Free Verse: The Angel

The Angel   I dreamt a dream! What can it mean? And that I was a maiden Queen Guarded by an Angel mild: Witless woe was ne'er beguiled! And I wept both night and day, And he wiped my tears away; And I wept both day and night, And hid from him my heart's delight. So he took his wings, and fled; Then the morn blushed rosy red. I dried my tears, and armed my fears With ten-thousand shields and spears. Soon my Angel came again; I was armed, he came in vain; For the time of youth was fled, And grey hairs were on my head.   -William Blake-

Thundercloud Grey-Benjamin Moore-2124-50

Thundercloud Grey-Benjamin Moore-2124-50

A thundercloud cracked

Hovered above her head

Her blonde hair ran in all directions,

Dripping droplets down as she ran

She had to reach it

For her, for her daughter

The lemon-eyed woman picked up speed

She jumped through the clouds

Raced through the town hall

Her yare feet movement wasn’t enough

Her sweet sounding voice 

Now drowning with tears

She wasn’t going to make it

 In time

By miracle, as if someone above the clouds

Knew of her troubles, she reached her destination

Just as the lightning broke the mantle of grey

Inside it was dry and cold

Everyone was working

Everyone had come in time

Yet everyone lived close to work

But the bus did not understand

“YOU’RE FIRED!”

She exited through the door

Her hopes had come to die

How would she tell her?

With the rain still pouring over her shoulders

She performed a walk of shame

Her blonde hair now fell sloppily down

The spark of her lemon eyes had died

Her gray shirt now damped in rain and tears

Shame and sadness lingered around her

Her shame and sadness could be smelled miles away

The time had come

For the stars to show

The woman wondered

How to tell her?

How to explain it to her?

She’d have to get a new job

As her walk of disgrace came close to an end

She tripped over a rock

AHHHHH

She fell on the cold concrete

The rain still pouring,

Now on her face

The single mother decided to stay there;

 Let the rain fall and wash her tears

Let them cover her body

Clean her of her shame

The thundercloud hovered above her head

Some lighting stroked here and there

*prop, prop, prop*

Went the rain as it damped her whole

The ground rumbled

As the grey let go a thunder

Tiny footsteps walked her way

Right in front of the mother was her

The blonde mother did not want

Anyone to lay her eyes at her current

Especially her own daughter

“Mommy, stand back up.”

Said the small girl as she extended her hand

The lemon eyed woman kindly accepted,

There was nothing she could do now

Together they walked slowly,

Letting the rain fall and

Trickle down the smile on their faces

Laughing, smiling, forgetting the sadness

Somehow the daughter knew what had happened

And the mother knew she knew

Together they entered the bakery

Asked for the one thing they could afford.

As the muffins came they sat together

Ran through the jobs listed on the newspaper

for more colour collectives go to Middle Minds

Where I am From

I am from pencil shavings,
from papermate mongol and erasers
I am from the gigantic lego creations
scattered about the rooms

I am from the marañon trees,
whose seeds hang upside down
I am from music and creativity,
from Abuela Maggie and Abuelo Numan
and Vasquez- Perez

I am from the organized chaos,
the jokes and puns
From there is nothing to fear and be careful
I am from prays at night
Padre Nuestro, Santa Maria Madre de Dios
and Angel de Mi Guarda

I am from San Fernando
from Panama City Panama
I am from golden coins and
ancient relics.
From brownies and banana cakes

I am from the Creepy doll collection Tia Blanca Elena
never wanted, nor will, throw out
I am from the one who is missing both eyes,
her pitch black holes, ever staring, into mine.
And from the leap of faith Andrea took when she was six
hoping she could do like I did
*thud* she went from the dollhouse's roof

I am from the albums on top of my head,
from the first trip we took when we were born,
From Ecuador to New York
From Grandma's baby sepia pictures and my dad
sitting in the bus with hair on his head

I am from falling for fictional character
Eadric, Luka, and Tony as well
I am from Abuela Charo's Halloween costumes:
The Mime, Charlie Chaplin (3rd), and BettleJuice [Betelgeuse] (2nd)

I am from Pegasi, Unicorns, and Ponies alike
Buttons, Surprise, Sparkler, and Posey
I am from Pinky and Lila Tutifruti
forever in my heart

I am from nine months ago, the 25th of December
at the beach as night falls
I am from roses, delicate yet full of thorns.

I am from Abuelo Rudy's gazillion of farms
and the pawn shop from before that
I am from the first
"Who is that Pokemon?"
up to
"It's Tepig, Oshawott, and Snivy!"

I am from the sketches of my mom
and the anatomy of my dad
I am from Wednesday
August 26, 1998

I am from the drawers right besides me,
the notebooks on the first then the erasers.
I am from the biology slide kits which contain
Frog Ovaries, cricket skin, and butterfly wings

I am from "you are weird" and
"but, in the good way"
I am from the microscope underneath my feet
from the portable one in my third drawer
I am from doubts and procrastination
from pouts and "the people of my nation"

I am from games
La Lata and Sardinita
La Gallinita Siega and
Un, Dos, Tres Pan y Queso

I am from questions, pondering,
mixed feelings
From individuality, secrets, and
Control-Z,
 AND CAPS LOCK PRESSED ACCIDENTALLY
I am from "Quick! act normal!"
and "S41T! I'm screwed!"
I am from "sorry" and
"I don't care."

I am from the green van
that is one year less old than I am
I am from the Rexton and the Frappes
we ate in there
both, to be sold
For them I both cared

I am from my strenghts, my weaknesses
and everything in between
and my obsessions alike.
But I mostly am from those who have formed me
My Family, my non-blood-related family
my teachers, my Friends
Yet I am from the places I've been,
the people I've seen, met, and believed

I am from my Family
all the way to the top of the tree,
from my drawings, my pets,
my weird fantasies

I am from my dreams,
the mini heart attacks
(startles) I have everyday,
from my freaky "artistic sense"
and from all the stuff you all put up with

I am from peace and war
the light and the dark
to love and tolerate
I am from evreything above,
from August and beyond :)

-Ximena Vasquez-