Table of Contents: 

Section One: Lived 

Section Two: Loved 

Section Three: Lost 

Trigger Warning: 

Some of these poems speaks about heavy and emotional topics please read or listen to them as you choose. At the end of the book there are some links provided that are accessible for people to use, shall they need a professional listening ear or need someone to speak with. 

Lived 

Section One: Lived

This section of poetry was inspired by my mother, she was my number one supporter and was my home. May she rest in peace.   

Life is tricky and complicated these next few poems will shine a light on a small fraction of life and its complications.

WELCOME

Home

What do you think about when you hear that word?

Do you think about warmth?

Do you think about being embraced?

Is it your mom?

Or maybe your father?

Is it even a person?

Maybe it's just a place 

Is it a community 

Or just a single thing 

Do you have a sense of belonging?

Now imagine that is torn from you 

It's ripped away

And maybe you might get a gist of war 

Now my mother I love her 

She is my home 

And if you know her 

You'll know she's tough 

She survived a war 

She taught guerrilla soldiers 

She's a mountain woman

She chose Canada 

For me 

For my family

She wanted better 

She loved us 

And planned us 

But imagine 

Having to adjust 

From leaving the place where you belonged 

Going to a foreign land 

Pregnant and already caring for a child 

Imagine your home being destroyed 

In front of your eyes 

Getting that front row seat

When did you decide 

Your home wasn't good enough

Wasn't the best to raise your children

When did you decide to restart your life 

From having a profession that you loved 

To going to the bottom of the food chain

In a country you can't even speak their language 

But even with that you are still you

You're my mother 

You're Iris 

Even with one child and another on the way

With another two a few years later 

Single handedly raising four children 

You went to school 

Learned another language 

And worked your way up 

To a job that leaves you with headaches 

But provides you with smiles, laughter and support 

You earned your respect 

You found a second home 

In the midst of all this chaos 

You made it 

Along with the others 

Who did and survived the same 

I applaud Toronto for being multicultural 

For being a second home 

But tell me do you still remember 

Those first words...

...

Bienvenidos a Canada 

Bienvenu au Canada 

Welcome to Canada.

- S.V.R

An Offer

I don't want to close my eyes 

You'll fade away 

I want you to stay with me 

Sit by my side 

Walk with me 

Never let me go 

Cause I'll never let you go 

But heaven made you an offer you couldn't refuse 

I don't want to close my eyes 

It'll finalize your passing 

I don't want to close my eyes 

It'll make me let you go 

But heaven made you an offer you couldn't refuse 

I have to let you go 

Everything you need is up there 

All your troubles 

All your pain 

All your sorrow is gone 

My heart is broken but it'll mend 

Because heaven made you an offer you couldn't refuse

I have to let you go 

Let you be free

Let you rest in peace 

But I don't want to close my eyes

I'm not ready 

I'm not 

But i'll let you go 

Because heaven made you an offer you couldn't refuse.

- S.V.R

Through the Oceans and the Seas 

For it goes like this 

There are moments that are missed 

Chances that got dismissed

Feelings of loss 

Swallowed whole from the eternal bliss

But when I close my eyes 

 I cry a little inside 

I dream of you by my side 

Nights are impossible 

Because I made you alive 

Inside my mind 

Time is an illusion 

Which leads to my confusion

As to why I wake and you're gone 

Not from my mind 

Not from my heart 

But physically 

Your ashes are probably floating 

Somewhere in Italy 

So tell me universe 

When I beg and plead 

Will you let her come home 

Back to me 

Float her ashes across the seas 

Through the oceans 

Let her experience the afterlife freely 

But float her ashes back to me. 

- S.V.R

Faded Days 

There are days 

Moments 

Brief periods of time 

When there is absolute bliss

Intrusive thoughts are dismissed 

To the back of my head 

 These are the times 

I wish she wasn’t dead 

She walked the lands for 50 years 

But you only gave her to me for 17 

So tell me 

When those days 

Moments

Brief periods of time

Fade 

What is left?

An orphan child 

Clinging onto memories 

Of the past 

Wishing one day her mom 

Will come back.

- S.V.R

    Maybe I Won't 

        Miss You 

Tonight I wish to fall asleep 

Kiss the dark night sky 

Maybe I won’t miss you until the dawn of day 

When my eyes awaken 

My heart is over taken 

By the pain coursing through my veins like poison 

Why were you the one that was chosen

I said goodbye forever 

I know I'll never be 

So tonight I wish to fall asleep 

kiss the dark night sky 

Maybe I won't miss you 

And I Won't have to say... Goodbye.

- S.V.R

This concludes section one: Lived 

Life is an interesting concept. It inspires, it's painful and it's beautiful. But with life there is eventually death and in those times we have to remember that we have LIVED! 

Loved

Section 2: Loved

This section of poetry was inspired by my multiple attempts at love. It dwells on love, heartbreak and longing. May you appreciate your loved ones and thank the ones that taught us many lessons in between. 

Impossible Love 

I want a love 

The one of dreams 

Fantasy 

A love that lasts 

A happily ever after 

Lost in each other’s eyes 

But for now 

Can we just talk 

Listen to ramblings of nothingness 

Hear you speak 

Hear you laugh 

Hear you breathe 

I want a love 

The one of dreams

Fantasy 

But you love her 

With the love of dreams 

The one of fantasy 

You listen to her ramblings 

And I am lost

 Bound to a world 

That isn’t possible 

Heartbreaking 

I start fading 

Dissipating 

Cause you and I 

Won’t ever be 

- S.V.R

A Lonely Road 

I'm forever alone 

Took me forever to let it go

The hopes 

The dreams 

The wants 

The wishes 

Right out the door 

Now I'm laying on the floor 

Wishing I had something more 

4 shots deep and I have go 

My mind is a blurred mess 

You said this was a game of chess 

But I thought this was just love 

So now I'm in distress 

Second guessing the rest 

Psychological torture 

My mind had a foreclosure 

Couldn't keep it's composure 

4 shots deep and I have to go 

Cause I'm forever alone 

Took me forever to let it go 

But you, you had no issues letting me go

Killed my queen 

Toppled my king 

Conquered my empire 

As well as my heart

But that was just the start 

Couldn't just leave us apart 

Now I am 4 shots deep and I have to go. 

- S.V.R

I Love You, 

I Loved You

You were the first 

You were the last

You loved me once

But it didn't last 

Tell me it's gone 

Tell me you're done 

Tell me you've found another one 

I didn't realize what I had 

Until the day it went from 

Have to had

I love you to I loved you 

Us to you and I

The clock can't go back  

Can't change the things of the past 

It can't make us last 

But it showed me how long 

I love you could last 

Tell me I'm wrong 

Tell me it's gone on for far too long 

Just tell me 

Tell me

Tell me 

Goodbye. 

- S.V.R