Fifth Grade Graduation

I hear people say that you have big shoes to fill,

to follow your brother's footsteps.

Son, you are making your own mark,

your own footprints .

Your eyes shine with knowledge and wisdom

of an old soul.

Words map your world,

destinations you have yet to conquer.

You follow your vast imagination.

Daily stories,

magical secrets of fifth grade,

that you share with me while we

read side by side.

I soak in details of your world.

As a toddler you had imaginary friends,

at school you created real friendships.

Trails of sand from the playground

followed you home.

Tin foil dinosaurs you brought 

to life with your words.

Greek mythology and paper airplanes,

monsters in Minecraft.

Giant brown eyes filled with endless compassion.

Dream your big dreams,

embrace the world with both arms.

Lend a hand to someone in need,

listen to your heart.

If storms come your way,

find the sunshine within you.

Struggle will only make you stronger.

Reach for mountain peaks,

live with wonder in your heart,

but most of all find the joy in everything.   

Our son Daniel is graduating fifth grade and going into middle school. This is dedicated to him. We are so proud of him. He is bright and kind and amazing. People always tell him that he should follow his brother Josh. As many of you know Josh graduated two weeks ago from medical school. We are proud of both of them and we are amazed by all that Daniel has accomplished so far. 

" We love you Daniel and we are so proud of you! "

Please join us here, http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.

Mountains

The water rolls off my fingers,

as I wash the raspberries,

the same way your words roll

off your tongue.

The raspberries bleed,

 my heart bleeds.

Sweating the small stuff

invades our world .

Life is short I always say,

through the tears I see

that if I moved mountains for you,

it would not be enough.

Meet us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.

Memorial Day

Remembering Heroes

The little boy asks
about heroes long gone.
The tree shades him and sighs.
The tree has witnessed tears shed, silent tears,
raging tears,
for lives lost.
The flag flies in the wind today,
red white and blue,
in their honor.
The flag whispers tales
of heroes known and unknown.
They had courage,
they had vision,
they sacrificed,
for our freedom.
I wonder if they can watch the parades
from heaven.
Front seats for their own funerals,
as the ground weeps when they are laid to rest.
We need to remember them today,
and always.

26 comments:

1. 
   AdrienneMay 30, 2011 8:53 AM

   Good Morning ~ Happy Memorial Day
   This is very touching...I think of all the heroes unknown to me, and hope that they are ALL being remembered today by those who loved them and lost them. Thanks for this.

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2. 
   Brian MillerMay 30, 2011 9:06 AM

   a stirring tribute...i remember and honor them today...

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3. 
   DulceMay 30, 2011 9:41 AM

   Yes Madam
   we need and MUST

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4. 
   iseeyoulookingatmeMay 30, 2011 11:12 AM

   I believe they can see from Heaven. And, I love the line, "as the ground weeps when they are laid to rest." That is a very beautiful and moving image.

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5. 
   ClaudiaMay 30, 2011 12:05 PM

   beautiful tribute - and i like the pic you chose for underlining...yes we must remember them..

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6. 
   HopeMay 30, 2011 12:22 PM

   beautifully written reminder. thank you!

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7. 
   GinnyMay 30, 2011 12:48 PM

   'The flag whispers tales
   of heroes known and unknown.'
   '...the ground weeps when they are laid to rest.'
   
   Such touching thoughts to read today, Memorial Day.
   Thank you.

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8. 
   TALONMay 30, 2011 2:00 PM

   Beautiful and so very true, ayala. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve. They deserve a special place in our hearts and minds.

   ReplyDelete
9. 
   Kristen @ MothereseMay 30, 2011 3:20 PM

   This is beautiful, Ayala, as always. And I think your last line holds such an important reminder: to hold these men and women in our hearts not only today, when we're reminded to, but everyday.

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10. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:39 PM

    Thank you, Adrienne. I hope so too. Happy Memorial Day!

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11. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:40 PM

    Brian, I know that you do....

    ReplyDelete
12. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:41 PM

    Dulce...yes ..we need and must!

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13. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:41 PM

    Thank you, Caroline.

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14. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:43 PM

    Thank you, Claudia. The photo I took at Arlington two years ago of my son as he looked on this sad place.

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15. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:43 PM

    Thank you, Hope.

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16. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:44 PM

    Thank you, Ginny.

    ReplyDelete
17. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:45 PM

    Thank you, Talon. It's a gratitude we should always carry in our hearts.

    ReplyDelete
18. 
    ayalaMay 30, 2011 4:46 PM

    Thank you, Kristen.

    ReplyDelete
19. 
    Rachel HoytMay 30, 2011 7:59 PM

    Excellent tribute! The veterans deserve to be remembered and honored today.

    ReplyDelete
20. 
    Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being RudriMay 30, 2011 10:33 PM

    Wonderful and poignant tribute. Thanks for the reminder Ayala!

    ReplyDelete
21. 
    Mama ZenMay 31, 2011 8:13 AM

    Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
22. 
    ayalaMay 31, 2011 8:45 AM

    Rachel,thank you. And yes...yes..yes!

    ReplyDelete
23. 
    ayalaMay 31, 2011 8:45 AM

    Thank you, Rudri.

    ReplyDelete
24. 
    ayalaMay 31, 2011 8:46 AM

    Thank you, Mama Zen.

    ReplyDelete
25. 
    LolamouseMay 31, 2011 11:55 AM

    Great tribute. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
26. 
    ayalaMay 31, 2011 2:45 PM

    Thank you, Lolamouse.

    ReplyDelete
    I am posting the poem I wrote for Memorial Day last year. In my heart I will always remember this day with gratitude for all those heroes. I will always remember the picture above of my little boy at Arlington Cemetery and how moved we were to be there and honor those that gave their life for our country and our freedom. 

Life

Love bugs on my car,

holding on while the rain comes down.

Peridot fields stretch for miles,

on the road cows with colors like mosaic patterns. 

My thoughts dancing,

thoughts of yesterday,

hopes for tomorrow.

The sound of your voice,

the sound of your laughter,

open the gates to my soul.

I have waited all my life for you,

we grew together,

like seeds,

side by side,

arms outstretched,

soul to soul.

You became a man

with purpose and resolve.

I raised you,

days swiftly turning into years,

ordinary and extraordinary moments.

Your new life awaits,

I have to let you go,

so you can dream,

so you can be.

My heart trembles,

I wait on the sidelines,

I wait to see your face one more time.

When I'm gone,

you will remember me,
you will remember the love 

that I fed you,

the love that made you grow.

It was a very emotional weekend for us when our son Josh graduated medical school. My thoughts were filled with memories of the past and mixed with the joy of the moment. I was sad that my parents did not live to see this wonderful moment in our life. We are excited about his future and the promise that it holds. I know that he will continue his humanitarian work as well and we are so proud of him. Meet us here,  http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.

A Honorable Journey

I was humbled when he held

a beating heart in his hands.

Humbled by his kindness

and compassion.

He was a little boy wearing

a firefighter helmet

with a screaming siren.

His eyes bright and eager

wanting to save lives.

Little boy,

building dreams

with colorful Legos 

wanting to change the world.

At sixteen he volunteered 

in the emergency room.

That first day,

a desire born.

On the telephone

his voice filled with sadness,

when someone died.

His sadness replaced with excitement

to save lives.

I told him to follow his dream,

to follow his heart.

He spread his wings

and he soared.

The little boy

was growing into a giant of a man.

He built bridges with his peers,

he helped people in need,

seeing the world with his heart,

feeling the world with his soul.

My boy touched hearts,

the way he has touched mine from 

the first day he was born.

My son Josh inspires me. He is graduating medical school this week. He has accomplished so much and he makes me proud. A director in a mobile unit that was set up for those that can't afford healthcare. He has gone on medical missions to the Dominican Republic and to Thailand. The picture in this post is of him in Thailand .  "Congratulations Josh, I love you and I am so proud of who you are." Please join us here http://dversepoets.com where we share our thoughts and our hearts.

Longing For You

My heart collapsed

when I lost you.

My soul bled.

Hours and days

turn into years.

Space and time heal,

but dad the wound in my soul remains.

The wind whispers your name

in my sleep.

I search for you through my nightmares,

I search for you through sweet dreams.

When I see a glimpse of you,

I fall in your arms,

I weep,

I rejoice,

I embrace,

I hold,

I feel safe.

My pillow saturated with 

tears that I have shed.

My heart remains longing,

loving,

hoping one day I shall see you again. 

This week is four years since my dad passed away. I never got to say goodbye since he died suddenly. There is not one day that passes by that I don't think of him and miss him.  Meet us here  where we share our thoughts and our hearts http://dversepoets.com/

My Love

The pigeons ate seeds and bread crumbs
in Trafalgar square.
The trail we left behind while bronze lions
stood witness and guarded us,
as I sheltered you from the storms in our life.
Nelson's statue overlooking the square winked at me
as I watched him with admiration.
Life not a rehearsal  grandma said,
we took in the moment as we inhaled our breath.
I stood in a dark place,
unwilling to surrender.
Fearless when it came to me,
afraid when it came to you.
London poetic in spirit,
as we listened with our hearts,
wide and open.
I wanted to live for you, my child.
Move the earth and the clouds for you.
Heal you with love,
lift you with laughter.
I hope you remember
for it was long ago,
I carry it all in my heart.





Meet us here, http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.