First Kiss
They say there’s nothing like
A first kiss,
And thinking back on ours,
I have to say they’re right.
Do you remember
The magic we felt
On that Valentine’s Day?
We stopped by the point
Overlooking the garden.
What a lovely view it was,
Full of trees that stretched out
To the horizon.
You took me in your arms
And whispered in my ear
The beautiful words
That made my heart
Skip a beat.
Then you moved
A little closer
Until our lips touched,
And the next thing I knew,
I was getting lost in you.
It was soft, gentle, passionate.
An absolutely perfect kiss.
Some might say it’s cliché,
But I swear that for
That one sweet moment,
The world really did
Stop turning.
As you looked into
My eyes again,
I could see
The joy in yours.
I smiled with you,
For I felt it too:
We were in Heaven.
There’s nothing like
A first kiss
With someone you already love.
Dedicated to that special someone whose kisses always make me feel so loved. Happy Anniversary, and Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you, sweetheart!
On The Other Side
I don’t know how I would get by,
I don’t know how I would survive,
I don’t know how I would face the coming days,
If it weren’t for you.
I tolerate their harsh words.
I endure the pain they inflict on me.
I swallow my sadness.
Because of you.
I do get by.
I do survive.
I do face the coming days.
Because of you.
I tolerate their harsh words,
Because I know you will speak to me with kindness.
I endure the pain they inflict on me,
Because I know you will help heal my wounds.
I swallow my sadness,
Because I know you will bring me happiness.
I come home at the end of the day,
I look through my window to the world,
And I smile.
Despite all the harsh words,
Despite all the pain,
Despite all the sadness,
I smile.
Because I know that somewhere,
On the other side,
There is someone who knows exactly how I feel.
Someone who has heard the harsh words,
Someone who has felt the pain,
Someone who has swallowed the sadness.
Someone out there knows me.
I look through my window to the world,
And I smile.
Because I know that I am not alone.
You lift my spirits.
You make me happy.
You save me.
I look through my window at the end of the day,
And to you, and you alone, I smile and say,
“My friend,
Thank you.”
This is an old poem I recently dug up. I wrote it at a time when I often found myself feeling sad, and someone who always helped me get through those blue moments was my best friend. Thankfully I’ve gotten past that phase in my life, but he’s still my best friend, and I love him very much!
The Plane Spotter
(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)
That game always took me anywhere I wanted to go.
I couldn’t remember a time when I was happier.
Capturing the clouds was all I ever wanted.
So now I’m following those lifelong dreams.
I will discover the real world.
With a camera beside me.
The sky’s the limit.
Follow the sun.
Look up.
This is another piece I wrote based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!
Dedicated to a good friend of mine, whose dreams always called him to two things: photography and the sky. Happy Birthday, man! Love ya!
The iPod in My Backpack
(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)
In my backpack is a fifth-generation iPod Nano. Its casing is a shiny cobalt blue, and its design is thin and sleek. The glass screen is partially cracked, and its click wheel is slightly worn from hours of flipping through its hundreds of songs. On the back is a personalized engraving, etched in by laser over the Apple logo and the camera lens: “Don’t ever stop singing.”
The iPod was a Christmas present from my boyfriend and best friend in the world. He and I met through our common interest in creative writing, but one of the passions we share is our love of music. Interestingly, we both generally dislike the modern mainstream pop that constantly blares on the TV and radio stations, but he was the one who introduced me to the Indie genres. The sweet sound of music layered with true emotion opened me up to an artistic world that I didn’t even realize existed. For the past few years, my boyfriend has been sharing so much new music with me, and I can never get enough. He even shares some of his own compositions with me, songs that really showcase his musical potential. In turn, he can never seem to get enough of my voice, ever since I first sang for him. He and I agree that music is a gift, a passion best experienced with someone you love.
The Christmas before we became a couple, my friend sent me a present through the mail. I was shocked to discover an Apple iPod Nano inside the box, intended as a replacement for my four-year-old iPod Mini, which was on its last legs. I couldn’t thank him enough. Now I would once again be able to enjoy hours of music at a time, the music he loved to send me. He had asked me to open the box in front of him over Skype, so that after he saw my reaction, he could tell me to turn the iPod over. It was then that I saw the engraving. I was so moved; it was such a personal and thoughtful gift.
To this day, I cherish my iPod. I carry it with me whenever I go out, and I listen to it every time I take the bus to college. I was disappointed in myself for letting its screen break when I dropped it once. Still, I take care never to misplace it, for if I ever lost it, it would be like losing a special connection to my best friend.
Between his home in the United States and mine in Brazil, my boyfriend and I currently live over 6000 miles apart. But as long as we have music, we’ll always be close. All I have to do is turn on my iPod, and wherever I go, he’s right there with me.
This piece is based on What If? Exercise 73: “Things You Carry”. The exercise is to choose an object you carry in your pocket or your bag that’s special to you, describe it in detail using less than 100 words, and then tell the story behind it in at least 200 words. The objective is to demonstrate how much emotional attachment and significance can be connected to everyday objects. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!
What I Didn’t Know
I knew I could find a nice home. I didn’t know it would be in somebody’s house.
I knew my new home would have all the food I could possibly want. I didn’t know I would have to take it from somebody else.
I knew I would feel guilty if I had to steal food. I didn’t know having a conscience would get me into so much trouble.
I knew the garbage would be easy to reach without being seen by the people. I didn’t know they had a cat.
I knew I could escape from her through the kitchen. I didn’t know someone would be in there with a knife.
I knew my tail would never grow back. I didn’t know I would miss it so much.
I knew life wouldn’t always be easy. I didn’t know how hard it would be to go days without food.
I knew I might find some free cheese lying around if I looked. I didn’t know what would happen if I took it.
I knew I could find a nice home. I didn’t know someone like me could find Paradise.
North and South
After years of watching a vibrant foreign world speed by without a second glance, a girl must accept that the feeling of being out of place can’t be shaken off so easily. But if there is anything those years can teach her, it’s that life is full of surprises.
It’s understandable for anyone to feel like they don’t belong in a strange world. A person doesn’t always fit immediately into new surroundings, even someone as supposedly adaptable as a child. Adaptation depends on a variety of factors, such as circumstances, timing, and the magnitude of change.
One of these is the nature of the person being subjected to change. Some people simply adapt better than others. Such people welcome variety and embrace the unknown. I wasn’t one of them.
The differences between the unknown and the familiar can be problematic. Sometimes they’re as minor as the comparison between Dog and Cat. Other times, they can be as polar as North and South.
My family and I moved to South America when I was 12 years old. Before then, I was a timid child living happily in southern Florida. I had a fulfilling education in a language I spoke fluently, with teachers who praised me for my excellent grades and a small group of close friends. I was more than content with my life the way it was.
Then came 2001.
After September 11, much of what I knew changed drastically. Our country descended into what could easily be described as near panic, until we started to feel uncomfortable living in our own home on the East Coast. My parents decided this was no way to live, and it would be best for us to move away for a while, to the country where they were raised. It was somewhere we could feel safe and free again.
“Brazil?” My friends were just as surprised by the news as I was. How could they not be? No kid wants to learn their life is months away from being turned upside-down.
“When are you leaving?”
“This December”, I answered many times, never a hint of excitement in my voice.
My teachers were no less disappointed by this turn of events, but they did their best to encourage me.
“You’re a wonderful student”, they assured me. “Your teachers in Brazil will love and appreciate you too.”
This was hardly true, however. The first challenge I faced after moving abroad was mastering a new language, so different from my native English. Because of this, my grades began to slip, and whenever my teachers recognized me, it was for the fact that I was American, never for an outstanding report card.
Still, behind this fact was an encouraging lesson to be learned.
“Brazilians are the friendliest people in the world!” my parents told my sisters and me. “Everyone will want to get to know you.”
This I found to be true. Every year, I was approached by people eager to know everything about my life in the USA. It was a different paradigm from that to which I was accustomed; few of my friends in Florida had ever shown similar interest in me. These new social interactions would greatly facilitate my grasping of the Portuguese language, and for that, I was grateful. My main challenge now was not meeting new people; it was overcoming my shyness in order to make friends. Could I somehow manage to adapt to this new life, the way my two younger sisters had?
The answer came in high school.
When I was 16, a boy in school approached me. He asked me several questions, and I was surprised by this seemingly random gesture from someone I had never met before. But more surprises were still to come.
As it so happened, this boy would later become my first boyfriend, and his friends, my friends for life. I was in for love, heartbreak, laughter, and years of solid friendship. A new chapter in my life was just beginning.
“Brazil is a wonderful country, when you give it a chance.”
My parents couldn’t have been more right. I always knew the transition from North to South would be difficult, but as I’ve come to realize, life never fails to provide enough surprises to make the ride worthwhile.
This story was my first assignment for my online creative writing course: the personal essay. The subject I chose to write about was the true story of my transition from the United States to Brazil, and now I’m sharing it here with all of you. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written! Thanks for reading!
New Beginnings
The hour draws near. Everyone gathers round as the clock hands inch toward the twelve. Almost midnight. Time to head to the beach.
We walk down the path to the shore, surrounded by people heading the same way. We’re all excited for the show that happens every year. We rarely miss the chance to see it on this special night.
The sandy shore is crowded with people ready to start anew. We gather close to the water and pull out the glass bottle and cups. Five minutes now.
The waves roll calmly up the beach. Singing and shouting fills the night. Each of us takes a cup as Dad pours the champagne. We don’t care to join in the loud festivities. We’re content just to be with each other.
Someone starts to count. Ten, nine… We all gather closer as everyone joins in. Eight, seven, six… We think back on all the memories of the past year. Five, four… We hope for even greater times ahead. Three, two, one…
Bright explosions of light and sound fill the sky. Everyone cheers as midnight arrives, bringing the famous fireworks and the beginning of a promising new time. We all share in a toast and exchange hugs and kisses, looking forward to starting a brand new year together. It’s going to be the best yet!
Colors in the sky
Start off Year Twenty-Fourteen
Have a great new year!
A Year Gone By
As I think about
The year gone by,
I smile at the memories
Of 2013,
For I realize
There’s much to celebrate.
But what should I
Celebrate most?
Is it the blog I’ve started?
It’s a big step
Toward my dream.
I’m free to write about
My thoughts and feelings,
And I’m happy to know
Readers enjoy my words.
Is it the stories I’ve written?
I’m very proud
Of the tales I tell.
They’ve opened up
New doors for me,
And they show my voice
To the world.
Is it the people I’ve met?
They’ve been so supportive
Of my writing.
I’ve made some good friends
In the blogosphere,
And I’m glad we can share
In the journey of storytelling.
No, what I should celebrate most
Is the love I’ve always had in my life.
The people I love
Visit my blog,
Read my stories,
Support my writing,
And always make me
Feel special.
I’ll always celebrate
The people I love most,
Because they make
Every year wonderful.
So here’s to the end
Of a great 2013,
And may 2014
Be just as awesome!
Happy New Year!
Takedown
Sawyer sat on the edge of the shelf, staring at the mysterious box with narrowed hazel eyes. Soon, he thought, the time would come again. Every time the spinning stick pointed straight up, his enemy would appear. And every time, she got the best of him. But not this time. No, this time, victory would go to him. He would make sure of that.
The sound of ticking was the only noise filling the air. Sawyer’s tail flicked for the umpteenth time, and his whiskers twitched. The tension was almost palpable. Just a little more, he thought, flexing his legs and digging his claws into the wood. The stick was nearly vertical now. Just a tiny bit left, and at last he would catch her…
Sawyer and his enemy had been at war for a year. He knew this because she had entered his life the last time his owners had set up the lighted tree in the living room, the same way they did every year, the same way they had last week. The year before, one of the boxes under the tree contained this strangely shaped object, with two spinning sticks and a little flap behind which lived…
The cat shuddered. He didn’t even like to think about it. Oh, how he loathed her. She was awful! From the moment they’d met, all she ever did was annoy him. And what was worse, she did it all day, every day! No, it wasn’t enough to make irritating noises just once in a while; she had to pop out and mock him from her high perch every time the larger spinning stick made a full turn. Why every time? Didn’t she ever get tired? Didn’t she have anything better to do than wait for the stick to spin all the way around yet again? Sawyer couldn’t imagine she did… but it didn’t matter. Soon he would catch her, and his family would surely thank him for ridding them of this terrible nuisance. That was, after all, why they had recently built the shelf right next to her, right? Right? Yes, he’d be treated like a hero, but in all honesty, he would just be glad she was gone.
A loud chime suddenly rang through the room. That was the signal. In the blink of an eye, Sawyer screeched and pounced at the box the exact moment he knew the flap would open. Yes, there she was! Halfway through the air, he could already hear her horrible high-pitched tweet.
“Cuckoo!”
The feline unsheathed his claws, a split second from the box now. He was so close, he could already taste victory. But wait, what was she doing? She was already retreating? No, he couldn’t have miscalculated! Yet by the time he was close enough to swipe at the bird, she was halfway back into her nest. Unbelievable, he missed her by an inch!
Sawyer cried out in frustration, flailing his paws wildly in a flash of orange fur. He wasn’t about to admit defeat. He could still catch her; there were a few chimes left before she settled into her nest for another hour. His claws still unsheathed, he just managed to grab the swinging weight under the box before he fell to the floor. This wasn’t over yet.
The cat pressed his back paws against the wall to steady himself. Startled by a loud splintering noise, he looked up at the flap to see the bird emerging again.
“Cuckoo!” she cried a second time. Surely she was laughing at him. Infuriated, Sawyer cried out again and swiped his free paw up at his enemy… but before he could touch her, the wooden box collapsed from his weight, and the next thing they knew, cat and bird were plummeting to the hard floor together.
CRASH!
A dazed Sawyer scrambled to his feet and looked around. Strewn about the ground were dozens of pieces of wood and metal. Lying amid the shattered remains of the box was the little brown bird, finally off her perch and, more importantly, silent.
Satisfied to finally see his enemy immobilized, the orange feline was brought abruptly back to his senses when a group of humans came rushing into the room. Looking up at his family, Sawyer took a seat beside the fallen bird and started to purr with pride. The job was done; all he had to do now was wait for the praise…
“SAWYER!”
The woman at the head of the group started toward the cat. Sawyer had seen that look in her eyes enough times to know he didn’t like what was coming. Quick as a flash, the confused feline turned and fled from the humans hurrying to see the remains of the shattered box. Leaping up the couch to the top of the armoire, he looked down and watched his family pick up the scattered pieces of wood.
The girl kneeling by the box lifted the fallen bird and showed it to her mother, who shook her head at the sight of it. Sawyer tilted his head. How odd… Weren’t they glad to be rid of that pest? Of course; they were just surprised. Yes, that must have been it. After all, they probably thought they’d be stuck with her forever. Lucky for them, they had a hero in the family.
The people set about cleaning up the mess, while the cat looked on from his perch. The sight of his enemy being swept into a dustpan with the rest of her broken nest filled him with immense satisfaction. Come to think of it, destroying the box wasn’t part of the plan. He knew how much his humans liked it. Why else would they hang it on the wall if they knew what lived inside it? But if that was the price to pay for getting rid of the noisy bird, it was worth it.
Purring softly, Sawyer curled up and closed his eyes, ready for the nap he had earned. There would be plenty of time for praise later. For now, all he really wanted was to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Petty Chocolate
A few years ago, I received a gift from a friend: a box of chocolates. I was excited about it for the brief time I had it, but I never got to enjoy it, because the same week, you took it away claiming you needed a gift for a friend of your own. Because you promised to replace it, I agreed to let you take it. But you never kept that promise. Of course, I’m partly to blame; since I didn’t want you to think I was petty and annoying, I didn’t insist. At the end of that story, my life was exactly the same as it was in the beginning.
Over a year later, an honest mistake left me without my gift of chocolate again. However, this time I decided to try something different: instead of sitting back and trusting you to replace it like you said you would, I was going to risk sounding petty and insist you keep your promise. I reminded you several times about the gift I had lost, and I kept asking when you would be going to the store so I’d know when you could get me the chocolate you promised. And you know what happened? I got chocolate!
So you want to know what I learned from all this? I learned that when you want something from someone, you have to insist. You have to keep asking when they plan to keep their promises, regardless of whether they’ll think you sound petty. And I know you think I sound petty. But honestly, I’m OK with that, because between these two endings – you thinking I’m a big person or me having chocolate to enjoy at the end of a trying day – I’d rather have the chocolate.
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The Wolfe's (Writing) Den by J.C. Wolfe is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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