Maybe

I thought I could get by, detaching myself from humanity
and praising You still
But it looks like
Maybe
I was wrong.

I thought I could get by, reading Your Word each day
but still focusing on my worldly affairs
But it seems that
Maybe
You're telling me
I was wrong.

Lord, I thought I could get by, sending short and quick prayers Your way
and settling for Your ambiguous answers
But it seems that
Maybe
Prayers are meant to be answered specifically
And once again,
I was wrong.

I thought I could get by, smiling and laughing
but rarely taking the time to really listen to Your hurting people
But as I am realizing,
Maybe,
I was wrong.

I thought I could get by, sympathizing with the trials of people
But reluctant to experiencing my own so not to have to really experience empathy
It seems, however that
Maybe
I was wrong.

Maybe
Life isn't about just "YOU"
But about "YOUR people" too

Maybe
Life really isn't reaching the goal
      But instead about the number of victories won

      The numberless mountains climbed and successfully conquered...
      The number of tears shed for your people...
      The number of  scars marked to remind us of the difficult journey....

Maybe
I need to stop running away from these giants
But facing them
For when I reach my destination
I want my tears to count
and my thousands of testimonies written over these scars
Reminding me that YOU are still I AM
Watching over us...always.

©lt.11

A Poem- One year anniversary of Ayiti

Although the original was written a couple years ago, I thought this poem still speaks as loudly as when it was written


Happy 207th, Haiti!
it's been 207 years
and i'm still trying to figure out what happened...

why is the freedom we've dreamed of
the liberty we've fought for
the brotherhood we've expected,
sealed with blood,
still not achieved?

how did the history we made
the promises said
disappeared so silently?

....and the beautiful trees that welcomed our loved ones...gone...
....the calm beaches that provided serenity and peace....polluted
....the breathtaking mountains that held our glories.....vanished..
....and now the place many used to call their homes....destroyed.
..
what happened to the rhythmic dances of our merchants going to the city?
the precious little children dressed in their uniforms going to school?
the 'blague' on the streets that kept us laughing
and the songs of peace that kept us going?

history is still in the making, Haiti
and though i'm angered to see the driving forces that are shading your legacy
and i'm saddened to see your structural limitations,
i will never forget you.

i'll never forget how you taught me to live.
never forget how you taught me to love.
i'll never forget how you defined friendships
 i'll never forget how you held respect
.never forget the freedom you gave me as a child
 forget the history you taught me? that's a never.
and  most importantly, i'll never forget how you taught me to love my God.

you're still in my heart with all my good memories glued inside
and no matter what happens, i'm still proud to call you one of my own.
every day is a struggle, but you make it anyway.
many are waiting to see you to give up, but you keep smiling amidst your pain.
they can laugh all they want and take all they want
but i know they can't take away your courage and strength.
thank you for still being here...and fighting.

happy 207th, Haiti!

©lt.08