4 years... Daily fears. why do I stay?
because tomorrow brings another day.
Strong to survive this nightmare
Though nothing about it's fair
counter each negative with a positive
I've always been a leader, now, submissive
ready to reemerge, rebuild, and reclaim
wasting this precious life would be a shame.

To spring’s Rebirth we looked
For reprieve from Orange Men,
Black Mamba gone too soon,
And the grey skies of faded winter afternoons.

Instead of azaleas and cherry blossoms’ magical fraicheur,
And the societal balm of sport-
Greeted in the soft spring light by Pandemic’s frosted darkness
First in the East, did Calamity raise her call to war
But as Rome in Carthage’s destruction did Old Calamity head West
Yet again it was Italy to suffer and raise its alarm
The People were crushed by the vice of disease
But further did they fall through their own Vice
and ignorance of values dear and established Law’s precepts.
A return to communal Glory’s past, they tried-
Further did they wander into the Hinterlands of Humanity

Finally these diverse, united peoples
Began to trust
In the road to Lady Liberty
Through song that overpowered Isolation
Spring’s rebirth seemed possible
But Calamity’s thirst was not yet quenched
And to America’s shores did she travel -
With zeal and fervor for destruction

The gates were open to catastrophe
Indeed did we welcome fire and brimstone
Without the means of final Victory.

Much as we did talk, action came too slow.
Burning like the Bushlands
Fools continued drinking and gathering
***-like in belief
That what soothed in days of old  
Would throw Calamity over the Wall
But No.

Grace of seasons past existing only
In the Hinterlands of collective memory
Spring’s Rebirth would wait another year.
Like sport and summer’s breeze on outdoor cafés,
We hope she comes back soon,
With Lady Reason as a boon.

A brown leaf ripens in the Son
A decision made for everyone
On a hill marked with blood
and watched with a Father's eyes

A blind man sees walking trees
and the covenant crown lies at His feet
I will rise in Him
while the willow whispers
strengths untold
and the honey flows
in lands of old
I will rise in Him

Silver streams ran down her face
but behold amazing grace
A few more days
A little longer we wait
till we will rise in Him

A golden goblet is stained
and she thirsts as the deer
she climbs up like a bear
and is watched with a Father's eyes
Until we rise in Him.

Lily Bajo

As a pandemic spreads across the globe,
we realize more and more
about ourselves
which we once did not know.
Extroverts transform into introverts,
introverts into extroverts,
finally, a revolution for the mind,
an extraordinary, cosmic show
of divine and unprecedented kindness.
Externally and internally
we will continue to grow.

I am summoned into court
The month of September
Being transgender is the trial to be fought
The jury doesn't know how to handle the situation
And nothing is fought

I am summoned months later
The year of 2016
Being transgender is why I'm there
The jury hasn't overcame their pain
And no solution to the chain

Years later I am summoned to court
A stage in my life I couldn't ever see
Being transgender is the reason
The jury has come to an agreement
That it's okay to ease in

And suddenly, without warning-
A fire ignited inside of her

Years of dormancy
Emerging from her slumber

Starting over is some kind
of wonderful
©2020 Christina Jackson