2. CANCER

I see her face, once expressive,

now pallid and pensive.

I see her eyes, persuasive and bright,

now full and dark with fright.

Her hair, once full, now gone,

energy depleted, night and morn.

She worries for her children n family,

How will they manage with her so sickly.

Overnight the world changed for her,

when she was diagnosed with cancer.

The trauma of radiation and chemo,

Inspite of this the dread that the  cancer cells might grow.

The pain! The pain! The pain!

On the mind,  body and soul,  a drain!

I try to give her comfort to cope

but I know she has given up all hope!

Look, little witch
You can’t fuss with me
If you wanted to
These enchanted
These is red bottoms
These is Dorothy shoes
I can’t hit em both
I don’t wanna choose
And I’m quick
To drench a witch
So don’t get comfortable
I hate song and dance
I make munchkins move
All this song and dance
Those feathered monkeys flew
If you’re on that yellow street
I might just drop a house on you
Queen of Oz
I’m a lurker, witch
I wear ruby shoes

Summer Bucket List (2019)

No Magic

I’ve known no magic –
no fairy spell
no witch’s curse
I’ve known no alchemy or enchantment
– except for flowers
that grow unbidden in the grass
and open their small faces
to the sun
– except for fireflies
that sparkle amidst the trees
fliting everywhere
in random joy
– except for stars
burning across the vast universe from me
yet filling my night
with wonder

His smile tells me it will be alright,

she falls asleep fast when I tuck her in tight.

He has to steal a hug each time I pass,

she plays quietly when I’m on online class.

He keeps me going when I don’t think I can,

she prefers when I’m silly instead of having a plan

My family shows me each day that I am doing well,

By loving me with their magical spell.

A minute poem.

The acid tainted her face,
looking at the mirror,
she smiled and walked away.

He was a prisoner for a mishap,
people called him a killer,
he smiled and sat down.

He/She,confused,
looked down with contempt,
they called her transgender,
she calmed herself and started typing.

They all,
with different names,
different color,
different place,
all with the same anxious eyes,content heart,
wrote on ‘Magic’.

Yes,it is.
Different words,different moods but all with love.
It’s magic!

I am unfolding

to become something new

and unafraid.

I am unearthing

root causes anchoring me

to undesirable

and unsuitable circumstances

I am unveiling

new ideas and germinating

new approaches

I am unstoppable

and fearlessly facing

my

fabulous future

Forbidden sweetness
tender ripeness
supple and ample
with a crackle and a zing.

Fullness came forth 
overflowing tenderness
Fulfillment and satisfaction in abundance
Control is the new norm in town
and guess what? it is too cool for you.

It'll blow your hat off
It'll take you by surprise,
It'll shock and awe you,
It'll petrify.

Such are the ways of the world 
my dear friend, 
to elude you into a thick forest of fairy tales 
with happy endings.

So confusing,
So captivating,
So astonishing,
Treacherous are its ways. 

Don't fall for pretty lies 
and false promises.
The truth is ugly 
and often roams around naked. 
But, it is never acknowledged 
for being true to itself.

The world can't digest hard,
ugly and bitter truths.
So we dress them pretty 
And market them on billboards. 
Selling broken dreams
and empty hopes 
with smiles so wide it can convince anyone. 

They are designed to catch your attention
steal your sleep
and prey upon your doubts, fears and insecurities.

They are out on the road...
on every junction and corner.
There's no truth to this beautiful charade.
Everywhere you look 
you will see magical delusion.

Don't fall prey
Don't become the next victim.  

It's all smoke and mirrors
my dear friend.



-Janice Raquela Mendonca

Coming closer she wept

Like her soul was on fire

Yet inside I could tell she was calm

Calm enough to rip open my heart

And feed on my passion for her

She cared not what happened to me

Only about what she would gain from

Draining me dry