Why do we sit in awe over the stars?
Or marvel over great ancient cities that still stand?
Why do we strive to discover new lands?
And study the sea in all its depth?
Why do we fear earthquakes and fire?
And seek out precious stones?
But never come to ponder about our flesh and bones?

Are not your thoughts as numerous as the stars?
Are your eyes not the sharpened tools that allow you to see beauty?
Did your hands not build the ancient structures that stand today?
Did your legs not carry us to the ends of earth and return stronger?
Is not the soul as mysterious and deep as the sea?
Can not the words of your mouth destroy as much as earthquakes and fire?
And benefit as much as the rain?
Is not a child more precious than any gemstone?

Yes to all of these.
And yes again.
We underestimate ourselves.
-Alyssa P. Myers

Do you remember
When it rained honey
And turned fields to gold
And made old men young?

With open palms
We drank it like water
Worshiped it like god
Killed for it like men do

Until honey took place of sweat
And fattened the skinny
And pacified the outspoken
And silenced the close hum of bees

-Alyssa P. Myers

I spied a timekeeper
reposed upon a wall.
His burden too heavy,
the edifice too tall.

Tenderly I did lift
his old timepiece aloft,
and there inside he hid,
vulnerable and soft.

Patiently I waited;
I didn’t want him urged.
Torpidly time did move
before an eye emerged.

Then, as if he realized
all the time put to waste,
out came the other eye
with a little more haste.

Gently, he moved towards me
as the old church bell chimed;
shell lumbering above
and slime trailing behind.

And for me he kept
some of life’s precious time,
passing so pleasantly
for no reason or rhyme.

-Alyssa Myers