HOW MANY

I feel like we have just begun,
To count up all the costs
And how many times
We'll have to say,
"I'm sorry for your loss,"

Caren E. Salas

STRANGE

Lately I've been feeling strange

As though I should say good-bye

Like I should tell my story

Before it's too late to try.

And I should show as much love

As my heart has strength to give,

And I should spend each moment

Remembering moments lived.

I see so much that's ending

Like innocence, love and peace

Yet things like fear and hatred

Continue to be released.

Lately I've been feeling strange,

Like I'm running out of time;

Things to see, people to meet,

Mountains I want to climb.

Things are coming to an end

Don't know how, or even when

Just a feeling that I have

That I won't be back again.

It's eating me up inside

Gnawing at me day and night,

And nobody will miss me

When I'm gone and out of sight.

Caren E. Salas

AprPAD Day 11 "Control"

I NEED ANSWERS

I have some questions
For whoever runs this show
Who is in control
Of the lies and omissions
Delays, mistakes and red tape?

Pettiness leaves us
With no real guidance at all
We need answers now!
So stop with the name calling
While numbers are increasing.


Caren E. Salas

Blades

Pelicans gliding 

Like blades across the glassy

Surface of the sea

Caren E. Salas

ONE MORE

One more story to tell

One more kiss or embrace

One more meal we could share

One more look at your face.

One more hand holding moment

One more day in the sun

One more garden to tend

One more chore to be done.

One more mountain to climb

One more sunset to see

One more road to discover

One more evergreen tree.

One more mist trail to travel

One more waterfall drop

One more river to cross

One more bend to the top.

One more ride to enjoy

One more place to explore

One more dream of tomorrow

Filled with more, than "one more".

One more thought to remember:

That your love will endure

Surrounding me always

Until I see you once more.

Caren E. Salas

Jack R. Robinson 4/29/1930 - 12/29/2019

THIS SUMMER

It seems to me this summer past

Has passed away

And way too fast.

A song, a dance, a second chance

To once belong,

A Happenstance.

The road I walked has been long

And I longed for when

I'd again be strong.

A smile, a hug and new friends too

 Now, there's nothing

I can't do.

Caren E. Salas

ALL ALONG

I swear I knew you long ago

In another life, or a different show

Or maybe it was a dream that I 

Imagined in my sleep one night

Like a song I heard from another room

That I wasn't paying attention to

The faintest light on the darkest path

In a memory I never really had

A word, a touch, a déjà vu

Our hearts had met before...I just knew.

I'm sure I knew you far away

In another world, on a different day

Or maybe it was a book I read

And I made it all up inside my head

Like a story I have yet to write

Lost on the pages of my unhinged mind

A glimmer of thought in an endless sea

A past that was always meant to be.

Faces in the crowd, a voice on the phone

An embrace so warm, it felt like home.

It feels like I've known you all along

We've played the same scenes, and sang all the songs

And maybe our souls just awaited the day

We'd finally meet and put on this play

Like the dreams we all shared when we were just children

That we hoped for, but thought, it's one in a million

With a twinkle of stars, and no wish denied

This journey became a hell of a ride.

One for the love of it, two for the show

Hold on to these memories, and never let go.

Caren E, Salas

This is dedicated to the wonderful cast and crew (and really everyone involved) of Long Beach Playhouse's "My Fair Lady" - Summer of 2018. I love you all.

Photo: Long Beach Playhouse

TAMALE DAY (Day #22 "_____Day")

My mother-in-law and me. Miss her so much.

I'm not sure how she did it
All those tamales in one
Or two days, meat simmering
On the stove, mixing masa,
Wrapping them in the corn husks...
It was a labor of love.


Caren E. Salas

WALL (Day #21 Construstion/Deconstruction poem)

Brick by brick he built a wall
Trying to hide his heart
Never realizing love
Would break it all apart.


Caren E. Salas

SHINING IN THE DARK (Day #20 What I Learned)

Nothing is certain

There's no guarantee, that life

Is going to give you

All the things you dreamed about

No matter how hard you try.

One day you might wake

To find everything you love

All that you worked for

Dissolve into nothingness

It's then that you must decide

You can just give up

And choose to wallow and whine

Or you can go on

Because who knows what bright star

May start shining in the dark?

Caren E. Salas

photo: nationalgeographic.com

COMPANY (Day #19 an "abundance" poem)

I have an abundance of company
My children and their children and their friends
My friends, my husband's friends and our neighbors
Our neighbors' children who are our kids' friends
Our parents, brothers and sisters, and then
Of course, their spouses and children and friends
And the nurse who visits me now and then
Just to make sure I'm not swimming in stress
Which would be detrimental to my health
I tell her all I need is time alone.


Caren E. Salas



NOTE: I am not at all complaining about my abundance of loved ones. It's just that once in a while I could really use a little "me time", lol

GOOD FOR NOTHING (Day # 18 - same)

Most people are good
Almost every thing has worth
There is a value
To sights, sounds, tastes, smells and touch
...and feelings
   Except for hate.


Caren E. Salas

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY (Day # 17 - same)

I know what I said
I said I'd think about it
I needed some time
I don't know why I said that
What I meant to say was...no.


Caren E. Salas

MY STORY (Day #16 a Message to the World)

My story isn't finished

I'm nowhere near "The End"

I've many more adventures

On that you can depend.

They may not all be wondrous

But I know they will be fun

Because when it comes to living

I've barely just begun.

Since none of us can know for sure

When our role in life is through

It's best to make the most of it

And that's what I plan to do.

Caren E. Salas

STRANGER IN THE DARKNESS (Day #15 - "Stranger _____"

Stranger in the darkness
Goosebumps on my skin
Picking up the pace now
Checking my phone again.

One more block to get there
Should know better than to roam
Out in the dark all by myself
When I could be safe at home.

I'm sure the stranger is someone
Just out and about like me
But I'm not taking chances on
Someone that I can't see.

Pull my keys out of my pocket,
Quickly open up my door
Get in and shut it, lock it tight
Not worried any more.

Well...much.


Caren E. Salas

APPARENTLY (Day #14 Form or anti-form) A Triolet

Apparently we all have way too much stuff

We've collected things and now it seems we just can't let go

Until the day that we say "Enough is enough!"

Because apparently we all have way too much stuff

Deciding what to give away is tedious and tough

We justify holding on to it, but deep inside we know

That apparently we all have way too much stuff

We've collected things and now it seems we just can't let go.

Caren E. Salas

HAVANA (Day #13 poem about a city)

History crumbles away when it rains.
Marble stairways are cracked; streets need repair.
Yet in narrow alleys, doors are open
Friends, neighbors, strangers, dancing without care.
The salt water spray on the Malecon
Doesn't stop the trumpet player playing,
And there's always time for conversation
Over some rum, and maybe a cigar.
Beautiful city, beautiful people.
I hope I will be back again someday.


Caren E. Salas

We met a new friend, Luis, playing his trumpet on the Malecon.

He invited us to his house for dinner with his family - yes, that kind of stuff really happens.

Photos by William Salas

SUNSET (Day #12 a transformative poem)

What once was clear blue

Has exploded with color

Pink, purple, orange,

Adorning the twighlight sky

Blending, fading into night.

Caren E. Salas

LUCKY ME (#11 an "unlucky" poem)

Apparently, I'm special,

One of ninety, out of one

Hundred thousand, lucky me.

Plus, being that I'm female,

Two or three times as likely

As a man to get this...gift.

Although most cases are found

In northern states and colder 

Climates, I live in So Cal.

The age bracket is between

Twenty and forty, but me...

Diagnosed at twenty three.

There's no cure, but it can be

Slowed down a bit, with a shot

Three times a week, oh goody!

Feeling better already. 

Thank God for good insurance. 

Shots are seven thousand bucks.

Still, I'm luckier than some

I have friends and family

And a wonderful husband.

I have four beautiful kids

And if that wasn't enough

Now I'm even a grandma.

I have a lot of bad days,

I have really good ones too

And although those tend to be 

Fewer, I know that I must

Make them count, and knowing that

Makes me luckier than most.

Caren E. Salas

A really good day "Muck Fest" 2014 

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, check out https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

GOING DOWN (#10 a "going somewhere" poem)

Yes, that's me!

The airplane circles higher
And higher, until it's time
To step out: Ready, Set, Go!
At first tumbling, no knowing
Which way is up then...free fall.
Straight down, no changing my mind.

Surprisingly, I felt safe
Attached to my instructor;
The world so small beneath me.
A tug, a jolt and then...peace.
Floating quietly dream-like,
Landing on the beach below.




Caren E. Salas





Photo: Skydive Vallarta (in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) Check them out. Seriously awesome experience you'll never forget!! One of the few places IN THE WORLD were you can skydive and land on the beach. It's so beautiful, you'll forget to be scared.
https://www.facebook.com/SkydiveVallarta