Uh.oh.

So I’ve had my share of honor student woes and wicked honor student competitors from grade school through college.  Nice people with a plan to cramp my style. . .ever since elementary school.  Here’s one for the villains–past and present.

My friend Juaquin 

My friend Juaquin hates me.

Not for any reason at all.

He hates me for being smart.

Juaquin hates me.

He thinks I’m dumb.

That’s not right.

He’s not nice.

He shows my Mom his tongue.

My Mom cries.

I forgive Juaquin.

He is dumb.

I wrote this poem about a month ago.  I loved these movies while I was gowing up and it was a real treat going to the movies to watch each of them.  I’m now older and realize what these movies were really about or who they were about.  Let me know what you think. 

 Wax on Man

We loved the Karate Kid.

Do we really know what it’s about?

An American-style blockbuster

Ralph Macchio in Japanese robes.

A mediocre screenplay sold to Hollywood Execs

Fans lined up outside Middle-America movie theaters.

We did not know their obvious ploy.

Pat Morita was the real hero of this trilogy.

Wax on.  Wax off.

What were they thinking?

Applaud Morita San.

For filling those shoes—culturally iconic for us.

The Master Karate Sensie—Miyagi San in the movie.

He got a raw deal.

We couldn’t tell then what we know now upon reflection.

Morita lent the movie solid and believable credibility.

Movies we loved and ate up like M&Ms,

Give Pat Morita a posthumous movie award.

Miyagi san!  You’re the hero in these movies…we’ll tell y’ah.

Thank you Mr. Pat Morita.

R.I.P.

I attended a party for one of my eldest sister’s high school friends from Guam.  It’s interesting to have a Guam-style party on the east coast of the U.S.  It was a nice break from the usual all-American fare that dominates U.S. restaurants and supermarkets.  I had more than one Sam Adams.  I took it easy.  Good eats and good company.  Here is a poem about my island home: Guam.   

Pacific Happy Hour 

We don’t hear the Hawaiians

With their Hula hips shaking,

And ukulele strumming.

This is not Honolulu.

We’re not known for ornate facial tattoos

Or ink body art intrigue

Like the Maori of New Zealand.

Please don’t mistake us for Filipinos

Who serve up the best roasted lecheon

At their family gatherings.

We’ll say no to being called Malaysian

Who have Singapore

As their City of Gold.

We reside in Micronesia–

The Marianas to be exact.

Often dismissed by the world-at-large 

And perhaps known as a place and people not worth remembering.

We are the Chamorro of Guahan

Or even better: Guam.

We are blest with our Pacific-Island Heritage.

Thousands of Japanese tourists know the truth and

Visit Guam for their honeymoons and days in the sun.

We’ll serve you our favorite,

Which is tuba gone wrong.

A real man’s drink made by our hands

From the coconut trees’ bosom.

Tuba is not available in the Caribbean

Or the West Indies;

Although, you can find the coconut—

The world’s largest nut dotting most tropical isles.

Guam is the only tropical-island paradise

Where a man can drink his tuba

And meet the native witch doctors

Who distill it.

It’s a knockout PUNCH in more ways than one.

I had an English professor in college who is an urban legend at my alma mater.  She is known as the professor who failed the famous writer Tom Clancy.  Loyola College undergraduates shy away from her classes, and the brave ones leave her office in tears after reviewing (what is wrong with) their papers.  She’ll brutally review your paper and break your heart.  So here is one for Professor A———.

Heart’s Walk 

Sand hugs my feet.

One step after another.

Walking with no angles–

A happy heart’s gallop.

Never stopping at all.

Running with all heart’s strength

Happiness core intent love

Never feeling second best.

A blue ribbon prize for excellence,

Never straying or distracted.

Heart’s fidelity permanent

Solid and heavy weighted.

The heart fetches its target.

In heart’s race.

True and happy.

My niece’s birthday was celebrated over the last few days.  Consequently, I’m sharing this poem with all of you.  Drink up everyone.

Coffee’s Twelfth Re-birthday 

This is coffee’s twelfth re-birthday it seems.

From the shores of Seattle, Washington

all the way to Manhattan, New York.

In bookstore cafes

In Nordstrom’s at the mall

Mocha Lattes and Café Lattes

Topped with whip cream

brewed with care and re-stylized

In its past reincarnation,

served black or with creamer

Regular or Decaffeinated please.

Now we have Starbucks

And Joe Mugg to boot

Specialty coffees galore

A customer has a lot to choose from

Even Dunk-n-Donuts

has special blends that many adore

Mocha, Mochacinno, White Hazelnut, and Vanilla Frape’

We celebrate Coffee’s re-birthday.

Happy Twelfth re-birthday Coffee! Cheers!

 With all the hype of the Youtube Presidential debate–I wanted to share this poem with you.

 Presidential Schmoliticks 

Totem poles at the debate

In high end business suits

Presidential candidates all in a row

Make sure to keep their cool

Promote the red, white, and blue

Elephant republicans rant issues

Donkey democrats demand changes

Hours of rhetoric reveal

The public’s real allies

Listen and learn for the truth

Each candidate works hard

In hopes of wowing the audience

For a vote

Remember their names

On voting day

Give one a thumbs-up

Democracy at work for you and me.

Aloe vera is a plant that would be at home on a Star Trek M-Class planet.    It’s also good therapy for the occasional skin burn in the kitchen.  I was probably thinking about these two qualities (subconsciously) when I wrote the poem below.  Warning: This poem might be funny.  What do you think?

Aloe and Lanolin

How did these two meet?

The power couple of skincare heaven

Mr. Aloe V. Era and Ms. Lan O. Lin

had an immediate chemical reaction

in the chem lab at Harvard University.

That seems like ages ago for all of us

who know them well and use them

in our intimate spaces and private places.

Before a mirror, we apply lavishly.

Mixed intently for an epidermis glow

in ointments or soap bars.

Aloe and Lanolin are one.

They got hitched in Las Vegas

Behind Elvis and Priscilla.

Aloe loves Lanolin to this very day

and vice versa, too.

Though never listed that way (Lanolin and Aloe)

on the outside of any sundry package or container.

Aloe and Lanolin,

The power couple of skincare heaven.

Can you believe that it’s Christmas in July?  Did you get someone anything?  Did you get yourself anything?  Before we know it, the calendar will be in the “BER” months of 2007.  I think it’s freaky because Princess Diana died one decade ago in that car crash.  I was preparing for my first year of college.  Damn!  It seems just like yesterday.   I actually have what they call “life experience” under my belt.  I remember hard disk and external disk drives.  Do any of you remember your 21^st birthday?  I remember people flipping out over what Y2K might bring—a worldwide brownout in major cities, no phone service, or even WWIII by mistake.  Scary. 

I’m going to go make popcorn and watch a DVD.  Oh my God, I can remember the movie Scent of a Woman and loving it.  I must have watched it over ten times during high school.  It taught me to believe in myself despite all the obstacles, hardships, and traumas of the high school social scene.  I’m in tears as I wri…I’m just kidding folks.  Gotcha!  Although, Scent of a Woman is an inspirational movie on several levels.    

I arrived last night in Baltimore.  Left NYC at 5:30 p.m. and got to Maryland by 9:00p.m.  It gave me time to get some much needed rest after speeding up in N.Y.  It was fun and N.Y. has almost everything.  I’ve made some adjustments to my summer reading list, which I will share with you in a future posting.  Columbia U has one of the best bookstores.  I picked up a few new books to read.  I have another poem to share with you:

            The Fifth Date (Inspired by a NYC night on the town.)

We can get caught in the rain

or sneak out of the movie theater,

careful not to disturb anyone else.

I’ll wear my Sean Jean sport coat.

You can wear that hot number

that you wore to Tony’s wedding.

I promise to laugh at your jokes.

Thoughtful conversations will revolve around nothing in particular.

Our only drinks tonight will be martinees.

You can smile even though I’m boring.

It won’t hurt my pride

and we’ll be happy.

I promise.

Here is another poem that I want to share with you guys!  Let me know what you think.  Happy Fourth of July to all!

Shoe High 

My shoes are shiny and new.

Nike cross trainers

with supportive soles

Good shoes help

especially for my flat feet

ergonomical and worth every penny

Over one-hundred dollars

don’t change your mind

over the price being too high

Rocket science research

goes into these rubber soles

Right.  Left.  Right.