a branch
to sit in my reverie
not the trunk of the tree
a couples of leaves for shade
as I wade through the day

I just need
a stream
to wet my feet
not an ocean
some rocks to walk across
and cool myself off

I just need
a handful of blueberries
to quiet my rumbling tummy
I’ll leave the lot on the bush
for someone that’s hungry
so, they won't have a rumbling tummy

I just need
a roof
to shield me
from the cold and rain
doesn't matter size or shape
just a place to call home
when I don't need to roam

I just need
a few seconds, my friend
to catch up on things    
not a whole afternoon
it appears a lot to ask
life flies by us so fast

I just need
someone that receives me
not someone that nods their head
at all I said
or refuses to look me in the eye
when we’re not on the same side

as the gazelle
swift and graceful
Leap
as the rocket frog
blink and take off
Swing
as the spider monkey
nimble and free
Dance
as the waves in the ocean
make a splash
Shine
as the stars
twinkle in the distance
Rise
as the sun
every morning
with persistence!

as a child
holding the string
of a kite. Run with the wind,
as an albatross about to take
flight. Run as the river flowing into
the lake. Run and run, don’t put
on the brakes. Run as watercolors
in the rain, as the cheetah does in
the open plains. Run and don’t look
back. Be as a train and ride the
track. Run as a waterfall over
the mountain, in a clear crystal
fountain. Run as a baseball player
stealing base. If you’re tired –
don’t stop/run in place.

when they tell you
you can’t sing a note.  From deep
inside your throat sing louder
than the kakapo. Take a breath
and just let go.

Don’t stop
wearing your hair high
as an eagle’s nest. As they laugh
pile on the Aqua Net. If it makes you
happy it’s all that matters. Little people
like to chatter.

Don’t stop
writing poems if you’re not
poet laureate or aren't published
yet. You don’t have to rhyme or fit
the lines in some man’s schema –
Live your life as a dreamer!

Don’t stop
reaching for the stars. Fear makes men
stuck as they are. Do as you do and

Don’t Stop

that has you cut out
the seeds of his watermelon
dust the dirt off the ground
hold the umbrella over his head
so, not a drop can get him wet
every perfect hair in place
the gel completely set
a manicure is next
his calendar is full
you’ll have to take a number
as you do at the deli
his six-pack glistens in the sun
he doesn’t have a belly

the type that doesn't
get a crumb in his moustache
not a crease in his clothes
has his shoes shined every day
on his lapel a pinned rose
drives a Lamborghini
has a yacht in Sicily
jet skis
hovercrafts
rose petals inn his bath

the type that doesn’t laugh

to make them smile
shake my hips
undo the buttons of my top
bat my eye lashes
flash my pearly whites
this girly lives to dance and sing
move to the left
swing to the right
it's hard to be uptight
dancing for my life
take up all the space
don't stand in place
like a mannequin
pluck the strings on the mandolin
music brings us together
you can strum a note
sitting from your chair
you can hum a line
that can part his hair
bare your heart
wear out your soles
do this
and you won't grow old

down this rage. It’s growing
for days. It started small as a ping-pong
ball. Then climbed the size of
a watermelon. I smashed it with

a bat. But it grew back. The seeds
rooted in the dirt. Now my rage is big
as the earth. I swallowed the sun and breathed

out fire. I burned man, every coward
and liar. My rage became rampant as a forest
in flames.  A path of collapse none
can tame. My red rage covers the sky

in a ****** blanket of sighs. Now it's pelting
execration. And stands in formation of
every line I pen. It's a blend of bat **** and
cockroaches hidden in nostrils, and dancing
in gritted teeth. A smoldering ember underneath.