(Circled Word Poem)

"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

--Gustav Mahler

(List Poem)

Inspired by my struggle with hyperhidrosis, "Missed" details all the events, opportunities, and chances I've missed.

(Character Poem)

The word lylium actually doesn't exist, and is instead a portmanteau of Lygia, the love interest of Marcus Vinicius, and lilium, the Latin word for lily. Set from the perspective of Marcus, "Lylium" deals with the struggle to come to the Faith and the realization that sometimes we might not be what someone needs. Both Marcus and Lygia are the main characters of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s 1896 epic, Quo Vadis. Additional inspiration was drawn from "Venere e Marte" by Takagi & Ketra.

(Journal Poem)

What originated as a color prompt in my journaling became "Caeruleus Caelorum". The term caeruleus caelorum is often used in Catholic circles to describe the color blue most commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, and more literally translates to 'the blue of the heavens'. "Caeruleus Caelorum" is about meditation on the appiration of Our Lady of Gradalupe to Juan Diego, and her image left on his cloak (tilmatl).

(Dictionary Poem)

"Victim" is not my story, but it is the story for which I dedicated a year of my life to find justice. This was the second most difficult piece to write, from both an emotional and technical perspective.

(Letter Poem)

As mentioned before, "Callina" was the hardest, and most surprising, piece for me to write. In Quo Vadis, Callina is Lygia's real name, and represents her truest self. So, too, are these my truest feelings.