Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sometimes I Get a Good Feeling …..



Sometimes I Get a Good Feeling …..

'Above the Clouds' photo by AVR
The stress of traveling makes my fibromyalgia flare up to varying degrees, and because I don’t really look ill, people are not always understanding when it takes me a while to get my stuff together - plus the pain and stiffness causes me to be less than my normally cheerful self.

I don’t like to say that I have fibromyalgia because I think it reinforces the illness, but ignoring it does not lessen the physical manifestations.  I have found that food sensitivities trigger flare ups so I have to travel with all my medicines, supplements and some food in my carry on and purse in addition to a medical device for my sleep apnea.  Juggling 3 relatively heavy bags is a challenge even on good days.

On my flights to Reno (to visit my grandchildren this April) and then back home to Chicago, I was pleasantly surprised by the many kind and helping hands along the way – the TSA agent who didn’t get mad when I misunderstood his instructions about taking my C-Pap all the way out of the case, the airline employee who suddenly appeared and picked up my luggage that had tipped over, the people who helped me get my carry on into and out of the overhead luggage bins, the man who watched my luggage for me so I wouldn’t have to take it all with me when I went to the bathroom, etc., etc.  I had made my mantra/affirmation for this trip “I create a bubble of ease around me when I travel’ (from the Louise Hay daily calendar I received from my sister at Christmas) and it seemed to be working.

I had a pleasant conversation with a young man on the way to Reno who has children around the same ages as my grandchildren and (after telling him I was working on the "Shadows on the Carpet" trilogy) I was a bit surprised when he said that the next time we met on a plane I would be famous to which I replied, “Why not.”.  I thank him for his confidence in my ‘sight unseen’ writing ability and I truly hope he will be able to support his family by doing something he is passionate about soon.

On the way home, I was really impressed by the young playwright that sat next to me.  He was delightful company and my trip ‘flew’ by. He graciously listened to me babble on and on.  I especially appreciated his encouragement regarding my ‘Views from a Plane’ poems (I showed him the ones I wrote on the way to Reno) as I had started to wonder if anyone would really be interested in reading them.  

This was a young man with a big heart and shining spirit yet I sensed that there were some issues he was dealing with. He told me about the play he was writing and it sounded very interesting.  I wish him much success with it.   

Sometimes I get a good feeling…..

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Weep for Rachel

One of the poems I will be reading tonight from "Shadows on the Carpet I" along with the audio version.

I wrote this poem after Acidplanet artist JTL (John Carter) contacted me about adding some words to a piece of music he had written.  After listening to his piece, I wrote Weep for Rachel.  He asked me to record the spoken word and mixed it into his music. Hope you enjoy!



Audio of  Weep for Rachel



Weep for Rachel

Weep for Rachel
photo by AVR
Weep as she weeps

Weep for Rachel
Weep as she weeps
As they slaughter
So shall they reap

Do they not hear
That all of nature
Adds its tears to
The sobs of Rachel

Weep for Rachel
Weep as she weeps
As they slaughter
So shall they reap

Do they not know
We are all one
Do they not see
What’s being done

Weep for Rachel
Weep as she weeps
As they slaughter
So shall they reap

Weep for Rachel
Weep as she weeps

© Alice Vedral Rivera - 2006

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Shadows on the Carpet I Available on Amazon!

Shadows on the Carpet I is now available on Amazon!!!  I just don't understand why they have tagged a book of relationship/social/political commentary poems as suitable for age range 1 - 17 and grade level 1 and up????

click here Shadows on the Carpet I

Friday, May 9, 2014

Featured Reader - Tamale Hut Cafe Reading Series

I will be May's Featured Reader at the Tamale Hut Cafe Reading Series!  I will be reading from Shadows on the Carpet I, The T. Collection - A Retrospective and one selection from Dearest and Most Precious: A Love Journal.  I will have books available for purchase at a special price of $10 + some additional perks if you buy more than one of my books.  This way I will have something for those who like my dark poems and something for those who like my love and sensual poems/poetic prose.

Check out the THC Reading Series Blog

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Lost in Space - Views from a Plane

Sharing a poem I wrote on the flight home from Nevada another Views from a Plane poem along with the view that inspired it.....

photo by AVR


Lost in Space

As we traverse
the bumpy terrain
of life – sometimes
we stumble upon

A clear path
to the unknown
but are afraid to
change direction

To embrace this
new road to our
true destiny
instead we wander

Aimlessly through
familiar territory
losing ourselves
in a fog of

Forgetfulness

© Alice Vedral Rivera – 4/30/2014 7:00pm CDT

Monday, May 5, 2014

Cornered Tumbleweed

Sharing a new poem that I wrote in Nevada...




Cornered Tumbleweed

Dried ecru tumbleweed
Wind driven tangled baskets
Rolling along for miles
Finally corralled and
Herded into a corner

© Alice Vedral Rivera 4/26/2014 2:50pm PDT