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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Carriage ride long dresses cruise line
Lipstick sunglasses bikini coconuts
Palm tree pina colada nice truck bed
Sliding glass door with shading blinds
Curtains pulled tight do not disturb
Swimming pool fireworks white wine
Stumbling along the sidewalk 