A rainy day
A dead rose
That picture on the wall
My little sisters test
Hanging on the fridge
The project I used to stall
My Polaroid camera
A broken mug
My mom's excuse of fun
A walk outside
A kitty in my lap
The trophies I forgot I won
A forgotten poem
A silent scream
A whisper of the untold true
Little things
Little dreams
All ending with you

It's wonderful to see
The mountains, strong and tall
An eagle taking flight
Or the colors in the fall

But why do we not notice
The beauty in the little things?
Things that we see every day
That are simple, yet amazing

A flat field of grass...
Makes my heart run free
Even a single breath of wind
Stirs the life within me

So when you dream of jungles
But wake to find just one tree
Look closer and you'll realize
There's beauty in simplicity

i. knocking on wood when a terrible thought comes up
ii. cutting fresh flowers to all the same lengths
iii. listening to the static on the radio
iv. reaching out of the car window into the air
v. holding my breath at every cemetery I pass by
vi. writing letters then burning them in the most dramatic way
vii. tracing loops on lovers backs
viii. falling asleep with the candle still lit
ix. morning coffee followed by morning coffee breath
x. running out into the street while it rains
xi. early morning flights too a new start
xii. stopping at every crack in the side walk
xiii. wearing a wrist watch
xiv. dictating strangers eyes
xv. falling in love with the moon over and over again

what does it all mean too you?

I met death in a glimpse
In the middle of writing when my ink ran out
At the store when there's no more stock
Every Monday morning when my alarm shouts

I swallow joy every now and then
Every time the coffee touches my lips
When mangoes tease my tongue
In every mint that electrifies my body

I saw love every morning
On our dining table where rice, eggs, and hot choco greet each other
In the baker's twinkling eyes when I say good morning
With a lending hand ready to pass my nine peso fare

In the world where evil resides
Goodness still wouldn't drown
Look around and there's still hope ingrained
It's in the little things we miss and take for granted

I’ve learned how to dismember my ligaments
For those who need body parts, how to
Digest ***** burning the stomach lining.
I’ve learned how to read the bible
As a poem and not a story, as
A way of life; not an outline of life.

I’ve learned how to open my arms
To those claiming refugee on cement sidewalks.
I’ve learned how to sing; not choir songs,
No symphonies nor harmonies, but sing
With a shaking voice from the pits
Of carcass burnt within fiery honesty.

I'm still learning how to scratch the surface
To let scabs turn to skin, because I have always
Been fascinated with the process of healing,
But I become nostalgic when I outline stains
On my skin from previous memories.

I’ve learned how to paint the silhouette
Of a smiling man saying goodbye to his wife
While holding rifles pointed at the cross
By the church where they used to meet.

Knowledge comes in two forms;
The first resides within yearning, the second within coping.
I do not know how to tame forest fires
From flocking flames feathering forgiveness:

I guess I haven’t learned anything after all.

A little kindness that goes a long way
A smile to light everyone’s day
Warmth of love to make you whole
Content of heart to quell the soul
Loss of death, not loss of life
The end of everlasting strife
Time to heal and mend the hurt
Erase the pain of cuts and burns
Strength to lend those falling down
A hand to lift you from the ground
Gratefulness for all you own
Appreciation distinctly shown
The world would vast improve, you’ll see
If all these little things came to be.