Green is the color of life
Not the neon green of toddler toothpaste
Or the gray-green swirls of size-14 bowling *****
But the forest green, the deep vitality of a leaf or stem
Underlies every important thing we encounter

The shoots stuck between my toes, fragile leaves
Crushed under thoughtless steps from relative giants
Don't you agree?

The contemptuous, superfluous, inconspicuous, jealous
Lies we spout to justify our conformity when
There is no justification, no yelling
No calloused hands begging in corners for change
Dusty old tires churning along vacant streets
With dusty old memories trailing behind