Victor D. López's Blog: Victor D. Lopez

Thank you veterans,
Not just on Veterans Day,
For freedom’s sweet gift.

Freedom is not free,
Your sweat and blood paid for it,
Wherever you served.

We take for granted,
Too often your sacrifice,
And what it cost you.

We enjoy your gift,
But neglect the thanks due you,
That honor requires.

Thank you for service,
The debt we owe each of you,
Cannot be repaid.

May God bless you all,
Who faced danger willingly,
For your country’s sake.

The following are links to the Audible versions of some of my current fiction and non-fiction titles. If you click on the links below and then click on the Play icon you can hear a five-minute clip from the first chapter of each of the featured books. Different audiobook versions are also available from Google Play and Apple Books, but for the sqke of simplicity the links are all to the Amazon Audible free previews. I hope you will find something of interest in at least some of these.

Aud...

I do not care what others think,
I care somewhat what others say,
I care the most for what they do.

Thoughts in themselves won’t hurt or kill,
Words do not heal or peace achieve,
Actions alone can change the world.

Fear not the man who likes you not,
Raise not a hand to answer words,
Fear those who smile with knives in hand.

Don’t waste your time on pleasant dreams,
Don’t write to those whose eyes are closed,
Actions, not thoughts or words, bear fruit.

We are not islands,
But we walk life’s path alone,
In darkness and light.

We can find support,
From others in our orbit,
When our need is great.

But we should rely,
Primarily on ourselves,
Before seeking help.

When others raise us,
It magnifies our weakness,
It never builds strength.

I’ve known heartbreak too,
Though few who know me know it,
Longed for it to end.

I’ve heard the sweet call,
Whispered in my ear at times,
For self-oblivion.

But it always passed,
Too many unfulfilled dreams,
I could not let die.

Though not a young girl,
I still can relate to pain,
That’s too hard to bear.

They bring tears of blood,
Young colleagues’ words with the pain,
They struggle to bear.

Doing themselves harm,
To escape the greater pain,
Of their precious lives.

I beg you each, please...

The Subway (from Of Pain and Ecstasy: Collected Poems © 2011)

I stand alone in the dark Fulton Street subway station,
Breathing in the urine-scented air,
Breathing out clouds of steam,
A subway train rushes along,
Not stopping,
Biting at my eardrums,
With the painful percussion,
Of thousands of people,
Silently screaming,

I don’t want to see,
I don’t want to see,
I don’t want to see,

The air fanned by each subway car,
Rushes against me,
Pushes the ozone and the smell of burnt brake linings,...

Time: The all too near future

Place: A courtroom

Setting: Final sentencing of a prisoner convicted of the last remaining capital offense on the books of a kinder, gentler, fairer world in which equality is no longer a mere aspiration.

______________________

The prisoner stares impassively into the camera. The bright lights causing beads of sweat to form above his eyes, forcing him to squint. His perspiration-soaked thinning hair lies flattened unflatteringly against his forehead. No sound ca...

In spring I dreamt of summer’s sun,
And all the things that I’d get done.

In summer I did dream of fall,
And lovely times we would have all.

In fall I dreamt of winter’s due,
When rest and travel would come true.

And now that winter’s finally here,
I dream of all the wasted years.

I dream of times we should have shared,
When all were still alive who cared.

I dreamed away my life it seems,
Instead of living it, I dreamed.

Longed for tomorrow every day,
And now I long ...

Yesterday’s gone, won’t return,
Tomorrow may never come,
Live to the fullest today,
For the race is too soon run.

Seek neither fortune nor fame,
Do good work, they you will find,
See with your heart and you’ll find,
Ample treasures all around.

The most precious things in life,
Are never those you can buy,
Love shared, honor served, lives touched,
The legacy we leave behind.

Below you witll find the first chapter of my novel in its original English version and also my Spanish translation. The book is available in both versions at most book retailers. If enough readers view and/or comment, I’ll post additional sample chapters. And please feel free to repost or send to anyone you believe may find it of interest. The book is available in eBook, paperback, hard cover and audiobook formats in both languages.

Thank you for viewing!