This is a poem from the genre of "spoken word". It is something I wroteafter I heard my brother singing one of his own creations. I hope whoever reads, enjoys.

1. What words have told me
Lara Solis
Since the day I understood speech, I have been told to live my life with my head held high. I
have been told to love , yet I have been told to be careful, because one day my heart will be
broken. I've been told that life is like a quicksand and the more you fight you sink in deeper, and
I've been told that life is more like a swing, and you'll swing each time higher and all you have to
do is try not to fall, even if you have the knowledge that you eventually will. I've been told that I
can be whatever I want, and yet I have heard whispers, telling me that sometimes what you want
isn't always what you need. I've been told that money doesn't matter, but I've also been told that,
because of my lack of it, I might not be able to grow up. I've been told that dreams are just that,
dreams, and yet I've been told to never stop dreaming. I've been told that when I was little I
wanted to be a princess, and I've also been told that when I started to grow up, I found out that
princesses always got happy endings, and I knew I wouldn't get mine. I've been told that when
someone left us, they gave us their wisdom as gifts, but I've been told that when they walk away,
they left words unsaid. Most importantly, I have been told to approach life with my feet firm on
the ground and my fists raised high, ready to punch.
I have decided to listen, but probably no to act. Instead of living with my head held high, I want
to live with my spirits in the air but with my eyes level with the person I'm looking at. I don't
want to have my heart to be broken, so I will build walls around, with just enough cracks to let
the right people in. I don't think life is a quicksand or a swing, but more like the tallest tree in the
park, and all you do is climb, with calloused feet and scraped knees, just to get a glimpse at how
the sun falls through the leaves. I won't be whoever I want to be, because maybe I'll change my
mind the next day. I'll try to worry a little about money, because I've come to accept that I'll
probably need it, and yet I won't let it define me. As a rule I'll continue dreaming, but only
because by dreaming I have learned to live. Because of my inexistent castle, I won't be able to be
a real princess, but maybe someday, someone, with my help will be able to build me one. I
accept that there is obviously a lot left unsaid, but sometimes what we do say make up for what
we won't be able to. And, most importantly, I will approach life with one foot in front of the
other, and with my hands raised high, but with my palms looking upwards, just to be able to
receive the punches that will be thrown.