White sails billowing like ibis’ wings

Distantly dancing on the cerulean seas

As the boat hums and languidly swings

Smelling like summer, waltzing with the breeze

Launching off the sunny sea-stained bow

The sunburns are just a reverie now

Bare feet thumping against the warm wooden dock

Watching for manatees beyond jetty rocks

Hidden just beyond that glittering harbor

In the tangled shade of the mangrove arbor

I like to think there’s a piece of me there

My family’s laughter lingering in the air

The salt of the bay lies in my bones

In the memories of my grandparents home

Where the Sea breeze and Quixotic dreams reside

On Mosaic painted rooftops that gleam with pride

Amidst hallowed olive trees and arches, behold

A timeless beauty, endless stories to be told.

In a labyrinth of narrow streets

With ancient stones and secrets it keeps

By La Sagrada Família, a symphony in lime

Gaudi’s exalted masterpiece, transcending time.

Wherein dreams and passions entwine

Through which history and magic combine

Oh, Barcelona, Catalonia’s spirit, heart, and soul

You’re a tapestry of wonders, a coastal Queen in whole

I want a love that revels

A deliberate chaos

of our crazy own design

not made for the shining lights

just absolutely yours and mine

We'll be Eighty-years old and

still slow-dancing in the streets

Barely passed twenty-five and

watching the world in taxi seats

Each day, a new adventure

could be fixing that toilet clog

or racing in the streets of Prague

Until one rainy morning we

abruptly realize we went

from young, restless, and happy

to old, absurd, and batty

If I am stuck with you forever

Whether we be damned or divine

It is love worth eternity

I want a love that revels

A deliberate chaos

of our crazy own design

not made for the shining lights

just absolutely yours and mine

We'll be Eighty-years old and

still slow-dancing in the streets

Barely passed twenty-five and

watching the world in taxi seats

Each day, a new adventure

could be fixing that toilet clog

or racing in the streets of Prague

Until one rainy morning we

abruptly realize we went

from young, restless, and happy

to old, absurd, and batty

If I am stuck with you forever

Whether we be damned or divine

It will be a love worth eternity

where we can bask in absurdity

Alright, I should not be doing this, but if you found this book, you need to know this.

Do you believe in fate?

You should.

After reading this, you will.

If you think you found this by accident, you didn’t.

You received this because you’re on a list. Is that a good thing? Honestly, probably not.

Don’t worry, I’m on it too. Actually, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I invented the list.

That doesn’t make sense, does it? It shouldn’t. Because this isn’t any list. This is the kinda list that’s older than your grandma. Older than her grandma. In technicality, this is the list that was created 3,000 years ago.

At this point, you probably have a lot of questions. Starting with, WHAT IS THIS??? And ending with, “WHAT IS THIS?”

Both are excellent questions. I’ll start from the beginning.

Not the chronological start, that would be a nightmare.

I do not simply read

I consume, devour

Every phrase with greed

Each word gives me power

In every book, I am freed

Every poem I scour

For this, I would bleed

It’s an addiction, a need

So my heart must cede

To this passion, this mead

So listen to my creed

And understand my plea

This is my love, my soul

It's all that makes me whole

Oh, Icarus, you flew close back then

Oh, Icarus, why didn't you turn straight

You did it once, you did it again

Once was plenty then you tried fate

Icarus I won't cry for you

you've made your decision now

you rest in the ocean blue

only so much can fate allow

There is nothing like paradise. The sun shining down as you lounge on a chair with the tropics. And, of course, no one can forget the quintessential drink with the mini umbrella.

However, these mini umbrellas in your drink could lead to the very destruction of this paradise around you.

My product is an edible mini umbrella made of fruit strips to replace the wood and plastic of currently eco-harmful ones. This product is not meant to work alone but would instead act as a launch board toward more eco-friendliness in resorts. This could be an essential step in reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean.

Paris, oh Paris

The city of Love

the city of Lights

Tell me your story

All blood and gory

Paris, oh Paris

Share your secrets

beheaded sleepless

dark below your

gilded domes

the thronged catacombs

Paris, oh Paris

Viking treasures

Stolen far away

Never heard in

the light of day

Paris, oh Paris

whisper to me

let me see

in the aurora

your plethora

of unknown hidden

Paris, oh Paris

I don't need

to look far

to find your

savagery

Paris, Oh Paris

City of Love

City of Lights

Leave nothing out

Paris, Oh Paris

The City of Death

Stand together! Stand with pride!

This is peace! we are peace!

Walking, talking, dreaming, drawing

Standing tall and proud here today

But that feeling is gnawing

For us to keep calling

Peace is still skies above

And we are still grounded

So set free those doves

And head upward bound

Stand with pride! Stand together!

One person alone does nothing.

Everyone, everyone together

Can be the change in everything.

Peace is not one week

It will be done when

War is an antique

Thwarted time and again

My friends, reach for peace

And if we grab it

Grasp it, never release

For peace, never quit