I cannot tell you what this poem means to me. It was written by my dear friend Dona for me and I will share with all of you. There is a history here which is too complicated and too personal to get into, but briefly... Several months ago, Dona attempted to write a poem for me and recently took the poem and, with the assistance of a certain Senor Salvador Mendoza (a native of El Salvador) overhauled its Spanish rendition, fine tuning it and making all of the changes which then resulted in my receipt of this poem (published here in both Spanish and English).  This poem may NOT be reproduced, in whole or in part, without express permission from the author. - poetheart 08/17/01

"Lagrimas de un Amigo"

Tus lagrimas ahora me mojan las mejillas
Y yo siento a tu dolor mas profundo
Que extiende de tu triste corazon al mio
Atraves del vacio
Para llenarme de tus penas
Pues para ti yo queria
Solamente alegria, felicidad y paz...
Y el amor…si posible seria

Pero la vida no es asi
A menudo la vida esta lobrega
Dificil, aterradora, delustrada
Dolorosa, confundida, ardua
Triste

De vez en cuando…solo de vez en cuando
Nos damos el perdon y descansar…
Quisa un dia…una hora, una pequena vista
De la alegria del corazon enamorado
Lo veiamos en la carcajada de un nino
En la sonrisa del viejo
El el vuelo del pajaro
En la caida atrasada del sol
Los arboles sombreados en noche de luna
En el calor amistadoso de la mano
En la dulzura del beso
En el mirar de un amante
Los breves momentos dulces
Y todo que ello que nos hace creer,
En las illusiones que nos hacen saber,
Aunque languidamente
Nos quedamos en el infierno
Ya sabemos que de veras
Si, existe el cielo

***

"Tears of a Friend"

Your tears now wet my cheeks
I can feel your deepest pain
It reaches out across the void
From your sad heart to mine
And I am sorrowful for you
For I would wish you only joy
Happiness, peace
And love, if it were possible
But such is not life
Life is often dreary
Confusing, uneasy
Difficult, terrifying
Dull, aching, painful
Sad

Once in a while…
Only once in a while…
We are given reprieve
Perhaps one whole day
Or an hour
A small glimpse of joy
In its entirety
We may see it:
In the laughter of a child
In the smile of an elder
In the silent flight of birds
In the slow setting of the sun
In shadowed moonlit trees
In the amiable warmth of a hand
In the sweetness of a kiss
In the profound eyes of a lover
These fleeting moments of Heaven
Which make us believe…
No, make us know…
Even as we languish in Hell
Heaven does exist.

©2001 Dona Lou Pearson

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