They put babies in cages,
Sell them to the highest bidders,
Build fences on stolen land.
Is it still a legal agreement if it's in a
Language they couldn't understand?

No permanent harm, they say
Of our earth, crowned in plastic,
Shackled and smothered as well.
When ***** money pays the bills
Can we believe the lies they sell?

The rich get richer,
The planet gets sicker
And the poor struggle to survive.
All these distractions and unfair transactions,
it's a wonder anyone's alive.

If a planet is dying and noone is watching
Does it even make a sound?
If leaders are lying and non complying,
Do treasonous acts abound?
If enough people collaborate and participate
Can we still turn things around?

NCL April 2019

Relentless, committed
No reconsideration
Burnt bridges be ******

NCL April 2019

For the love and the likes, the attention, the spikes of adrenaline; for validation in creation, a brief vacation from every day, I want to say...

NCL April 2019

Hey big sister
I do think of you
And the magical memories
Of the things we would do
When we were young
When the world wasn’t grey
When things were more simple
When we didn’t have to speak to say
I love you to the stars
I love you to the moon
I love you to infinity
But maybe that's too soon
I know you’re out there
And I hope you’re alright
I can’t love you up close
But I’ll love you despite

NCL April 2019

Do the bathmat shuffle
To the closet in the hall
It's never very graceful
But try not to fall

No towels on the shelf
Must be in the dryer
Do the bathmat shuffle
But now you’ll do it slyer

Shuffle down the hall
And hope no one's about
Or shimmy like you don’t care
Shake, dance, belt out

Do the bathmat shuffle
You’re nearly almost there
Made it to the dryer
But the towels are elsewhere

Do the bathmat stumble
Your quads are feeling tight
Eureka in the living room
The end is now in sight

Do the towel toga boogie
Time to celebrate
You could put the towels away
But maybe you’ll just wait

NCL April 2019

My coffee was stolen
With half a cup left
This unfair atrocity
Has left me bereft

He wasn't at all sorry
Not a bit of regret
“It was just a few sips
No need for upset”

“Sleep with one eye open”
I tell the brazen thief
“Finders aren’t keepers
That’s a false belief”

I need my espresso
I need my caffeine
I’m a monster without it
Not a human bean

NCL April 2019

You will be told how to be less
Except they won’t say it that way
They will tell you to
Play nice
Compromise
Make space
Make sure everyone is alright
And don’t make a scene

They will tell you to be
Pretty and cute
Kind and sweet
And smart
But don't show off
Or get big ideas

They will tell you to be
Popular and likeable
But modest and prim

They will tell you to be
So many claustrophobic impossible things

They are wrong
They don’t get to decide
Who you are
Or how you are

You are allowed to exist
If the space they leave
Isn’t the right size or shape
Give yourself permission
Take what you need
Be what you need

Give yourself permission
Be strong and smart
Play rough or messy
Show off
Have big ideas
Disagree
Be extreme
Or complicated
Or any of the things
You want to be

Protect yourself
Even when it means
You have to make a scene
Yell, argue or even scream
Please don't be afraid
Or do be afraid
But do it anyway

Next time they tell you
How to be
You are allowed to
Ignore them

NCL April 2019