Kendra Ballesteros

Laundry Day

I'm hanging
Some feelings
Out to dry
On the clothesline
Out back
Neatly placed
Clothespin
Drip
Drip
Drip dry

Shaking out
Fear
Hanging it up
Snapping
Worry
Pinning it up high
Anger
Needs a little shade
It's had enough sun
Sadness
Needs to feel
Lovely again
It needs full light

Now I just stand back
Watch the breeze
And the sun
Cleanse these
Feelings mine.

Winding Path

The path is rocky
snaking and twisting
Follow me
and you'll surely
    lose your way
Trees open up
teasing
    opening up
In all directions

I
Myself
Cannot say
I'm lost

I'm simply
stepping
    around shadows

Trippin'

P to the
T
S keeps getting me
trippin' on the
D

Damn
Damn
Damn

Not again

The Night We Heard the Wolves Howl

I took his little hand &
led him to the back porch.
Moon shining bright -
frothy, misty sheen of
of clouds floating
whimsically.

Both in awe
Standing in our moment
we heard the call.
Not just one.
We heard them all.

He looked up at me
smiling as bright as the
lunar glow
He reared back his head
letting out a throaty
howl.
I
Letting out my own.

Bohemian Sun

Bare feet
Stomping grass
'Round a circle
Of daisies
Under a
Blazing
Orange sun.

Kendra Ballesteros' profile

Fields of Lavender

Lay me down in
Lavender
Thrill my skin
Find my
Spring song
Tickle
The hem
Of my dress
Make me a mess
Kiss me
Put me
Back together again

Counting Blessings

Last night
Was hard
Feelings I never
Knew I had
Came crashing in
All around
I sat in my bed
A silent prayer
In my head
Love & affection
A night torn with
Confession
I laid down
Thinking God had
Much better things
To tend to
Than my own
Sorry, sorrowful feelings

2 hours had passed
I heard his footsteps
Felt his little hand
Lightly tap my leg
He climbed up
Resting his head on my pillow
His arm wrapping around mine
Love's tender vine
I counted our breaths
Until they rhythmically
Reached a calming
Unison
My love and affection
Never far in the reaching
My toddler's soft hair
His musical sigh
Sorrow left in an instant
I
The student
My son
Teaching
Comforting
Holding me
Through the night.

Cat Walk

Painted toes
Slinky heels
Glistening ankles
Legs
Shiny & smooth
Sexy gait
Figure 8

This sidewalk
is my
Cat walk
Sun kissing
My skin
Summer dress
Breeze
Billowing
I'm going
Somewhere.

Louisiana Dreaming

She was far from her Louisiana home
and I wondered what brought her to the
Midwest facility. She never did say.
She leaned on me. Flaccid left side.
Rubbing her left hand like she was trying
feel the blood. Rubbing until it went numb.
Occasionally she tapped her left leg and would
berate it. Talk to it like it was an errant child
unwilling to wake up from a long nap. I asked her
about her Louisiana home. Could hear the hint of her
cool southern drawl comfortably ease out
like a warm blanket. She talked so lovingly and
proud. But her head was hung low. She talked
real slow. The southern belle was tired. It was
well past her nap time but she was too kind to
tell me. I laid her down and patted her left hand.
She closed her eyes and smiled her pirate smile.
Right side lifting up as I'm sure she was already
dreaming of the moss-covered trees. The lilies.