I raise my eyes to the sky, by Laura Alaniz

I raise my eyes to the sky

The whole world

Aches and groans

Do you feel her pain?

The human in me

Wants to heal mankind

It has more wounds

Than I have Band-Aids

(2014)

I spend all my time Fighting with you In my head If we fought At least it would be

If I was in a beauty pageant My talent would be 'Lefty who writes upside-down’ Beside the contestant Who burps her ABC’s

If you find someone That can do it Better than you Get them on your team

If I could draw a tree In all it’s complexity Would you be impressed? If I could draw a human face It would be but a trace

If I could paint a man Eyes so dark they shine Brooding and stormy Til the smile breaks through If I could paint a man

How do you describe A man so dramatic? You can recognize him From afar with his hat Always the gentleman

Turkey and dressing Loud and overwhelming Opinions and food fly Green bean casserole Too much laughter

A joke Lost in Translation You will Never

Your enthusiasm exhausts me This coke is flat The bubbles disperse Leaving a sticky and sweet Aftertaste

A palomino gallops Beside the highway Look out the window Rides over green hills Through yellow flowers

Life is good A little luxury A cup of coffee Served with toast Consumed lazily

Good secret Bubbles inside Let me out Bad secret Indigestion

A family trait Massage Is our vice No shame Take what

My poems are short Written at night In my head I wake at dawn Shake my memory

My pump Constant companion Of my disease My sensor Resembles a feeding