calls

I miss
the long phone calls,
the frequent pauses, then
continuing to another
topic.

12/30/2016

Wishing

I wish
my mother was
present at this moment,
to comfort me during my hard
struggles.

12/30/2016

Praying

Worried
about my loved
ones who are still living
through pain, praying for sweet peace to
arrive.

12/30/2016

Fridays

Now that
I can relax,
I treat myself to fresh
coats of polish and relaxing
with him.

12/30/2016

Sharing

Sharing
with her is what
I look forward to all
week, grabbing little moments of
respite.

12/30/2016

Months Later

After
months of silence,
she finally reached out
with a text, and I exhaled, so
happy.

12/30/2016

Reconnecting

So glad
I got in touch
with my best friend again,
sending daily messages and
photos.

12/30/2016

Thoughts

As they
are sleeping, I
can plan my writing and
gather my thoughts together, now
forming.

12/30/2016

Photos

Looking
back on photos
of my niece when she was
little, eating solids for the
first time.

12/30/2016

Small Moments

Moments
of peace before
getting things together
for another work day. Good times
later.

12/30/2016

Urge

The urge
to write is now
whispering in my ear
once again, and I must fight to
create.

12/29/2016

Questions

Now I
fight to regain
my confidence, restore
my passion to write poetry
daily.

12/29/2016

Not Even Love

The love
of my life could
not even pull me out
from the hole of doubt I made and
fell in.

12/29/2016

Months

For months
I struggled to
maintain my love to write,
battling the hectic hours
and stress.

12/29/2016

Breaking

Now my
current placement
continues to lie, cut
back on needed funds, threatening
my peace.

12/29/2016

Frustration

I know
my friends up north
are confused, yet my fear
overpowers my creative
instincts.

12/29/2016

Grew Apart

My new
complication
forced me to drift away
from my creative place, causing
sadness.

12/29/2016

Island in the North

I miss
my dear friends that
reside in the island,
the area where my gift came
to life.

12/29/2016

Missing

I miss
the confidence
I once held close,
the passion to write and produce
quickly.

12/29/2016

Unknown

I love
to create, yet
I now struggle with doubt,
my independence threatened with
deceit.

12/29/2016

Searching for Myself

Quite an
emotional
month, as I was faced with
handling huge obstacles while
living.

12/29/2016

Groups

I wish
I had a group
of female friends that lived
close by, so I could share stories
with them.

11/27/2016

Sunday Brunch

Finishing brunch on
a busy Sunday morning,
sitting with my love.

11/27/2016

She Writes

She writes
and weaves a tale
spun in fine thread and ink,
and these two lines of creative
spark shine.

11/26/2016

New

A new
day will rise soon,
and she must plan how life
will maneuver towards productive
outlets.

11/26/2016

Her Soul

Her soul
keeps creative,
so many ideas swim
inside her mind, waiting to burst
and sing.

11/26/2016

No More

No more
must she allow
fear to consume her thoughts,
for she must move forward and live
her life.

11/26/2016

Months

For months
she wandered in
a cloud of confusion,
allowing doubt to consume her
moments.

After

After
being absent
for a week, she returns
to seriously plot out her
next move.

11/26/2016

Tonight

Tonight
I hope to have
pleasant dreams of moments
captured in the heart, treasured for
hours.

11/17/2016

Relax

I look
forward to long
conversations with my
love, spending a couple days to
relax.

11/17/2016

Forgive

I hope
my poetry
sisters can forgive me
for turning down an invite to
their group.

11/16/2016

Treasured

It is
not every day
that you get a surprise
from work, a treasured gift from
students.

11/16/2016

Each Day

Each day
I feel so blessed
that my love goes out of
his way to make me and loved ones
happy.

11/16/2016

This Life

This life
is teaching me
never to settle for
comfort, to fight for your dreams to
come true.

11/15/2016

More dreaming

Dreaming
of a time not-
so-simple, yet able
to acquire material
pleasures.

11/15/2016

Monday Morning

Morning
arrives, and I
am missing your embrace,
longing to see your face for
comfort.

11/14/2016

Climbing

Wishing
I could find a
solution to aid my
financial troubles, as they are
climbing.

11/14/2016

Years

Three months
ago, he gave
me a gift which I will
treasure in my heart for many
months, years.

11/13/2016

Sunday

Today
was blessed with good
moments with my loved one,
and I am thankful that I will
have more.

11/13/2016

Waking

Waking
to a new world,
readying for the
unpredictable nature in
our land.

11/09/2016

Highlights

Meeting
different people
today, and reaching out
to old friends, were the highlights of
my day.

11/06/2016

Colors

One thing
she enjoyed was
colors all around her,
shades of citrus and lilac, always
in view.

11/05/2016

Solo

I lived
in New York for
several years, becoming
a teacher while learning to live
solo.

11/01/2016

Life Goals

After
that path ended,
I found the strength to go
out on my own and persue my
life goals.

11/01/2016

Lifeline

My days
of sorrow came
to an end, though it was
painful at the time, leaning on
dear friends.

10/29/2016

Creeping

Meanwhile,
my friend's life turned
with many monents, some
joyous, while illness crept to him,
waiting.

10/29/2016

Years

The long
cycle went on
and on for years, while life
went forward, my days with him filled
with dread.

10/29/2016

Cycle

We spent
years in a wild
cycle of fighting, un-
able to pause, my self-esteem
faltered.

10/24/2016

Down

I spent
years living in
frustration due to his
constant arguing, my inner
peace down.

10/24/2016

Another

My days
with another
were spent fighting, my days
consumed by his flawed reasoning
and words.

10/22/2016

Often

Throughout
those college years,
he always brought laughter,
especially through the harsh times
often.

10/22/2016

Welcome

We were
friends during those
years, sharing laughs during
free time, a welcome reprieve from
stresses.

10/19/2016

Reason

We met
about twenty
years ago through a shared
connection, someone who lacked good
reason.

10/19/2016

Sharing

He is
a man who wants
to grow with me daily,
sharing my joys and sorrows in
the path.

10/18/2016

Blessed

I feel
so blessed to be
with someone who truly
wants the best for me, and support
my goals.

10/18/2016

Today

Today
is the start of
a brand new adventure,
so go out there and take on your
one life.

10/17/2016

Wondering

After
a frustrating
work week, I wonder when
the turnaround will finally
happen.

10/14/2016

Weekend

The end
of the work week
brings anticipation,
looking forward to the good times
ahead.

10/14/2016

Stresses

I dream
of being free
of financial stresses,
so I can finally fulfill
my goals.

10/09/2016

Content

Perfect
evening spent with
my love, recalling the
memories that brought us to such
content.

10/09/2016

Blocked

Thinking
about how to
better myself with my
income, as I once again reach
a block.

10/06/2016

Goals

I live
to dream for one
more day, pushing for my
goals to change to reality,
new life.

10/04/2016

Resume

Having
some time
before the busyness
resumes, a few hours left in
the day.

10/03/2016

Encounters

I live
for our next
encounter together,
spending long hours in your arms,
at peace.

10/02/2016

Reconnecting

We met
at a special
time, the start of autumn
heightened by the full moon lighting
our way.

10/02/2016

October

Autumn touches us
during October, its cool
breezes at our backs.

10/02/2016

Rain

Breezy rainy day,
wishing I was with my love
this very moment.

09/29/2016

Stories

I love
the days when we
relax and share stories
for hours on end, not thinking
of time.

09/27/2016

Monday Morning

A sudden chill brings
autumn closer to us, the
heat leaving for now.

09/26/2016

Embracing

When I
am stressed, I live
for your deep, sweet embrace,
your warm arms melting all the pain
away.

09/25/2016

Searching for a Miracle

Moving
on crowds my thoughts
this morning, seeking more
secure employment with better
income.

09/24/2016

Feathery

Light, feathery clouds
paint the morning skies, the sun
shining overhead.

09/23/2016

Friday Morning

Going
to your comfort
is what I always dream
about during breezy autumn
mornings.

09/23/2016

Journal Entry: Unrest

So much unrest happening in our world today. Riots happening in the South and Mid-West due to racism and police brutality. It would be wonderful for people to look past racial differences, to respect one another, but unfortunately we are unable to do so.

I've always been able to look past color. My Puerto Rican family is of mixed race (my grandmother being a black Puerto Rican, my grandfather being of fair complexion). People would look at my family and stare in surprise when I would introduce my grandmother. I always found that very amusing.

Prejudice was introduced to me at a young age. I recall walking home with my mom, and we passed by two little girls. I smiled at them, since that's what six year olds do, but the girl just gave me a look and said to her friend, 'that white girl just smiled at me', and kept on walking. She never smiled back.

I felt confused, turned to my mom and asked why she called me that. My mom replied, 'people say that to each other sometimes, when they look different'. While I'm a Puerto Rican with light skin, I never thought of myself as 'White', since that what my family would say that about the famous people on television.

As I got older, I continued to witness people saying rude comments about one another. I would hear stories from my grandfather about how life was in Paterson long ago, how neighbors were friendly to each other, then just decided to leave when 'people like us' began moving in. I would take in all of these stories and be in disbelief. How could people hate each other because they looked different? My biracial family taught me that differences in skin color should be embraced!

All the shootings, the violence against each other because of race, must end now. The fact that we're still fighting about race and ethnicity in 2016 is still heartbreaking. We need to look past our differences and learn from one another.

09/24/2016

Autumn

Autumn now arrives,
red and golden leaves drifting
onto cooling soil.

09/22/2016

Other Way

We look the other way
when conflict arises,

Wave our hands in disgust,
say 'someone will handle it'

As we slip the blinders
over our eyes.

Even when the layers
are peeled back, and hurtful

Words are spoken, people
victimized and beaten

Due to ethnicity,
religion, and gender,

We hope that someone else
will deal with the chaos,

Even when a tyrant
threatens our freedom.

09/21/2016

Journal Entry: Breaktime Musings

Afternoon during break, drinking coffee. Since I work with toddlers, this is the only time during my work day that I can truly relax. It helps that the staff lounge is next to a classroom playing naptime music, the calming aura helps. Perhaps it might make me sleep too, but that hasn't happened yet.

For now I'm just checking email and reading Facebook drama postings. How people are tired of reading about celebrity couples divorcing (I could care less about Brad and Angelina), and who's feuding in the goth/industrial music world (too many strong personalities clashing with each other). It's all entertainment to me.

During my breaks four years ago, I would Facebook group chat with 3 other people: two I reconnected with from college, and another whom I met at a birthday party. We kept in contact after the gathering, celebrating birthdays and holidays together. My hour would be filled with laughter and weird stories from these friends. This trio became a lifeline for me after a breakup and move to Manhattan. By reaching out to these friends during my breaks and other moments of free time, I learned to heal. I'm now deeply close with one of these friends, but I'll go into that later!

Break is almost done, now to quickly check email before I return to my little ones. Another lovely day, and taking them outside sounds so ideal.

09/21/2016

Resting

Resting
in the early
morning, time to center
oneself before handling the
workday.

09/21/2016

Tuesday Evening

A deep
stillness enters
this late summer evening,
crickets lulling people into
deep sleep.

09/20/2016

Journal Entry: Relaxation and baseball

A moment to myself, unwinding after a long work day. I'm finally doing what I love, yet the work setting is not the most ideal. Despite the challenges, I'm glad it gave me the opportunity to move out of Northern NJ. I lived in a nice neighborhood, yet there was no growth for me there. My former living situation left me in an awkward position with family members. Lots of negative energies whenever I came home. I no longer deal with that, which is a relief.

Now it's the process of getting my creativity off the ground. Feel comfortable with what I can do, and florish while handling a full time work schedule.

Tonight, I'm watching the Mets game. They're turning out to have a good season, even with all the injuries they've endured. It's already been a dramatic week in baseball...there was a West coast game that had a good bench-clearing moment. Too bad that it was a West coast game...living in New Jersey, I was already fast asleep when it happened!

#LGM 🍎

09/20/2016

Whole

Growing up it was
the two of us,

Siblings not through blood
but devotion.

We shared and laughed
together through the pain.

Over time we went
our separate ways;

Our connections now
held together through

Limited calls and updates
through family, if that.

I moved away from our
home town, while you

Continue to make sense
of your life,

Now having another
to care for.

I reach out to lend
support, yet it's met

With silence on
the other end.

Years move on, pages
of time always turning;

Our journeys became split,
yet my bond with you

Remains the same in spirit,
and I strive to keep it whole.

09/20/2016

Splintered

Some deep
connections crack
over time, and we are
left to mend the bridges that have
splintered.

09/20/2016

Unique

Even though time flips through
the pages of our lives,

I think of moments spent
with friends, loved ones,

People who stayed for
a certain amount of time

And exited, for one reason
or another.

Sometimes I am the one
who sticks around and leaves,

My duration in their story
coming to an end.

We all have journeys
that we travel on,

Each path unique,
significant.

09/19/2016

Ignite

Your touch
ignites my soul,
quenching a deep longing,
and I await to be with you
again.

09/19/2016

Saturday Morning

Beautiful morning
with my fiancé, blue skies
and a soothing breeze.

09/17/2016

Decision

We now
decide to move on
together, the next step
in the story of us, turning
the page.

09/15/2016

Whispering

He then
whispered 'every
second with you is so
wonderful' on that cool summer
evening.

09/14/2016

Meditation

Breathing in,
I call peace to

Enter my soul,
silencing the stress

That enters my
psyche.

Breathing out,
The tension exits,

My soul calming with
each cleansing breath.

09/13/2016

Submerged

I stayed submerged
in the litter for years,

The kind that crowds
the mind with doubt,

And I now begin to
pick through the pieces,

Removing the waste, while
keeping layers of life.

09/13/2016 

Memorable

Memorable weekend,
spending some time with loved ones
as summer winds down.

09/12/2016

Silk

The place
to be sings with
rolling waves, singing birds
and miles of sand, flowing as smooth
as silk.

09/08/2016

Pulled

Pulled in
two directions,
both places showing real
contentment, yet I can only
choose one.

09/07/2016

Knocking

Summer breezes start
to fade as leaves fall from trees.
Fall knocks on our door.

09/06/2016

With You

With you
I feel complete,
someone to share my dreams
and triumphs, knowing that I found
my love.

09/06/2016

Orchard

Relaxing weekend
with loved ones, watching the clear
sunset on the lake.

09/04/2016

Beauty

Beauty in Sunday
morning, waking to the song
of birds in sunlight.

09/04/2016

Waking

Waking
up to sunrise,
a lovely sight after
dreading the fierce flooding that was
coming.

09/04/2016

Awaits

Relaxing before
the workday starts, a fresh
beginning awaits.

09/02/2016

Resting

Resting peacefully
on a warm Thursday evening,
summer still alive.

09/01/2016

Breathing

Before
things get hectic,
I relax and I breathe
before I handle the next task
at hand.

08/30/2016

Swimming

Swimming
through the frequent
obstacles, now seeking
a path with minimal stressors
and cracks.

08/29/2016

Lessons

I look
out the window
and give thanks for living
another day, ready for new
lessons.

08/28/2016

Dreaming

Feeling
drowsy, gazing
out the window, summer's
final days shining down on us,
dreaming.

08/26/2016

Changes

Going
back and forth with
sudden shifts in the
schedule, while trying to stay with
writing.

08/25/2016

Different Approach

Always
thinking of my next
steps, a different approach
in order to reach the desired
outcome.

08/24/2016

Grateful

Although
I face struggles,
I feel blessed to have him
in my life, one whom I can share
my days.

08/23/2016

Searching

Just when
you think the right
placement is before you,
the reality boldly shows
itself.

08/23/2016

Watching

I keep
moving forward
in my life journey with
you, walking hand in hand, watching
the stars.

08/22/2016

Summer Sun

I miss
being with you
in the sandy beaches,
watching the summer sun before
our eyes.

08/18/2016

Other School

She thinks
about the kids
she helped at the last school,
and hopes for a successful year
for all.

08/16/2016

Committed

A huge
occasion, his
words bringing happiness
to my soul, promising my heart
to him.

08/15/2016

Breathing

In times
of stress, I breathe
deeply and will myself
to continue, guiding my soul
with peace.

08/12/2016

Moonlit

The best
feeling is still
taking long, moonlit walks
with you, like that first time four years
ago.

08/11/2016

Exhaustion

Midday exhaustion,
mind hitting the wall after
a busy morning.

08/10/2016

What Lies Ahead

After the breakthrough,
we venture out

To explore the
surroundings,

Still moving cautiously,
yet excited for the unknown,

Awaiting the fortune
of what lies ahead.

08/10/2016

Quiet

Quiet, overcast
late summer morning, resting
before I leave home.

08/10/2016

Blossoming

We blossom even
as we progress,

Learning new lessons
as we turn the page.

A new story brings
characters to learn from,

New events unfolding
to imprint unique

Moments, keeping fresh
perspective along the way.

08/09/2016

August Morning

Bright summer morning,
cicadas and birds singing
their lovely music.

08/09/2016

Present

Two friends
walking a path,
each enduring different
struggles, yet are present for each
other.

08/09/2016

Starlight

Before these summer
nights end, I will cherish the
starlight with my love.

08/08/2016

Living

Although
the risks still mount,
I take a deep breath and
move forward with my daily tasks,
living.

08/08/2016

Focus

Running
to a focused
path as I accomplish
my dream to be independent
in life.

08/05/2016

Goals

She holds
on to the dream
of living without fear,
as she continues to work for
her goals.

08/04/2016

Embracing

My thoughts turn to you
embracing me during warm,
star-lit summer nights.

07/17/2016

Longing

As the
morning brings calm
peacefulness, my thoughts turn
to him, missing his sweet smile and
warm hugs.

07/17/2016

Relaxation

A beautiful day
calls for endless hours of
sweet relaxation.

05/11/2016

Keep Moving

Waiting
is the hard part,
anticipating the
defining moment to keep on
moving.

05/10/2016

Soothing

Through the brutal storm,
I feel your love soothing me,
a warm ray of hope.

05/09/2016

Weeding through

Weeding
through my issues
in order to find peace,
the storm of emotions blowing
too close.

05/09/2016

Precious

Friendships
are so precious,
so rare to find two souls
sharing entire lives in mere
moments.

05/05/2016

Journal Entry: May 4 2016

Three good things about today:

1) I listened to Chevelle today to cheer myself up. Music brings peace to my soul.

2) I kept a nervous child company during After Care at work. We played a couple of card games.

3) One of my students shared with me a project she made last night. It contained the colors of spring.

05/04/2016

Dreams

You share
with me your dreams
for our future, and I
feel blessed that I am a part of
your life.

05/04/2016

Journal Entry: May 3rd, 2016

Three positive things that happened today:

1) I helped one of my students gather materials for an activity during recess. She also learned some facts about nature.

2) I continued my job search, even after receiving news that would have discouraged me in the past.

3) I spoke to a close friend this morning. It was brief, I'm grateful to have that time with her.


05/03/2016

One More

I move,
I walk into
another big challenge,
excitement mingling with some
tension.

05/03/2016

Nourishing

Nourishing rainfall,
bringing relief to dry land,
no longer barren.

05/03/2016

Monday Musings

As I
settle in for
the night, I cherish all
the conversations we
shared throughout the day, as more will
take place.

05/02/2016

Stronger

Each day
I pursue my
dreams, and although it is
an uphill battle, I am made
stronger.

04/11/2016

Beacon

He is
my everything;
a bright beacon of hope
whenever I feel discouraged
in life.

04/06/2016

Renewed

Today
should be a chance
to start again with goals,
leaving yesterday behind as
I go.

04/05/2016

Flashback

Today
is unknown, but
I have good thoughts of you,
the past two days a wonderful
flashback.

04/04/2016

Ignite

His touch
stirs a longing
in my soul, a gentle
match igniting my desires,
ready.

04/03/2016

Realm

Evening
settles in, and
I sense myself sinking
into the realm of dreams, with thoughts
of him.

02/23/2016

Flawless

We share
quiet moments
while walking through town, stars
shining in the navy blue sky,
flawless.

02/19/2016

Proceeding

I spend the days

rebuilding my path,

So my purpose 

could regain

A sense of direction,

Proceeding with 

Renewed confidence.

02/18/2016

Wishing

I look back at 

my journey thus far

With a tinge of regret,

wishing I fought to

Maintain the thread of

independence longer,

Instead of severing

the line out of fear.

02/18/2016

Anniversary

Three wonderful years
of laughter and love, holding
on to memories.

02/15/2016

Icy

An icy evening,
pellets tapping on windows.
We move with caution.

02/15/2016

Fighting

She fights
for her voice to
be heard among the wolves,
refusing to let her talents
flounder.


02/09/2016

Snowfall

Snow.
Soft, plentiful.
Freezing, sticking, coating.
It covers the neighborhood.
Lively.

02/08/2016

Dreams

Every night I dream
that my frustrations will end,
if I just believe.

02/02/2016

Blanketed

The world
is blanketed
in white, people reduced
to a crawl as they attempt to
function.

01\25\2016

Frozen

Frozen
winds mark the first
sign that snow will fall soon,
as we are long overdue for
a storm.

1/20/2016

Urgency

She calls with an
urgent message,

Making a decision
that would change her life;

She stands alone,
yet she proceeds to act,

Changing her path
for good.

1/18/2016

New Pastime

Spending these frigid
evenings watching others fight,
seeking attention.

1/15/2016

Social Tapestry

Everyone has
a small community

To connect with,
a small circle

To cast out the lifeline
in dire moments;

When we reach out
to our neighbors,

Threads are woven
together, binding lives,

In order to enrich
the social tapestry.

1/14/2016

September Evening

That night we walked
side by side,

Full moon shining
as the September breeze

Danced around us.
We weren't together then,

yet I always felt safe
when you were near.

I began to wonder
if it was a sign

For me to trust once more,
to let someone real

Finally enter my space
and complete me.

1/13/2016

Dissipating

She reaches out to me,
breaking her solitude
after weeks of silence.

She throws the lifeline
once more, the desperation
pushing down isolation.

We talk for an hour
as she dissipates the
dark pangs of lonliness.

1/12/2016

Enlivening

You take me in your arms
when I need it the most,
your presence a warm glow
when I live in despair.
Your kisses enliven
a soul battered in doubt.

1/12/2016

Counting

I count
the days, waiting
patiently for a shift
in luck so my next chapter can
be penned.

1/11/2016

Watching

Watching,
protecting her
from visible danger,
while others fail to see what stands
before them.

1/11/2016

Last Day

Last day
of vacation
spent with him, and I wish
I had one more day to share these
moments.

01/03/2016

Close

I wake,
startled from dreams
close to reality,
then I'm relieved that I can rest
some more.

01/02/2016

Friends

Friends;
Varied, unique.
Talking, sharing, bonding.
We catch up often.
Kindred.

01/01/2016