The End of Summer

As the summer comes to a close

Its pages leaf to a fall

The little girl sleeps in her crib

Protected by frayed walls

Her caregiver hums a sullen tune

As the wind whistles from afar

Blowing the branches off weary trees

And carrying along a lonely lark

It flew a great distance from its home

Hoping for shelter from the mighty wind

Standing patiently on the window sill

The small bird began to sing

A priceless gift on such an eve

A lulling harmony for a sleeping babe

Fleeting as it often is

For it disappeared behind the moving drapes

With the summer idleness now past and gone

All must start their lives once more

As the caring givers protect their young

And the lost birds learn to soar

 

The Daily Post’s prompt “Priceless”

 

Choice

A few months ago I chose to quit my job for a better opportunity. Unfortunately, that opportunity didn’t work out and I ended up being unemployed instead. For months I regretted my decision, convincing myself that I shouldn’t have taken the risk, that I was fine where I was.

My choice was based on a foundation of stress, so maybe if I had pushed through it the result would have been different. But the truth is you can’t undo life-altering choices, because they are what make your life. The small daily unconscious choices, along with the monumental decisions, they make up the days we spend on this Earth. Sounds obvious doesn’t it. Yet quite often we forget the reasons behind our choices, because we’re blind to the effects they will have on our future.

Back to my example. At first I perceived my unemployment as a failure, but now I realize that it has been a true blessing. During this free time, unburdened by the stress of a full-time position, I was able to relax. I dedicated time to my hobbies, took care of my health, engaged in new activities, met different people and gained some perspective. In the end, it was my choice that brought me to where I am today and for the first time in almost a decade, I can honestly say I understand what it means to be calm.

Painted Visage

Countless faces filling the streets

Blurry visages that never speak

But one stands out from the  wall

And he admires her colours with every stroll

A mystery girl adorning the city

Neglected in plain sight, yet always pretty

She was made for him, he always thought

Marvellous, majestic and can never be bought

She soothes the ails of lonely sufferers

And quenches the thirst of art-lovers

Desperate wanderers in a world that crushes

Can sometimes find hope in paint and brushes

The Daily Post’s prompt “Stroll”

Intro to Poetry – Day 2 (Face)

 #introtopoetry

 

Window

In response to The Daily Post’s prompt “Window”

Staring out the window

Watching the sun rise

Head still on my pillow

As the little bird flies

Green are the trees

With the swaying leaves

Calm is the river

That flows forever

A peaceful morning

That won’t disappoint

Hope is always soaring

When lives are joined

 

The Foreign Island

In response to The Daily Post’s prompt “Mad Libs”

Out of place in a home that is my own

Out of touch in a world where I should belong

Out of breath from running after a mirage

Out in a little island, foreign to all but me

Minuscule yet has an abundance of joy

Petite yet visible in an ocean of sorrow

Tiny yet full of will and courage

Small yet dripping with unharnessed potential

 Its little heart beats loudly

Its blood runs deep

It aches from constant cruelty

 But its soul it is destined to keep

A foreign island all alone

A little island standing tall

An unnoticeable island  to those who can’t know

A peaceful island with dangerous waters below

Miniature Writing Challenge #31

Discrimination: The 8th Sin

In response to the Daily Post’s prompt “Eighth Sin”

Remember the seven cardinal sins? You’re given the serious task of adding a new one to the list — another trait or behavior you find particularly unacceptable, for whatever reason. What’s sin #8 for you? Why?

7 Cardinal Sins: Gluttony, Pride, Greed,  Sloth, Lust, Wrath, Envy

8th Sin: Discrimination 

People are very quick to judge each other based solely on their race, ethnicity, religion, political views, gender…etc. It’s very easy to find the differences in people, because we are meant to be different. But what takes effort, effort which some are unwilling to put, is find similarities between the different.  In a world of human rights laws and anti-racism agendas, discrimination is still alive and rampant. In fact, it is often practiced by the same legislators that are suppose to fight against it. It is very easy to preach equality and fairness, but how many people actually live by those values and how many feel an obligation to enforce them.

Quote Me

In response to the Daily Post’s prompt “Quote Me”

Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?

“All’s Fair in Love and War”

This particular phrase has always stuck with me, because of how much it highlights the similarities between two acts fueled by passion. While war is inherently destructive and formidable, love too has often had the same effect. With love sometimes being a common motive for war, and therefore aiding in such destruction. But as a whole, I’m attracted to the initial juxtaposition that forces one to delve deeper in order to understand the similarities between two seemingly opposing concepts.

“There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”

– William Shakespeare (Julius Caesar)

I love this quote because it sends a very clear message that is often forgotten. One needs to seize life’s chances when they come by, because what may seem like an obstacle can actually be an opportunity in disguise.

 

No Longer Just a Dream

In response to the Daily Post’s prompt “Optimistic”

How do you fuel the fires of optimism?

Caves in Croatia

As a cynic, there are few things that make me hopeful or optimistic. But the idea of change in the future, brightens my day more than any other. Believing that my dreams might someday come true, keeps me hopeful in the midst of my cynicism. It sounds like a naive cliche, I’m sure, but still this is what keeps me somewhat optimistic.

Of those dreams, is travel and exploration. I yearn for a chance for adventure to break the mundane cycle that is my daily routine. I wish to delve into as many cultures as possible and explore the mysterious wonders of nature. It is the desire for such experiences that spark a ray of hope in an otherwise regular life.

Keeping up with the Jones’

In response to The Daily Post’s prompt “Keeping up with the Jones'”

Tell us about the one luxury item you wish you could afford, in as much detail as you can. Paint a picture for us.

I would like to buy my own apartment in the city of my choosing anywhere in the world. I don’t care for a townhouse or a penthouse or anything so luxurious, but I would like a place that is mine. It would have a modern design, artwork on the walls, and I would live there by my own rules. Otherwise I don’t really care about luxury items, but I would like enough money to travel as often as I’d like.

 

 

 

On Keeping Resolutions

In response to the Daily Post’s prompt “Resolved”

Have you ever made a New Year’s Resolution that you kept?

Well that would really depend on the resolution. My method for making resolutions is to vary them; from the ones I know would to achievable to more challenging aspirations. While some “aspirations” would be considered highly achievable goals, they appear on my list of resolutions every single year. For example: exercise and healthier eating. Even though I occasionally attempt to have a healthier lifestyle by being more active and eating more nutritious foods, I’ve never truly committed to that resolution; fingers crossed, hopefully this would be my year.

As for the resolutions I have kept, they are usually along the lines of  changing an electronic device (ie. phone or laptop) that desperately needed changing and reading a particular list of books that I set at the beginning of the year – the list usually changes during the year, but the goal remains the same.

Otherwise my resolutions include things which I have no control over, such as applications of all sorts (college, job, travel visa). So in these cases, whether or not I follow through with my resolution isn’t entirely up to me. This can be quite upsetting though, especially when I do my part and the situation doesn’t end up in my favor. In all cases, whatever the out come may be, I will continue to have a list of resolutions at the start of each year. 🙂