About A Niece

At two weeks old I held her for the first time

at last a baby in our family

my beautiful little niece

with tiny hands

tiny feet

round face

Asian eyes

and a warm supple body.

In my lap I would lay her

mesmerized by her

wondering her thoughts

and why she smiled in her sleep.

I wondered about her future and what she would be like

"I have a lot of cool music to introduce you to"

I said to her

She started to grow so fast with each visit 

I flew back to be with my family

I saw her a few months later with a head full of black hair

She wouldn't let me hold her initially

but then she learned to like me

and would cry when I'd leave the room

I'd always have a little gift for her everytime she came to the airport when

I'd visit and always she'd run to me as a toddler 

When she started school

 sometimes I'd be outside her house waiting for her to get off the bus.

When she'd see me, again, she would run to me with her backpack in tow

I moved back to my hometown and back with my mom

when she was seven.

I watched her grow,

saw her concerts when she sang with her class

and then she began orchestra in junior high.
I watched those shows too.

Sometimes I'd still be stand outside her house

waiting for her when she got off the bus.

She no longer ran to me anymore

because she wasn't a little girl,

but she'd have a big smile when she saw me

and walk towards me with her violin in tow.

I introduced her to music, to words, to books,

TV shows, and movies.

Often I'd  pick her from high school and treating her to chili cheese fries

and I'd play everything from The Replacements to Joy Division to Nirvana

and we'd drive around for awhile just listening to music, talking, and burning gas.

At sixteen she didn't need me to pick her up anymore

because her boyfriend gave her rides,

but she and my nephew still spent the night with me and mom 

about once a month

and always we'd listen to good music and watch a good movie on DVD

Now that she's seventeen I hardly ever see her

Things are changing with her heavy schedule

and preperations to go to college

I miss her dearly though she only lives a few miles away

but I did take her to her first rock concert recently.

We saw The Ocean Blue at the beach which was fitting

I was so glad that it was me who took her to first actual concert

after all I introduced her to almost everything

except U2 and Greenday because I don't like them that much

And I know I'll have to let her go when

she graduates and matriculates to a good university.

So even  though I'm sad that things are changing

I can be happy in knowing I did my job as an aunt,

 I showered her with love and invaluable knowledge,
 and she turned out really cool.

After all, not every teenager of her generation loves The Beach Boys 

and Fleetwood Mac.

Olivia McGuire

Storms

In life there are storms, hurricanes, and darkness

We could be forever lost to the seas

Or we could look to God to either calm the storms

or empower us to ride them

Olivia McGuire

Ocean Blue Haiku

Ocean Blue concert
on the seashore at twilight
dreams, music, and bliss


Olivia McGuire

I Do Not Write Anymore

I do not write anymore

not about flowers

nor the moon and stars

nor angels

nor ghosts

I do not write anymore

but I did not die

as a writer

I've simply been sleeping

Olivia McGuire

You Think I'm Inspirational

You think I'm inspirational,

that I'm an over comer

and that I'm incredibly strong

because I'm ill and battling a disease

Perhaps you're right.

I appreciate that I inspire you,

But I'd just rather be well

and feel good again.

Olivia McGuire

Across The Oceans

 She loved him

across the oceans,

across the stars,

and across time

She looked for him

everywhere

only to find he has a 

a family

and she realized he was no longer 

meant for her

yet he is with her forever,

in the corners of her heart

And she still sometimes wonder,

if she lives in a 

small corner in his...

Olivia McGuire

It's Not OK

Death can steal loved ones.

Spouses and life partners can leave. 

One can get an incurable illness.

One can lose their job that

 they have devoted their life to.

One can learn their child is severely disabled

One can lose their home.

One can lose their ability to walk,

and on and on the worst can happen
things that can change our lives forever.

So let's stop saying

things will be OK

when those things happen.

It's not OK.

So instead say "you can lean on me"

or "I'm here for you" or

"I'll pray for you," and mean it.

But please don't say things will be OK.

Olivia McGuire

Ideal Man

My ideal man won't just bring me flowers

but he'll take me to fields and fields

where wild flowers bloom,

no matter how far away

Olivia McGuire

Prince and Bowie Forever

All the doves are crying 

and there's so many changes

now that the starman and the prince

have returned to space
and the purple sky

We're under pressure

because the golden years are over

And we're all going crazy

Please take us with you

Olivia McGuire

Lit Match

I am a lit match in the wind fighting to burn. 

Olivia McGuire

The Impossible

Can you see the fairies in the forest

or find flowers that bloom in winter?

Can you hear ghosts outside your window

 or see angels above the clouds?

Can you see the possible

in the impossible?

I can.

Olivia McGuire

Nostalgic

Tonight I miss being really young,
and tapping on my best friend's window
Driving around with him
listening to cool music,
and not feel lonely.

Olivia McGuire

Moments

 Moments are ephemeral 

yet memories are indelible 

Love hard and well

and be unforgettable 

Olivia McGuire

Hell and Back

I've been to hell and back

far too much

and though I acquire

new bruises and scars with each trip,

I always come out  

with my red lipstick still on.

Olivia McGuire