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Walking in Miami: You better watch out
Miami has its walkable areas: it’s called Miami Beach. Everything else, take note. I moved to Miami few years ago, but there is still something about it that makes me question if it was the right move. This is a city that is still developing into the city that it claims to be. This city — considered a large metropolitan area; a city supposed to be as big as its art scene; a city with so many international residents and visitors commuting between their urban and suburban areas, still lacks adequate pedestrian infrastructure (or is it awareness?). As an avid city walker myself who previously lived in a couple of…
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The evergreenness of emotional pain
I know stages. So many stages that I now know that the last stage of anything usually means it’s either blooming or dying. (There’s no sugarcoating in the human experience.) The extent of some physical invasions by diseases can be classified by stages nowadays. Neat. It doesn’t mean it makes things easier. I think it’s our human nature to not want to know what lies ahead — I blame the fear of the unknown. But it can’t be a bad thing either knowing how you’re going to end. Anyway, all this preambling is just to ask: does heartache have stages? We are well aware of the stages of grief (denial,…
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Finding the rationale behind maga
On January 21, I wrote a re-introductory post of the person that I was going to be after we entered the fascism era in the United States of America, following the 2024 election. I made it very clear that I was going to speak up even more now, that I was going to be unhinged on the pursuit of the truth. I always speak up against injustice because I know one voice can make a difference. It’s funny how much you can (re)learn about yourself just by looking back. Growing up, my mother would punish me for “talking back” (when I was just explaining myself), not knowing that today…
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When life settings influence your inspiration
There was a time when a bird landing on one leg would prompt a pensive verse, when a drop sliding down a glass of iced water turned into an ocean under my magic pen, when an elderly couple holding hands summoned the avid poetess within. Today I stare at the fan. At a blank page, at empty walls that would’ve been filled with quotes and colorful visuals. An empty space used to send me searching for unique artistic expressions to grace the void that surrounds me today. My foggy brain and anxious hands can’t come to an agreement. But it’s about time an executive decision is made by, I’m afraid,…
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Women: we rise from the ashes
A “woman of Christ” ready to kneel a housekeeper on heels a womb that never heals ageless body whose feelings can’t be real defenseless little girl whose autonomy men think they can steal That’s how society sees us it’s how they expect us to feel But from a woman’s womb came all of you, we can’t be erased our history you can’t undo We rise from the ashes as we all have seen We care for the vulnerable from LA to Berlin We are glass-ceiling breakers and have always been a force to be reckoned with our strength comes from no gym, our strength is built in. Happy International Women’s…
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Telltales – a Short Story
Everybody knew. Her friends, her dad, even her coworkers, who barely knew Sandra personally, immediately put two and two together every time she told them about her love life—which, let’s just say, happened quite often. She wasn’t shy about it. Smile as bright as the sun. A heart as open as the sky, Sandra effortlessly attracted warm and happy people who’d listen to her rants without any objection. She made it too easy for others to empathize with her. Thus, it was no surprise that when she recounted the story of her Valentine’s Day, her friend Geenie, particularly, felt Sandra’s haunting despair in her soul. “He literally came home and…
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“And justice for all”
If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine. -Che Guevara In today’s somber mind-wanderings, I took a trip into what The Pledge of Allegiance means, and whether it has any meaning today. As an educator, I am thankful my school doesn’t have the students stand and recite this empty little verse. Maybe at some point in the past the United States of America, in some way, lived up to its ideals, but there has never been justice for all in this country. The current state of affairs of the country is not exactly inspiring any sane person to be a patriot either. And,…
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I have nothing left in me
I have nothing left in me But I walk the long way home to seize the day ignore the news to fly away from the chaos unfolding right before me, don’t wanna feel the burning tears of the marginalized groups seeking peace I have nothing left in me But my lips don’t quiver when I speak, the truth is facts no matter who, what, or how many times twisted it may be, so I stand confident in my skin knowing our history won’t tear me apart for doing the right thing I have nothing left in me But even on pins and needles my soul yearns for a plot twist,…
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United we’ll stand
Sitting on my doubts and questions in the turbulence of a time so uncertain, knowing that we collectively have the courage to intervene but oh, the audacity, they scream, cause we want basic needs met instead of the meme we now have to fight after the White House turned Alt-right There’s always been political back-and-forth but diplomacy was counted for the rule of law was feared just like the god they feared and issues were resolved in spite of the smear Back then lines were drawn… to some point and the law was respected and citizens protested, immigrants trusted their rights people had the courage to be gay without threatened…
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The last heartbeat in me
And even after the sun did twelve laps even after your claws came out even after your true colors showed the last heartbeat in me was somehow relieved I was able to breathe I had agreed to just let it go I had made peace with this popular belief that habit was stronger than love but I guess I never saw a feeling bloom on concrete Eternity falls short and I still can’t understand why, but it is one of those battles you just fight hopelessly to win and stay alive And no matter how many red flags were waved you go back to sleep hoping or thinking or wishing…
