Voices of the Heart: A Poetry Portrait

By Gloria C. Martinez

The words in this book are those that my heart dictated for me to leave in print as traces of my steps through this life. If at least one of its pages turns out to be of your preference, it would not have been in vain to make it public.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524559687

Gloria C. Martinez

Gloria C. Martínez is an English-Spanish translator/interpreter by profession, specializing in technical translation. She is also a poetess by vocation and conviction. After receiving her professional certification from Rice University in Houston, she was a freelance translator for a few years. She then went to work as an in-house translator for the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, retiring after twenty years of service. Among her poetic activities in English, some of her poems were published in 2009 by a literary group in the anthology titled Conversing through Poetry. In 2010, she was one of the selected juried poets for the Houston Poetry Festival (an annual event sponsored by the University of Houston), and her work was included in their anthology in 2010. Regarding her literary work in Spanish, the Historical and Cultural Council of the City of Sabinas Hidalgo, in her native Mexico, awarded her work in 2009 with an honorary mention diploma. That same year, her poems won second place at the Houston Hispanic Book Fair, and first place in 2010. In addition, some of her writings were compiled in an anthology titled Historias 2010 published by Inprint through Houston Bilingual Talent. In 2011, she published Vestigios del Corazón, a book of poetry that won first prize at the Houston 2011 Salvadorian Cultural Fest. In 2013, Houston Entérate News Magazine included her poetry in their May through October issues. Her love for writing has taken her to try different genres too, as she is currently working on two more books in Spanish—one is about pseudonyms, the other is a compilation of short stories and legends that she hopes to publish in the not too distant future.

Book preview

BEAUTY OF THE NIGHT

What a lovely summer night this is!

Its soothing quietude is only broken

by the burbling song of a garden frog,

seconded by the nocturnal crickets

and a warbling bird atop my pear tree.

An added touch to the serenade

is the full moon, illuminating all

with its omnipresent golden haze,

transporting my shriveled heart

to distant places of another time.

At least my insomnia is appeased

by this concert of the night,

especially by the glow of the moon

that casts a soothing balm

over my ubiquitous somber mood.

Not in vain the heavens, −it is said,

evens-out all things on this plane,

and right now, I do not mind

my lack of sleep, just to contemplate

and enjoy this nighttime display.

I want to imbibe the scudding moon

and relate to her that I am an amateur

of love, but an expert in absence’s ache.

I do not care if I am considered a fool,

I will be a hopeless romantic to the end.

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THE FIRST KISS

The first kiss was unexpected,

never planned nor provoked.

Love was beginning to appear.

I did not even know how to kiss!

He did it so gently

one peaceful eve in the spring

when his hands took my face.

He was the first one that I ever

allowed to touch my lips.

And there I was, immersed

in pleasant abandon of elation,

transported by the innocent bliss

of my very first kiss.

Such a tender caress

etched itself forever in my soul

as it introduced me

to a world of sweetness,

love and tender emotions

that I never felt before.

Nothing was said afterwards,

except when he softly whispered, "Thank you."

Yet, there was so much understood

in the soft breeze of that night,

as in awed communion we knew

we had just given each other our hearts.

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BLESSED ARE THOSE…

Blessed be those who sympathize

            with my staggering walk.

Blessed be those who understand

            that my ears now have to strain

to hear what others have to say.

Blessed are those who seem to understand

            that now I have blurred eyesight,

and my sense of humor is almost gone.

Blessed are those who patiently stop

            and take time to chat with me

with a warm, tender smile.

Blessed be those who empathize

            with my memory loss

and never say, You already told that story before…

Blessed be those who make me evoke

            happy days of long, long ago.

Blessed are those who make me feel loved,

            respected, and that I am not alone.

Blessed are those who realize

            how hard is for me to carry my cross.

Blessed be those who, with loving care,

            allow me to wait

            in peace for the day of my final voyage…

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OUR MOON

Do you remember?

"What a beautiful full moon!" you said

"Look at it…" and you turned

your eyes toward the sky;

and looking at it, you said, again,

It’s so beautiful!

When you said it, I know that you felt

emotion to revere such beauty that God provides.

That is a sweet memory which comforts my nights,

whenever I feel lonely and sad.

And although perhaps

you did not hear my sigh,

you know it. You always knew it.

My ideal is for you to be the way

you were, when you said:

"What a beautiful full moon!"

revealing the kindness of your soul.

But you did not even notice

how I loved you even more!

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NIGHTFALL IN THE VALLEY

The air at dusk is saturated with the smell

of wild flowers and pine trees.

The farm animals rest, while a muffled din

and a tolling bell can be heard

in the valley. The horizon meanwhile, appears

to be on fire with the crimson hues of the sunset.

At this hour, the birds return to their nest,

and the moon behind the mountain ridge

curiously peeks out, eager to partake

in the landscape. As the day fades away,

the lights come on in the homes. The meadow

reposes, eventually wrapping itself in quietness.

Even the breeze seems to be falling asleep

soothing the soul. The sounds of the day

grow fainter, farther and farther away,

just like the lost love that always

leave an echo in the heart.

Hence, another day ends

and the evening begins, the same as our lives go,

gradually disappearing in the shadows

until it is forever gone… .

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NOCTURNAL DREAMS

Every night in my dreams

I keep watch in my nocturnal world

and I feel a thrill and joy

to