this is inspired by the 2006 poem, “did I ask for your advice”
well meaning unsolicited advice and opinions from others Made me feel like I was a failure like I wasnβt doing enough to better myself it always comes after a life changing event- a new baby, marriage, and most recently my divorce In my 20s it drove me crazy In my 40s I nod, smile, take whatever is helpful and move on
How long do I have to scroll before the algorithm fucks me up Before the algorithm makes me feel like Iβm not doing enough before I lose my shit and say βthis is bullshitβ and delete all of my social media apps How long do I have to scroll before the algorithm makes me feel better before the algorithm starts to validate my existence Before some random stranger slides into my dms and tells me Iβm pretty
My body slowly starts to rebel against the daily stress I put on it It says, βstop this nonsense, youβre trying to do too much constantly. hardly stopping to catch your breath Constantly moving with a fast pace, tying up your worth with how productive you can be when just breathing, just existing is enoughβ
I was ready to give up Until I felt a sudden caress on my hand you looked at me with desire, and I blushed and our passion was awakened from a year-long deep sleep Is this a short-lived daydream? or the impossibility of our new reality?
my life flashed before my eyes as a fog took over my mind and body What would happen to my ex? What would happen to my kids? they canβt function without me Iβm the one who makes sure the rent and electricity get paid Iβm the one who always takes the initiative to better our family Iβm the one whoβs trying to break generational curses so my kids donβt suffer as much as I did my life flashed before my eyes, and I mentally prepared a list in my head of every one of my childrenβs milestones i would miss out on if God took me now and as the fog finally started to lift I thanked God for his mercy and understood the message from the universe I really need to take better care of myself my health can never be taken for granted Iβm too important for my family, my friends to learn to live without me this was my great awakening
hope is found in a lucid dream- Itβs a whisper reminding me, βit wonβt always be like thisβ itβs my abuela telling me βtu vida apenas estΓ‘ comenzandoβ and I wake from the fog of existential dread Iβve been feeling lately-
another new year is here another season of my life will soon be renewed more chances for new experiences and adventures more opportunities to fuck things up and give fodder to the inner critic in me to emotionally beat me up more time to question myself am I doing enough for me and my kids to prosper more moments of joy and laughter with my boys as they get older and continue to find their autonomy more grief and sadness as the working class and marginalized communities continue to be stepped on more memories made that ignite a spark of creativity within me another new year another transformation under construction
I wrote this poem earlier this month for a future version of myself. I wanted to end 2024 with a hopeful and romantic note.
lighting hits me and Iβm in love all over again this time I take my vows seriously this time I believe in the whole βtil death do us partβ bit this time itβs far from perfect and ideal but for once in my life weβre enough for each other and there are no seconds thoughts that this is true love
I drank the last drop of the wine you gave me as I sing out my guts to lyrics that reminds me of you the worst of my ideas, the worst of my crimes I drank the last drop of the wine you gave me hoping that this is the last bit of closure I need from you and that from now on weβll both live our lives free and clear of each other and soon you both fade into the background of my memory and soon you stop showing up in my dreams
my low rent bennifer phase lasted a total of 19 days before I blocked him
just call me J.Lo without the ass because my ex (if we can even call him that) came back to me after 2 years of sobriety weβre the low rent version of Bennifer except weβre not millionaires or celebrities (yet) Iβm just a working class immigrant poet and heβs my ex whatevership Nordic muse
beast hurry up and come find me itβs been a year since Iβve been married two years since I had sex and three years since Iβve been in real relationship Iβm a thirsty and horny yearning to break my vow of celibacy
August came and I hold onto the few slivers of hope left in me as I reach another rock bottom self correcting and not making myself a victim making sure Iβm better than yesterday Trying my best to control my emotions knowing that somewhere in the wash of this downward spiral will come the biggest silver lining
I wash my hands of all my past sins my wrongs never defined me It was a toxic narrative I swallowed whole when I was addicted to suffering and being a martyr