Melinda K Zarate

2025-11-14
This is just wonderful! Made me reminisce about myself at 14 and all the choices made, both good and bad, that brought me to here - just as your poem here reflects. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Melinda

2025-11-12
Oh my goodness. THE DENTIST!

Melinda

2025-11-10
Hi Lawrence,

Your poem inspired a “Brrrr” from me, so well-done. I have wondered how those who live in wintry climates manage to get through them.

I would be like you but with beer and bourbon. Heck, I already spend my winters as you describe and I live in the south.

Sincerely,
Melinda

2025-11-09
Beautiful imagery!

2025-11-04
Whew, I really feel your words deeply.
Onward.
~ Melinda

2025-10-29
Hi Lawrence,

Seems that several of us here on Poetbay are feeling the coming of this autumn with deep reflection about the past and future. Your poem is lovely.

Blessings ~
Melinda

2025-10-29
Dear Kee,

Your poem reminded me of a quote, author unknown: “In life, you have two loves…one who changes the way you see yourself and the world. The second, who puts you back together after you have lost the first.” Now I don’t necessarily hold to the belief that we each only have two loves during our lives, but I do believe that each relationship we forge builds on the one(s) before, leading us to the place where we more fully understand ourselves and thus we can offer another the peace, steadiness, and gentleness that makes the relationship loving and lasting. That this relationship can come in the winter of one’s life makes it all the more precious.

Blessings~
Melinda

2025-10-26
I really feel this poem. Happens every week when I refill my medicine container with the pills I take morning, noon, and night. Another week. Another container of pills. What happened in between? So exactly - WHAT THE HELL?

Thank you! Blessings!
~ Melinda

2025-10-26
I really feel this poem. Happens every week when I refill my medicine container with the pills I take morning, noon, and night. Another week. Another container of pills. What happened in between? So exactly - WHAT THE HELL?

Thank you! Blessings!
~ Melinda

2025-10-10
Excellent! Unfortunate truth.

2025-10-10
Beautiful poem. Touched my heart.
~ Melinda

2025-10-09
This is such a beautiful poem. Truly.

2025-10-09
I am beginning to believe that our descent into authoritarianism is almost complete. I’ve been mobilizing now since March and it feels like I’m still dog paddling in the deep end and making no headway in this storm. I’m tired but I choose to use my “word” for 2025 to keep me going.

Onward!

2025-09-28
Very vivid imagery, Kee! ~ Melinda

2025-09-13
Hi Allen

Lately I feel the clock of life ticking more and more loudly within me. Your poem reminded me of my mother and the last few months of her life but also foreshadowed what I anticipate my ending will be like sitting in that imagined chair - my loved ones visiting, wondering if it will be the last time they see me. I remember each time I’d depart from my mother a feeling of trying to maintain a nonchalant normalcy of goodbye while dampening down the knowledge that the end was drawing closer and closer. The question - will this be my last time seeing her alive? These are the thoughts I took from your lovely poem.

Blessings~ Melinda

2025-09-13
I really enjoyed this glimmer. Sounds as if you had both a pleasant and profound experience. Lovely.

2025-08-10
Absolutely lovely.

2025-07-30
It’s lovely.

2025-07-16
As my beautiful cat and I have moved through the last few tumultuous years of life together, I cannot imagine how I would have made it without her. She brings me comfort and, while cats are often considered aloof, my dear one is not. Each morning she wraps her arms around my neck and licks my face, often taking her front paws to pat the sides of my face as she does so. Your beautiful poem expresses how souls can be different yet beautifully connected. Thank you.

2025-07-03
Beautiful. It all unfolded so vividly until the quiet, peaceful ending.