Moving Day

It had just turned summer when I moved into my first apartment.  My dad and I carried packed boxes up two flights of stairs, because I wanted a second floor apartment with a balcony. (My dad was thankful I had the new sofa delivered by the furniture store).  Mom came later with my brother to help unpack the few dishes and items I had to fill my studio apartment.  I’m not certain my brother truly understood what was going on – it was just a new place for him to explore with his eyes.  When night fall came, I hugged my parents before they departed, leaving me all alone.  At that moment I felt like a bird spreading its wing to leave the nest for the first time.  I climbed into my bed when the realization truly hit me – I was now on my own.

under the June sun

little bird departs the nest

trying out her wings

- Written for dVerse Halibun Monday: Winds of Change.

a kiss under the night sky

We were both young and inexperienced tweens.  Yet chemistry and hormones drew us together over a summer weekend.  The last night we lounged under the night sky, sharing a first kiss.  It was the first time I ever kissed a boy, though I believe it wasn’t your first time kissing a girl.  I can still remember your lips upon mine – warm, soft, wet.  My naivety slowly melted under the July moon with you.  I wish we could have stayed in that moment – frozen in time - oblivious to all that will come in the future.

the night stars twinkles

as they dance around the moon

to sensual beats

- Written for dVerse Halibun Monday - Twinkle, twinkle

a goodbye under blue skies

Photo taken 8/10/16 by Arcadia Maria.  All rights reserved.

“a goodbye under blue skies”

I don’t remember how the clouds looked that day.  What I do remember is standing beneath blue skies with the June sun on my skin.  My young mind trying hard to grasp the heaviness of the occasion.  Grand-mom wept into her handkerchief as grand-pop held her.  Mom had her arms wrapped around dad with a solemn face.  So many relatives were gathered around the open grave, where you will lay until the end of time.  The preacher said his solemn words of comfort and we all left flowers for you as a token of our love.  We then departed that place, to get back to piecing our lives back together.  But for me, it would be some time before I fully understood what happened.  I had never lost an uncle before so it was all new to me.  After all these years I have not forgotten you.  For every Spring, I visit your grave along with grand-mom and grand-pop, under blue skies.  I still cannot believe it’s been twenty nine years since you been gone.

white clouds and blue skies

try to wipe away our tears

with help from the sun

- Written for dVerse Halibun Monday: The Sky is the Limit.  We were tasked to write a halibun poem about the day sky.  I'm not sure what came over me when I read this prompt, but I decided to revisit a memory I had of my uncle's funeral.  I was only eight years old when he died in a car accident, but I have fond memories of him from when I was very little.  This is for you, uncle Evan.  

heartbroken on a hot July night

I had just broken up with my boyfriend of two years.  The need to shed reminders of him was strong.  I drown them in cold alcoholic drinks under city lights.  Who knew a baby shower could be like a night at the club.

Afterwards I sat on a porch under the stars.  Row houses can be so steamy in summer.  In reality, it was probably that flying cockroach that led us outside.  The three of us chatted the night away before the sky lighten.  Slowly I began the process of piecing myself back together.

hot and humid days

turn into long, steamy nights

never-ending heat

- Written for dVerse Haliban Monday #17 - summer heat

"Lamp light sun"

Photo courtesy of All-free-download.com

“rainy days”

On rainy days we stayed indoors to pass the afternoon hours.  We played with dolls at first – I had many.  In time we moved onto tea parties.  Mom made us finger sandwiches as we pretended to be sophisticated ladies.  We even tried playing my keyboard – though none of us were natural musicians.  But I was a storyteller and told extravagant stories guest starring rap stars or other celebrities in whatever situation popped in my head.  Not to mention I was also the manicurist and painted tiny fingernails.  In time we grew apart and spent our rainy days in other places.  Now we are adults living out our lives in different towns or opposite coasts.  Still I keep memories of those days in my heart.

rain drops tap windows

the clouds open up its eyes

shedding tears of joy

- Written for dVerse Halibun Monday: 50 Shades of Rain

“new morning routines”

I was never a morning person.  I would rather snuggle under blankets and steal a few more minutes of sleep.   The annoying alarm beeping, telling me it’s time to get up – the day lays ahead and there are things to do.  Yet in time I have been able to muster up enough energy to exercise when the sun is low and the air is cool.   A year ago this would have seem like a futile goal, yet here I exercising in the early light.  When all is done I get ready for work – shower, dress, eat breakfast, even read a poem or two.   Then I turn my attention to my smartphone and looked for messages from you.  Six months ago my phone would have been dead silent, but not since you came into my life like a fresh breeze.  Now every morning I look forward to the rising sun and your “good mornings”.

as the sun rises

living creatures come to life

new journeys begin

- Written for dVerse Halibun Monday #15 All Things Quotidian

“I can’t relax”

I never could relax very well.  I tried so hard to heed so-called experts’ advice.  They said relaxation can ease many aches and pains - even blood pressure among other things. I would close my eyes in an attempt to meditate but my mind always got away.

At 22, I did relax a little bit with an older guy who caught my eye.  However  I ended up getting burn in more ways than one.  Maybe that is why I can hardly relax now. I’m too busy remembering how relaxation got me into compromising positions and situations that I don’t ever talk about.  I breathe in and out with ease to reach that relaxation phase.  Perhaps I will feel amazing afterwards like those so-called experts proclaim.  Yet my mind continues to run laps around the course.

under the trees

inhale and exhale

the fresh air

- Written for dVerse Halibun #14 - Too Many Mind"

This is my first attempt a writing a halibun poem, so it may not be totally in line with the form.   I really like this prompt, though I somewhat took another path by talking about trying to relax rather than what I do to relax.