Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Crown of thorns and hands of roses

Jesus offers me crowns of thorns.
I see them daily on the cross he bore.
Mary offers me roses in her hands laid bare.
I never met Mary until this past year.

Do you know Jesus came to save me?
The cross he dared to die.
Past sin and transgressions,
and all my lies.

He lets me touch his nail-pierced hands,
he tells me to touch his side.
Fear not, believe...he asks of me,
sweetly bide your time.
For eternity awaits
and Heaven knows your eyes.
They see glory, saints of old,
come near.

The angels write.
Heaven came near tonight.
Jesus sighs.
He knows He has his bride.
With bit and bridle,
she lays down.
Ready to submit to his gentle hand.
The horse and rider are brought down.
Humbled before her God.
Submitted to obedience as much
as she can bear.

Have you ever entered through
the eye of the needle?
For a camel it is not an easy task.

We find an example in the early fathers.
Like Mary who gathers bouquets to her bosom.
The Mother and Father Joseph,
offer to be our parents, too.
Why do we not introduce them to friends
and family and include them as part of
our life? I'm learning how...

Jesus told me about poetic justice.
That He is from above, but came down below
as a newborn to win mankind.

Echoes of darkness, laugh on the side.
Jesus births the Kingdom.
There in some hay,
in a manger lay,
The Revival.
Transforming,
hearts once torn,
to come back to the Lord.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Music Box

Music boxes
of nations-
moving time
after time.
The same song.
The same mechanism
for hatred
or love.
Sown in tears.
Sounds from above.
Bombs,
missiles,
grenades,
stand clear-
Jesus enters here.

He is the voice of
the turtledove.

Martin Luther King

Men of influence, importance...

Schweitzer- a man
who fed the world
with a banana.
No cookies for His milk.
Do you revere life greater now
that you have had a taste of Heaven?

Martin Luther King,Jr.-
what was the price
you paid for Africa?
Was the mountaintop
the highest you could climb?
Do you see heaven in our eyes?

Within our nations,
may our descendants
better us,
better themselves.

Does the world run its course?

Who grades the paper at the
end of this lesson? Is it
God who marks it with an "A"?

The grade of reverence.
History made today.

Life began with a "Yes."

New Orleans

Pecan Pralines, anyone?

New Orleans
it's not just
as it seems.

Poverty, Riches,
classism of type,
learning how
to read and write.

It's music in the making,
a vocabulary of dreams.

Why don't you write
a discourse
on such things,
the thoughts of humankind?

Do you feel left behind,
the season and the time?

For what reason?
Are you waiting to live
or wanting to die?

That is New Orleans.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Red

The world is full of love-
Red for the passion
that killed the bull.
Blue for love
turned cold.

However, if
you get close
to the fire-
His heart
will warm you.
It warms me,
too-
multifold.

My Mother's Cocoa

Hot Chocolate, Mexican style-
cinnamon sweet.
What a family treat.
When the marshmallows
in the blue mug
were gone-
I 'd reach out for that red
and yellow box.

What do memories like these serve me?
They serve Santa's cookies on a
wintry day.

The tooth fairy might also visit
you in this land of childhood dreams.

However, lands for grown-ups await me.
I have a lot of preparing to do.
Can you button up my coat and see me off?

Los Angeles

The story was
of a girl who prayed for years,
fasted weeks on end.
Then returned and found the city
was not her friend.
She weathered the storm
and returned thrice.
Then the heavens,
were opened to her,
and so were her eyes.
She sees glory and the angels
write her story.

Jesus enters on a colt,
will we understand him
when he speaks a word to us?
I will I hope.
Will you?

Sweeter than Chocolate

The sufferings of Jesus
are sweeter than chocolate,
and honey, too.
They choose me as Jesus
chooses you.
I have a lot to do and
get intimidated by it's rising.
I want to see into His eyes
and let Him tell me
it's going to be okay.
My landlady knocked on the door,
offering chicken tacos.
It seems like a sign.
At Christmas are there more tamales
waiting? I like the dulce ones.
My sister can make chicken mole-
the chocolate kind.
That is for another day.
Sweet, the Jesus way.

Prophecy

about the world's end.
Is it just pretend?
Jesus shows us the scars
of His hand
so we will
not doubt
his imminent
return.

Music

Mozart,
Beethoven,
Tchaikovsky.
How will the
world dance to
your song-
if the children
don't learn
the heart of
the man
who created them?

Soccer

Futbol
plays the game
of trickery.
Don't lose
or you may not live.
Is that fair-
to play or die?

UN Delegates

Flags of the U.N.
enter in- to covenants
and allies,
enemies turned fierce.
Rather go here.
Why do the nations rage?
Turn the page.
It's Israel's stage.
I will play to win.
This game is afoot,
says God.

The Huntington

Koi-
in the pond.
Catfish whiskers,
drowning out the noise,
of the girls and boys.
Overhead, the bridge,
between destiny and downfall.
Stay on track. Don't look back.
Even to play by
feeding the fish
those lunch snacks.

Giraffe

a mobile
dancing in the air-
there will soon be a girl-
to stare at your brown spots.
Don't age,
stay young-
while our
future is bright...

Space/Spring (Primavera)

Can the Virgin birth enable us to win the crown
or will we slash-burn our chances
that are winding down?

Resurrection life.
Is it for glory-
is it for us?

Realization of our dreams.

Population,
growth, density-
who is the bringer of these things?

Children are a gift from God,
made in His image.

I think it disturbs him
to think they are not wanted.

How will we manage-
co-exist?

Nebula-
can you see us?
The space of our dreams?
We walked on the moon,
some say too soon.

Are there creatures in the night?
Whose space and dreams are light?

Do we need to cover and duck
from that which frightens us from within?
Are we alone on the planet?
Angels, demons, friends?
The allies of earth are incredibly strong.
God watches us and space
is a long journey back to the palm
of His hand.

Can we journey so far that we escape are dreams-
our hope, our purpose, fulfillment of things?

Can we run the race set before us as a springtime
rain refreshing the ground?

Can the Virgin birth enable us to win the crown?

For Heaven is it's worth.

Israel

Stand, Israel,
Stand!
If I were a general,
I'd tell you fight.
If I were a chief
I would not flight.
Be a warrior
like Deborah of
The Book.
Don't give in.
Don't give
away land.
Please obey
G-d -
His command.

Scotland

Scottish women
dancing,
prancing-
over swords
and see
what's
yet-to-be.

FANS

Japanese fans,
gold and silver-
inlaid with shimmer.
Ladies painted
with faces fair.
Rose in the air
for their lover.
Walking passively,
step by step
behind the man
who bought her dinner.
Who bought her beauty?
Was it her mom who told her to dance?
The man who paid for her room?
She wants to break the silence,
but the moment is over too soon.

Liberty

Children-
sing ring-around-the-rosie.
Prophets foretold
in ages old,
of a Samuel
generation.

That would lead the nation-
in fierce battle to stand,
at our Lord's command.
Halting sin,
gracing Him,
to be free to reign
in liberty once again.

Children

Children are
a blessing of the Lord.
Something to be restored.
Jewels and crowns of
a delicate kind.
Something worth to
change your mind.
Abortion is a tragic
fate for those
whose life you take.
Also, a missed opportunity
for the life you bring.
Offer a ring
of covenant to
the Lord thy God.
For He brings
all good things.

Lonely

Loneliness-
is like a pool of paint
(circling colors, swirling about).
That angels paint
into a horizon.
Painting each stroke
note by note
singing the praise of
the God
I know.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

TEAM JESUS

Is it our job
to go to the start
and run unhindered
by our unchartered part?

To the line-
that lasts.
Touchdown for Jesus,
what does it mean?

Does it mean we drag down the oppressed
to "live the dream"?

"Am I my Brother's keeper?" asked
Cain when he killed Abel.

Now there is a whole nation without
enough food to put on the table.

Free market economy gone a muck,
has gotten us more than "just stuck."

Millions are crying out in hunger and fear.
Why and how did we get here?

What does Team Jesus
mean?

Are we race cars with sponsors
or disciples with dreams?

Can I make millions and shelter my funds
in offshore shelters or can I serve those
who need my expertise?

How do we spend our talents?

Multiply our lot? By the way, are they
really ours to spend?

If the reaper came tonight, would he call us his friend?

Jesus will you show us how to fight,
past the bullies who oppose us in the night?

Are they the defenders of night?

The illuminati, are they alive and well
or are they paving us on a fast-track to hell...
literally.

Do they keep us from the light and knowledge of
self will?

The cross is a fortune to many,
gold around one's neck.

What comes next?
A prophetess?
A prophet in our
time of duress?

Can we see past discretions and failings
of man? Leaders of economies, failed in public,
openly...sadly of sorts.

Can we ask for those who need to stand?
If they stumble can we pick them up by the hand
in brotherly love?...grace from above- to
try again, my friend.

Try again...my friend.

Germany

Land of daughters free.
Major and minor royalty.
Hapsburg dynasty?
Bavaria, what is your fame?
What do you claim?
Is it the Jewess who used
to make gelt fish
and present them on
her silver platters
before the Holocaust?

What is enduring until the end?
Is it the nation of parents who were lost,
parenting parents now birthing hope.
Why do children seem unwanted...
is their value not convenient
or their jewels not given light to reveal
their gleam?

Why do those who suffer, Turks, refugees-
not find hope in wanting something different
from whence they came?

I knew of a man and woman, Marcus and
Rachina were their names.
They came from your shores
and bore much pain. They found God
in the Torah and Talmud, too.

I found God in Jesus.



Dedicated to Hattie Stern.
She came from Germany.

Samsonite

Is it our culture
that makes
Samsonite strong
and Samson
weak?
What do you think?

Winner-(eschatos)

Merry, Merry, we love God-
is it all sod overlaid with Gold?
The Ancient of Days-
is not so old,
not in the overaged sense.
Since for Him,
time is immortal.

Don't sell your
prize at an auction for
the highest bidder.
Don't let the sign be held up
with your name.
Be set apart.

Don't let games and gaming rule
your heart or your mind.
You are human but still divine.
Slavery comes in many forms
but wait,
fight to be set free.
The prize goes to the one who presses on...

Try for the most you can endure,
suffer the little children to enter
into the promise, to come unto me...

He won.
He is the winner.
By the blood shed on the cross.
Jesus bid on you today-
said you were worth the price
He paid.

I was surprised
that He exercises that right
to show me your value.

Jesus knew the end from the beginning.
He was crowned the victor before time began.
The key to opening heaven is giving him
a chance. I did.
I never want to
go back to where I was,
but each new day
I begin.

Alpha and Omega.
You are time immortal.
The day with you is
a day with my best friend.

Sun-Le Soleil

Birthday cakes overrun
by your time in the sun-

Sadness, laughter,
is it all ever after?

Run, daughter, run,
into the hands of the
one who created you.

Merry-go-round

Merry-go-round
feeding me cake
not cut into pieces.

A father who had his own dreams,
echoed in me.
Were you there for me as a child?
It is hard to recall.

Will I be there for my children?
That is my greatest wish for all.

Horses, seals, carriages pass-
on this merry-go-round of life.

I let them go and sometimes I cry
as I wave to them "goodbye".

I wait for my Lord to create a ride
that I cannot pass by.

I think He has. My eyes stay on him.
They are not growing dim as I wait
for my love to enter in.

I sing to my Lord-
a song for Him.
A birthday wish for Jesus.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Flag

Red, White and Blue-
Who do you serve?
Who will you go to?
The French have Blue, White and Red too-
but they are not you.
Divided we fall...
may we stand
in unity before,
Heaven's hand
will allow
the fall of
man.

Questions

Questions-spurning us on forward.
Toward degrees.
Masterpieces.
Does Jesus weep-
to sit at our feet?
Hold us close,
wipe every tear from our eye.
Telling us why not die
in order to live?
The struggle is to recall
those ancient past-
who put us on the path of sin
and murkiness.
The great divorce-
has run its course,
of life and death
and half a breadth.
What about the rest?

Choose life,
this day not die,
forgive.
This day to live.
The ancients stand
and rend a verdict.
Enter in.

Dad

My dad whistled the other day.
Said he found a new rhyme.
One can only tell with time.

The King.
The beggar on the street.

Nestled at the feet
of him who reigns.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Maria Rosa

Maria Rosa beckoned me in Spanish-
asking me where I was going.
She helped me find the answer.
As she talked with her neighbors
on the seats in front of her-
I understood her warmth, her caring.
I was so excited
to be on the bus with these women
from Mexico or somewhere else.
She made me smile, laugh at why
I doubt being Mexican is a part of me.

I found one.
One place where I was going.
Closer to home.

by Gisella Perezarce

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Barack, Jesus, Donkey, or Elephante?

Is it to be-
Barack Obama?
Is it something inside of me-
that causes me to see?

Past, present, distant...
like mountains far away
come near.

The Ear of God inclines
to hear our choice-
Jesus for President!

Who will choose him?

Is it our generation
that will enter in?

by Gisella Perezarce

I have thought a lot about this.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Sinaloa

I wrote a poem about a week ago. I was inspired by a poetry site.
I was writing the poem- inspired by the understanding that came to me.
Later, I submitted it to a poetry forum online/blog about poets of Sinaloa.
They published the English version on their site, much to my surprise and pleasure.

Un poema en honor de my bisabuelo Enrique perez arce y mi abuelita laura aram.

SINALOA

QUE TIERRA DE COLIBRIS

QUIEN CONOCE TU GLORIA SECRETA

QUIEN HA CANTADO TU AMOR APASIONADO

QUIZAS LOS ANGELES EN MURMUROS ENSOMBRADOS

QUIZAS LAS PALOMITAS ETERNAMENTE ENAMORADAS

SABES QUE YO TE HE ESCUCHADO

QUE TE ESTOY ESCUCHANDO

CREYENDO EN TI CON CIEGA FE

ME ACERCO

LLEVAME POR LA MANO

A MI CON MI ABUELITA

DENTRO DE TU PARAISO

[ENRIQUE RENALDO’S LOOSE TRANSLATION OF A POEM WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER GISELLA PEREZARCE]:

Sinaloa

A land of hummingbirds

Who has heard of your greatness?

Who has told of your love?

Is it the voice of Angels=

The voice of the turtledove?

I have heard-

Am hearing.

Believing.

Understood.

I am coming.

Take my hand.

My grandmother and I

Into your promised land.

01-11-08.

I miss Mexico. I've never been, really been.

I've been to the border towns of Mexicali, fell in love with the people.

I cried for a homeless boy one night who lived in the bushes and gave him my dinner.

I played ball with the children and sang in their churches.

I also left my heart with a disabled boy who wore diapers and came in an ambulance to the clinic.

I wanted to educate the people about disabilities so the children could be helped, but I never came.

I tried to return, with family, with friends. It didn't happen.

Maybe I can go to Posada in Guadalajara or Mexico City?

A fantasy to be painted by a Mexican painter appeared in my head tonight.

Where did it come from? Where have I been? I've been singing, Joni Mitchell's song about The Gallery

today. Maybe her subject's being painted was transformed into a desire of my own.

If dreams can be caught, can I catch one?

They go passing by so fleetingly and never land for very long.


Joni Mitchell sings in "Songs to aging children come",

"Fear is like a wilderland. Stepping stones or sinking sand."

I've been in fear's wilderland for a decade. I pray this day it becomes a stepping stone

for future land.




Friday, January 11, 2008

Lic. Enrique Perez Arce

My name is Gisella Perezarce. I have been in a state of "lost" and a state of "found" for many years now. A Catholic priest told me he felt lost a lot so I didn't feel so bad.
I am trying to discern my life's calling, purpose, but unsure of a destined track.
I am also very sensitive spiritually-which can help or confuse me at times.
I looked up my great-grandfather tonight on google. He was the director of a school in Sinaloa before becoming a governor later. I really thought about what would make him happy tonight for a long time.
I'll write more later...God Bless.