Family Poems

“The Day I Wed My Kids’ Step-Mom”

Original Family Poetry by Felipe Adan Lerma

Pictured Left : Family Poems, available on Amazon Books & Barnes & Noble

Short original poems for mom, dad, brothers & sisters, and many others in an extended family.

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Author pages for all titles (fiction, poetry, and images) for each major online outlet also on the top right of each page:

Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Google Books, iTunes, Kobo, Smashwords.

Fitness ** Arts ** eBooks

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The Day I Wed My Kids’ Step-Mom

Original Family Poetry by Felipe Adan Lerma

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Categories : Family Poems  *  Love Poems  *  Occasions Poetry

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Spending a Little Time with Sheila at the Big Clock
Notice the Tiny Toe-Step Dance Pose
“Horloge du Musée d’Orsay”

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The Day I Wed My Kids’ Step-Mom

Down the seawall in Galveston

down Broadway Boulevard’s hundred year old oaks

before Ike torn them down -

down to the courthouse

with our three kids

- in tow -

two

were mine and your little one.

But they were all, so little, then, weren’t they…

even

if

with their own children now.

And we heard “Going to the

Chapel”

playing in our Chevy Chevette

grins spreading stars ‘cross our eyes as we sang it.

The soft Galveston air

warm

but not yet hot.

The parking was easy then too.

And we’d jumped into doing it, it seemed -

marrying, even

if nearly a year and a half after we’d first pretended not to

have noticed each other.

Well

there’s no denying it now.

I married you then, and I’d marry you now.

And maybe remember, again, it wasn’t just the words in the song -

it was the music in the car and our children in the back seat

and the wind in the windows and all the wishes

we’ve worked to make true.

Happy Anniversary

Sheila

© 2013 adam light creations/felipe adan lerma

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dVersePoets OpenLinkNight, # 94, Hosted by Grace

I’ve linked my new poem to a great site for poets, dVersePoets.

OpenLinkNight provides an open prompt once a week for poets to post on any subject.  A few suggestions, with an example in their posting, are spring, or a poem for National Poetry Month (April).

For spring, I do have an springtime Austin Texas photopoem with images of the Hike & Bike Trail.

But this poem, if you’ve had a chance to read it, is an anniversary poem to my wife, Sheila.

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May 1st – Happy 32nd Anniversary to Sheila

Below are some nice memories of past posts where I could feature you, or you inspired me.

Muchas gracias, it’s been a journey that’s filled (over-flowed? ) my life.

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Related Links

Happy 31st Anniversary Sheila

“Step Mom” – Mother’s Day Week of Original Poetry

Opening a View of Gratitude

Wild Music – Original Arts & Love Poetry

Partner Musicality .^.^.^^ Poetry from Yoga — ~~ — Making Our First Music Video

Babies, Relentlessness of the New

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namaste´- con dios – god be with you

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Adan

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Poems for all loves, lovers family and friends.

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happy 31st anniversary sheila

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below the following poem, is my post for our 30th anniversary last year, on this same date

sheila and i were one month away from leaving texas for vermont for a bit to be near her family, and to see her home state

we arrived around 5 pm, rented a car, and drove to our new apt, met our landlady for our keys and intros, and walked down the few blocks to church street where the summer’s first festival of jazz was well under way

by the time we were seated out doors under the umbrellas at ken’s pizzas, the cooling dry air felt a bit chilly to us, dropping quickly to near 60, having that morning left houston’s humid nearly 100 degree days

we still smile remembering the girl taking our order say, “oh it was terrible hot today, hit 90!”

we knew what she meant, but now we really know what she meant

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so today, we celebrate not a monumental marker like our 30 year anniversary last year, with a grand family gathering in galveston in perfect 80 degree sunshine, and lots of granddaughters running to and from the pool -

today, the monumental marker is another year, and like the meaning of my recent work of the every-day, this added year, our 31st, is really very much that, a monument in itself, of itself – happy and grateful to have this time…

happy 31st anniversary sheila

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Our 31st Anniversary

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another year’s gone by and again

so full and yet

still filling with so much

more -

we’ve returned to your growing-up

lands and peoples

walked streets your parents walked when

their whispers were waves of feelings

calling you to leave your wings

and be a baby

for them

we’ve sipped coffee at the deli

they must’ve wandered in

snow stuck to their

boots, flakes

finding

eye-lashes and young necks to melt on -

i’ve walked mountains your father

held your hand on and

talked with you of

how the waterfront has changed since when

your brother was your tag-along

drove bridges you said you’d carried him on your

bicycle

we found new ways to see the summer

felt the fall-ish colors and crispy snows you anew me all new

we came and found continuity in our fitness classes

and soon we’ll discover a new knee for you

a new fit

for our life -

we’ve been in texas and vermont, in

austin galveston houston and burlington

all so completely different in the life they bring

and yet in all the differing climes all the changing skies and

all the ways that summers heat and winters freeze

plus all the ways we age

we’ve always stayed the same

happy 31st anniversary sheila

i love you

adan

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© 2012 felipe adan lerma

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[ added late 050112 ]

this poem, written the few days leading to today, May 1st, our anniversary, is also being linked to dVersepoets’ OpenLinkNight Week 42 Prompt, hosted by Tashtoo

falling also on may 1st, the prompt is a call “to take May Day 2012 as a day in support of the 99%”

i’m assuming that’s most of us

tashtoo goes on to write about how important poetry has been in her life, and adds,

“No matter your beliefs, your opinions, your grievances, there is room for your words….”

there is not greater honor of the belief in equality and freedom, i believe, than to encourage all opinions, even those opposed to one’s own

but let us remember, that without substantiation, opinions are just that -

and i believe tashtoo is encouraging of that substantiation and expression by each of us

with that in mind, i feel my tributes this year and last, to my relationship with sheila, carry as much validation of the value of effort and time with another person one cares about, as can be expressed in words and images

below is last year’s 30th anniversary posting

thanks so much ya’ll

namaste – con dios – god be with you

adan

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[ Please Note: originally posted 050111 ]

Intro

The Occasion!

today, may day, is sheila and mine’s 30th anniversary

nearly half our lives already!

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Preparation

i went back and forth, up and down, around and back, trying to decide how if when i would post about this event

this is what i decided -

since i don’t have enough digital pics to do justice to 30 years i’d only post a few, though one is a compilation of photos i took a photo of!

and, since i have at least four poems, two by each of us, written over the years, about anniversaries, i’d post that, 2 of @ by each of us

the “wedding blessing” would work as well, but it’s already posted

rather than re-word our orignal poems, especially sheila’s! i’ve opted to just do a short commentary, making them personal, for us…

i hope ya’ll enjoy them as much as we have living and creating them

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The Poems

all originals by either myself or sheila

short current anniversary-commentary follow each poem

The Photos

also all original

though the details vary, so the photography-detailing, how i played the edges, ala my post, playing my edge with photography, variations, are in the footnotes

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Anniversary

Anniversaries are a time 

of celebrating and 

remembering

all the good times

and good things. Of 

rejoicing all the bad 

ones overcome.

Only, don’t 

let it be

just today.

Help each other

celebrate each other.

Help each other

remember each other.

And help recreate 

each other’s tomorrow

today and forever.

© 1994-2011 adam light creations – adan lerma

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there’s a strong sense of shared-ness and recognition that, even if not necessary, for enlightenment surviving or simply existing, we can help each other

actually, knowing it’s a choice, it means even more i think…

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[1]

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This Anniversary

This anniversary is

different from the others.

Not because it’s so many years -

Not because it marks a milestone –  

Not because we’re doing 

anything special to celebrate. 

This time something

really clicked -

Something we’ve wanted for so long

happened.

Something brought us 

the closest we’ve ever been.

Yes, this anniversary

is really “something”.

© 1997-2011 adam light creations / sheila lerma

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sheila wrote this just because she wanted to

many of our poems we’d sell and personalize in the 90′s, were written in response to requests

this poem was one she said she felt compelled to write, and says she still can’t quite place the words as to why this is so

i’ll take her word for it

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30th Anniversary Collage

[2]

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First Anniversary

The vows were spoken,

the bond was made

“only” a year ago.

Since then has come a 

unique understanding

that only the two of you

can really know.

Dreams spun together -

Plans forged ahead

on a path that’s just begun.

Looking forward to sharing 

many more years of caring

like this very special

Year Number One.

©  1997-2011 adam light creations / sheila lerma

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sheila did write this poem in response to an occasion, i believe our oldest girl’s first wedding anniversary

yet the sentiments are those i’ve heard her express to me many a time, about us

i think she’s right :

“year number one” and “year number thirty” -

are but number-markings set apart

all else remains the same

the path is always…

just beginning…

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[3]

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Our Anniversary of Meeting

I remember the light

around

and in your eyes.

I remember

the quickened interest

in 

my own heart and eye.

And I remember imagining -

in a flash flown by -

remembering this, our first moment,

many many times

in times then still so far off.

And I’ll remember all this

now, at

our anniversary of meeting,

as when those dreams of

future memories

had begun becoming one, like us.

©  1995-2011 adam light creations / adan lerma

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yea, i know not a wedding anniversary writing, but i guess i could argue, when did we become married, spiritually anyways

and i really did imagine, back then, when i first saw her, her shirt’s laced high collar touching lightly on her neck, auburn light brown hair pulled back gently across her light skin, that i would remember this moment in the future, and remember knowing i would remember then, now

happy 30th anniversary sheila

namaste – con dios – god be with you

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poetry series

photography series

footnotes

[1]  a pic we had someone take of us this past nov (2011)

besides cropping, i blurred the whole image, then history brushed our faces back in

most heavy photoshop users know they can adjust brush size via the bracket key “["

but if you don't, and use photoshop a lot, don't feel bad, i only found out a few months ago when i finally got tired of not using a keyboard shortcut, and did a search via photoshop's help search

this was kinda fun literally playing with edges i brought back into focus

a sharpening swipe on my eyes, and a smudge swipe (or two) on the bags under my eyes, and wallah! got the focus i wanted!

[2]  sheila loves putting together collages of actual printed photos, playing with the selection and arrangement

i took advantage of that and grabbed a nice shot of many of our years together

each photo had its own light/dark balancing, so i did a gestalt that evened most of the darkness from the older pics, then bracketed a dodge brush smaller and larger and back, lightening our faces, followed by swipes with the sponge tool where the lightening made the faces too red

dodging the poster board edges around the various photos gave them a neat spotlight glow i like 

i had the distinct sensation of feeling that the photos, with that glow around them, plus the memories and feelings they evoked, were like stars seen at night, twinkles of light pulling at the heart, only this time, i knew why…

[3]  final photo dates back to 1981, or so

i left the old-time glare-glaze on the image, rather than removing it, because i felt it enhanced the sensation of our past

the cigarette was also left in, to show where i’ve come from – 19 years of smoking since a late teen, to finally quitting march 1983 – that story will come

i marginally saturated the color, sharpened and softened and re-sharpend gestaltly, finishing via a slight pull-back with the fade tool (love that feature)

if ever a doubt what a cutie-pie sheila is, here’s proof

just match it with the first photo 30 years later!

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Pictured, “Everyday Inspirations Vol 3″

All photos original and in Vermont, each with an original verse.

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leaves of gold – original poetry

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if the words endure, they do so because they link the links -

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Leaves of Gold

Seasons change

bringing

leaves of gold

still tinged

with

raised veins of green

promising lightly

more time 

among

both

the drops of rain

and the days’ rays of light.

Squirrels and birds

scoot among the

folk who also

feel

the enduring

strength

within

the

fleeting of

the fall foliage.

Time passes.

But the rain drops

still hold the warming light

and the golden promises still endure.

© 2011 adam light creations / adan lerma

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i’ve category-coded leaves of gold, within the poetry group, as both “inspirational” and “occasions”

the occasion is, of course, the coming of the fall foliage here in vermont – already a few patches of pale orange-reds and pale yellows, are appearing, almost like a glow in low light

the inspirational part, though, was my first impulse, with the idea of the senior years bringing the promise of golden years, like golden leaves…

with yoga and fitness, awareness and breathing, this shouldn’t end up wishful thinking, at all….

namaste´- con dios – god be with you

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“the wedding blessing” – the poetry of unions

featured in - “Poems for Lovers Loving & Being Loved“

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Adan Lerma

a schedule began to emerge

our youngest girl’s earliest-dated-bff (since kindergarten, back in the early 80′s) was set to be married this past weekend in san antonio

sheila and i hadn’t been back to austin since the holidays, and missed a few friends we hadn’t seen in about a year

thursday we had a silversneakers yoga instructor’s class scheduled in houston where three of our granddaughters, oldest girl, and husband live

we currently live, again, in galveston

a route formed in our minds

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if we are all one, why bother making friends then visiting them? -

meeting lovers and, eventually, marrying some of them? -

staying close to family and, at times, knowingly let them endure us?

there seems more at work than like-molecules mutually attracted to each other, though that’s nothing to be minimized either…

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sheila and i caught up months, the year, and decades – with a few small talks, winks, and most of all, recognitions :

“she and i talked and ate lunch together nearly 10 years” -

“i remember you when you were less than 3 feet tall!” -

“you changed your name again? can i pick the next one?” -

“yes i’m still painting, yes i’m still exercising, yes i’m still planning on retiring, yes of course i’ll come visit sooner, yes i remember when you ate more jalapenos than me, no she passed away, yes she’s a beautiful bride…”

weddings are as much a reunion as a union i think

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wedding vows are disparaged by some, made worthless by others -

but, mostly, it seems, honored as we humans honor all things, the best we can while striving to honor both all things inside ourselves, and around us

we know we must first be true to our own interiors, yet know we can not live alone, nor, most of us, want to…

so, it also seems, as our total human folklore tells us, we can meet someone so special, so soothing, we can do both, yes we can honor both the-me with the-you

we heard it in chants in forests long leveled, across peaks now rounded to hills, in valleys once under water, in times without time and in time we all knew it must be true -

so we marry…

for better or for worse

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A Wedding Blessing

Give yourselves patience

to learn then love

the little seen gems

inside each of you.

Lend each other your

separate wisdom to create

a unique union.

Bestow on yourselves

the benefit of any

doubts or unknowns.

And in the blend and mix

of all these

qualities

may you find

that each of you

is the other’s

ultimate

best blessing.

©  1995-2011 adam light creations / adan lerma

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Adan at Wedding

weddings have been some of my best memories and moments, this was no exception….

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