after every massacre
by some fanaticized pathological idiot
politicians call upon their citizens
to come together
and pray for the murdered and their families

this is absolutely appropriate
also absolutely inefficient

but it seems
that ever since 9/11
the nation only comes together
AFTER more of its members have been killed

I wish very much
that the nation
   AND politicians
would come together
BEFORE  the next massacre
and take appropriate action
to prevent such disasters
in the first place

A Christmas gift of
Decades has, many a night,
Kept me warm… cushioned
My arm rest… formed a pillow.
My security blanket.

(Prayer-Psalm. An intercessory prayer in perilous times, during the aftermath of September 11.)

Lord, protect our nation;
In you we place our trust:
One God who is sovereign,
Omnipotent and just.

Guide us by your mighty hand,
Great God who falters not.
Preserve the freedoms of this land—
Our heritage and lot.

I find myself digging a hole,
Discovering my heart is what stole,
My love for myself and for others.
It yearns for something that words cannot describe.

I trip over my own feelings,
Needing help, needing healing.
I imagine myself all alone,
Staying separated, staying at home.

My mind tells me I’m not good but I know it’s untrue,
It’s time to give credit where credit is due.
I know I can do it but my mind is so weak.
What I’d die for is what my heart seeks.

I give up, I succumb comfort zones.
They’re the reason for being alone.
I climb up the mountain to face my fears,
But as I reach the end my eyes fill with tears.

I clear my mind of repeating thoughts,
Of regrets and memories sought over.
I’m locked in Satan’s dungeon of self-image,
Waiting to be rescued from this prison being hidden.

I search the forest for the security I lack,
But as I get weary I just want to go back,
To my home I never left before now.
What made me brave I can’t explain how.

to my little brother:
my hands have rested
on plenty of backs and
never knew the
way a spine could feel like a
hundred mountains,
carrying me home,
until i was
smothering vicks
vaporub
when you got
the flu