Jump through hoops
Come away singed
Whipped
Like a circus animal
Deserving this fate
But don’t believe
Whitewashing the past
Time
Or some forgiving heart
Will redeem you
Artist Credit: Tiger R., age 11
Rose-colored glasses
And the perfect length lever
Let’s begin the move
Each a prism, we are
In faith, we allow truth in
With hope, we speak out
With prophetic vision
All the women
In the family
Mothers and daughters
Cousins and nieces
With pets present
Met in unison
Tethered their souls
Gathered their wisdom
Shared bad meals
Cried then laughed
Rolled up sleeves
Studied the data
Examined their hearts
Consulted with God
Exhaled a “Yes”
Cleaned the mess
Moved some mountains
Saved the world
Then slept soundly
The bless’d wanting more
Will it always be this way
What obedience
Would it be weak
Were I to cry for the collective
The selves I’ve been
The chance, gone, to them each?
These wheels face West
The light-lit way, daily apparent
Yet my feet are only able to stay
Stumbling in concrete
Therapy is he
An untested medicine
A miracle cure
Your brightest hours yet
May these hours be
Candle-lit
For when the dark reminds you
It is the eleventh hour
The day is waning
Your heart is longing
And you haven’t met me yet
To feel average again
Shuffling, schlepping
Commonplace companionship
Shopping for cozy and sundries
Is all I rage against
I’ve stepped onto some tundra
Passion, as Venus, accompanies me
Silver runs through my veins
Kisses while troublemaking
Too much sweetness to turn back
There are low moments
They become me, though
I look fine in such transition time
Intercepting the unsuspecting dark
Catch my breath then find the zone
I’m worth it despite
You’d not seen fit to fight it
The good fight for me
