Morning

It was dark and quite foggy and I followed the lights in front of me as my knight in shining armor led the way then off he disappeared into reality. There is so much time for thinking and I take advantage of it. My mind has been consumed by my November date with destiny and I look forward to seeing it in my rearview mirror that is if it does happen. I hear it could possibly be rescheduled. My future is on hold until that second when I fall deeper into the abyss or get swallowed up by a thin line. It's one or the other with no options in between. Either way, my bags are packed and my one way ticket is bought and paid for and my umbrella is in the trash so let the rains come.

TRADITIONAL LOVE

We speak of traditions

Like they will always be

A tradition is defined by time

Is carried from hand to hand

With pride and joy

Like Thanksgiving at moms

Or Christmas on the river

And maybe all the mujeres

De la familia

Getting together

And making tamales

Maybe even taking turns

With abuelitas recipes

It is the handing over of customs

Sharing of things close to our heart

Hand to hand

Not hand to face

Domestic violence

Is not an option

Nor is it a tradition

To be handed down

From father to son

Or father to daughter

Or mother to son

Or mother to daughter

The blue veins throbbing with rage

Are not to be passed on

Traditional love is enjoyed

It doesn’t hurt

My brown eyes are not an invitation

To be blackened

Las mujeres en tu vida

We are not property

We are women

Pure and simple

It is a disgrace to our race

To be known

As wife beaters

And as violent people

The cycle of violence must end

And we must choose our traditions

With our hearts

And not our fists

Our ancestors

Gave us many beautiful traditions

That we should honor

And when our memory returns

To that time and place

Where we saw the baton of violence passed

We choose to drop it and bury it

So that our children do not become

Victims of abuse

So that they may inherit

Traditional love

REDEMPTION

The day shall come

When I will fall

I shall perish from this earth

As I came in

Unannounced

I shall become the part of this earth

Where the flesh of battered souls are buried

Only my body will perish

My soul shall not dissolve

My existence will continue

As another victim holds her face to the sun

The voices of the battered will be heard

The cries of victims will be loud and firm

As the abusers of our lives fall victim

To the power of redemption