Select your effects.
Choose the words you hear and speak,
make sure they nourish.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Options
Hearsay
They say that age
calms down the rage,
a lonely tear
the greatest fear,
no longer care
too scared to dare,
repeating days
but still okay,
secure in skin
while clearing sins,
In love with peace
living at ease.
They say that time
forgets past crimes,
it gallops by
releasing ties,
as the breeze blows
the pain will flow,
forgiving cheats
without defeat,
erasing shame
not placing blame,
remove old blues
sweep in the new.
They say that change
can be arranged,
stick to your goal
hold your control,
knowing you know
intentions grow,
take things in stride
just let it ride,
keeping your eyes
on your own prize,
focus on you
wishes come true.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Secure
So sorry that my hair is curly,
sorry my body is curvy,
So sorry your eyes must see,
every last bit that makes me, me.
So sorry that I’m not enough,
or that I act a little rough.
So sorry you can’t understand
or accept me, the way I am.
So sorry that I felt this way,
so happy that my views have swayed.
Never sorry for who I am,
instead grateful, I took a stand.
So happy that my hair has waves,
so happy I am now so brave,
enough to laugh off, all critique,
loving myself, being unique.
So happy that I never broke,
so happy I no longer choke,
I know that I was made perfect,
not put on earth as an object.
So grateful for all that I know,
so grateful I now run my show.
Teaching others, what life taught me,
not dictating who they should be.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Improve
A highbrowed turtle,
nuzzled in a tough shell,
emotions once slipped,
but never quite fell.
Smartypants turtle
has nothing to learn,
frowning at others
with her nose upturned.
Experienced a life
of entitled paved ways,
humility ran with
no reason to stay.
One day met her match,
but could not believe,
dung beetle so strong,
was turtle deceived?
So full of powers,
unpleasant to see,
with the simplest form
complex underneath.
She hid in her home,
could not understand,
her eyes were quite wise
no room to expand.
How could this creature
that only ate waste,
have so many skills
and very fine taste?
Confusion set in
trying to engage,
greeting the beetle,
but feeling quite strange.
An intimidation
gave the turtle a tug,
as fear of rejection,
made her scared to be snubbed.
These new emotions
taught turtle how it felt,
from the receiving end
of cards, she once dealt.
Curious to know
what the beetle possessed,
she approached her quickly,
and story expressed.
Dung beetle was kind
sharing all her gifts,
teaching the turtle,
to touch and uplift.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Unity
In between my heart and mind,
lives a voice quite hard to find.
clear to speak from deep inside,
giving truths while being kind.
In between my heart and mind,
ample taste for lives designed,
not staying within the lines,
all fun games are undefined.
In between my heart and mind,
expired thoughts fall far behind,
choices grasped if so inclined,
tearful eyes strong lights can blind.
In between my heart and mind,
loyal acts are ties that bind,
essence felt become aligned,
past scented times dance entwined.
In between my heart and mind,
inner conflicts are declined,
brilliant wisdom carry shine,
innocence perceived divine.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Pearl
A muted voice sings in your head,
the opaque words can not be read.
Loud blurry scenes live in your mind,
imagined lines left undefined.
Stardust hues create happy thoughts,
blinding both eyes from wars once fought.
Comfort your skull on silky sheets,
while all you seek is what you meet.
A glowing beam sets on your face,
shining your skin each waking day.
Sliding on rafts through streams foreseen,
living so posh, feeling so clean.
Melting my face in your deep eyes,
I meet myself, what a surprise.
All that I know, at once I see,
finding the key that lives in me.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Stand
Stand for your beliefs.
Do not allow others views,
to hide in your eyes.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Exhale
Rushing takes too long.
Stillness allows full focus.
Time is on my side.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Dig
It is hard to leave,
a well anchored memory.
Start excavating.
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy
Capability
Would you pass a tissue,
or wipe off someones tears?
Would you speak from your heart,
or freeze from anxious fears?
Would you feed from your core,
a good lesson you learned?
Would you pass by quickly,
walking too scared to turn?
Would you run from the truth,
you have hidden inside?
Would you escape yourself,
find a new place to hide?
If I behave offbeat,
would you run from me too?
If I search for answers,
would you throw me a clue?
If I aim for self care,
should I burn from pure guilt?
If I think my own thoughts,
will it break what we built?
If I start to comply,
change my image for you?
If I loose who I am,
will I still be called true?
– Grace Y. Estevez-Reddy