Martha Treviño Castilleja
Additional Poems...
YESTERDAY'S CHILD
You sit and stare at me and I softly turn my head.
I wonder what you’re thinking as I look another way.
Perhaps they’re visions of you through a looking glass.
Perhaps they’re thoughts of this cold winter day.
Or maybe it was our last warm embrace.
But it has filled my mind with many memories
As you kindly and lovingly did relate
That I have to part from you without debate.
Remember little daughter from yesterday...
The times we had as you made our day.
Remember when I held you in my arms
To protect you from the fiery storms?
Remember when I dried your tears
And soothed those fears away?
Remember how I loved you in every single way?
Remember young daughter from yesterday...
The times we shared as you began to grow.
Remember when from school you came
And in spite of your new found friend
I hugged you just the same?
Remember when we said good-bye
The day you went your way?
Remember how I hugged you tight
And told you that you were in your right?
Remember daughter dear of not too long ago...
The times we shared that made you strong.
Remember how you, a proud new mom about to cry
Called me into the night for your baby’s soothing lull-a-by?
Remember dear, when you came that cloudy day
For some advice on how of him to be set free?
Remember too, the sun’s warm and radiant ray
When I said you couldn’t stay and you went his way
Remember daughter dear, of not too long ago...
That today you sit and wonder what to do with me.
But daughter dear, don’t cry today for me.
I’ve rode the tides of life to its vital core
And now I’m back on this gentle and blessed shore.
The sands are soft, the waters cool,
And here at last I want to sit and wait,
For that loving promise of my loving and eternal mate.
For you see, daughter dear that long ago
I said I’d walk along with you until you went your way
And only until an empty cold winter day
When you would tell me I could no longer stay.
Now I feel I’m a milestone as you calmly stare
I know you love and for me indeed do care,
But as you sit and watch from where you are,
I pray you won’t have to wonder into the distance very far.
For you see, Daughter dear, that as the sun goes down
The sky in all its wonders is not so very calm.
My vision of tomorrow is not so very clear.
My tired eyes now and then drop a silent tear.
My tired body is not so very strong
My voice is just a whisper, my strength is almost gone
My mind is between yesterday and tomorrow
And I don’t know how much longer I can go on.
But Daughter dear, I hear your deep despair
And I for once wish you weren’t even there.
I don’t want you sitting here like me this way
In an empty tomorrow on a cold winter day
Watching by an open window
At your daughter’s desperate stare
As you look at things and visions
That are no longer there.
Mama, No Me Digas Gracias
No me digas gracias
Por una cuantas horas que te brindo
Ni por los momentos que pasamos juntas
Ni por las rizas que disfrutamos atraves del tiempo.
O por la gloria de recordar pasados tiempos.
No Mama, no me digas gracias
Cuando te brindo unos instantes de mi vida
Por esos ratos que dices me quitas de mi rutina.
Porque estos me llenan de harmonia al verte sonreir
Y alimentan mi alma al verte caminar hacia adelante
Aun cuando en ti haya instantes de inseguridad,
O cuando tu camino es cansado y lento.
No me des las gracias.
No Mama, no me digas gracias
Por mis simples palabras que dices te dan valor
Y que dices le dan alegria a tu simple Corazón.
O cuando en instantes pongo mis manos
En tu linda cabellera y la peino a tu manera.
O simplemente por darte mí brazo
Para que te apolles al caminar a mi lado.
No me des las gracias.
No Mama, No me des las gracias hoy ni nunca.
Porque las gracias te las debo yo.
Porque al handar en tus pasos me dan valor
A seguir tu camino firme, fuerte y seguro.
Yo te debo las gracias por darme la vida
Por darme las alegrias dia a dia.
Por ser mi sol que mi camino guilla
Por ser mis noches donde descansan mis penas y alegrias.
Por tantas, tantas veces que me apollaste de tu brazo
Al ir en el camino de la vida.
No me des las gracias querida Mama.
Porque no hay palabras
Para decirte que las gracias te las debo yo.
Por tenerme en tus oraciones y darme consuelo.
Por dardme la fuerza de voluntad
Y ensenarme que los valores de la vida
Es dar sin esperar nada de regreso,
Que el regalo más grande que podemos dar
Es el amor que solo existe en nuestro Corazón.
Que al emprender cada dia que se nos brinda,
Podemos valorar el más valioso Tesoro de la vida.
.A Flower Upon Your Grave
I went to put a flower upon your grave.
I thought it’d be an empty place.
I knelt to touch your sacred resting space
And it took a hold of my mind instead.
It held me prisoner and wouldn’t let me go.
It took me far from my injured and saddens soul.
I swear I thought my life would cease to be
While images passed by me
of things that never more could be.
I turned around to see if he was there.
I could almost feel his gentle and caring stare.
I saw the image where he used to stand
As I floated aimlessly through space.
I saw the places we used to walk
The winding paths and heard our endless talks.
The dreams we dreamt as they came to an unpredictable halt.
I was somewhere where I wanted to be
Away from all my misery and longed to be set free.
Remember me when I’m gone,
Remember me only if to laugh and to live.
I heard his voice speak so lovingly.
Sweet and gentle love of mine, he said to me.
Go in peace and don’t cry anymore for me.
I’ll be your comfort but not your pain
I’ll be your strength but not your chain.
I’ll be your laughter but not your tears
I’ll be your solace but not your fears.
Take a breath and go in peace.
You have now and forever been set free.
My Young Son
So placidly we were traveling hand in hand.
We didn’t notice strangers invading our terrain
The sun was shining, our road was clear
We didn’t feel the storm that was so near.
The road seemed wide and safe to trod
Then he looked at me and said good-bye.
We had shared many a laughter and hugs of love
We even went fishing and saw the stars,
We talked of lizards and creepy stuff
I was his partner in peace and wars
I was his comfort and kept him warm
I kept him safe and away from worldly harm.
The thunder roaring, the lightning struck.
He was hit by nature’s lightning bolts.
He stood his distance and turned my way,
I was his enemy and there was no fair play.
He struck his sword and pierced my heart.
There was no mercy right from the start.
The beast was loose and kept on striking
The strength it had could move a Viking.
It was fighting me and his wounded soul
As I fended for his life and his control.
His eyes looked mad, but love was there.
I could feel the magic in his fleeting stare.
I threw the rope of hope, love and faith,
I took a look at life and saw His face.
I prayed to Him to give me strength
I held him tight to some great length.
He touched my hand and he was still.
He was afraid of demons whose soul’s they steal.
This young boy has a long way to go
Stand by him as he begins to grow.
Talk to him, show him the way
Hold his hand, don’t let him stray
When you feel life’s thunderstorm.
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Recordando a Mi Padre, al Abuelo
Dejáme que te recuerde con mi memoria
A un gran hombre, mi Padre, al Abuelo.
Ese hombre que caminó por esta vida
Dejando raices de amor , esperanza y de fe.
Ese hombre que me dió mi vida, que me dió mi ser.
Dejáme que te recuerde a mi Padre, al Abuelo.
Ese hombre de simbolo de amor , de fuerza, y de paz.
El que con sus palabras nos dió fuerza
Como si volarámos por el viento con alas de hada
Libres de alcansar un sueño hecho en realidad.
Dejáme que te recuerde a mi Padre, al Abuelo,
El que me enseñó a valorar las cosas de la vida
El que me enseñó a gozar con harmonia
Lo que el nos enseñó día a día.
Dejáme que recuerdes a mi Padre, al Abuelo.
A ese noble hombre que nos enseñó a reir
Cuando nos miraba llorar sin consuelo.
El que nos arrullaba en sus brazos
Y nos decia sus cuentos de fantasia.
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Dejáme que recuerdes a mi Padre, al Abuelo.
A ese gran hombre que nos enseñó en alcansar un sueño.
Y al final, cansado de caminar por la vida
Sonreia para darnos el ejemplo de aceptar
Lo que no se puede cambiar y al fin poder descansar.
Mi Padre, el Abuelo, este Angel que me hizó ver
Que del arbol cai la oja a su debido tiempo
Que volveran a retoñar nuevas esperanzas
Aun cuando en paz de descansa
Hoy y siempre recordaré a mi Padre, al Abuelo
A ese noble hombre que con su amor
Con su pacencia, con su fe,
Me enseño a valorar el aire que respiro
Y aceptar la realidad y seguir sus pasos
Que dejo imprimidos en el recuerdo de mi vida.
En Memoria de Nuestro Padre, Nuestro Abuelo -
Conrado Trevino Galvan Oct 8, 1917 – Noviembre 15, 1999 Por Martha Treviño Castilleja
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