Nora Gallardo (a.k.a. Colado), is a retired teacher who began writing letters and opinion pieces in local and professional journals in order to complain. This led to taking journalism, photojournalism and creative writing classes at Empire State, Lehman, and the New School Colleges. She has writing credits in a variety of publications including the Poughkeepsie Journal, Hudson Valley Times Herald Record, Beacon Sloop Club Broadside, Brooklyn Caribbean Life Newspaper, Lehman College "Meridian", and New Paltz, N.Y. "CLASP" Newsletter. She is presently working on a short story series entitled, "Writing The Metro North." Her husband and cats spend time with family and friends between homes in upstate New York and the Bronx. "Carry your spirit during your travels to lighten your load with humor. It makes the struggles bearable and brings smiles within to one’s lips." "I am a sincere women from the land where palm trees grow, and I want before I die, my soul’s versos to bestow." Inspired by: Jose Marti’s "Versos"