Lauren Zuniga - Grom

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Lauren Zuniga, performing at WoWPS 2015 in Albuquerque, NM.
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Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

[@jadevega3251]

"You are not crazy
Your brain is just an art gallery rearranging its favorite exhibit
Everyone will be here soon
You don't have to go anywhere"
That was INCREDIBLE. I cried so hard.

[@TheSkittleface]

I'm not crying my eyes just have branches in them

[@skweekyshoos]

Haven't cried for a poem in so long...let me grab a tissue.

[@AlyTheBrave]

Many props for this poem. Despite how personal and hard it was for you to deliver this poem, thank you for doing so. It was absolutely beautiful.

[@lilykep]

My grandma had Alzheimer's, she died a few months ago. I was not emotionally prepared for this poem.

[@sunshine1867]

lilykep same... well my great grandma...

[@hannahformoso9300]

this made me ugly cry.

[@adioshra]

You are an amazing poet. You write from the guts. Tons of hugs.

[@MrR4nD0mDUd3]

I wish I still had my grandparents.

[@smartcanbepretty]

This may be one of the most powerful poems I have ever witnessed

[@Maxalottle24]

Incredibly touching, I'm speechless. And crying.

[@leoofjuly84]

I cried listening to this beautiful piece of art...Beautiful...

[@wiredayan9719]

Gosh... this. Thank you.

[@inhellwithelle]

I am in tears. Such a deeply emotional and sensitive poem. Thank you, Lauren.

[@Emily18184]

Beautiful poem. Too beautiful, meaningful, & touching for me to properly express with my words so I hope my tears will suffice.

[@iheartdave]

Such courage it took to write this, let alone speak it out. It made me cry. You are amazing and I am so sorry for your loss.

[@paulinazelikowicz9122]

Oh god, I am crying so much rn. Praise this.

[@musicsfan1]

This is a beautiful poem and emotions anyone who went through that can understand are perfectly represented
When I was 10-11 years old my great grandma developed Alzimers (among a couple other diseases) and she could not remember me or my cousin at all and I don't think I ever cried harder than when she asked who I was when I visited her in the hospital

[@demetrius9861]

The poem ended 5 minutes ago and I still haven't stopped crying

[@AilatRedear]

The part with the car resonates with me so much. My grandfather can't drive and we can't mention the car he "owns" because of it

[@kristianagulapa2547]

Why did I just watch this at a cafe? Now I have no choice but to cry in public.

[@crisvaneijk5946]

"Oh," I said. "A Lauren Zuniga poem I haven't heard! Better check it out."
My grandpa is slowly dying due to Alzheimer's right now. I've always been really good at denial, and until I heard this poem I had sternly decided to avoid processing the fact. Goddammit, Lauren. How dare you phrase everything I've been terrified to think so damn well.

[@andik1873]

Thank you, Lauren. You always know how to make me laugh and then go right into a cleansing cry. Thank you so much for sharing your words with all of us.

[@AmaraOmShazadi]

This was so beautiful, what a wonderful tribute to your Grom Lauren. Thankyou for sharing this piece of your heart with us.

[@Raeikah]

I grew up watching my mom lose her mom to Alzheimer's. This poem hits me hard.

[@tessab.7270]

I'm crying so hard.

[@taylorstrong]

beautiful.

[@kelseylacasse5574]

I love this one... My grandmother has it too...

[@iisazelx9340]

Totally not prepared for this. My grandmother has dementia (Alzheimer's and vascular) as well as schizophrenia and psychosis. I often compare her thoughts to an art gallery too.

[@brigidj934]

I'm crying. I didn't even know I was crying until my tears hit my screen

[@SarahIsAlwaysRight]

This hit me so hard, I wasn't ready.

[@LittleOxfordSt]

I lost my Nanna to Alzheimer's and God did this poem hit home.

[@PutBoxOnMe]

My granny is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s, her sister died last year with Alzheimer’s. She said I’d never had one of her waffles on Sunday morning, I grew up there every weekend and I poured the batter into the iron every Sunday. I don’t know if she forgot all the weekends I spent at their house, all the times I called her mommy on accident because I felt more at home in her arms than my entire house. When my were going through their divorce, the only place I felt safe was in that kitchen. She used to say she wished she had owned a restaurant, she knew every recipe by memory but she forgets the ingredients every time she bakes a cake.

[@PutBoxOnMe]

*my parents

[@francegilie3313]

Wow

[@xNoToUrZx]

Brb crying

[@starkjessica87]

Aaaaaaaaand I'm a mess.

[@Parissemo1]

This one killed me

[@trapdaddii4]

haha well this hit me where it hurts

[@AtOutoftheBlue]

Huh. I always thought you guys just called her that because she's a grandmother to some of us and a mom to others