The first dream Where I saw you approach Love silently smothered In the yellow booster Seated at the wrong side of An unfinished Turn table Leveled by legless arms Hoisting a sword It's over my head If only I were paralyzed Could you see The slicing nightmare Piercing guiltless bread Forever divided Between all your…Read more Divisible
J
“he never says anything off the top of his head”
― Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Book Review: Angels and Assassins
Admittedly, I'm cheating a little in the alphabetizing of this series but, I finished this book yesterday and it's all too relevant. Angels and assassins are not mental health conditions; they're metaphors explaining a hopeful neurobiological discovery in the most recent book by scientific journalist, Donna Jackson Nakazawa. I'm a huge fan. What do all…Read more Book Review: Angels and Assassins
Arms Length
When the apples Leaves And branches Have been insatiably devoured And there's nothing left to take You lean Frozen against the rigid stumps Who give pants, whimpers, howls From what remains? Blown out veins and petrified trust Hungry doormats Objectified Devoting at your feet Praying for the vacant pat Of hollow Apologetics "now, let us…Read more Arms Length
Leaving the Palace
When young Buddha snuck out of the palace to see what life was like for us mere mortals, he freaked out. He saw all the awful parts of life he’d been sheltered from his entire, young, privileged life. Kind of like what’s happening now for privileged people who’ve never had limitations forced on them by…Read more Leaving the Palace
e’s
Last year I decided to choose a single word intention instead of a resolution; Elevate. In spite of 2020 being kind of a nightmare, I found ways to raise my previously very low bar, set and achieve realistic goals and take the high road whenever possible. For the most part, it worked! The only minor…Read more e’s
Wings
On our way there, we pulled over to take a picture of the profusion of wildflowers. Bordering on obscene, they sprung from the earth, tickling the belly of the sky which hung bright, blue and heavy over acres of untamed fields. While some flowers are edible; red clover, chocolate daisies, dandelions, this feast satisfied a…Read more Wings
Love Lessons
Admittedly, we'd had better hikes. Mom sat by me in the snow and dad stood next to us as we watched a flock of birds fly in descending waves across the sky. I couldn't tell them that, like the approaching solstice, my light was fading. All their extra love and care the last few days…Read more Love Lessons
For Give Us Our Freedom
My devotion this morning was Forgive. In order to forgive myself or others, I don't need to justify or approve behavior that's unwelcome. That's true, but I find it easier to forgive when I understand why we're doing things that are reckless, ridiculous or generally upsetting. Yesterday there was a protest downtown held by a…Read more For Give Us Our Freedom
Peace Be with You
In studying the art and lives of artists, I continue to learn about the nature of humanity. We can create the kind of beauty that makes all the cells in our bodies dance with inspired electricity. And sometimes, we can be absolute atrocities, full of rage, hopelessness, righteous indignation, violence, passivity, cruelty. Love is our…Read more Peace Be with You
Salt
I want to spit the Unforgiving truth across your unsaved face Slap your mouth with my sharpened tongue Fatten and split your lip In front of the empty fridge Where you picked apart my imperfections Just before the exam When I'd barely yet begun to be You hated hated hated me Hungry for the elucide…Read more Salt
