“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8 For the past few years, I’ve gotten used to big changes. This year, however, has seen a lot of little changes. I’m not posting everyday on Instagram. I’ve been writing more poetry than prose. I went on a weekend trip to Dallas where all I did was wander around the local Arboretum. It... Read more
Sometimes, it’s okay to not meet the goals you set outAs long as you get started, it’s better than nothing Not everything will turn out perfect right away What’s really important is that you made an effort There is a significance in the act of trying Because contrary to what Yoda said, we “do.” In every try, we add a little more to ourselves, planting seeds of growth with every mistake we make. The seeds that we plant in the... Read more
The Mermaid’s Journey I was foolish to give my voice away to try and belong to another world. I thought that I needed to leave my home in order to find what I really wanted I loved exploring all these new things in this world I never really knew, this brave new world that has such people in it. But in losing my voice I lost part of myself I move like a shadow, all shape, but no sound.... Read more
Strength in Fragility (A response to this poem I saw on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/vzSE0mwRHj/) You put up such a strong front Proud as a peacock, strutting your stuff for all to see. Inside, you see yourself as fragile Using a stranger’s love to fulfill some validation or need. I understand the yearning for someone But look at the truths that surround you They speak of your true strength, not the facsimile of pride, but the beauty you have... Read more
Prompt: Things unsaid What brought you here to my backyard? Choosing the grapevines as your nesting ground? How can you stay so calm even as the rain pours all around? When the lighting flashes and the thunder crashes, don’t you get scared? When will your little ones hatch? Will I get to see them? This wasn’t the first time a bird chose my house as a makeshift nesting ground Three years ago, there was one who gave life in... Read more
I. Love. Supergirl. So. Frickin. Much. No, the show isn’t perfect. The pacing can be a bit too quick at times, some emotional scenes are heavy-handed and the more cynical critics out there will probably argue that there aren’t really any original plotlines. “It’s just Supergirl given Superman’s stories,” they say. The thing about an adaptation, though, is that the best ones can stand on their own without the need of knowing all that there is to know about the source... Read more
(Prompt: A Food Establishment) Do you remember the cafeteria? There was a patio right outside, a small field where kids played soccer. This was where we first met. I found a book that belonged to your friend You waited with me at the bus stop nearby. I always knew from that day on, that I could always sit with you. Everyday, you were there, with a smile and a tuna fish sandwich, ready with a tall tale to tell.... Read more
A hero is only as good as the villain he faces against It’s hard to get a good villain down on paper The villain shouldn’t be a vessel for whatever ideas the author is against in order to legitimize said author’s ideals Nor should they merely be stand-ins for whoever’s on the author’s blacklist. Gone are the days of the 60s Bond villains With their lavish, gaudy lairs, gold rings glinting Villains these days aren’t flat, cardboard cut-outs Instead, they... Read more
Tea Time It’s almost like a ritual. Before work, when I have cramps, or before I sleep, I have a cup of tea. In the morning, I drink English Breakfast with brown sugar or maple syrup. Recently, I added lemon juice and it tastes like Heaven, I don’t sweeten my chamomile, but sometimes I do add grapefruit juice. It smells like daisies and tastes subtle Soothes my uneasy stomach and helps me to sleep. When I need something that... Read more
Prompt: Last When my grade school teacher talked about death, she contemplated judgment Standing in front of a three way mirror that reflected the state of her soul. About two years later, she died in an accident driving on an icy road. Whenever someone took their own life, I contemplated hell. Most of those victims kept their struggles hidden. Their hearts eternally separated from hope Completely shut down from everything It’s never a good day to die because they... Read more
Monique Ocampo Writes
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