Activity
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opwriter submitted a contest entry to
Write a poem (or letter) about a turning point in your life 9 months agoTaking The First Step Forward
OswaldPerezDear Unsealers,
The moment that changed my life happened on a random Thursday in August of 2002. However, when it happened, I didn’t know my life would change.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here…
We have to go back to the summer of 2001.
I had a pair of surgeries on my right leg. This was the third round of surgery on my leg in an attempt to fix a deformity that had been with me since childhood. The most profound complication that having cerebral palsy brought into my life. Seven stitches and three pins in my middle toes. I was bedridden for most of the summer and at a shallow point. But I knew that I couldn’t give up on myself so easily.
Nine months of physical therapy would follow. Twice a week after school, I would travel to the Hospital For Special Surgery on the east side of Manhattan. It wasn’t easy, as my knee stiffened up in the process. In time, I would go from a wheelchair to a walker and a cane before ultimately ending up with a brace on my right leg.
On this particular Thursday, I went to visit with my surgeon. At the end of the appointment, he uttered these words: you can take the brace off.
I looked at him dumbfounded, and a bit terrified. I hadn’t taken a step forward without help in some time. But he wasn’t kidding, I could take the brace off my leg.
As I did, I took the first step forward. A beaming smile came across my face and so did it on the face of my mother. I took a few steps more after that.
All the memories of doctor’s appointments, orthopedics, and surgeries faded away. I could feel my self-esteem starting to come back after a lifetime of feeling terrible about myself with all the other complications.
With perfect timing too, as my senior year of high school was close at hand. I couldn’t wait to show everyone my leg without the brace there.
This was the moment when I was reborn.
Voting is closed
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Oswald, this is a such a beautiful and inspirational story. I am sure that cerebral palsy caused you a lot of pain, physically and emotionally, but you seem to be stronger because of these challenges. I bet the feeling when you took the first steps without your brace is impossible to describe. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I admire your tenacity!
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Magical Moments group 9 months, 1 weeks agoA Poetic Journey, Reborn
Oswald PerezDear Unsealsers,
As the second half of September is about to begin, it comes with a special announcement.
The paperback edition of my poetry book, “A Poetic Journey, Staying At Home” went live on Amazon earlier this week. It is being published by The Key Publishing House.
This isn’t the first life this book has had, though. I self-published it back in October 2020 as an e-book. It became my finishing project after completing the author and business coach Cathy Heller’s twelve-week program, Made To Do This. But as I stared at the poster that Canva made for me with the book’s cover art, I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to have the feel of actually having the book in my hands.
As the proof copy of the book arrived on Wednesday, all I felt was joy. I couldn’t show it off to everyone and revel in the accomplishment.
These twenty-one poems were written in the spring of 2020. At the time, I was furloughed from my previous job at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. I had more time than I knew what to do with as I wouldn’t be back to work until July of that year.
On the advice of one of my Made To Do This colleagues, I gathered the poems for a crude manuscript to send to Bull City Press for their Inch magazine. I didn’t make it in, but I was inspired to see this book into the world.
Twenty-one poems. Running the gamut from coming to terms with my Cerebral Palsy (CP) to reliving Ecuador’s first gold medal in the Olympics (Oro) to an ode to a place that I loved to visit (Nissa La Bella).
This isn’t the only stop on the Poetic Journey. There is a follow-up in the works, A Poetic Summer. Within the next year or so, I hope to complete the master plan of four poetry books, based on the four seasons.
I know this letter was a shameless promotion, but I wanted to reach out to all my communities.
I feel a major sense of accomplishment that this has come to bear.
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kaithepocketbuddha submitted a contest entry to
If you could send 1 message you’ve learned to every person in the world, what would it be? 9 months, 2 weeks agoMy dear, you are the world.
Kaileia SuvannamacchaYour body—a microcosmic ecosystem,
an orchestral orgasm where every resonance
sings in harmony with your heartbeat.Your mind—a slippery survivalist,
a battle between contours,
the subconscious reflected
in every perception,
every perspective.This is
your history to rewrite,
your legacy to ignite
in each breath,
each moment.This world as you know it
exists only while you’re in it.
So own it.
Mold it.
Rock n’ roll it.
Do unto life and love as you feel fit.
Say what you wish and see what becomes of it.Voting is closed
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Kailea, I love this! Always keep your best interest in mind and don’t worry what other people think of it. They have themselves to worry about! Mindset is everything. Fake it until you make it (but I think you’ve made it great so far ☺). Keep up the great work ♥
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 9 months, 2 weeks agoTry To Remember, This Kind of September
Oswald PerezDear Unsealers,
I hope that everyone’s having a wonderful Labor Day weekend.
As September begins, I can’t help but feel wistful as the summer season is fast coming to a close, especially after spending this weekend in both Newport and Providence, Rhode Island.
But the summer vibe is still strong as this new month begins.
Nine months have come; four months are left to go in this year.It may be a day late, but it’s never too late to welcome in a new month. As I do so here…
Try to remember, this kind of September
30 new days are here to stayA month of transition
As the last days of summer glisten
With a chill in the early morning air
Autumn is waiting to be welcomed inFrom Newport’s idyllic shores to NYC’s towering skies
All of the possibilities exist
The days are yearning to be filled with joyAs the BER months begin
There are 120 days or so, left in 2024One pauses to wonder….
Where did all the months go?!-
Oswald, I am also wondering where all the months have gone this year! Personally, I love September. I love how you can just see a glimmer of the autumn that is to come. I think fall is the most comforting season of the year and I can’t wait to bring it in. Thank you for sharing!
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db-cooper submitted a contest entry to
Write a poem (or letter) about a turning point in your life 9 months, 3 weeks agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 10 months, 3 weeks agoWelcome, August
Oswald PerezDear, Unsealers:
The first day of August is heading into the evening hours.
Eight months into 2024?! Time’s picking up speed as the days move along.
As I tend to do at the first or so of every month, I write a poem to welcome in the new month. The dog days of summer are here…
A welcome to the month of August
31 new days in the heart of summerFor the dog days are here
Where it feels like one day morphs into the nextAlthough the calendar is blank
There’s still reason to look forwardFrom the tail end of the Olympics
To the Premier League’s return and the US Open’s first serve
With plenty of room for so much more to be doneWhen August ends
All roads will lead to a long weekend getaway
From concrete buildings in NYC, out to the Newport shores -
Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 10 months, 3 weeks agoBienvenue aux XXXIIIe Jeux Olympiques!
OSwald PerezDear Unsealers,
Bonjour from New York City!
As I type this post, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is on my screen. After an already busy summer of sport due to UEFA’s Euro 2024 and the Copa America, the main event of the summer has finally arrived.
Seeing the athletes floating along the River Seine is making me nostalgic for the City of Lights. I can’t wait to see the competition to come and all the shots of the city in the next two weeks.
As I tend to do, I wrote a poem to welcome in this event, one that only comes once every four years. Let the games begin!
As the athletes of the world gather in Paris
To open the games of the XXXIII OlympiadHere’s to the next sixteen days
After the cauldron is dramatically litAll the stories that will be told
The drama the competitions will bring
With the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat coming full circleFrom La Tour Eiffel, crossing the globe to the waves of Tahiti
Visions of France in all it’s splendorCasting the cynicism of the world aside
For the ideals of sportsmanship that Mr. de Coubertin appealedIn the distance, the Olympic Fanfare is here
Pour dire bienvenue à Paris à tous! -
everything andnothing shared a letter in the
Mental Health group 11 months, 2 weeks agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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db-cooper submitted a contest entry to
Write a letter or poem to your younger self sharing what you love most about him/her 11 months, 2 weeks agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 11 months, 2 weeks agoWelcome, July!
Oswald PerezDear Unsealers,
It’s the 4th of July!
A Happy Independence Day to those who are celebrating today. I hope that all of you have a safe and enjoyable holiday.This poem is three days late, my welcome to July.
I don’t know why I forgot to post this on Monday. But Lauren’s reminder of the latest writing contest ending reminded me to post the poem.I just wanted to let you know that without further adieu…
Welcome, July!
Six months have gone by, six new months are hereAmid summer’s low and slow grind
The days are ripe for possibilityA month of celebration
From the Great White North, sea to shining sea and Allons enfant de la Patrie
Champions crowned in Berlin, Miami, London and Nice
Before the athletes of the world take center stage in ParisWho knows where this month will go
Not even I know how the days will flowI’m sure of one thing, though…
As sure as the summer’s changeable skies
And the flowers blooming all aroundThe next thirty-one days will fly by
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cherthing submitted a contest entry to
Write a letter or poem to or about a loved one who passed away and share how they inspire you 11 months, 3 weeks agoEight Years
Cherie MatzenAs I took a trip down memory lane
I thought I’d write you a letter
It’s a letter in your memory
One I’ll carry with me foreverIt was Valentine’s Day 2011
The story of your new life begins
I wandered through the shelter aisles
I was looking for a special friendSeveral people passed you by
And at first, I did too
But you wouldn’t stop crying in your cage
Begging me to pick youI remember your big hazel eyes
And your gigantic ears
And the big red bow tied around your neck
And how your face was stained with tearsI knew from that moment you were the one
And you were the one every day after
You were sick and you were scared
But you still managed to bring me laughterThose few years went by so fast
They were almost a blur to me
We went to the park, you learned new tricks
And sometimes you struggled to breatheYour heart slowly began to give way
But you still put up a fight
Every moment was a precious gift
During your final year of lifeBut the time had come, you could fight no more
I tried everything to keep you alive
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done
But I had to say goodbyeAn empty basket sat in the car beside me
The night I left the vet’s
I only had your collar in my hand
And I came home to your empty bedI miss you every day of my life
But there are days I miss you more
You were my very first baby boy
The one I loved and adoredBut you are not suffering anymore
You are running wild and free
Over the rainbow bridge
And watching over meOkay, maybe you’re not really watching me
It’s just my silly dreams
I’ve been holding onto your memory
Since September 2019You looked back for a moment
It was time for you to fly
Over the rainbow bridge
Our final goodbyeYou could’ve been anyone’s dog
But I’m so glad that you were mine
I’ll miss you forever
My ValentineYes, I’ll miss you forever
Eight years just wasn’t enough timeVoting is closed
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I cried reading this; I am sitting holding onto my dog now and she is looking at me like I am nuts. Pets are our family and losing them is heart-breaking. Take pride in the fact that you gave her a wonderful home and loved her until the very end and beyond.
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Cherie, I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet dog. He was so lucky to have such a loving dog mommy, and I am sure you brought him so much joy and happiness. Sendings hugs. <3 Lauren
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everythingandnothing submitted a contest entry to
Write a letter or poem to your younger self sharing what you love most about him/her 11 months, 3 weeks agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 12 months agoOn The First Day Of Summer
Oswald PerezDear, Unsealers:
Today is the first day of summer, the longest day of the year.
Though the summer solstice won’t be official until 4:50 PM this afternoon, the season has already made it’s presence felt in the midst of a heatwave.
Though, there’s plenty more to the season than the heat and humidity. This is a time of year to soak up everything that the late sunsets have to offer.
As is my wont to do, I wrote a welcome to the new season coming up.
When the summer solstice dawns
The seasons change againWith it, the longest day of the year
As the sun sets past 8pmHazy days, sultry nights
A time of year where time slows downFrom mid June to mid September
The world’s come to life
From the streets, sands and seasSoaking up the warm rays of light
As one does
When earth is closest to the sunWelcome summer and your mercurial ways
For a stay over the next ninety four days -
Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 1 years agoHappy Father's Day!
Oswald PerezDear Unsealers,
It’s the third Sunday in June. The month’s going by fast, isn’t it?
With today being Father’s Day, I wrote a poem to mark the occasion. And provided a family portrait from my sister’s college graduation to go with it. I hope everyone’s having a wonderful Sunday.
Without further ado…
On the third Sunday of June
A celebration of fathers
Fathers, fathers to be, grandfathers, uncles and all fatherly figuresWith all the love to those that find this difficult to celebrate
For the father figures no longer with usHere’s to the strength and wisdom
Brought in every conversation and actionTo the love and joy in each moment
May they be honored and cherishedTo my dad and all the dad’s everywhere
I wish all of you…A Happy Father’s Day!
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dougiehowza submitted a contest entry to
Write A Poem About Where And When You Feel Most At Peace 1 years agoThe Knowing
B. DouglasIn the beginning things are always fairly out of sorts…
However, if nothing else is gained by all this and there aren’t any more humans left to begrudge their lot in life, once this iteration of life is over,
I hope the Earth recalls the peace…I hope Gaia remembers the fountainhead of silence arising just before the first cries of a newborn child, our laughter, and ingenuity.
Let us hope the stars align and we find ourselves prepared in our individual capacity, arms outstretched to offer that precious piece of what we have been farming to a grateful universe,
That every near-death experience, birth, and death (and every cacophonous event in between) be tempered by our collective understanding and vision of what it means to be still.That said, I have found peace in chaos…
Apparently, when this whole universe ordeal began and sent our species tumbling about the world, with a newly formed recognition of what would later cause us to have purpose, chaos was the backdrop upon which we landed.
There is peace in the acceptance of what is, and as that tumbles about like a stone being polished, what is becomes the infinite palette of chaos by which we have been invited to paint our stories.
You see, I have been kidnapped by the throbbing silence at the concussion of a rocket propelled grenade in a place without peace, and found peace entrenched there in the eyes of a child,
I have found it in the doing of things deemed impossible by a mind that would rob me of it, if only to replace it with the temporal anointing of the false gods of comfort and complacency.And I have climbed the wuthering heights of a synthetic human experience and ramshackle material excesses, only to forget where peace resides.
There is a Latin proverb stating: “Ne Te Quaesiveris Extra” which roughly translates to the fact that there is nothing to search for outside of self, for you are everything,
And into that wisdom, which grants its parishioner the confessional of truth by which all things must be measured to the accrual of life’s wonders, I commit my soul.In my life I have gleaned peace from everything with the exception of calm environs and found that peace is an ember best kept burning in the heart of the conscious observer, lest it become a light guiding me off the path of my discovery.
Peace from this stalwart vantage point is found in every instant wherein lies the possibility that chaos provides,
It is in the triumphant moment and the silent moment abutting it,
My peace is in the knowing…Voting is closed
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This was beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem. Too often we seek to find some sign or guide to pull us out of the chaos but I love the thought of finding peace by embracing said chaos. To find peace in this world, one must find peace within themselves. Beautiful.
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I love how you explain your personal peace in the context of human evolution. It’s so creative and so different (and true). It is important to find peace in the chaos because life is chaotic.<3 Lauren
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vizo2123 submitted a contest entry to
Write A Poem About Where And When You Feel Most At Peace 1 years agoMi Peace
Vision WTo feel the wind from the trees
& instantly smile
Surrounded by the love of life
My world
Mi Amor
The Butterflies i get to see her face i the sunlight
In the moonlight
Underneath the stars
That shine as bright
As her Smile
My heart has never felt such joy
Such peace to be with someone as beautiful & perfect as she is
She is home
My Other Half
My Darling ,Love Of My Life
With her my problems go away
My past doesn’t hurt so bad
When i am sad i think of her
& i am at peace
I could not imagine my life without her
Her Smile
Her Glow
The love i get just by presence
Her Touch
Her Words
By the way she looks at me
She is my happy joyful place
She not only has my heart
But consumes my soul
In every good way i could possibly think of
To my Peace
I love you with my all, My everything
Thank you for making me feel safe
For you to be my peace
Thank you for being there for meVoting is closed
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I hope to find a love like this at some point in my own life. I love the way you describe how your beloved makes you feel without relying on physical appearances which so many famous poems tend to do. Keep up the good work!
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When I met my fiance, I told my mom it felt like I just put on the softest, warmest, coziest slipper. The way you talk about your love reminds me of what I feel with my fiance. Thank you for sharing. <3 Lauren
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Thank youuu so much & im happy you feel like that with your fiance!!
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Aww, Vision, I love that you found a love so pure and wonderful. May your love always bring you both peace and happiness. Thank you for sharing with all of us what true love feels like. <3 Lauren
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 1 years agoWelcome, The Month of June!
OswaldPerezDear Unsealers,
It’s June 1st. It seems crazy to think that six months of 2024 have gone by. Though the summer doesn’t officially begin until later this month, the season feels like it’s in the air today.
As is the case with every month of the year so far, I wrote a welcome note for June.
Welcome to June!
30 new days are here
Closing out the first half of this yearThe month is a bridge between seasons
Starting in spring, and ending in summer
Filled with celebrations of pride and fatherly figuresDays are getting longer, then they start to get shorter
The pace of life begins to slow down
As warmth moves in, we’re all hanging outdoorsWhen you wonder aloud….
How did we get here?! It was winter five minutes ago
And spring moved by in the blink of the eyeThe calendar is blank once again
Ready and waiting for new memories to be made
Sitting and watching the waves roll on by -
everythingandnothing submitted a contest entry to
Write A Poem About Where And When You Feel Most At Peace 1 years agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Oswald Perez shared a letter in the
Poetry group 1 years, 1 months agoMother's Day
Oswald PerezDear Unsealers:
It’s the second Sunday in May.
I wanted to wish all the mothers in this group and Lauren’s mom too, a Happy Mother’s Day!
I’ve written a poem to mark the occasion:
The second Sunday in May
A day to honor all the motherly figures in our livesMothers, aunts, grandmothers, mothers to be
To cherish them for all they do
To hold their memories in our hearts
More than these words can possibly sayMothers are the backbone of the world
This fact needs to be repeated
Today, tomorrow and every dayWith all the love if this day is too difficult
All the comfort and joy aboundFrom me to you, I wish all of you
A Happy Mother’s Day! -
db-cooper submitted a contest entry to
Write a letter or poem to your younger self about why he or she shouldn’t worry about the future 1 years, 1 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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