Venting in 2022

 

All of this just pains me. My eyes release salty water because my heart bleeds each and every day.

Each day whoever turns on the TV or opens a newspaper which is reeking with blood sees death and injustice in most of the reports.

If it's not a person who is has been shot by a lost bullet, it's a person who has committed suicide at 13 in a school bathroom for reasons unknown to the adults who forget that being an adolescent is not simple.

Two men who knew too much were eliminated as they adventured in the rainforest looking for information for a new novel. A wonderous place where they had been before along these fifteen years. Could it have been witness-elimination? It wouldn´t amaze me.

A father who sexually abused and murdered his two children while his wife just sat there and watched.  

Prices increase. Unemployment increases. Violence increases. Poverty increases. It is definitely easier to turn the other way making believe that you are blind to everything that's happening around you. Continue to live in your bubble while people living on the streets are freezing in the low temperatures; homeless people who don't know where their next meal is coming from; young children being abused and killed; people being killed because of skin color, religious beliefs, political positions, sexual preferences, gender, the list goes on and on.

People dying in vain.

People dying because of another's intolerance.

People dying due to the lack of compassion.

People dying because of other´s selfishness in not wearing a mask.

People dying due to a genocide government.

People dying because there is no love.

Fight and do what is right.

Stand up for what is right.

In this day and age, how do we know what right is?

Values and morals are twisted.

People suffering because they love and appreciate things other than people.

Where did the “do unto others” go?

Where is the love?

Written: June 13, 2022

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Trying to Understand

 

Dealing with change is not an easy thing to do.

At first, your whole world shatters especially, when you were not part of the decision.

It was made for you and now you must deal with it.

You need to adapt to someone else´s idea, which was not studied, or the end results which were not discussed.

Why can't people just work together as a team?

Why can't people accept that just because you have a little more power and are at the top, are not better than those who are below them?

Funny how people in high positions do not worry about the mental health of those who need to adapt to the changes over night which they have implanted.

Funny how those people easily forget that they are in that high position because they were placed there by those whose lives they are messing up with.

Funny how these people show no gratitude nor compassion.

Perhaps their plan is to destroy it all instead of growing and improving.

Perhaps their main objective is only money, income, dough, the green.

Perhaps they are just plain evil.

 

Written: June 13, 2022

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Change

 

change is hard to deal with

at the first moment it's scary

the floor cracks open in impressive width

the abyss you fall into is a crazy

 

change is difficult to face

more so, if it comes from the top down

the words are expressed without a trace

as you read the message you feel like a clown

 

change may be hard

however tough it can be,

in the end we get used to it

ultimately, all the anger is set free

 

written: June 13, 2022

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In and out of Love

 

The same way you fall in love, you fall out of love. Isn't love supposed to be something that lasts forever? At least that is what the vows say exchanged on your wedding day say: till death do us part. However, many people part before death. It was no different in this relationship of seven years.

Work took a toll into late hours, they had to move in with their relatives because they couldn't afford to live on their own due to cut in wages and the economic crisis in the country. In fact, she didn't mind living with his family because when she arrived home food was prepared, the house was cleaned, and she was able to rest a bit before dinner. Nonetheless, she did manage to make it a point of doing their laundry. The husband, however, always managed to always arrive late. By the time he got home, he had already had dinner somewhere. Every night she was propped up in bed reading waiting for him to arrive. Although the fire in the marriage was close to extinguishing, she still had hopes of rekindling the flame.

Her in-laws kept her pretty entertained, especially her husband's younger brother who was interested in reading more. Perhaps it was because he would always see her reading. She would read while everyone was watching the soap opera on TV. She would be sitting in a corner devouring books. The brother- in-law was intrigued and always asked her what the stories were about, and she really enjoyed talking about the books and encouraged him to read a couple. “You only read thick books. I don't think I have the patience for that.”  “You can start with a shorter one. I'm sure that eventually you will be interested in reading a thick one. Besides you just have to get into the habit of reading- the more you read the more you want to read.” “Do you think you could recommend one for me to start?” “Sure! I'll be happy to. I will select a few and you see which ones you would like to read or read them all.” He was grateful and she was happy to be of help.

One evening her husband arrived early. She was so busy trying to pick out some books for her brother -in- law that she didn't notice when the husband walked in the room. “Oh, hi! You´re home early?” “Quick we must get ready because my boss and his wife are coming over for dinner tonight. I had already advised my mother about it,so she's setting up the dining room for us…” “But how come you didn't tell me? I could have helped her and besides I´ve already eaten.” “Well, it doesn't matter you can eat again, just get into something more elegant and make yourself presentable.” That was such a weird comment after all she was wearing jeans and a new red blouse, which she had been complimented on all day long at work. She looked at herself in the mirror and kind of thought that she was presentable, after all, he should have given her a heads up. Since she was trying to be on good terms with him and not to make him more upset  than he already was, she decided to put on a nice dress, nothing too fancy but continued arranging or selecting the books for her brother- in- law.

She decided to go to her brother -in- law´s rooms, leave them there with a note attached saying that he could keep them she didn't want them back. That night her brother-in-law would be in extremely late because he had a project to do for his school and was going to get together with his group to work on it.

On the way to his room, when she walked by the den (actually the den belonged to her father -in- law) she heard voices and peeked in through the half open door. As if like magic, all the pieces to the puzzle came together. Her husband and supposedly his boss´s wife where in each other’s arms hugging and kissing- too busy to notice that she was standing at the door. That was more heat than she had seen in the past couple of months.

She was jealous but at the same time it was more of a nostalgic feeling that hit her of the beginning of her relationship with her husband. He was a real charmer and pretty hot.  Deep down inside, though, she was relieved that she now had a reason to leave him. Nonetheless, she was broken hearted and felt like a failure.

“Hum hum!” she cleared her throat. Her husband turned around and turned as white as a ghost while his lover tried to pull the skirt of her dress down back into its place.

Calmly, the soon-to-be-divorced, betrayed woman slowly turned, went back into her room, took the biggest piece of luggage she could find and started packing her belongings. Prior to packing, she had locked the door because she knew her soon-to-be ex-husband would come in and try to stop her. After all he had to make a good impression on his boss, and he was probably terrified at what she could do.

All packed up and ready to go, she headed on her way out. She stopped by the kitchen and thanked the family for everything. By that time her brother- in- law had come home it seems like the study group had been cancelled, she told him she had put a pile of books on his bed and thanked him too. She walked by the dining room introduced herself to the boss with a very sturdy handshake, said goodbye to her husband and the boss´s wife- they were tongue tied. “Honey, my lawyer will call you early tomorrow morning. Have a good life.” The boss was perplexed and asked what had just happened? She looked at him, smiled and said “Ask your wife why her clothes are wrinkled. And ask my husband since when they were the same lipstick color.” Out the door she went, radiant, glamorous and with a wonderful smile on her face.

Written: June 13, 2022 (based on a dream)

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A Whistle

 

At the mini market prices are high and so is the tension in the air due to the fact that covid is spiking again therefore wearing a mask in closed places is a must. Apparently, the rebels refuse to wear one, they just make believe that they have not read or heard the latest news.

In this mini market it isn´t any different. There is a maskless man feel the fruit to select the ones that are ripe. A woman walks by, and he whistles twice. Every other one gives him a discriminating eye. How dare he whistle at a woman who walks by.

With a broad smile on his face, he continues to squeeze the fruit. This time he is facing the checkout counter and once again whistles twice. At each register there are woman paying for their goods. He grabs the fruit he wants to buy and heads to the checkout line.

At the checkout line there is a woman wearing a mask holding a tiny dog. He starts talking to her and asks to pet the small animal. She lets him however, she looks away whenever he opens his mouth to say something - he is not wearing a mask.

Once again, he whistles as the curious eyes follow his target. It is the woman´s other dog tied up waiting at the entrance to the minimarket.

All this time he was just playing with the pooch.

 

Written: June 7, 2022

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The Start of a New Friendship

 

         New student, shy, petite, and fragile, wearing her favorite hair ribbons and tremendously colorful ensemble.

          When she walks into the classroom all the hustle and bustle stops as her new fellow classmates watch her sit down at the first desk she lays her eyes on.

          Her body trembles as mostly words are thrown at her. “Look at those braids”. “My, my ribbons in her hair – how childish!” “What a weakling”.  “Bet you a bone can snap just with a hug”. She freezes in her seat as these comments reach her ears. She wishes she were invisible or at least that the teacher would appear to make them stop.

          To her luck, the one in charge is out sick, so they are waiting for the substitute teacher to arrive. The new girl tries to keep tears from rolling down her cheeks as the awful words turn into animal sounds.

          Suddenly the head of the class – the big bully- gets up and starts walking in the newbie´s direction. Tall, strong, wearing a blue top and blue and white striped pants. Nothing can knock her down until the class bursts out in a roar of laughter.

          The bully´s pants has become the American flag with a gigantic blotch of red.

          Losing her cool is not an option, neither is running. When the new girl sees what is happening, she courageously gets up, stands behind the bully covering her pants and whispers “keep on walking, I´ve got your back,” as they head towards the nearest restroom.

Written: June 1, 2022

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HEADING TOWARDS THE FALLS

  

No one has an ore

As the boat just floats

Down the river,

Heading towards the fall.

 

This is life, at the moment,

In all areas

Country, work and personal,

No one has the control.

 

Those in power are useless

They are sailing towards destruction

Mistake after mistake.

 

The police act as they please

Torturing innocent people

Based on skin color.

Will there ever be a stop to this?

 

Parents crying as they bury their little ones.

Fourth graders all shot one by one.

Empty beds,

Empty homes.

Rage and sorrow in so many hearts

Children who witnessed it all

Traumatized waiting for it to happen to them.

Instead of training teachers to improve teaching methods –

Gun drills: gather or spread out?

How to know which is beat?

Sorrow and grief stamped on their faces.

 

People missing

Lives abducted

Slaughtering those who are the first of the forests.

Destruction and death

Felling trees to make money

The root of all evil:

The money and the power

The power and the money

It has already been sung before.

 

Hunger and poverty

Rising on a daily basis

Bombs, attacks, raids, rapes

When will it all end?

Why is it all happening?

Greed, power, pleasure

In torturing and killing.

Defeat and conquer.

Conquer a destroyed country?

All of this is senseless

While specialist try to make

Some sense of out of it all.

 

The boats are just afloat,

Heading towards the falls.

 

Written: May 27, 2022

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