I've been to many of them in the past
I've hidden behind some of them
And all have gave me smiles
and sad moments of departure
I admit that some days were lessons
of how to move on and work hard
That's what camp does right?
No!
Not all camps do that!
There is a camp that taught me more
"Everytown, Everytown
Yellow Black White Red or Brown
It makes not difference when you come down"
I needed it and I got what I asked for
and much much more!
I called out to s hand stretched out
and I got it
A friendly face
and I got it
And a shoulder to cry on
And there was many to choose from
There were times when
Anger, Sadness, Stress, and anxiety
Showed up
but nothing stood in my way!
ALL I can say is that I left with
the power to change the world
And even if its interrupting
ONE hurtful remark
Ill do it!
But never again, will I let
Authority stand in my way to do what
I Know Is The Right Thing To Do
I recommended to teens, and adults.
There is nothing than the
EVERYTOWN SPIRIT!
I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so!

I've heard it being said that in a near death experience, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.The brightest light you will ever see because all of its surroundings are pitch black.
It is a lie, I have seen darker when the tears fell down my eyes as I struggled to find myself. I've seen darker as I stood there and watched the one I trusted most letting me down again and again. I've seen darker as I heard you cry out in the middle of the night because of the nightmares you had and no one listened, I was there too.
I thought I would never see such sadness in someone, so much that your tears turned into mine.
Our lives are so different, our struggles and our fights could not be any more contrary the one to the other. Our lives were being lived on opposite sides, how did we find ourselves in the same place, sharing our stories.
I heard you cry out in the middle of the night because of the nightmares you had and no one listened. I was there too.
How could two girls the same age, one American and one Hispanic, one with short wavy hair, the other with long straight hair
one with brown eyes, the other with a dark shade of green.
You stood there with tear drops in your eyes, and cried out, and said word by word every thing you have been holding in from everyone. You said things you have never said to anyone because of fear. I could see in your eyes the desire you had to yell out and set yourself free.
I have been there too. I stood there thinking it was my fault, I stood there thinking that I did not deserve the smile on my face. But you stood there with the same tears the same struggle and you did, and I wanted to tell you that you deserve every smile and many more but I couldn't. How could I tell you that it would be okay, if I didn't even know if I was going to be okay. Yet somehow by the end of the week, I knew, we both knew that as long as we believed in ourselves we would be okay? You and I together...
Everytown Wisconsin 2016

the green of the earth
has been well fed
weeded
coddled to look perfect
the grass lies even
measured by sight
and given the nod of approval
an empty head
an observant trust
comparisons to what's close
welcome to everyday americana
welcome to every neighborhood, USA
belted khakis
plaid short sleeved shirts
ball caps emblazoned with beloved teams
many digits in the bank
shiny car in the drive
1.2 kids
boasting chocolate covered faces
sticking out drooling tongues
dad's an *******
mom's a lush
but the fine schools accept them
the almighty dollar opens closed doors
"amen' on sundays
work on mondays
"oh, mr. smith" on top of the desk come tuesday
it's the continuation of what was
the non questioning of how it should be
a fat wallet
an obese gut
swollen lips bursting lustful obscenities
cooing lashes welcoming
a sweaty, squeezing grip
on the ***
everytown, USA
yourtown, of these United States
ablast with preversion
bloated with cash

what a sad state of affairs
do we project...

I tried to see clearly
Before I left
I thought I was alone and the only one
But I found my self in a new world
I found people who shared their story
with someone like me
Someone they had barely met
An entire week felt like years
in in just 6 days they won me over
They became my family
I wasn't afraid to cry in their arms
I wasn't afraid to go out in to their world
and find a new vision
And each of them shared a small piece
of them selves with me.
Each person stood by me
and did not judge every tear that fell down
There were moments when I thought Id be gone
and moments when I fought against it
But to be real,
they didn't care about anything I've done
just about being there by my side, with me
I guess each of them showed me a part of me I didn't know
They showed me how to fight
and not be afraid to speak up
I got there scared to stand up
scared to take a step
but I came back with a voice
With the Voice!