L.O.V.E. Notes: Abuelos

When did I first learn about Love
from my grandparents
seeing my grandfather stop
on the side of the road
even after his shift was over
to help a stranger with car trouble
because it felt right for him to do
and he enjoyed working on cars
watching my grandmother
get up early in the morning
to bake cakes for people
she had never met before
only to turn down the amount of
money they wanted to give her
because she hoped that somehow
the energy she put into those cakes
would help those who ate them
they always gave the those with less
all while helping one another
become something much greater
there were no stuffed teddy bears
or boxes of chocolates 
not even a dozen roses 
there were hugs & kisses
fresh fruit on the table everyday 
and flowers from the garden
that's Love in its purest form
maybe I'm just too old-fashioned

<3

© 2019

All Of Us

Some of us didn't make it

I'd hoped we all would 

but I know there are times when 

your demons get the better of you

and you see only one way out

one way to end the pain

all while being judged by those

who never understood your struggle

but for those of us who remain 

we must continue fighting

giving ourselves every opportunity

to be who we were meant to be

and if we can help anyone along the way

even if it's just a conversation

that could make all the difference

in the world to someone

who feels like the world

is crumbling beneath their feet

this is how we should honor those

who are no longer with us

by helping those who are
it's not about ego
or taking credit for saving people
it's about helping those people
save themselves
because they may not realize 
what happened wasn't their fault
and they deserve to be here

© 2019