poetry: unnerving

I wrote this poem in april of 2023.

from short hikes in Athens in 2021 to treacherous 5 mile hikes in Oxapampa in April 2023-it’s all unnerving

I put my insecurities and fears on display for the world to see
it’s a most arduous task-it’s not for the weak
at first I thought it was crazy
it was me trying to get attention
it was me seeking validation
and while it may have been these things
it was also brave, courageous
to be so radically honest
about what unnerves me
It’s how I’ve been able to heal
and claim my identity

poetry: message

I wrote this poem in april of 2023.

me looking out at the sunset in Lima

a red bird appeared to me in a dream
it carried the spirit of an ancestor I had never known
he told me to not get too comfortable in my current life
while it’s been a good life and I keep thriving
and making my dreams come true
I have even more room for improvement
my purpose is bigger than I’ve ever dreamed of
and through my storytelling
I will not just heal myself but help others
find their own path in their hero’s journey

poetry: list poem for my future love story

I wrote this poem in April of 2022.

no you’re not even here but you’re doing my head in-Gracie Abrams

1)don’t try to change me
2)don’t try to save me
3)don’t put me up on an altar
4)don’t try to dim my light
5)don’t tell me you love me unless you mean it
6)don’t get mad when I make you into my muse

poetry: pretty existence

I wrote this poem in april of 2023.

a most beautiful view of Oxapampa

a pretty existence is presented on social media
for the world to see
how we’re all living our best lives
seldom do we share our struggles
because we’re all too scared of being vulnerable
because we’re scared of being perceived as weak
for showing who we really are

poetry: we all fuck up

I wrote this poem in April of 2023.

me in Oxapampa in April of 2023

we all fuck up from time to time and have to remind ourselves
we are not our worst mistakes, our terrible breakups, or our emotional relapses
to be human is to make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes will feel catastrophic
and that’s when your inner critic with the help of shame and guilt will step in
trying to make you feel like a piece of shit, worthless and useless when it comes to everything
acknowledge it, honor it if you have to but don’t get stuck in it
because this is not the entirety of you
this is just a small fraction of your being-
don’t get caught up in the worst of yourself-
remind yourself of your strength and the gifts that you bring into this world

poetry: tide pool

I wrote this poem in April of 2023.

my first sense of community

my friends dragged me to the tide pool
even though I don’t know how to swim
they put a life vest and tire around me
they don’t want me to miss out on the fun
it was one of the first times
I felt the splendor of a community of love