I raise my eyes to the sky, por 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)

To be a true artist Must they be recluses Crazy mad or sick Or even better dead Show me a healthy artist

I would never choose To eat a granola bar Or peanut butter crackers Though I eat them All of the time

Que te cuentan un chiste Las palabras se traducen Pero el humor no se puede Por si no lo entiendes Ríete

A family trait Massage Is our vice No shame Take what

I enjoy his company Riding shotgun Conversation No one to overhear Our inside jokes

You might know her As blonde eyes Or as the sister who bakes cookies But you see I don’t write this

This world is covered in bias It’s all over you It’s all over me too This world is covered in bias It shades our words

The E’s squeak by The I’s are too excited The U’s come after Q But the A’s and the O’s They flow

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

My parents always say We’re proud of you I am too I got out of bed I used to get so much done

It’s not that I’m sad Though I am It’s not that I’m discouraged Though I am It soaks deeper

By nature high-strung But I thought I was strong If not physically, emotionally For things to roll off my back Be mature and take the high road

Water Beach pools and fountains Rivers creeks and waterfalls The sound The feel Floating Weightless

Apathy and incompetence In healthcare A fax they didn’t send Prescriptions delayed Labs to do again

Her fingernails Natural Long Pointed On fingers