Unheard

Unheard

By Alyssa 

Begin 4:45 p.m.

I speak and am not heard
I listen to hear your unstated needs and wants
I speak to deaf ears
I listen to assist
I speak and feel isolated
Because I know it will not be remembered
It is not worthy of absorbing
Because I am not of critical importance
I am a cog in your machine
I am the axel that keeps the wheels spinning
There would be no vehicle for which you propel to your destination
Without me.

Without me. Can you imagine that world?
It seems like I will stay here forever...
Since there is a guise of growth.
A guise of importance.
A guise of meaning.

But I speak and am not heard.
I repeat myself after being put on the backburner
Only to look like a slacker... when in fact this conversation
Has happened. Multiple times.
I recognize the burden you bear.
The responsibilities on your shoulders.
But I also recognize...
That others are heard.
That others live up to that level of critical importance.
And that I am not them.

End: 4:53 p.m.

This poem is written for everyone that feels like they are just in their career to be there. I attended a wonderful, empowering conference last week and it made me reflect on past experiences and current experiences of my loved ones, which inspired this poem.

If you feel unheard in your work place, ask for what you need to grow and build your path to career happiness.

Eyes of Notre Dame

Eyes of Notre Dame
Alyssa Collins

2:09 p.m.

The eyes of Notre Dame are tired and swollen today
Smoke has gotten in them and
they're red from weeping

Millions of eyes weep along with them
as more than 850 years of history was destroyed in less than 8 hours

Can you imagine what the eyes of Notre Dame have seen?
From the early beginnings in 1160
through King Louis VII to XVI
Change came and went
but the gargoyles stayed watch

Flying buttresses
Gothic styles
Renaissances
Revolutions

The eyes have seen it all.

Victor Hugo
Napoleon Bonaparte
Eugene Viollet-le-Duc
Charles De Galle
Popes
Presidents
Prime Ministers
13 million people per year...

The eyes have witnessed them in awe.

The 15th of April saw the crumbling of the additions from the 1800s
The beautiful stained glass, vaults, apse, ambulatory, and nave sunk in

The eyes still stand watching, remembering
Mother Mary and the Saints stand guard
The gargoyles still stand watch

Once the flames subside
The rebuilding will begin

History is not lost
But the cathedral will never be the same
Always in our hearts, the immaculate, irreplaceable - Notre Dame

Photo credits: Alyssa Collins - 2012

2:18 p.m.

Distance to Home

Start: 5:17 p.m.

Distance to Home

By Alyssa Collins

The long, long distance that existed is gone
We are now living in the same home

Its an odd transition to know there was always a "goodbye"
And now there's no separation in sight
I'm scared that this will make you take flight

I'm scared that the distance that existed physically will take a different form
Once people become used to each other they take time for granted
And end up with just memories

Let's remember that every day together is a gift and adventure
Let's not seep into ourselves and put distance between us in our minds
For we are no longer distant, we are home.


End: 5:22 p.m.

Your World

Started 9:53 p.m.

Your World

By: Alyssa Collins

Every day you're stuck there

Stuck in your world

Can't even imagine my world

much less want to know about it

The colors 

The pictures on the wall

The distractions on whatever screen 

is flashing in front of you

Did you even hear me? 

We don't have anything to talk about

You're in Your world

But hey, look at me!

I'm in my world and your in yours

Some days we are in the same world

Other days we are not

I want to blame you

But I must blame me too

I'm distracted and focused on what's hitting home

Sorry for not giving you my undivided attention

The world is large and in the palm of my hand

or on my fingertips, leading to the next bit of bland 

Subject matter that is irrelevant and doesn't love me back

So hey, I'll cut you slack.

Enjoy your world. I'll do the best I can to get out of mine,

to get away from the audience and focus on the relationships.



End: 10:03 p.m.

Poem 7: To Be Woman

Start:  11:06 p.m.

To Be Woman

By: Alyssa 

I feel the lives of all those before me running in my veins

To be woman means to carry on the human race

The thought that all life comes from my sisters is reassuring

Everyone came from woman

Everyone cares for a woman in their life

Yet won't speak out about the brutality towards women
      and objectification of women

We are divided often times, but when we come together, women can't be stopped

Years of silencing US are over

Years of determining our paths for US, are over

We are the fortunate women

Some women are still silenced

Some women's power is taken away - she must be submissive, she must not show that she is a person

She may be mutilated with her ability to carry life forever gone

Those of us who have had ancestors fight for us to be free

Must continue to fight for those who don't have their rights

We must stand together, educate women around the world and teach everyone,

What it means To Be Woman. 

There are still those who disrespect US 

Those that look down on us or consider US

"smart for a woman"

"attractive for her age"

"emotional and therefore unable to lead"

We are better than these stereotypes. 

We have the ability to lead and continue to make change.

End hypermasculinity and insecurity. 

Men, Don't forget what it means to you To Be close and to know Woman

Women, Don't forget what it means for you To Be Woman.

*Author's Note: The US is capitalized because it represents women as a collective "us" and particularly women in the United States.

End: 11:18 p.m.

Poem 6: Baby Brother

Start: 9:58 p.m.

Baby Brother

By: Alyssa

I was 10 years old when my baby brother was born. 

He was once a dream and then a reality

Now the reality is that the years have flown

My memories are fading, if only I had known

to write everything down and hold on

I wish I could remember more specifics of my happy, sweet boy

besides the things I regret

After wanting a baby sibling so long 

You would think I would have always been super kind

But alas I fell into the sibling jealousy plot

I wasn't the worst, but I wasn't the best

Sometimes I feel like I failed you,

But I'm trying to learn from my mistakes,

Make up for lost time and make the memories stay

This year was his first as a teen

Oh the scary things I have seen

The self-consciousness sinking in

Seeing flaws where there are none

Thinking he knows every little thing

Woah, sometimes he does and can school me

Heck he even knows of the birds and the bees

I'm taking the teenager thing day by day

Hoping I can help him find his path

For these years are shaping him into the man he will become

While I'm not worried in the least, 

I still want to make sure my baby brother pursues happiness

My wish is that my baby brother always has faith in himself

Always knows that I'm there for him no matter how far a part we seem

I hope that he always sees his self worth 

And ignores people that make him feel otherwise  

      Even though it's hard

I hope I remember what it was like to be his age...

Remember when I didn't take in what a blessing he was when I was his age

All of the things I thought life was throwing my way

I want to be a big sister he can relate to 

I want him to come to me for anything and everything

I hate being hundreds of miles away...

But I'm thankful that we are close,

Make time for each other, and

Understand that we have a bond that can never be tarnished or broken. 

The day my baby brother came into my life changed me forever

I owe him all the good in the world and I hope I can deliver.

End: 10:16

Poem 5: Come Together

Started: 8:51 p.m.

Come Together

By: Alyssa

Why do you feel your opinions and beliefs are correct?
Why do you ridicule and call names those that disagree?
Everyone disagrees on something in their life,
      Even if they're in the same political party, church, city, or family

If everyone would respect the Fact that we are all shaped by our OWN experiences
That these experiences lead to our belief system and views of the world
and that HUMANS deserve to be treated with respect and dignity,
even when they disagree...

We do not need to fight. We need to unite.
We need to get off our high horse and realize we are not 100% right.


End: 8:54 p.m.