Alena's Euphoric Quill

This is a personal book review of Red Verses by Pearlina Gracelyn. Pearlina is my best friend, but did I truly know how deep her thoughts ran? No. While reading this book, it felt as if I was not just turning the pages but unveiling the chapters of her life. It’s raw, real, and straight from her heart, something you can feel with every word. The words are beautifully yet simply crafted, resonating deeply with the reader. This is not just a collection of poems but an outpouring of emotions printed onto paper. I could sense how much courage and vulnerability it must have taken for her to write these pieces, and that makes the book even more profound. I don’t know if it was mere coincidence, but I truly loved how the poem "My Wedding Day" ended with the verse "As husband and wife." That single line, placed on a separate page, made it so much more impactful. The simplicity of dedicating one page to such a significant line brought out the true essence of the poem’s subje...

  The sun brushes against winter's chill, a quiet warmth that holds no urgency. Beneath bare branches and silver skies, it lingers softly, turning frost to fleeting gold. A pause in the season's breath, a whisper of something tender, not meant to stay. You close your eyes, letting the light settle on your skin— a gift without demand. In this stillness, you understand the language of the sun, its fleeting promise, its silent offering of presence.

Dear child, Let you be who you are, Let everything around you embrace you for your true self. The world may not always work the way you wish, But no matter who you become, girl or boy, Brave or timid, confident or hesitant, You will always be my precious piece of myself. My dearest one, you will be my reflection, A mirror to my own soul. Perhaps through you, I will learn to love myself more deeply, To forgive my own flaws and celebrate my strengths. I hope you grow into a happy person, Chasing the career of your dreams with unrelenting passion. May your heart remain kind, Your spirit unyielding, and your laughter infectious. Let the world see you as I do,.a beautiful, unique soul, Strong in your individuality, Bringing light to all who cross your path. Remember, dear child, You are loved beyond measure, Not for what you achieve, But simply for being you. Grow boldly, dream freely, and love fiercely, And know that no matter what, You will always have a home in my heart.  

I wish I was the first pick, I wish I was chosen, I wish I was appreciated, I wish I got paid back for the hardwork. I remain silenced, I remain forgotten. I remain unseen, A shadow in the light of others' dreams. I give my all, I pour my soul, Yet somehow, I'm left unwhole. I wish my worth was truly known, For seeds I've sown, but never grown. I wish my voice could reach the skies, Instead of fading in quiet goodbyes. But still, I stand, though bruised and torn, A warrior in the midst of scorn. For someday, I’ll rise, my value clear, And silence will bow to a thunderous cheer.

A small oval of metal, warm against the skin, carrying a fragment of what once was. The curve of a face, a faded moment, pressed between its delicate halves. It holds more than a photograph— a heartbeat, a promise, the weight of a thousand unspoken words. It is not just an object; it is a memory worn close, hidden from the world, yet never far. Each time it opens, a quiet flood of emotions spills forth. Time stops, and the past reaches out with gentle hands, reminding you who you are, and where you’ve been. The locket is not a keepsake. It is a portal, a connection to something eternal.

The holidays fade, like a sunset’s hue, With memories lingering, bright and true. Laughter once echoed, now soft and low, As the rhythm of life begins to flow. The alarm's call breaks the morning’s still, Routines return with their steady will. Books and tasks await their claim, In a world both familiar and yet not the same. The carefree days seem a distant dream, Replaced by goals and a steady stream. But within my heart, a warmth remains, Of laughter, love, and joy unchained. For though the grind may stake its place, It cannot erase the holiday’s grace. In stolen moments, I’ll let it appear— The echoes of joy that still linger near. Back to life, but with a renewed view, Carrying the peace the holidays drew. For in every step, both work and play, The spirit of rest finds its way. Back to college I go.