( Devoted to "Naked Athena", the brave young woman who faced down, stark naked, unmarked federal agents during a Portland, Oregon protest rally, July 22, 2020)

Born from the mind of resistance
Willow-built, her body arrow-straight and proud
She gazed at the arrogant wall before her.
Life and Death coalesced to a single fiery point of exquisite vulnerability and
the universe held its breath and gaped.
They shot her for her presumption anyway and
she raised her bleeding foot, unconsciously imitating
scores of yogis, saints, and freedom fighters,
Their love supporting her through thought alone.
And then she sat before her enemy
opening her body, inviting their hate...
And they ran.
Like rats.