joseph-alvin-s-pena - Hello Poetry

I am afraid that I might hurt you when I carry you That these hands – tired, calloused, and clumsy Might not know how to hold a gift as precious as you Son, I wish I could show you the beauty of the world Sneak out of the house after dinner, away from your mother And watch fireflies while listening to the chorus of crickets at night I wish I could answer all your questions and sate your heart’s wonder Catch a dew as it rises and trace its path as it falls again as rain I want you to open your eyes See a much brighter world; not like mine which is perpetrated by my silly fears I wish God would give you great hands One that would be so powerful that it would not be afraid to hold a basketball or a bicycle But one that is gentle that it would hold mine and not let go as I grow older How I wish, as you grow older, to give all of these to you But son, how can I teach you of courage and valor When inside your father’s chest beats a heart of a fearful dog; cowing in terror You deserve someone who has a heart of a lion; brave and strong like a true champion Still, I see you as possible I need to see your smile to dispel my many terrors I need to see you get up when you stumble so that I may let go of my failures and always move forward I need to see you sleep so I may sleep Need to see you cry so that I too can cry I want you to like me To see me To see me now, in moments like this Your father stays awake, gazing at your sleeping face Fumbling as he reaches down to carry you Being ever so gentle so that you might not wake I am still afraid that I might hurt you as I carry you But I need to feel the warmth of your skin Like my breath needs air to live for 10:18:08.23:30

0

May 2, 2014

May 2, 2014 at 9:49 PM UTC

joseph-alvin-s-pena

An Appeal to My Newborn

I am afraid that I might hurt you when I carry you That these hands – tired, calloused, and clumsy Might not know how to hold a gift as precious as you Son, I wish I could show you the beauty of the world Sneak out of the house after dinner, away from your mother And watch fireflies while listening to the chorus of crickets at night I wish I could answer all your questions and sate your heart’s wonder Catch a dew as it rises and trace its path as it falls again as rain I want you to open your eyes See a much brighter world; not like mine which is perpetrated by my silly fears I wish God would give you great hands One that would be so powerful that it would not be afraid to hold a basketball or a bicycle But one that is gentle that it would hold mine and not let go as I grow older How I wish, as you grow older, to give all of these to you But son, how can I teach you of courage and valor When inside your father’s chest beats a heart of a fearful dog; cowing in terror You deserve someone who has a heart of a lion; brave and strong like a true champion Still, I see you as possible I need to see your smile to dispel my many terrors I need to see you get up when you stumble so that I may let go of my failures and always move forward I need to see you sleep so I may sleep Need to see you cry so that I too can cry I want you to like me To see me To see me now, in moments like this Your father stays awake, gazing at your sleeping face Fumbling as he reaches down to carry you Being ever so gentle so that you might not wake I am still afraid that I might hurt you as I carry you But I need to feel the warmth of your skin Like my breath needs air to live for 10:18:08.23:30

32

Arise, Unconquered Sun! Awake from the Eastern Empyrean. Land, bestir from your slumber! Light brings life and heat. Valiant be my soul. Take heart and take to the sky. Intone a grateful song for great blessings and small mercies to come. Night and death and pain have departed, a new day has begun.

0

Apr 29, 2014

Apr 29, 2014 at 1:11 PM UTC

joseph-alvin-s-pena

Now It Begins

Arise, Unconquered Sun! Awake from the Eastern Empyrean. Land, bestir from your slumber! Light brings life and heat. Valiant be my soul. Take heart and take to the sky. Intone a grateful song for great blessings and small mercies to come. Night and death and pain have departed, a new day has begun.

5

Much have been said About my brother Flame How from his hands Borne both Creation And destruction Songs were sung About trivial flickers And infernos legendary Allow me to say My piece about My brother flame Flame Words seems lifeless Next to your colored streaks Hearths spark Red Candles shine Yellow Blue Is the burn from my oven Life is borne From your touch Embers glow at your grasp Metal refined from your speech The world itself Is teeming in life For the sun Looks down upon it In its heart You My brother flame Burn brightest Fire Is the element of change You burn from the tears Of the oppressed You blaze from the verses Of the revolutionary Artists, lovers, and dreamers Their eyes burn With passion Your disposition My brother has never been cold My Sister Wind You warm her With your embrace Shed her chains and give her wings That she may fly Full of grace Brother flame You are a legend May bards sing forever Your songs How you cradled the Phoenix In its death And herald its birth From the same ashes it came from How you fled with Prometheus From Olympus And sparked the dreams of men You are a perfect instrument Of God’s glory and renown After heaven denied Earth Rain Elijah’s offer you consumed On Horeb Moses Have seen you burning A lonely bush You’ve shown this lonely shepherd He was standing on Holy Ground And on God’s plan Much have been said About my brother flame My piece reveals Of those I am certain These three Life Passion Renown 12:27:08.03:23

0

Apr 29, 2014

Apr 29, 2014 at 1:06 PM UTC

joseph-alvin-s-pena

**Ode to Brother Flame**

Much have been said About my brother Flame How from his hands Borne both Creation And destruction Songs were sung About trivial flickers And infernos legendary Allow me to say My piece about My brother flame Flame Words seems lifeless Next to your colored streaks Hearths spark Red Candles shine Yellow Blue Is the burn from my oven Life is borne From your touch Embers glow at your grasp Metal refined from your speech The world itself Is teeming in life For the sun Looks down upon it In its heart You My brother flame Burn brightest Fire Is the element of change You burn from the tears Of the oppressed You blaze from the verses Of the revolutionary Artists, lovers, and dreamers Their eyes burn With passion Your disposition My brother has never been cold My Sister Wind You warm her With your embrace Shed her chains and give her wings That she may fly Full of grace Brother flame You are a legend May bards sing forever Your songs How you cradled the Phoenix In its death And herald its birth From the same ashes it came from How you fled with Prometheus From Olympus And sparked the dreams of men You are a perfect instrument Of God’s glory and renown After heaven denied Earth Rain Elijah’s offer you consumed On Horeb Moses Have seen you burning A lonely bush You’ve shown this lonely shepherd He was standing on Holy Ground And on God’s plan Much have been said About my brother flame My piece reveals Of those I am certain These three Life Passion Renown 12:27:08.03:23

83

Northern wind Gentle wind You came unseen But I need not doubt You are here I close my eyes I feel your passing Invisible arms Sweeping Over mountains and plains Trees wave Flowers bow At the touch of your fingers You breathe life on creation Each morning And whisper dreams Each day’s passing Wind Northern wind You may have been the river’s cousin For in you I see her grace Winged clouds carry your feet You bring the Maker’s air Warm breath on winter’s eve You lay your cool hand On my fevered brow During summer’s heat You breathe life On my Brother Flame With your song, he burns Bright and true Northern wind Free wind Where are you going Which alley Or pathway In heaven will you take Will you bathe in sea sprays Or scale summits and hills Will you be carrying songs from the village Or prayers From children As they lay to sleep Lift them up to the Father Whose voice is heard In quiet In the stillness Of the wind Northern wind Healing wind You came from your Lofty dwelling From your window You watched Clouds sailing Each morning you greet From the east Daybreak As a new day dawns Light gives heat Hope And the wind brings chill Comfort Northern wind Healing wind Gentle Lofty Free You came unseen But still I am Certain Assured You are here 12:27:08.02:19

0

Apr 29, 2014

Apr 29, 2014 at 1:03 PM UTC

joseph-alvin-s-pena

**Ode to Sister Wind**

Northern wind Gentle wind You came unseen But I need not doubt You are here I close my eyes I feel your passing Invisible arms Sweeping Over mountains and plains Trees wave Flowers bow At the touch of your fingers You breathe life on creation Each morning And whisper dreams Each day’s passing Wind Northern wind You may have been the river’s cousin For in you I see her grace Winged clouds carry your feet You bring the Maker’s air Warm breath on winter’s eve You lay your cool hand On my fevered brow During summer’s heat You breathe life On my Brother Flame With your song, he burns Bright and true Northern wind Free wind Where are you going Which alley Or pathway In heaven will you take Will you bathe in sea sprays Or scale summits and hills Will you be carrying songs from the village Or prayers From children As they lay to sleep Lift them up to the Father Whose voice is heard In quiet In the stillness Of the wind Northern wind Healing wind You came from your Lofty dwelling From your window You watched Clouds sailing Each morning you greet From the east Daybreak As a new day dawns Light gives heat Hope And the wind brings chill Comfort Northern wind Healing wind Gentle Lofty Free You came unseen But still I am Certain Assured You are here 12:27:08.02:19

75