Poems by Rosa Velez

Poems by Rosa Velez

MY HEART

My heart, is seldom opened if I precipitate pain. Closed— Shut—It’s going to stay. Yes, it can be a red hot pepper. Yes, it can be a quiet dark cave. But…

sometimes this heart can be awakened,

Awakened to such beauty, such love… “Do I want to go there…?” My heart is hibernating right now… Oh, My Quiet Heart! WHAT’S LEFT OF US?

What’s left of us when we rise to a world that’s no longer our world? We try to be ourselves and “ourselves” are living within someone else’s shell.

What’s left of us when we try to change pain— the losses, the suffering— to something positive, something magical… Yet the memories Take you back to….

Once upon a time. Life is a fairytale. We live our lives dangerously and we never seem to wake from the dreams…

What’s left of us when we still believe, once upon a time… all the time?

THE DANCE OF LIFE

When I was a little girl I wanted to be a ballet dancer Dreamed of dancing my way into the hearts Of souls.

I wanted to glide like a butterfly…

Flying—opening my wings, To embrace my fellow dancers. I wanted to hear the applause Of the audience In awe The bright lights The ultimate moment Of total fulfillment. Gracefully.

I wanted to be daddy’s little girl. I wanted him to be proud of me. I wanted him to know that all the Qualities he instilled in me… Were still there.

I wanted to be The perfect dancer. Touching the lives Of everyone, everywhere. And one day—you were gone. You died— just like this stupid disease to take you away. I slipped, I fell, I was no longer able to dance— Such a terrible dream. For I thought if I could share for one more night Everyone would come back to see me dance. When I slipped… I was told I wouldn’t be able to dance Like before. But who said so? For the dream dancer Never lets anyone stop her dancing. I got up, Wiped a lot of tears And realized I was sent to stay for a reason. And I danced to tell you how— For a dance is not a dance Until you have learnt to live— Yet the first step is a baby step Guiding you to better movements Trusting that even when we don’t feel like dancing, It’s okay. It’s okay for the butterfly To retreat into the cocoon As long as in the springtime She comes out again And shares her beautiful colors.

Her beautiful dances

For the last dance Is the one we never dare to dream.

If we can dare to dream We can show others how to dream. And the dance will continue. And so will the show.

The dance of life is the dance of the dream dancer.