Tag: History

What if We Are the Same?

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This is a tribute I wrote to my mother who passed when I was an infant. When I share it in public, I still tear up after all these years…

 

“Oh, she died so young!”

Really?!

Who are we to tell?

Not one of us knows

Our day

Our time

Or even our very last hour

So isn’t that declaration a bit pompous?

What if it was her time?

I used to be sad

I used to lament

Oh si mi madre paso..

She was way, way too young!

 

What if perhaps she DID sing all of her songs

And didn’t leave any unsung?

What if she did complete her assignment by giving me life?

What if she made her exit

So I would have a grand entrance?

What if she walked off the stage

So I could be a strong voice for this age?

What if she did her last painting

So I could fulfill my purpose and destiny without fainting?

What if she held me close once

So I could hold others forever?

What if my cheek she one time caressed

So I could with my hands touch the oppressed and depressed?

What if she and I are one and the same?

She went before me

So I can forever her love proclaim….

EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2013-2014

 

 

Mami

 

 

 

MY VOICE

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Who cares about applause. Why care about what people think of my thoughts. I don’t write them to pass their approval. I didn’t write this to get their thumbs up. I didn’t write this to get people to nod their heads in agreement. Whatever you think,whether you like it or not,I’ll always keep laying out my thoughts and putting them in full view for the whole world to see. For heaven to know I worked hard at relaying their message. And when hell hears my words,the darkness is pushed way back and their tormenting shrills hushed.

 

Shut up?! Not now! Not ever. As a child they shut me up but for a very short season. For my mind,though it was young,knew what it wanted to say.  It wasn’t the time yet.When I was a child I spoke as a child. Now the time has come to boldly declare what would have been deemed inappropriate because after all,I was  a young Latina. That was the strike held against me.

 

Alas, that was then, this is now. The old is done and the new is in. So yeah, this voice will not be drowned. It will continue long after  I’m gone because my children and their children’s children will hear it and know this warrior fought and prayed for them;even before they came into existence. Before they were even an inkling of a thought in anyone’s mind.

EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2013applause

Word Picture #14

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FOR: RLND…

It’s cold outside. The birds don’t even come out to sing  They’re barely looking for food.

It’s so cold outside, the sky is frigid and still;

as when someone holds toward you ill will.

ILL WILL

It’s so cold outside,

the bare branches on the tree look arthritic.

It’s so cold outside;

the wind pierces my skin and bones;

as his bitter words once pierced my heart.

It’s so cold outside;

all the chimneys sit back smoking away their worries

and telling old, sad stories.

It’s so cold outside;

the ground froze like a face does during a stroke.

It’s so cold outside;

I feel like I’m going to choke…..

 

 

It’s so cold outside;

but I’m all warm inside.

The birds outside with no song to utter

but my heart is a flutter

The sky maybe still-

but my heart will never get its fill.

And though the wind pierces my skin and bones,

thoughts of you mean I’m not all alone.

It’s cold outside;

but inside of me spring is giving way to summer.

-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012

THANK YOU!

· 2 Comments ·

I came to the USA, 
39 years ago
Though I love my country of birth, 
The place of my blood,
Is still in my heart…
BUT I’ve lived in this great land,
For most of my life.

As a girl I ran on the sand
Of her finest beaches.IMG_2151
I grew up eating
Georgia’s delightful peaches.
I’ve seen the sunrise in the east,
To watch it descend
In the far west.
My eyes have seen a feast,
But the sun setting at home,baloney
Is always the finest,the best.

All of my blessings
Have been given  me here,
In this wonderful place.
Where God has given me favor,
And shown me His face.
I’m forever thankful
For all that I have:
A life rich with flavor. IMG_1760

I look into the eyes of my loved ones…
Daily I see,
Daily I hear,
Daily I know,  whom I’m indebted to. ffpoets

I am rich without measure,
I look all around,
In my home, so MUCH treasure!
I appreciate you God,
For bringing me here,
I say to you now, and forevermore!!
” Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of my family,friends and fans!”

ypr1

-Eva Santiago copyright 2012

http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62147-009-0