a time when life felt free,
where your mind could just be.
the harshness of the world has not yet consumed you,
it’s a time where your wildest dreams can still be true.
The world is still in color
a time before the world got duller
when unicorns still exist
and your face is sunkissed
you’re dancing in the rain
and there’s not yet anyone to blame
Before all the pain
when you had nothing to gain.

A time when the sun shines brighter,
where you just felt lighter.
when your mom still loved your dad
and cuss words were bad
A time when you were naive
when anyone could make you believe
when your mind felt free
and laughter was the key
A time when your life couldn’t get any better
except maybe if your mom bought you that new sweater

I like the way you try to help others in certain situations and give advice
I like the way you get your eyebrows sharper than a fingernail
I like the way you have a open mind about anything or anyone
I like the way you’re learning how to communicate and be patient
I like the way you have a fear of rollercoasters but aren’t afraid to jump out a plane
I like the way you value alone time even though your friends are awesome
I like the way you smile even when you’re sad some days
I like the way you can sing the alphabet with your mouth closed and type a whole paragraph with your eyes shut
I like the way you’re not afraid to be harsh and be straight-forward with anyone
I like the way you stopped crying everyday for something sad and instead crying for something joyful

Good morning sweet angel
Know your heart is true
Every gift of kindness you give
Will one day come back to you

It won’t be overnight
Unfortunately your world now is cruel
Stay strong and keep going
You’ll get the justice that’s due

Your kindness will be mocked
It won’t mean you’re wrong
Many don’t have hearts as accepting as yours
Their mind is filled more with dark thoughts

Their self hatred gets projected
Against anyone that’s shining bright
God is keeping you protected
Cry your tears and say your prayers
This pain will make you strong

Your triumph will play like a symphony
A tale that reverses the narrative of life
Greed, vanity, and power is what they devour
Gifts of emptiness will take down their tower

Your beauty, grace, and forgiveness
Will radiate from the inside out
It was God who gift this
To eventually relinquish their dark souls doubt

There’s magic in your words
You will prove the wrong of their ways
And live a walking testimony
That the darkest nights lead to the brightest days

Dear Shiba,
Everything about you is inspiring to me. I look up to your spirit. You were beautiful and carefree. Careful to not run with the wrong crowd and caring to those around you. Who needed an in-crowd when the Earth, ancestors and your family surrounded you?
You weren’t allowed to run around without shoes, but you always took them off to ground yourself in the soil, especially when it rained. You carried a peaceful spirit in your aura.
Through the times when life wasn’t very kind, you did your best to smile and shine. Nothing could stop you. You were so resilient and bounced back from everything. Your smile lit up rooms and your laughter could be heard everywhere.
Naturally, you were a nurturer. You cared for your younger sister consistently, as to not let anything happen to her. You were her protector and when she hurt, you wiped her tears. You loved the innocence in babies and animals, and your protection for them remained solid. My beautiful young version of me, you were so shy. As grown us, I believe I now know why. The world can be harsh, and you did everything you could to protect us.
You gained your creative talents at a young age and never stopped. The third grade wanted to place you in the gifted program for your writing. Poetry was your favorite, and to this day it is mine. Not only do we still write poetry, we also write quotes and music. Our stage name is Sauced Goddess. Sauced means the way the words pour to the paper and Goddess because that is who we are.
Though you couldn’t draw, you were always crafting with objects. Your imagination was wild, and your curiosity was consistent. You were living life through fairy tale eyes, which showed you the true beauty of the faucets of life surrounding you. Though you were worried about people watching you and you being shy, you were fearless and always wanting to try new things.
You were a good child, but there were a few times that you took some chances, and I am proud of you for doing so. They were hidden accomplishments that definitely helped you grow. You were strong no matter what life threw at you.
Now look, We are standing tall now. It is because of how you loved us, and how we gained purity and strength through the eyes of a child. Never change yourself for you are perfect as you are. I love you so much and thank you for loving us.
Love always and forever,
Sauced Goddess

Dear child, let go of your worries.
You’re here for a purpose, I’m sure you know.
Though this world is large and you may be small,
You are connected to the source and the life force of all.

Dear child, open your eyes.
Though things seem strange, there’s room for surprise.
Each new day you wake holds potential for greatness,
A seed you can water and watch grow with awareness.

Dear child, remember your worth.
You were created for a reason.
The Divine orchestrated your birth.
Your soul is unique, with its own melody,
Brought here to find others and make new harmony.

Dear child, you are peace and love and grace.
It’s time for you to recall, see it shine from your face.
The purity you were born with can be returned to.
All that is meant will surely find you.

Dear child, don’t fret or fear.
Guidance and help are always near.
Follow the wisdom, the deep inner knowing.
This faith in the Divine keeps you ever flowing.

So my dearest child, breathe deeply.
Relax your being fully.
You have many gifts, they’re yours to keep.

To my younger self,
my mini me,
from future you
to you
I think what I love most
was the ignorance
you carried for the world.
In it
you lived as a free spirit,
embracing your weird
and wild side.
You lived
every day
exploring your creativity
through role playing,
an act that soon,
as you can see
would give
you the gift to create art.
You went on having great
memories,
from vacationing with family
down in Atlantic City,
to going to Cape May Beach
& Zoo with your sister
and your best friend.
You did it all for the first time,
through childlike wonder,
a feeling that I miss the more
time passes.
To tell you the truth,
mini me,
the reason I love this
is because I want it back.
Being an adult,
believe it or not,
isn’t all that
it’s cracked up to be,
and I sometimes wish
I can go back
in time and
be you again.
But since I can’t,
I’ll make you a promise,
we won’t stop until
we reach our dream
together.

Admiration within the smile
as you allow it to grow.
All the way from the mile
getting the light to show.
Bouncing around
due to past endeavors.
Finally finding you in the sound
now that I have passed each of the levers.
Chills head their way down
along with the fears.
Never a need to frown
only taking a few years.
You’re brighter than you would believe
just wait to see what you will achieve.

Hey little girl
How are you doing today?
Did you have a good day at school?
Did you go outside and play?

I hope you had your time to escape
From the anger and chaos within the walls
Of the apartment on that second floor
Where dingy carpet lines the eerily long halls

You often weren’t aware of how bad it was
Not in the younger years that is
Because you watched all your friends in their own struggles
You were more worried about her pain and his

You were good at removing yourself from the suffering
You were always able to see the good and humor in things
Sometimes that humor could be looked at as dark
But it helped get through the bitter words and stings

You were so observant and smart
Too grown up for your young age
You could sense when things were off
Even when they tried to keep you in your cage

You knew that life wasn’t normal
Even if it seemed better than others you saw
You started your plans on how you would free yourself
And looking back at your diligence, I admire in awe

You got to work as soon as you could
Working multiple jobs and saving away
You knew the environment you grew up in
Was not where you were destined to stay

You planned and you prayed
Staying both focused and hopeful
You trusted your gut when others had doubt
And along the way, you found someone very special

A partner, a lover; someone who loved you for you
You both fell so hard and so fast
You knew deep in your heart, that he was the one
And even at such a young age, you knew it would last

You have always followed your intuition
You listened to the knowing within your soul
I am so proud and happy for you, sweet child
For you both took on and released control

You knew what was within your power
You are the reason I am here today, happy and healing
You did everything you could to build your ideal life
One full of peaceful, lovely feelings

You are so strong and resilient
Even today, you reside within my heart and bones
Together, we get to live our favorite lives
And we get to create a happy, healthy home

Thank you for your empathetic nature
Thank you for your strength and determination
Thank you for your playfulness and sensitivities
Thank you for your love and admiration

Thank you for your open mind
Thank you for your appreciation of the little things
Thank you for showing me the beautiful parts of life
Thank you for showing me what trusting myself brings