Lest we forget this Remembrance Day
The sacrifice of those brave men
Their blood spilt on the battlefield
Their lives given to protect us
Their lives extinguished to sand us

Lest we forget our fallen troops
Who lay dying in no mans land
Who's blood gave life to the poppies at Flanders field

Lest we forget our true heroes
Lest we forget our protectors
Lest we forget our guardian angels
All gone to be with God.

I should sleep;
birds almost chirping,
daylight threatens about
but my eyes do not droop.

I should sleep;
but my heart beats furiously.
I have not forgotten.

I should sleep;
even owls have fallen,
winds slowing down
but my spirit remains restless.

I should sleep;
but my mind won't let me.
I remember.

As you walk along this pavement

Walk where they cannot
See where they do not
Listen to what the know
Hear what came to sow

Send a little kiss

See where they cannot
Walk where they do not
Hear and come to know
Listen to what came to sow

To the girls of Cromwell

As you enter into those moments
when your trials oppress you
and you slowly feel the life
being drawn from your bones.
Remember,
that even the trees are meant to enter into seasons
where they lose their leaves and stand defenseless
from the harsh winter winds.

But never forget
that there will always come a time
when they'll finally catch their breath,
as the still spring air hugs them,
and begin their journey of growing into
a taller, more confident kind of presence
with deepened roots and a flourishing canopy
that's ready to waltz with the wind.

My body aches from the physically abuse I put myself through, The pain is only temporary from that point. I go through more... jumping through hoops, battling through the emotions I know that are real. But I get kicked down and pin to the ground. Then, the memories play before me... I see my friends and I laughing, I see me running and training, I see my fiance hugging me and kissing me...

I fight to keep her safe, she makes everything worth it. She held me when I was down, gave me meaning, she even forgave me when I hurt her...

I can't stop now. All I care about is being able to see her again, hug her close, kiss her, and marry her. She IS my other half. So, don't ever say farewell to her. Don't ever say good-bye, that means you are ready to let go... Instead, say "talk to you later" or "see you soon". That way, you assured yourself that you will be able to see and speak with her...

So, until we meet again

-W. Andrade

He left with that same blue button-down shirt to our third date.
I remember the fire wavering at our dinner table.
He wore that same smile everyday
but I needed to see that smile more times,
though I'm thankful for all the times I did.
Years later I can still feel his lips on my temple,
"plane's taking off, I love you," deeply incrusted in my mind.
I can't stand texting anymore.
I stared into the eyes of the flames when I turned on the news
and felt the world around me shatter
and the ground beneath me quiver.
I can't stand watching the news.
And even though I celebrate on my own
the date we decided to be one,
there are 11 days into September that hurt and burn.
I can't stand September month.
And so I went  to bed the night of the 10th
not knowing my heart would go the next day,
14 years ago today,
and never come back into my chest.
*14 years aren't enough to forget.