Friday, August 16, 2019

call it love

where selfishness and selflessness combine, we like to call that "love"
 
 
 
Could the violence be about
being taken seriously?
 
 
 
Because it’s the extroverts’ world
I misunderstand the difference
between popular and propaganda.
 
 
 
It’s not a mental health problem
-- it’s a self-entitled asshole problem.
 
 
 
It’s not so much “white privilege” as
white exception – being excepted from
some kinds of maltreatment
because you are one of us.
But color is far from the only characteristic
subject to outcasting.
There are so many designated not us
for every self-conscious group
and so many punishments
for daring to exist.
 
 
 
Maybe the American Soul is empty.
You, in other nations --
How does your soul feel?
Allowing, abetting, our home to disappear,
too consumed in argument, in rage,
to face responsibility for oncoming reality?
If souls are part of an omniscient Creator,
what do we offer?
 
 
 
Women aren’t weak – we’re exhausted
from all the work we are expected to take on
because we are strong.
 
 
 
Sending out loving intention
ripples arise within
turning mind to heart,
to loving attention
that transforms
our thoughts and actions,
our more examined lives.
 
 
 
We have our own ways of relating,
our own ways of succeeding and failing,
how we were raised motivations,
labor that needs to be done.
 
 
 
Ever cast out
with no language to understand
what happens in there,
our out here,
trying to figure it out --
my destiny
my quest
 
 
 
No where to go,
just legs, pavement, rain.
Run, run, run
but there’s no journey’s end.
 
 
 
So many means to end our days.
Too little time to waste
lashing out in mad panic.
Worry and rage just get in the way
of enjoying the gifts in still living.
 
 
 
8/10-16/19

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