by Bernice Sosa-Izquierdo
Rebirth
I write
Weaving letters into words, syllables into rhythms
Truth into my children’s personal history
I write.
In between daydreamed naps and chores, recipes and meals, educating
and entertaining my spawn,
in brief pauses between their giggles and cries,
I write.
Squeezing time out of hours that don’t exist
Juggling several projects at once so it seems as though not one is
ever really complete
I write.
In between texts, emails and the likes seeking and giving advice
Family, friends,
Children and a husband seeking love and attention
I write.
Nursing migraines induced by sleepless nights
Planning daily activities and meals, errands and appointments
Conciously correcting errs from previous days
I write.
Binging on life and purging its woes
Breathing in love and exhaling its wings
Submerging in guided mediations set to nature sounds and running streams
I write.
Poetry
Personal notes
Dedications
For myself
To myself
To others
For others: ghostwriter
Producing some of my best work with one eye semi open and the other fully closed
Convinced the part of my brain responsible for all this works best
when the head noise is asleep.
I write “to be” lists because “to do” lists no longer serve me.
I write “I own this” pieces because fantasy no longer does it for me.
I intentionally write subliminally, laying out my deepest darkest, in
hopes to quicker penetrate the heart of your cerebrum.
I write to breathe
To relax
To love
Heir of depression, anxiety, Dementia, Alzheimer’s
I write to let go of anger, in hopes to cut it loose from resentment tendencies.
I write to forgive
To cry
To laugh
Reminisce
Re-tell
Release
To avoid panic
To have someone listen
To avoid hearing my own voice crack
To feel when I am numb
I write to seek spiritual freedom
I write because when I don’t, I prefer not to be around me
And I am the only one who can’t walk away.
I write because I cannot mourn the death of my soul once more.
I write because every time I do, the ink from my veins reincarnates my spirit
And I become whole again.”
_________________________________________________________________________
by Christine-Jean Blain from her book “Lighting The Path Back Home“
Sister
I know the fire that burns inside you.
I, too, have tasted the
embers that have caused rivers to flow
from eyes sealed shut by sorrow.
If I could stretch my soul over the wounds
left by empty promises, I’d make you whole again.
Stitch proverbs to the inside of your hollowed dreams, and teach
your heart to hum the secret of your sacredness.
Let your tongue sing the Song of Solomon in two-part rhythm, so
each note would echo your worth, every verse vibrating wisdom…
And while you slept I would paint your horizon with smiles the
color of first kisses,
speak the words that would replace your tears with new born
innocence and teach you
how to trust again…
how to live again…
how to love again…
____________________________________________________________________________
By Rock Wilk from his book ” A Harlem Love Story“
My Heart
My heart has been injured
There’s been some damage
It’s swollen
Has lost it’s shape
Now it’s round
Like a circle
And so I can’t seem to find where it
begins
Or ends
And it’s tender to the touch
Sensitive
It needs protection
A bear protecting her cubs
I was born to be her mother
I would literally die for him
I never knew I could love like this
We’re a real family now
Blood
Adopted 3 kids
Save me the last piece of chocolate
hide it under me bed
These words are not enough
But now they’re all I have
I’m an amazing ending
I would never have expected that
You really had me going there
Now you didn’t!
Yes you did
My life is so well written
The perfect play
You can leave the theater and tell the
Story
It’s clear
It makes sense
Not necessarily a happy ending
But just like real life
It’s real life
It’s real life
It’s non fiction
I am like poetry
A metaphor for this story
Literally
It’s beautifully sad sometimes
I can make you feel things
“Last night you made me uncomfortable
That’s how powerful your performance was”
See, I turn it all into beautiful art
We are mirrors
Reflecting on the same story
In a complete different way
Listening to the exact same song
We are magnificent
It hurts that much
Seems as I keep walking
I find new people
At the exact same place where I
started
Everyone else has left
It seems that this is my journey
And I”m grateul to have these words
Because I’ll turn it all into a
luminous song
A poem
A play
And we can share from 8-10
Every night
We’ll laugh together
Cry together
NO YOU DIDN”T!
My heart just took a beating
You were worth it
I’m back in the cracks
In between
Galileo
Sir Francis Drake
I circumnavigate the world
My heart has been injured
There’s some damage
It’s swollen
Has lost it’s shape Now it’s round
Like a circle
And so I can’t seem to find where it
begins
Or ends
___________________________________________________________________________
Wow! Very nice!!!!! I am passing this one on to all my “women-folk”, my wife and my two daughter’s!!! This is a voice our emerging women, young and old, need to hear!
Very nice. Good job!
“Negativity influences me to be better.
I learn from all around me.
I am Queen Elizabeth who did not need a King to rule her country.
I am the one they talk about.
The one they envy.
The one they want to see fall
but they don’t know of my strength.
They have not been where I have been
or seen what I have seen.
I am the woman who stands before you.
I Am Me!!”
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
I hear a woman who is not defined by external factors but by her own account. Hereby is a woman owner of her present and future, ruled by others not a chance.
A warrioress war cry. I loved it.
This is an inspirational master piece <3
siguen pa’lante! write write write! it’s our sword, our paper our banner. let’s tell the world who we are and also who we are NOT!
thank you, Forward Latino for giving us a platform on which to shout out into the world!
blessings to you all, mi gente
May these voices of beautiful Latina women continue to be shared and heard. Thank you Bernice and Amy for sharing with all of us these most beautiful parts of yourselves. For me, the greatest compliment I have ever received is being told that I am an inspiration. Now I tell you both thank you for inspiring me.
Con mucho amor, Nancy.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to showcase your talent. I am proud to not all read your work but know you all as people. Pa’lante!
Bomba y Nancy,
No les puedo describir el poder tras sus palabras. ¡Muchísimas gracias por su apoyo!
omg,,ke diosito bendiga sus mentes mis santas !! sabor extraordinario ke proviene de la sangre de un millon de guerreras, calor humano ke nos provee una sustancia sutil y aguda- directa- y el grano tiene voces ke hablan de noche y de dia,,y sus espiritus nos suplen el pan de cada dia a travez de sus aza~as literales,, Bernice I was in goosebump heaven, I think Imo catch me a flight back home tomorrow, just to sentarme en “El Boricua” en Pi~ones y hartarme de alcapurria e jueye, arepitas de bacalao, mofongo de marisco(pa ke le hechen jueyes tambien) y lo mas importante las medallitas vestiitass de novias..!!!!!
ohh!! bomba y plena como siempre en un jardin del eden de poesia,,son una gran inspiracion,,ke viva la poesia,,one love,,,
i am so glad i came upon this site…Thank you and God Bless
Beautiful piece by Rock, I too find myself hiding the last piece of chocolate.
“We are mirrors
Reflecting on the same story
In a completely different way
Listening to the same exact song”
Truth! Great piece, Rock!