Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom

She stopped letting the world fill her in
And found comfort in solitude instead
No more do this and that; you can’t and you must
Just the resounding beat of her heart
Unfurling she finally realized
Where the world has ceased, she has begun
And this rock bottom that she was in
Turned into her very stepping stone

2017 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Artwork by Elliana Esquivel

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In response to dVerse’s Poetics: Poems that could save your life hosted by Kim.

Head over here to join the fun:

Cassiopeia

The fires of the night danced from a distance as I walked languidly in the dimmed path of 6^th street with nothing but a pale light from a solitary street lamp to guide my way. Home. That’s where my feet were supposed to go but my heart refused to call it such. Nothing feels like home when you’re miles away. Nothing feels like home when the distance is heaven wide. Another day has passed and I stared at the infinite horizon of star-speckled sky; my eyes seeking for solace. I looked for the one thing that never failed to make my heart skip a beat, the one thing that the celestial gods must have hand-crafted for me alone—Cassiopeia. In the corner of the night sky, I found the distant gleam of five burning stars forming into a gorgeous constellation and I felt my restless heart calmed, my lips curved into a smile. Now that, my friend, is home.

Stars wink and glimmer,
A warm embrace of comfort
The starry sky brings

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Image Source: Wikipedia

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In response to dVerse’s Haibun Monday: Twinkle, twinkle

The flame of destiny

“You don’t have to say everything to be a light. Sometimes a fire built on a hill will bring interested people to your campfire.” ― Shannon L. Alder

It was back in July when my dearie, Rosema of A Reading Writer, and I decided to build our small campfire called, Word High July, on a hill. None of us knew if our fire was bright enough to draw people or if it could last for the whole month. We had nothing to keep the fire burning but our passion in writing, our desire to meet new friends, and our pride, The 30 Beautiful Filipino Words.

But, in the midst of our doubts, all the forces of the blogosphere seemed to have connived and turned our fire into a blazing flame.  The flame of destiny. We were all meant to meet. We were all meant be each other’s light. We we’re all meant to sit around a campfire.

And for that, I thank all the great writers and poets that I have come across through Word High July. It was a month of learning, inspiration, and building greater bonds among everyone.

Thank you for the poems and  fictions
Those gorgeous photos under the sun
Those six-word tales and random thoughts
That kept us word-high on July!

Let’s give ourselves a pat on the shoulder, we made it! Cheers everyone. Mazel tov! 😀 ❤

Image Source: Favim

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Today’s Filipino word prompt is “tadhana” which refers to “an invisible force that makes things happen beyond the control of mortals”.

At Your Mercy

At Your Mercy

Fears and doubts today surround me
Endless questions I can’t comprehend
Darkened path, my eyes cannot see
Mind running wild as logic ends
These all I lay at the mercy of Your feet
My restless heart, my wavering faith
My rivers of tears and gnashing teeth
Your gift of love and wisdom, I will wait

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Image Source: Favim

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Today’s Filipino word prompt is “kinaadman” which refers to “knowledge or wisdom”.

Come on! Write a poem or a fiction
Snap a photo under the sun
A six-word tale or a long post, perhaps?
Let’s all get word-high this July!

Want to join the fun? Find the prompt words HERE! Don’t forget to pingback & use the tag WordHighJuly. Mazel tov! 😉

Nostalgia

Nostalgia

Ang dalisay na hangin,
Sa aking pisngi dumadampi
Mga huni ng ibon,
Sa aking paggising inaawit
Ang amoy ng kape
Na timpla ni nanay
At mga halakhak
Ng aking tatay—
Ito ay ilan lamang sa binabalikan
Ng aking pusong nangungulila

~English Translation~

The undiluted wind
That kisses my cheeks
The bluebirds’ hymn
As I wake
The sweet aroma
Of mother’s coffee
And my dear father’s
Lively laughter—
These are just few things
My longing heart wants to relive

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Image Source: Favim

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Today’s Filipino word prompt is “dalisay” which means “pure or undiluted”.

Come on! Write a poem or a fiction
Snap a photo under the sun
A six-word tale or a long post, perhaps?
Let’s all get word-high this July!

Want to join the fun? Find the prompt words HERE! Don’t forget to pingback & use the tag WordHighJuly. Mazel tov! 😉

Dark Eyes

She craved to write something beautiful
Like how the night sky stretched endlessly
A dark veil that hung overhead—
Unmoving and still
Like how the stars that flickered up above
Reminded her of home, of dreams, and of unicorns
That each glimmer was a tinge of hope—
A touch of a whimsical dream
Like how the moon, full in its glory,
Brought light to her darkest corners
Reminding that she is never alone—
That it is ready to listen

But as her eyes closed in the cradle of the crisp air
She found beauty in a pair of eyes
So dark that the night sky cowered
Its iridescence made the flickering stars shy away
That the moon, even in its full glory,
Winced to the radiant glow of those eyes
She craved to write something beautiful
Something about the night, the moon, and the stars
But, instead, she found herself writing
About a pair of dark eyes.

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Artwork by Paul Pond

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Today’s Filipino word prompt is “paraluman” which refers to “a muse that inspires artistically”.

P.S. This was an unpublished  poem I wrote last May. I have been out of the blogosphere for three days now. Work happens. 😦 My apologies for the posts that I have missed and comments that I have not answered to. I will catch up on reading your posts the soonest!
Hugs and kisses! -Maria.

Come on!
Write a poem or a fiction
Snap a photo under the sun
A six-word tale or a long post, perhaps?
Let’s all get word-high this July!

Want to join the fun? Find the prompt words HERE! Don’t forget to pingback & use the tag WordHighJuly. Mazel tov! 😉

Let Go

Let Go
An Octodil

Try not to hide
your hurt and pain
ignore and blink away
your grief, heartaches
for I see them concealed beneath
you empty and vacant gazes—
a smile may hide a lie
but the truth’s in your eyes

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Photography by seanmundy

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Today’s Filipino word prompt is “balintataw” which refers to “the pupil of the eye”.

Come on! Write a poem or a fiction
Snap a photo under the sun
A six-word tale or a long post, perhaps?
Let’s all get word-high this July!

Want to join the fun? Find the prompt words HERE! Don’t forget to pingback & use the tag WordHighJuly. Mazel tov! 😉

Flaws

Flaws
A Free Verse

I am made entirely of flaws
Of calloused palms and scraped knees
Jaded by years of mistakes
Failed struggles—a catastrophe
But behind every flaw is a beauty
Behind calloused palms is a talent
A scraped knee from wildly running kites
Mistakes from trying a thousand times
Behind every struggle is a lesson learned
A catastrophe stitched with excellence
I am made entirely of flaws
An imperfection held with pride

© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.

Scent you left by AnnaO-Photography

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In response to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie’s photo challenge #117 and The Daily Post prompt: Struggle.

The Great Book of Lists- Chapter 5.1: People Who Inspired You

I’ve waited for this day to post this specific TGBoL chapter. Chapter 5.1 is all about the people who inspired you. It’s not about Descartes, Churchill, Coelho or any other inspiring thinkers whose quotes flourish the internet and the social networks. No, this chapter is about a list of real people, unknown (or almost) to the world who had a real impact on our life.

As for me, it’d be:

• God, inspite of failing him most of the time, He never failed me
• My family who are my great source of strength and inspiration
• My college professors who pushed me to my limits, for they knew we were meant to grow
• My treasure box of friends- my high school bffs, my college buddies, my “UTODIAN” friends, my favorite love-birds (Rinabel & Red)

~