And the best I could do
Was do as I had done the day before
So I continued to go, I continued to move,
But I forgot to breathe.
And when I looked up, I saw the white of your eyes shimmer from the flames and the terror that accompanied.
What do I say when she tells me she’s scared, what can I even say?
That nothing matters?

Who in the hell set it up like this?
And why in the **** do we have to listen?
My sister said no but holds the hand of her female flesh.
And she is not to blame,
Her choices are logic and practical
But at what point do we get out of our own way?

And so I shut off
And realize that has been my move lately to deal with reality.
Blue lights and blank emotions
The winter breeze swings the new planters on the patio.
The sweet potatoes wake me up and the pomegranates continue to amaze,
Growing more and more ruby as the summer days turn into early autumn evenings.

And although the caterpillars  transformation is covered in thick construction dust and the ground continues to shift,
I can’t help but feel hopeful
I am spring
We are spring.

“Hey Malcolm”
she said with a sort of sweet indifference-
“You want some water and chips?”

His reply-
Incomprehensible sounds that hung heavy
With the thick humidity.

Any other
would have not bothered but her altruism
shone like the surrounding brick.

“Water, chips?”
spoken with a familiar neutrality.
Her kindness did not waiver.

Not deterred-
By the state Malcom or his sour taste
or even the heavy heat

“Chips” he spilled.
The unrelenting sun laughed at his choice but
Her kindness did not waiver.

Door ajar,
She disappeared into the shadows to retrieve
her promised gifts to Malcolm.

Her building,
Glistening red squares that had been bought and sold
Many times since the 80’s.

And Malcom
was just one of the many casualties
to fall in the pure, white cracks.

“Drink water”
She had returned and handed him both drink and chips.
Her kindness did not waiver.

She did not
Ignore Malcolm or pass him by like most-
Her actions small but fearless.

Her kindness did not waiver.

Did you know?
That when you turn the lights off,
Your room comes alive--
And everything begins to dance!

The couches prefer to tango
And your clothes prefer to waltz.
While your shoes all do the salsa
Your books do summersaults!

Appliances like ballet
And the art just kind of sways.
Yes darkness can be scary
But do not be afraid.

Because your room comes alive
When you turn off your light-
So wish them happy dancing
When you say goodnight.

I once met a seahorse at sea,
She came up and swam next to me.
With her baby in tow,
But I had not known
That that mommy fish; she was a he.

The seahorse said how do you do?
I said “I am well, how are you?”
Daddy seahorse replied
“With my babe by my side,
How could I ever be blue?”

Read-a-book, Share-a-book, library,
That’s how it goes from you to me;
Read it, love it, put it on the shelf,
Then it can be read by somebody else!

You are my whole world
All that I do is for you
Your doors are always open
So that when I get inside
I go straight for your red cart.

You have two lovely children
A new puppy too
(Probably a Doodle or something close to)
Those are the things
That make you- you.

You check all the boxes
You love Target and honey,
Who wouldn’t love perusing
And spending all kinds of money.

When his friends come around, you shuffle right off
And chat with the others mom’s in the loft.

The kids run around you and the other ladies
After all, you’ve got the motherly instincts, their your babies!

Dinner is shared because he has his grill
But cleaning up later requires your skill.

But what do you do for the social injustice,
What happened to your dreams?
What do you do when your life’s in a rut?
What if it’s not a man she loves?
What about the state of the world?

I guess I didn’t want to write a poem,
I just wanted to ask you how your priorities became what they are on instagram?