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

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

EVERYTHING

It doesn't always feel like

Everything will turn out well

But let me just assure you

That it will. Just look at us

Together we can make it

Everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

Caren E. Salas

HONEY

When Whiskey came, he needed us
Because life had been unfair
He was timid, skittish, scared
He needed someone to care.

And he became my constant friend
My shadow day and night
My little grumpy old guy
Always ready for a fight.

Then Honey came, a tiny angel
Four short legs and great big eyes
She touched our hearts, and Whiskey's too
(Which came as a surprise!)


And so it seems she's here to stay
This tender ball of fur
We love Whiskey 'cause he needed us
And Honey...we need her.


Caren E. Salas

HANG ON

His eyes cry out, but no words
Come from his lips. I refuse
To listen. It hurts, I know.
Don't give up, she wouldn't want
You to say good-bye just yet.
Hang on just a while longer.

I try to tell him without
Speaking. Things will get better
You have a new great grandson
On the way that you should meet
And all of us who love you.
Hang on just a while longer.


Caren E. Salas

THE FLOWERS

The grounds keeper said we might as well take
The flowers; he'd be throwing them away.
So we did. Every bloom and bud we could
That wasn't crushed, spent, damaged or broken.
We gathered them gently into our arms
And took them home where we put them in jars,
Vases, bottles arranging them as well
As we could. The flowers brought color back
Into what had been a very gray week
And a bit of light into our dark times.

Now, as each day passes, more flowers fade;

Petals dropping silently, leaves drooping.

Maybe we can dry the roses, maybe

We can press some of them into a book. 

If we lay them in the garden, might seeds

Take root and in the Spring grow back again? 

Anything to keep these flowers alive,

To make them last a little bit longer. 

Because while I still have the flowers here,

I won't really have to tell her good-bye.

 

Caren E. Salas

.

IN THE NIGHT

Trying to stay strong for them

And holding it together

But in the night and quiet

When I'm tired and alone

I just can't hold back the tears

Or keep my heart from breaking.

Caren E. Salas

THE MEASURE

She was a small person
Not very tall, height-wise
But if you measured the size
Of her heart, well!
She was off the chart
And in number of embraces
And the faces of friends
She lifted up, gifts she gave
Unselfishly,
It was easy to see
That her being gone...
Just seems...so wrong.
But I'll remember her smile
And though for a while, I'm crying
I'm trying to love,
As she would,
Live like she could, Dream
Of the peace she now knows.
Because her light continues
To grow as long as we know
What to measure.


Caren E. Salas

THE ARMS OF GOD

For us, time stood still

The moment that the doctor

Said, I'm so sorry,

We did everything we could,

But she's in the arms of God.

It happened so fast;

No time to say our good-byes

Or that we loved her.

But she knew. I know she knew

Watching...from the arms of God.

Caren E. Salas

THE WORDS HAVE LEFT ME

The words have left me, so it seems

Packed their bags with broken dreams

They used to stay with me all night

Make sense of things, and hold me tight

But now they're gone, just not around

I'm open-mouthed, without a sound

I've seen the face of love in pain

And a light that's drowning, in ceaseless rain

I'm left with an empty and aching heart

Seeing those I love, now torn apart

The words have left me high and dry

I try to speak but only cry.

Caren E. Salas

SILLY PHOTOS (#12 a serious or a silly poem)

Silly photos found

In my cell phone, make me smile

Surprises from her 

Caren E. Salas

ANTICIPATION (#10 - Pick an emotion)

Waiting and wondering
Nervous excitement
A happy panic
Mixed with somber confusion
Neurotic obsession
And willing delusion
A constant addiction
To imminent perceptions
Of future occasions
Filled with great trepidations
Yet euphoric optimism
Knowing and certain
Believing,,,hoping....

Waiting and wondering.


Caren E. Salas

Not That I'm Counting #3 - "Three ___ ____"

Three long months I have to wait

Until my next vacation

All right, about one hundred

Days more or less, give or take,

Thirteen hours, and six minutes.

But it's not like I'm counting....

Caren E. Salas

When - Day 11

Old man, old woman

Holding hands remembering

When they fell in love.

Caren E. Salas

Day 11 Prompt: write a "Timely", or a "Timeless".  I went with Timeless...and haiku.   My in-laws on the 60th wedding anniversary. (Next February it will be 65!)

All Wrong

My father sighed as he pushed
My wheelchair, "It's not supposed
To be like this. You should be
Pushing me." We both chuckled,
Still feeling inside that this
Was all wrong, all upside down.


Caren E. Salas


Inspired by Robert Lee Brewer's "Poetic Asides" - prompt: an upside-down poem

Destined to Be a Star! Day 26: "Casting" poem

 

 

And playing the part of the beloved family pet...

WHISKEY!

Approximately 9 whopping pounds of excited furry fun!

About 13 years old (no one really knows)

Dark eyes, long blondish hair

Missing teeth, long tongue

Scar under one eye where he once had an abscess

Has an odd attachment to mini tennis balls (likes to chew the fuzz off)

Suffers from separation anxiety

Thinks a crust of bread trumps a dog treat any day

Can adaquately communicate "yes" and "no"

Wants no payment for his obedience and loyalty

   Aside from a little affection, a warm bed and some food

Clearly, he is destined to be a star!!

Let's here it for....

WHISKEY!!

 

 

Caren E. Salas 

In Case of Sleep - Day 11: "In Case of ____"

In case of sleep, give in and don't fight;
Your blankets are warm and you're tucked in tight.
Grab your teddy before I shut off the light,
And just say good night, just say good night.

In case of sleep, give in to your dreams;
Submit to the stars and the shining moon beams,
For there is where everything glitters and gleams,
Even more than it seems, even more than it seems.

In case of sleep, give in, close your eyes
And imagine rainbows and sweet butterflies.
For now, just listen to my lullabies.
I'll be here when you rise, I'll be here when you rise.


Caren E. Salas

Hold that Pose! Day 4: "Hold that_____"

Hold that pose!
Give me a smile,
So later I can remenesce
How you were mine a while.

Time goes on,
And before we know
The dreams we shared together
Will be a moment long ago.

Caren E. Salas

Stand Tall

Always stand tall
Whatever you do
With a heart burning brave
And a life that shines true.

Don't ever have doubts
Let your dreams take you far,
Why reach for the sky
When your soul owns the stars?

But if on your journey
It feels lonely, or rough,
If your will and your strength
Ever don't seem enough;

Just keep standing tall
Keeping this thought in mind:
Those who love and support you
Are not far behind.


Caren E. Salas


This is for Nate, my unofficially adopted son, and for Sharon, his real mother, who has a brave heart too.

At the Time

At the time, my heart drove auto-pilot
At the time, my mind knew what to do
At the time, my emotions put their guard up
Blocked the tears, and found the strength for you.

On and on, the waiting lasted hours
On and on, they'd only give us parts
On and on, I tried to smile and stay calm
Knowing you would be fine, in my heart.

At the time, your courage kept me hopeful
At the time, I knew you'd be okay
At the time, there was no time for worry
Holding on to a prayer for better days.

But after all, when I think of what you went through
And after all, when I realize my fears
After all, I'm so glad that it's over
Because now, I can't hold back the tears.


Caren E. Salas