BIJOUX

by Marie Delgado Travis
www.mariedelgadotravis.com
www.lulu.com/marilu

I wear the people I’ve met
Like beads and chains
Strung round my neck.
Some sway lightly,
As I walk...
Filigree cross.
Others wear me down,
Leaden albatross.

Exquisite gems,
Semi-precious stones,
Worthless glass,
Bits of bone.

Cartier snakes,
Obvious fakes,
That do their best
To trip and tangle me,
While dangling
With such
Seeming grace.

Chokers with cameo faces,
Velvet to the touch,
Yet wrapped so tight,
They strangle.

Bold medallion shields.
Soft gold that yields.
Sharp, metal edges
That cut, leaving traces.

Broken necklaces,
Bijouterie.

Silver swirls
Dancing in the
Onyx night,
Glittering
Even in my dreams.

And you, a single strand
With tear-shaped pearl,
That encases a simple
Speck of sand.

IMAGINE

by Marie Delgado Travis
www.mariedelgadotravis.com
www.lulu.com/marilu

Imagine
What would happen
If tomorrow morning,
Say, around ten,
You woke up to find
You were 100 per cent
Stone cold dead.

Once you got over
The initial surprise
Of your, well,
Untimely demise,
What would be your reaction?

That all gone sensation?

Or proud satisfaction
Of the life you led?

Whom would you miss?
Would they know it?
Would you be missed?
By whom?

Had you straightened your room?
Was your underwear clean?
Were you a kind "human bean"
Or ugly, nasty and mean?

Were you all work and no fun?
An irresponsibly lazy bum?
What was left undone?
Had you met that special someone?

What would your tombstone say?
What was your very best day?
Were you led by your brain, your heart,
Your tummy or body part south of that?

What was your greatest achievement?
Chief regret?
Whose birthday did you forget?

What color was your crayon?
One-dimensional...
Or 3-D?

Was your life a steady upward climb?
A downhill slide ...
Or did you just
Go along for the ride?

What mistake would
You have liked to fix
Before sailing on
The River Styx?

You always wanted X.
Did you accomplish blank?

Was there someone
You’d have liked to thank,
Apologize to or
Just called to say
"Hey, how are you?"
"I love you in the purest way!"

Which word or sentence
Sums up your time?
Were you a song, a rhyme?
Free verse or terse?

Where would have
Liked to wander?
Were your talents multiplied
Or were they squandered?

What are those talents anyway?
Make a list of them right away!

Did you snivel and complain,
Count your blessings or your pains?
Did you care for your fellow man,
Whether his name was
Smith or Chan?

Had you cared for your body
Or was it treated rather shoddy?

Did you nourish your spirit,
Feed the birds?
What books were read,
Important words unsaid?

Well, luckily,
No need for sorrow.
Chances are, you,
Like the dawn
Will rise again
Tomorrow.

At the end of the day
And hopefully each thereafter,
How will you have shown
Your Master
In thoughtful deeds,
Kind words and laughter,
How much you value
The Gift of Life
He graciously
Let you borrow?

What will you do
To make the
MOST of it?

IMAGINE
What could happen!