Left

Left
Dream is
over,
Suffering
Missing
Incomplete

Laughs fade away
Empty chair at
dinner
Absence is present
Silence overrides,
Joy is gone

Desperately quiet
Alone
in the room
Desire of coming
back is
overwhelming

Neverending Friendship

Description: Friendship is something that's been around in the world for a long time. Every person interprets it in different ways, but they all have something in common: they never end. A true friend is someone that listens and is always there no matter what. Friendship has its ups and downs, but it always has a solution. For some people it is something normal, but for others it is as valuable as a diamond. In my opinion, friendship is the best thing a person can have.

Synopsis: This notebook is full of poems where friendship is expressed in different ways.

A Blessing by James Wright
My Friends by W.S. Merwin
On Gifts for Grace by Bernadette Mayer
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
The Armadillo by Elizabeth Bishop
The Soul Unto Itself (683) by Emily Dickinson
An Old Song by Tomaz Salamun
Sea Canes by Derek Walcott

The Choir Boys

Choir boys.
Supposedly religious,
savagely-like.
Murderers.
Pig killers,
thirsty of blood,
animal-like people,
no longer boys.

Hunters.
Jack,
violent leader.
Roger,
torturer.
Death believers,
Jack's followers,
fallen angels.

Iceland's Erupting Volcano

Iceland's erupting volcano,
Mother Nature's event.
Perfect.
Impressive view,
amazing landscape.
Melting boots from lava,
dangerous cracks in the floor.
Gases,
beautiful.
Tumbling experience.

Small Moment

“I’ll travel to Mexico and Houston next week,” I heard my dad say.

“He’s leaving again?” I thought to myself.

My dad travels everywhere in Latin America because of his job as a petroleum engineer. This time he’s leaving to Villahermosa, Mexico. Usually throughout the month he’s two weeks at home and the other two in another country. We are already used to it—in my case since I was born—but we still miss him a lot. He is the one that makes us laugh but my little brother.

“You’re leaving?” I asked my dad almost in disbelieve.

I already knew he was leaving but I wanted to make sure I heard right.

“Yeah. On Wednesday,” he replied naturally.

“Oh…” I said softly.

Those were the only words that came out of my mouth. I was getting used to see him at home since he hasn’t traveled in more than two weeks. I think he noticed my disappointment and tried to say something. Nothing went out. He opened his mouth and closed it again. I think he didn’t know what to say because he was leaving for quite some time. I heard he was leaving for about three weeks.

My dad always—or at least most of the time—brings us a souvenir. It doesn’t matter if is a big or small one, the point is that he brought us something. (For example, he brought three little statues from China.) A lot of times he brings us chocolates because he doesn’t have time to chose something nice. I don’t care because I love chocolate.

“Where are you going?” I asked him as usual even though I already knew.

“I’m leaving to Houston for two weeks and other one in Villahermosa,” he said.

“So he’s going to Mexico?” I thought excitingly.

“Could you bring me some chucheria picante?” I asked once more.

Since we all lived in Mexico for a very long time we are very used to their costumes such as eating spicy food. When my dad travels to Villahermosa—which is not very often—we ask him if he can bring us some.

I noticed what advantages I get from my dad’s constant trips. (1) I am free of his “difficult” attitude for some time, (2) I get some new little gifts almost every month, and (3) I noticed how much I miss him.

I didn’t know why he always wants us to be together on weekends. I realized why he wants to
pass as much time as possible with us when he’s home. You don’t know how long you will live, and life is very short. We enjoy ourselves when he’s here. The laughing is back again. All of the funny stories that happened to us throughout the weekend reappear. The environment is just good.

I realized that all of the trips he makes actually bring us together as a family. We take advantage of the time he’s here to have some fun all together. Even though I describe my dad as “difficult”, I miss him a lot every single time he’s gone. I love him.

Lonely

hard situation

difficult is to handle

always has been there

became normal over time

loneliness, something to fear

Missing the Old Times

missing the old times
remembering my old friends
wanting to be there
wishing to be there
knowing friendship never ends

Tanka

family travels
every continent they've been
from Indonesia
to America, but now
the future uncertain is

Family

Fairness is lost
Among the workers
Managers strive to get promoted
In and out the employees go, the new dilemma
"Let go or not"
You're not young anymore...

BROTHER

Beginning of a new stage
Random new experiences yet to come
Over and over discoveries are born
Threatening time began
Hair is falling out, stress comes back
Evident is his innocence
Rich of smiles

BALBOA

Back to real life. I'm new in school and in the country--everything is different now. I'm living this nightmare again. You appear there, not knowing anyone, hoping this fact can change. Time passes and homework pops out. The stress came back.

Although I've passed through this my whole life, it keeps being different. Everyone looking at you, wondering who you are. You are starting over, beginning a new step in life. Knowing new places is the best in this change, but is difficult to relate with the people you meet throughout trip. Everything is different now.

Little brother Santiago--completely my opposite. Makes friends everywhere with so much facility. My six year old brother does what I cannot. How come I am so different?

"Beginning is difficult," my mom always says. It is for me every time and it hasn't changed. I can achieve different challenges, but in this case my shyness always stops me. I am quiet and timid--unusual qualities. There's always a girl with this characteristics and eventually I always occupy that spot.

Over and over I drown in my thoughts. Why am I like this? I think differently, I act cautiously. I'm just myself. You may think I am always depressed, but over time I have realized how lucky I am. I have a family that loves me, few true friends, and an amazing little brother. Everything is different now.

A few times I haven't been comfortable in the place where I've moved but had great friends. It is a weird part of the puzzle of life. Very unusual, but fits. The beginning of this new stage is the complementary piece in the puzzle. Don't think of yesterday, but live today. Everything is different now.