She sits there in the cold
A hooded head
Hair face a wrinkled map
Missing her teeth
She is far from dead
She sits there in the cold
Her tiny frame
Trying to be bold
And she has no one to hold
She sits there in the cold
Her aged eyes
Tell you no lies
Her soul she never sold
She sits there in the cold
Folding her fragile hands
In the folds of her coat
Her life story is hidden in the sands
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
I’m back! I have been in a poetic phase these past few weeks. I have several stories swimming around in my head and when I sit down to write, poetry flows forth. I am one of those who does not contend with the muse. Instead, I just let her guide me along. Poetry for me is introspective; often times dealing with deep emotions . So for now, I will share some of the poetry I have been reading at The Poets Unite! Poetry Jam sponsored by The Henderson Poets.
Guess what? The other night I was asked to play the congas during Black Bart‘s Open mic night at The Coffee House! You see, I am rather shy when it comes to playing music in public. I am not sure if it has to do with my uncle making me play the clarinet in the 7th grade; I was so bad at it I could never play it without making it squeak. So during the often dreaded band concerts, I would just hold the instrument to my mouth and act like I was playing. That’s how I got through 🙂 Or maybe I had decided to just play in the privacy of my home because I’m not too sure if I can even play. Whatever the case, I stepped out of that fearful box and I did it. I had a blast too!
So now YOU go on and try that thing you have been so scared to do! Just do it once and see what goes! Whether you do it like a pro or not, who cares! Just do it to say you did. LITS= LIFE IS TOO SHORT 🙂
L.I.T.S. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!
There is no one here
Not one single soul
There is no one there
Who would really care
There is no one close by
To help carry your load
Te tell you it’s fine
When all you want to do is cry
Rush! Rush! Rush!
That’s what goes on
In this life all people do is
Push , push, push
There is no more balance
There is extreme
The pendulum always swinging
And no one cares to dance
No one stops to smell the flowers
Take in a sunset
Not even to hug a small child
And slow down for a while
STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
You’ll die if you don’t
STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
You’ll miss it all if you don’t
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
I participated in this year’s Vegas Valley Book Festival today! My books didn’t come in yet so I didn’t have any to sell at this event. So I had some flyers made up and I went there anyway to enjoy the day, meet new people and get the word out about Salsa! the Taste of Life, my new book. I don’t let anything stop me!
As it turned out, I am glad I went and there was a happy surprise! I was able to read excerpts from Salsa! in front of a captive audience. I love it when things fall together better than when I plan them . I call that serendipity. Here are some pictures from the event. I plan to attend the next one in 2013 and I am sure I will have books to sell then. “When life hands me lemons, I bake a lemon merengue pie!!” -Eva 😀
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
A long time ago I heard a preacher say that if we don’t share our talents and gifts with the world, we become thieves. We all have great talents. How many people though, never step out and bless the world with their gifts. Our talents are not just for us. They are to help make this life better and more amazing!
Last night I began a new thing; I hosted a poetry jam at my home away from home, The Coffee House. I was a bit anxious about it. I worried because I was afraid no one would come. Boy did I waste my time worrying!! We had 25+ people show up to our first meeting last night!! Their were young poets and poets from all walks of life. This very talented woman shared a piece about her trip to New Orleans and it was so vivid, her words took be back to when I went to that beautiful place in my teens. This other poet a young man, recited a poem he wrote from memory. I admire poets who can get up to the mic and do that without any prior preparation.
There were several writers from my writing group, WRITING ROYALTY in attendance and they shared as well.
And lastly, there was a young woman by the name of Leslie Stein who shared her 365 Soul Notes with us and she inspired me!! I plan to have her as a featured artist soon! This is her picture 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/SoulNotesWithLeslieStein
I broke past the fear and I did something I always wanted to do! The Henderson Poets will meet every Tuesday night at 7pm in The Coffee House located on 117. S. Water Street, Henderson, NV. If you are local, come by and join us! Next Tuesday, Derik Jordan, a local guitar player will be our featured artist. This young man played Walk The Line and he sounded just like Johnny Cash!! Please like our The Henderson Poets Group Page on Facebook!https://www.facebook.com/TheHendersonPoets
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
I never go to political rallies of any kind, it just doesn’t interest me. Today, my youngest daughter Raquel talked me into going to hear Ann Romney speak. She even prompted me by asking if I could count our outing as part of her history class and I agreed. 
I am so glad I went to this rally! When we arrived there it was crowded and hot in that building. Excitement was in the air and I was blessed to see that my almost 12-year-old was happy to be there. The rally didn’t last long and as the crowd thinned we went outside. After a few minutes of sitting in front of The Romney blue and white bus, Raquel told me she wanted to go back in to get Mrs. Romney’s autograph. So back in we went.
This time luck was on our side because she was still taking pictures with people. We made our way to the front and suddenly I grabbed my proof copy of Salsa! The Taste of Life, and I gave it to Raquel to have the future first lady sign it. We waited for a bit and she finally saw my girl waving and calling out, ” Mrs. Romney , please sign my mom’s book!” Mrs. Romney looked at her and smiled and then she took the book from her small hands. The security guard standing beside Mrs. Romney brusquely grabbed it and flipped quickly through the pages and then he handed my book back so she could sign it. That was the last thing Mrs. Romney signed, then they whisked her away to meet other people.
As we walked home, Raquel beamed with pride saying this was the BEST history class she ever had. I am so proud of her at this moment for having talked me into it!
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
Pick yourself up because today is not yesterday. Today is to today so give it all due respect by leaving yesterday behind and stop looking back at yesterday as if it was an old lover; who left you for some one better. But then don’t get so far ahead of yourself that you disregard today because you’re more interested in tomorrow. Don’t cheat today because you’re so in love with tomorrow; a thing that was never promised to any of us. Don’t rob today of all of your time and energy by wasting it on an uncertain future. Today is today so give it all you have. Savor each moment as a person in a desert landscape drinks in the last of his water in his canteen. He doesn’t know if there’s more water coming just like you don’t know the number of your days!
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
What is life for if you can’t enjoy yourself? Why has religion crushed all that is good in this life? Why do you allow yourself to be led by all the shoulds and ought-not-to’s they rammed down our throats when we didn’t know any better.
Todos dejamos trozos de nuestras almas con otros, en la esperanza que no nos lleguen hacer el mal. We all leave bits of our souls with others in the hopes that they won’t harm us. That’s a life truly lived; when you aren’t afraid of getting hurt. When you know that the wounds left by others are now a warrior’s scars.
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
Once in your life or maybe more, things happen and you wonder what the hell was that. He made you smile just like you made him. Does it have to be complicated? And why aren’t things more simple? Why are we over thinking and over stressing and just why not go with the flow. Ahhhhhh, because your traditions condemn you and they yell at you in your head, telling you that you shan’t, you shan’t you SHAN’T! So, stop “shoulding” on yourself already! Life is too short and really, you only get one time here so make it the best possible ride.
When we were younger some of us were taught that life only consists of black and white. Now that you’ve lived some life and experienced up and downs you see that there is a lot more grey to life than they ever let on. Funny, in the Bible the 10 Commandments are the only “black and white” of life. Do this and this will happen. Don’t do this and this won’t happen. That’s it, end of story, simple as that. Read that ancient book and you will see that God is a good God and that He wants us to enjoy our lives.
My mama told me the other day , “ Let your hair down and have a good time because you’ll have a lot of time later on to think of heaven.” That’s advise that comes from a woman I love, admire and respect and she is close to 70 years old. So I shall take that and run with it because I figured she ought to know since she’s lived close to 30 years more than me.
Go on, take a chance on life, after all, what have you to lose? Try something new you never did before. If you don’t like it, move on. Live your life as a series of adventures awaiting your discovery and not a series of events you have to endure.
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
WORD PICTURES
Who is he anymore? Why doesn’t he give a damn? Knowing that he doesn’t; why does he expect anyone else to care? He sucks the life out of everyone and then wonders why they stay away. He is a bankrupt soul. She won’t let him put her in the red because she won’t give him the power or permission to do so. Their little girl asks, “ Is he ashamed of what he does?” And there is a clear answer to her alarming question: “ No he is not.”
He is a wreck who has tried to demolish other lives and yet there is one life he can’t touch. Oh, he persisted incessantly but he failed. His bitterness oozes out of the volcano that is his heart. The turbid lava oozes out and scorches everything that gets in his way. It is vile what he does, and he sees it not. Hatred blinds the soul and it does more than that. Animosity pierces his heart and he becomes the scorpion who stings himself to death. He inflicts his poison on himself and when he opens his mouth everyone runs for cover.
He wasn’t always a beast. She remembers when his touch was gentle; when she could lay her weary head on his shoulder and everything in her world was fine. He let her see the good guy in him when their love was new and budding. He gave her hope because she was running on empty. She let down the moat to her isolated heart just this once because back then he was a knight minus the shining amour. This knight was different because his armor was covered with the dents and chinks that come from the many wars he’d fought. He’d lost more battles than he wanted to admit. He still had bits of his heart left. She let him in.
That was then, this is now. The good memories persist in her mind because that is all that she has left of him now. He walks about the place looking to pick on the weaker ones. She dodges his flaming arrows. At night she goes to sleep alone and wondering when the end will come. Her tears drench her pillow as she pleads with her God to bring an end to the suffering. She slips away into her dreams of a better tomorrow where they are both free from each other. Where they both have found peace.
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
I read this message I’m posting by Tyler Perry this morning and it’s what I needed today. So I’m sharing it with you in hopes it’ll give you a great start to a good week-end. Happy Friday all 🙂
|
Hey guys,If you can get this, this will change your life… I was out taking my morning run. I love how still it is when I’m running. I can hear clearly and really commune with God. I wanted to share this with you. It’s a lesson I had to learn.
One of the keys to success is to be able to guard your heart. Now, usually when someone says guard your heart they are talking about keeping yourself from heartbreak. Although that is important (as long as you don’t go overboard… but that’s another conversation) that isn’t what I’m talking about. When we are born into this world we enter with such a pure heart but as we grow older situations, circumstances and people tend to make us change. Now I know it is nearly impossible to keep a childlike innocence in our hearts all of our lives, especially after people have betrayed, lied, mistreated and downright been the devil. Trust me when I tell you, I have seen it all. I have been there big time. If you’re like me you’ve been there too. But if this is your situation I want you to know two very important things about those moments of heartbreak. Number one, learn the lesson in it. See how it will work together for your good, because it will. Once you do, it’s easier to forgive and move on. Secondly, and this is just as important as the first one, you must not let that person or people change your heart. What do I mean by that? Well, if you are a giver and someone you have given to misuses your gift, don’t stop giving… just give to someone else. If you are a person that loves people and someone you love hates you, don’t stop loving… love someone else. Eventually, you will find people who appreciate your kindness and your love. Remember this, lots of people have been conditioned to not be able to accept purity of heart. They can’t take it in. Most times it’s not even their fault. It’s just what has happened to them on their journey in life. But don’t let them turn you into one of them. There will be a lot of people in your life who will not appreciate your pureness of heart. If they hurt you don’t stop being you… just be you with someone else. |
Eva Santiago 