I wish to one day meet the kind of woman that I wouldn’t just give roses to, but take the time to grow them myself.

- Álvaro Jesús Ibarra

(Source: heartstringsandkeystrokes)

Monsters by Álvaro Jesús Ibarra

I remember, one of the biggest questions I had as a kid was whether or not I believed in monsters

And every time I asked, I always told myself that the answer was no.

I told myself that there was nothing living under my bed

That there were no gleaming red eyes peering out from my closet

That there was nothing waiting for me as soon as I turned the lights off

And life, life was good.

I had absolutely nothing to worry about.

As far as I was concerned, I was superman

No one could touch me.

But as you get older, you get a clearer view of the world around you and you realize that,

That sometimes, life can get a little rough.

And maybe, those weren’t the kind of monsters I should have been looking out for.

Because there are monsters out there that would make Frankenstein cringe

There are monsters out there that sneak the meat from bones

That’ll pull your hair out,

That’ll sap your strength from you

Monsters that are cunning enough to do all this…

Even when you’re wide awake.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all the horror stories I read growing up,

Is that monsters can be beaten.

Not always

Not all the time

But they can.

For every monster out there, there is someone out there who is just as strong.

The problem is,

Fate was never all that good of a matchmaker

Sometimes our monsters are too strong

Sometimes, it works in our favor and monsters are vanquished

And sometimes the monsters make a return

We never really know

So the important thing I’ve learned is that you just have to take it one day at a time

Enjoying every single moment of peace,

And taking pride in everything you’ve accomplished

Fighting

But the beauty of those that fight, is that they never stop fighting

I’ve never met anyone that backed down from the challenge

Regardless of the outcome, there was always a fight

So I guess, our monsters are the ones who should really be scared.

Because they have always made the mistake of haunting those who know what it means to never give up.

So for those who have refused to give up

For those who have fought and are still fighting

We need to let these monsters know that they do not scare us

For though we sometimes take blows

We never stop fighting.

So run headstrong

For as long as you possibly can.

Whether it’s for five more minutes,

Or five more lifetimes

Because yeah, maybe they’re our monsters

But I know one thing for sure…

We’re the ones to be afraid of. 

(Source: heartstringsandkeystrokes)

Poem for my Mother by Álvaro Jesús Ibarra

·      I’m not a Momma’s Boy, but I’m my Momma’s boy.

·      Because so much of myself is a direct result of what I saw in my Mother.

·      Because all those years of early morning pancakes, teaspoons of cough syrup, and birthday bowls of pozole did more than just make sure that I was never sick or hungry.

·      They made sure I was happy.

·      They made sure that no matter what happened I knew that I would always have at least… 2 people that I could always count on.

·      My mother was just always better at putting it into words than my father was.

·      She ingrained in me a feeling that even if she wasn’t there, she was there.

·      Now, before you all kick me off the stage for not making any sense, let me break it down for you a little bit.

·      There are some things that she taught me that I will never ever forget.

·      Now, she never taught me how to ride a bike, but she did teach me, excuse me, is STILL teaching me, how to live life without the training wheels.

·      She made sure that before I left the house I knew how to take care of myself.

·      That when it came down to it, I would be able to keep myself afloat.

·      That I knew how to wash clothes, stay tidy, and cook a decent meal for myself

·      Because regardless of what others may say, that isn’t women’s work, that adult’s work.

·      And with a role model like her, it’s no surprise that I’ve had my own share of succeses. 

·      She taught me to live life with balance.

·      Now if only I could get her to teach me how to balance my checkbook.  

·      She taught me that everyone is deserving.

·      Everyone has worth.

·      That no matter how good you are at taking care of yourself, there is something powerful in being able to care for another.

·      Chivalry is important.

·      Because the only difference between confidence and arrogance is humility.

·      When I walk around with a smile that’s soft and welcoming. That’s my Mom.

·      When I’m cooking dinner and the rice comes out just perfect. That’s my Mom.

·      When I pull my clothes out of the dryer and they become glued to my face because of the warmth and smell of Suavitel. That’s my Mom.

·      When I hold a door open, or offer a listening ear. That’s my Mom.

·      When I sometimes burn the tortillas because I left them on the comal too long. Don’t tell her I said so, but that’s my Mom.

·      When I do my best to give good advice. That’s my Mom.

·      When I’m unashamed to take advice. That’s Mom too.

·      Now I know that we always strive to be more than just the sum of our parts but…

·      It really helps when all those pieces mean so much.

·      Thanks Mom. 

(Source: heartstringsandkeystrokes)

Dear, Mr.Is by Álvaro Jesús Ibarra

Dear,  Mr.Is

Take care of her for me will you? 

Treat her right. 

Make her smile. 

Make her laugh. 

Sing to her. 

Write her letters. 

Buy her flowers. 

Support her in all she does. 

She is ambitious, and at times she will bite off more than she can chew. 

So be patient. 

Take her out for drinks. 

She likes wine, Mexican beer, and German liquor. 

Cook for her. 

But don’t make it spicy. 

And if she gets sick, kiss her on her forehead and do your best to take care of her. 

Let her sleep. 

But don’t make her soup. She doesn’t like that. 

Work out with her. 

Push each other to new heights. 

Show her that she can count on you. 

That she can trust you. 

That she can come to you for everything. 

Tease and joke with her just enough, but don’t take it too far. 

She’s gullible. 

She loves her family. 

She loves her family.

She LOVES her family. 

She’ll tell you that she can be mean and cold hearted. 

I still don’t believe her. 

Neither should you. 

Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself to make her laugh. 

She appreciates the dorkiness. 

Hold her hand when she needs it. 

Send her cute text messages every now and again. 

Don’t forget good mornings and good nights. 

Watch Disney movies with her. 

Especially ones with girls with overly long blonde hair, little yellow, squeaky voiced helpers, and lions that find their place in the world. 

Be her rock. 

Protect her. 

But don’t be overbearing. 

Be thoughtful. 

Watch your actions and words. 

She’s sensitive. 

But above all else, love her. 

For all she is, and isn’t. 

Treat her well. 

Better than well. 

Treat her how I imagined I would have treated her. 

So if you think you can handle it, then I wish you nothing but the best. 

But if you’re not up to the task, let her know. 

And move the hell out of the way.

Sincerely,

Mr.Might-Have-Been

(Source: heartstringsandkeystrokes)

In Need of a Dentist

You left me with crater.

But it’s more of a cavity.

Because I just can’t let your name go through my mouth entirely happily.

I have a sweet tooth.

A craving for you is all I’ve been feeling lately.

But I can’t taste these thoughts of you without hurting myself.

It’s crazy.

- Álvaro Jesús Ibarra

Gently, pull this poetry from out of my veins. Use that soft red string as stitches. It does so much better, at holding me together, than unrequited wishes.