Compeling Signs

A storm of yellow signs struck Foothill Boulevard, attached to menacing
faces and determined eyes.  Cross voices shouting “Yes on 8,” sent a chill
marching across my skin.  A trembling fear made my heart fall, from irony
of a nearing Halloween and sheet less figures haunting the busy streets
of Rancho Cucamonga.  Signs like freedom of speech, made me wonder
where my voice went.  Signs of freedom of religion and bruised comments
like “Read a bible,”  made me wonder why they felt God stopped loving me.
I wondered how it was for people who fought for interracial marriage.
Did it swarm their emotions and sting their hearts like a mob of angry wasps?
I wondered how it was for people who fought for civil rights.
Did it press against their ego like a stomping boot and compel their strength?
I wondered how it was for people who fought against religious persecution.
Did it drown their beliefs and suffocate their relationship with humanity?  
I wondered, or perhaps there was no need to wonder at all as we protest
“No on 8,” fighting towards equality for all yesterday, tomorrow and today.

 

By Gina Duran-Salazar

(Revision) February Sunrise

Chills of an early February morning breeze
numbs pale toes on a white sand beach;
with soft light seeping through a fading night,
while warm water creeps up the Golf Coast.

Numb pale toes on a white sand beach
on Anna Maria Island as the sun peeks in.
Warm water creeps up the Golf Coast
welcoming a current of family affections

On Anna Maria Island as the sun peeks in.
Golden generosities radiate warmth,
welcoming a current of family affections
amongst the songs of seagulls in gleeful flight.

Golden generosities radiate warmth,
rising with the harmonic laughter of children;
wakeful as the songs of seagulls in gleeful flight
excited to feel the stream of a fresh day’s air.  

Chills of an early February morning breeze
with soft light seeping through a fading night,
rising with the harmonic laughter of children
excited to feel the stream of a fresh day’s air. 

My Mother’s Changing Kitchen

My mother’s kitchen is bold and full of life,
much like herself, the emerald green leaves
of her plants grow wild. The walls change
colors with her moods during the passing
months. The selections of cuisine cook
in the oven alternating from spicy to bland
as her ever evolving interests die out
with her dispositions. The front door opens
as my sister Tawni breezes in with her romping
Bully and twinkle toed Chihuahua ready
to venture the world and pull my mother
away from her many redecorating schemes.

A Tahitian Sunset

 

Watching the ocean current hit the Tahitian bank
Sipping on chilled rose red papaya juice
Reflecting strolling light off my jet black glasses
Squinting at the popping ocean rays

Sipping on chilled rose red papaya juice
Sweet sugar tingling my taste buds
Like sipping popping ocean rays
Ice cubes mirroring images of the sun

Sweet sugar tingling my taste buds
Cooling down the scorching sun set
Ice cubes mirroring images of the sun
Shades of diluted indigo and pink

Watching the ocean current hit the Tahitian bank
Reflecting strolling light off my jet black glasses
Cooling down the scorching sun set
Shades of diluted indigo and pink

A Setting Sun

Pink and rouge, swirls of blue,
the sun sizzling into the horizon.

Gracious waves collapsing, pale
white, pulling darkened sand.

Sand castles caving in, drooping
over, mud.

Seagulls soaring high, stretched
wings over head.

A red blanket’s edges seeking
escape in the breeze.

An elderly couple cuddling,
arms fitted tight.

Faces with a fading glow, pointing
towards the sun.

Class exercise…

February 14, 2008 at 12:29 pm

I love you like the sun lights up the sky,
Like Mercury is hot
Like the darkest sapphire is bluer
Then the deepest sea
Pure as the air is clean after a
Month long storm

The Waking Thunder

I felt the world rejected me,

awakening me with all that shouting,

monstrous booms, rumbling and rolling,

falling bodies on the roof top.

My eyes popped open, bold curse words on a page,

bright sparks of blue and purple flashing between

me and my sleep, my mind doing the 100 yard dash

breathing heavily rushing to win first place.

All night disturbed by nature’s fury, my Chihuahua quivering,

just as exasperated as me, bright even without electricity.

All night I jumped up from bed, like a tsunami

roused by the shifting plates, the ocean wrestling the earth,

gravity pulling it down again. The next afternoon 

I collapsed deep into my sheets, sinking far into my mattress

accepting the grumbles as a melody.

  

Red-Crowned Crane

 

Red-Crowned Crane

She dances gracefully with her arms spread wide

Long slender legs, elegant neck

The delicate and rare Red-Crowned Crane, lighter than air

Gracing us with her acceptance

 Soft light pink, the red spilling out–

Love, her gentle comforting compassion

 A tulip, standing tall in a field of daisies

Her heart genuine and true

Carnation-

Vibrant purple, with flexes of red and white, petals tightly growing next to one another. The youthful petals are thin and white hidden deep within the center. While the outer jagged tipped petals are slightly folding like crashing waves against the ocean rocks. A long and slender, dark green stem. Specks of Forest green all the way to the top. With hints of soft light green, on each protruding bump, just before its slim, and pointy leaves gradually form, bending to the triangular tip.

My carnation reminds me of a closely nit group of family and friends protecting their youth. Growing closely supporting one another. Living as a small community. The outer petals are extended friends much more wild than the rest seeking freedom yet united in the others goals to form a loving home for their young. The Stem is long to stretch out into the world so it’s family shall grow bright and brilliant towards the light providing a warm and nurturing environment, seeking to drink in life for it’s loved ones. Bringing the color of individuality into our world.   

Embodying Abstract Exercise

Passion- 

A roaring fire on a bright summer’s afternoon

Rain beating down on a young girls face

The boom of thunder waking you at night

Melted milk chocolate when it first warms your mouth

The sweet, tangy scent of raspberries

An over powering aroma of cinnamon

Snow smacking against your face over and over again

The shock of electricity on a windy day

Bellowing clouds of smoke in the sky

Fog so thick you cannot drive

Habanero chilies scorching your tongue

Sour curdled milk in your cup

A spider crawling on your skin

Dogs in a kennel yelping to get out

A lover calling to serenade

Smooth sheets gliding across a body

Heavy pounding hearts of lovers

A mother cradling her infant

A dandelion from a five year old child

The silky fluffy fur of a Pomeranian

Paintings from a dear friend

The sparkling eyes of a child