The Endless Cycle

I have this ring I wear on my pinky. Not many people notice it, they tend to stray to my other six rings, but it's my favorite. I'ts gold and in the shape of a crucifix. People think it's part of me being the "super religious" person I am, and it is to a point, but that's not the real reason it's there.

It used to belong to my mom. She got it from Colombia years ago when she was 16 in a market place, I believe. I always loved her rings, I loved the way they looked on her hands when I was a kid and your mom's hands were just the prettiest things in the world. (I still love her hands.)One day when I was around 12 years old we were in the kitchen getting ready to go out; my older sister, my mother, and I were standing by the island when she put the ring down and said, "Who wants it?"

I snatched that ring up so fast my sister didn't even have time to think.

When I first got the ring, I used to debate with myself back and forth on whether I wanted to be buried with it when I died and keep it forever, or pass it on. Eventually I decided I wanted to pass it on. I created this whole plan to give it to my second daughter, because I am the second daughter and my mother is too. I also would name her Aura Lucia, because that's my mother's name and my grandmother's name and it was supposed to be mine too. I always felt kind of gypped for that. I thought I'd make it a family heirloom of some sort; pass it from Aura Lucia to Aura Lucia. I thought it was a fitting plan to keep it going that way, considering my mom took after her mom and I take after my mom; I hoped this cycle would continue and create this never ending circle of Aura Lucias. I still like the idea of connecting the generations and if it all pans out that way I think that'd just make life ten times sweeter. Regardless of who it is, though, I'm planning on passing the ring on.

Now every time I look at my hand, I think of my mom. I think about everything she's given me besides my favorite ring. She's given me independence and taught me how to look after myself, make decisions wisely and on my own. She's given me a good home, a good family, someone to talk to even when I don't feel like talking much. My mother's given me a good life and some one to look up to, and I love her dearly for everything she's ever given me.

Broken Vows After a painting by Philip Hermogenes Calderon

Happiness seemed inevitable
To the widow, still in black.
In a few short years,
A marriage would take place.
New love -
In the form of dark eyes and soft hands
Had arrived.

But the truth was lurking
Beyond the fence.
The man who had vowed patience,
Left her black dress
For one of fresh colors.

Now,
Against the brick wall,
Covered by vines and time,
She stands up -
Pinned down by broken dreams.