Some would say I asked for it,
I was the one who went with him.

All I wanted was a **** glass of water.

Some would say it was bound to happen,
being Native American and all.

"You know one in three Native American women will experience ****** assault in their lifetime."

That's not something you say to someone like me.
Someone who's been there.
Someone who's been forced to stay.
Someone

just wanting some water after a night out.

Guess you can't trust the water that runs through these faucets.

Some would say I asked for,
I shouldn't have expected to just get a drink.

But you know

one in three Native American women experiences ****** assault in their lifetime.

I just happened to be the one.

Was he demented?
Yes.
Was he troubled?
Most definitely.

He was everything they are calling him.
A gambling addict.
A retired accountant.
A mass murderer.

But he was something else
In addition to all these things.

He was a terrorist.

I know that word doesn't sit well with you
Unless the person it accuses doesn't look like you
Doesn't talk like you
Doesn't live
like
you.

But this man lived a life exactly like yours.
Up until that day
He was exactly
like
you.

Normal in every sense
Of your perception of "normal."

Up until that day
He was all of these words
Except a terrorist.

Now he has committed an act of terror
Yet no one in power has called him out
As a terrorist.

I find it odd that we avoid
Words that so perfectly describe one's actions
Simply because he doesn't fit the profile
You created in your head.

Be mindful of the squirrel,
And its tendency to forget
Where it stored its meals for the winter.
For
Because of the squirrel's forgetfulness,
We have forests.

Be mindful of the spider,
And its predacious instincts.
For
Because of the spider's will to hunt,
We are not subject to the possibility
Of infinite, relentless mosquitoes.

Be mindful of the rat,
And its compliance in so many lab tests.
Though it is placed there by force,
This species has suffered enough to be nonexistent,
Solely to benefit those who placed it in harm's way.
For
Should the rat not return to the Earth in another generation,
Science would need to find another test subject.
And it would go through so many,
Scientists would have no choice,
But to test on us.

Be mindful of Mother Earth,
And her forgiveness and strength.
Forgiveness for the wounds we have placed upon her,
And strength to be ever resilient despite these difficulties.
For
Without Mother Earth's open arms
And sturdy architecture,
We would not be here
To inflict more pain upon her,
And ask for more forgiveness.

Be mindful of each other,
And the compassion within us
That we are able to comprehend
And reciprocate.
For
Because of each other's kindness,
We have not seen the end
Of our beautiful, yet young, existence.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

my thoughts aren't clear,
my vision's getting hazy.

I swear I only had one drink,
how could this happen?

Where am I? Who are you?

my words are as hazy as my mind...
BUT I SWEAR I SAID NO.

could he not hear me?

I should have said it louder..

i'm so tired
please...stop.

everything's going dark.
what have I done?

i couldn't say no,




but does that mean i said yes?

My roommate gets mad
furious even
because I tend to use
all the hot water.
When I take a shower
or just
wash my hands,
I turn the water to boiling hot.
I let it roll down my skin
and singe my scalp.
I used to be a person
who hated being hot.
I'd take cold or even
lukewarm showers.
It wasn't until I realized
I no longer felt anything
that I needed the water.
I needed the burns,
I needed the pressure.
Have you ever felt so empty
that you'd rather feel pain?

I do.

When I was young, my mother sung
The song of singing things.
She sang of seas,
A salty breeze,
And underwater kings.

Up and down the music scale
Her vocal chords would call
On couples' dance
And wedding bands.
Oh merry would be all!

I recollect her melodies.
Recall them time to time.
For every day,
When I would play,
I'd mimick all her rhymes.

But my voice was not, made for ballot.
I couldn't keep a beat.
I tried and yet,
I'd always forget,
How her songs became complete.

So I quit my act, and faced the fact
I had not my mother's art.
And my mother said,
"It's in your head
Now put it in your heart."

I tried my best, to feel the rest.
All I did was squall.
But can you sing the song
of singing things
if you've never sung at all?

Society.
It's a slap in the face.
And if you're against it,
You're a disgrace.
That's how it's played,
That's how this goes.
If you're different,
This is your last show.
So bring out your smile.
Let it show, let it shine!
This is now,
This is your time.
Give society a pat on the back,
Because ordinary is something you lack.
Don't take it wrong,
It's a really good thing!
Let your character out
Let it speak, let it sing!
That'll show them all
How stand you tall.