Category: Poetry

A Quiz

Sometimes, there is a quiz.

The Universe, it says,

Do you love me?

Nature makes a pact

With us, it is a fact.

It wonders,

Do you love me?

Over all the time

That has passed on earth;

Good and bad have been done.

Humans haven’t treated

Each other in the best way.

And our planet has suffered.

The earth tries its best

To fix the many disasters

That humans have created.

And the poor, the hungry,

The homeless, the lonely,

All say, do you love me?

Spiraling Outlook

Creases in your face

Make them think

You are sincere,

But the truth is,

You are lying

Through your teeth.

The more you flash

Those pearly whites,

The more you stray

From an honest take

On whatever you’ve been

Caught doing, that takes

From those who barely have,

And gives to those, like you,

Who don’t need.

For as long as I can remember,

Republicans have been complaining

About welfare for the poor,

And social security for the elderly

And disabled,

Those evil handouts.

All the while, the rich get richer,

And the poor get poorer.

But that’s not enough, apparently.

Now the poor will suffer illness

And lack for education,

While the super wealthy get more

Tax breaks and kickbacks

For their connections and power.

It really is sad

How the working middle class

Has been fooled

By your antics and smokescreens,

Giving their last dollar

To support you and all you stand for,

Then voting you and your cronies

Into power, only for you to take away

Their lifelines in the economy.

Birth Pains

Crying out

Does not happen

Without pain,

Without struggle.

Creativity

Is birthed

From suffering.

To attain

Resolution,

One must encounter

Conflict.

To reach the summit,

One must be faced

With challenge.

Something

Must be wrestled with,

To win.

And so I find myself

In times of difficulty,

Trying

To give birth

To a new creation.

So be it.

Memorial Day

A place to be

Is pleasing when

There is a person

To be with—

Someone strong,

Someone fun,

Someone loving—

Come get some!

In the park,

I toss a ball

With my father;

Spring and summer

Sunny weather

Covers our faces

With warmth and never

Makes us uncomfortable.

So, we go swimming

In the lake.

We ride a boat

Across the water.

We dive in and feel

Refreshed.

Oh, what a day

To be with family.

What a time

To dream dreams,

To enjoy each other’s

Company.

To live in the freedom

Paid in blood

By our forefathers,

And our military

Today.

Please remember

When you drink your beer

And eat your hot dog.

A price was paid.

Why Are We Here?

We’re here to make,

And bake and create.

We’re here to move,

And soothe and groove.

We’re here to love

Everyone.

We’re here to have fun,

To play and run.

We’re here to make

Something out of nothing.

We’re here to create

Meaning.

We’re here to make

A mess.

We’re here to be a mess.

We’re here to be.

The Impossible

Happy go freaky,

Style for a mile.

Ambulance mind,

So fine.

Go fetch your dream,

Get to it!

Place your hands

On the balance beam

Of life expression,

And make your moves.

Chase that vision,

That holy mission,

For you alone.

Never turn back.

No regrets.

Sail on!

Identity

It’s a part of me,

My personality,

My sexuality,

Individuality.

I am unique,

The way God made me,

The way my parents raised me,

The things I’ve discovered

Along the bumpy way.

There’s no shame

In being this way—

Just because it was

Never mentioned in church,

Or school,

Or at home.

Even the basics

Were not taught.

Trial and error

Was my only way

To discover my body,

To find out

What it means

To be human.

To experiment

Inside and out,

To pop those bubbles

Of misconception,

Perversion of religion,

Crucifixion.

Cutie Pea

Distance grows

In the reflection of sunsets,

Deep in the pupils of your eyes.

Around your bright blue irises,

The once clear white

Is streaked with bloodshot,

And the skin on your cheek

Sags with the gravity of age,

And the weight of worries,

Long forgotten,

Though carried still.

What happened

To the happy-go-lucky girl

That I married,

Experimenting and experiencing

Life to the fullest,

Young and fresh and free?

Oh, those were the days:

Going on long walks together,

Holding hands.

Staying up late at night

And into the morning,

Just talking.

Intoxicated with each other.

Yes, that girl is gone,

But in her place is a woman,

Stronger, braver and wiser.

A more confident and courageous

Caretaker and leader,

Someone who takes risks.

Weathered by suffering and loss,

But soft and loving to the end.

A much improved confidante,

A loyal partner,

A treasured friend.

Three

Clinging to the stars,

I celebrate my levitation.

Closing every door,

I circumnavigate precipitation.

The wind picks up,

But I am on vacation,

Safe and warm,

Beachside in the Caribbean.

Do you know the downside

To a publicized oblation?

Just ask the guy who’s

Ruining our nation.

Come to see the referee.

Watch him weep for inflation.

Watch him wash our feet

Without complaining.

Come and listen to the angels,

Singing sweetly in the trees.

Come rise up into the clouds,

Where nifty seeds are sprouting Hi-C.

Can you catch me? Not likely.

I must be going—It’s almost three!