The Rain Came

The Rain Came

I was putting in the last bulb on the ground.
Tears began to roll down my cheeks when
I realized the wind was sweeping away the
Soil on the ground where I plowed.
I felt some drops wetting my face. Not of
Tears from my eyes but droplets coming from
The sky. I knelt down and spread my arms with
Palms pointed towards the heavens. It had been
Months since we had rain and I prayed for it
Every night and every waking day. I blessed the
God that sent the rain and put my hands together
For a simple prayer: Lord, thank You for the rain.
I went inside my little cottage and watched the rain
Become bigger drops of water and
The wind become stronger. No more will the wind
Carry the soil away. As I watched, the rain became
A torrent and I saw the bulbs I planted being exposed
On the ground and soon being carried away
By a flood that came from nowhere and I prayed:
Lord, I asked for rain and You gave it. Now I ask
If You will, to stop the rain from pouring. I knelt
Down again in prayer and this time with all my heart
And strength. I realized, while in prayer that someone
Somewhere is in need of more water than I do.
There were animals dying of thirst and maybe a family
Or two whose wells became dry from the drought
Will drink well tonight.
God is so wise He doesn't need my counsel.
He knows my needs even before I tell Him.
And I know I'm not His only son. He's
Taking care of someone out there who needs
 Him more than I do.
Aida N. De Los Reyes
November 20, 2010

The Homecoming Queen

The Homecoming Queen

I was cleaning the attic one day

When I came across an old familiar shoebox.

This is the house my father built.

This is the house where I grew up.

This is the house where years of childhood

And adolescence I spent.

As I rummaged through the photos

I came across something which I didn’t

Think belonged there, a handkerchief.

It had a note attached to it--the day I got married.

It was my mother’s and as I sifted through the memories

In my mind, I saw her sitting there silently

Behind my bridesmaid, wiping tears from her eyes.

My husband took me away to where we started life together

And there was little time to say goodbye

To friends and family, and very seldom

Did I take the time to see them.

There were Christmases and Thanksgivings

When my parents came to visit but no often than the number

Of fingers in my hand. The something that took me

To strange places, from base to base around the world—

A wedding band.

The white across the finger is now no more.

I was the homecoming queen in a ritual

They performed for me—my sorority sisters.

The wedding ring was thrown to the fire and we shouted

“Freedom!” and here I am. And here I am to stay.

Aida Norgren De Los Reyes  May 24, 2009

Just an Ordinary Day

Just an Ordinary Day

A perfect day for an ordinary day

But not so good for something special

Like a birthday or a celebration.

I waited but no one came.

I sat alone in my sofa drinking my champagne

That was then soaking in the water-filled bucket

That should be chilling in cubes of ice.

I lighted my own candle and ate my birthday cake.

What a fun day for an ordinary day

But not so good for a birthday!

Some well-wishers came in the morning

But no one stayed long enough

To have a slice of cake.

With head still spinning from the day before,

I went to the mall to have a breath of fresh air where I met a clown

With a red rubber nose and a turned-down smile.

He smiled with the face he wore and the painted lines on

His forehead. I knew that he was smiling. I was close enough to

See the sparkle in his eyes as he juggled balls

When he saw me put a few paper bills in his can.

I walked the windy streets of San Francisco

Chilling in the cold October morning

Looking for something to do.

I passed by a store that sells used cameras

And linger a while and wonder

Who used to own those zoom lens

And complicated pieces of accessories

Before. Wouldn't it be grand

If I found something that used to belong

To some famous photographer? But who would know?

I walked past the store and came upon

A Chinese restaurant that served noodles

For just a dollar a bowl. The taste of cilantro still

Lingered long after the black tea they served

For free. I went back to the tracks of the tram

Hopeful that I would find my way back to

The Fairmont Hotel, a landmark where

The BART let passengers off.

Back at Fremont where my car sits

Waiting for the pilot to steer her back to home.

I met Eduardo, my Portuguese landlord

And said “Hello” to Manny, the Manager

On my way to the apartment I rent.

I heard the sound of a siren--another

Ambulance on its way to retrieve another

Corpse who probably died in his sleep.

Tomorrow, the flag will again fly half-mast

For another veteran gone.

Tonight, I resolve to write a letter to Manny.

I have a whole month to dispose of the

Junk I collected over the years, pack my bags,

Leave the place of the dying, and move

To somewhere where there is still life.

I am not quite ready to repose and meet the folks

On the other side. But when the time comes

You'll be sure to see a smile on my face--

Happy to go.

Oct. 2, 2009 Aida Alhambra