This is a late Valentine’s gift
for you—I hid the evidence.
Sorry I’ve been forgetful.
I still love you!
For you, I hid the evidence
of neglect and self-hatred.
I still love you!
The chain mail of sadness I wore
of neglect and self-hatred,
it used to be strong, like our love.
The chain mail of sadness I wore
it now feels like an all-cotton T-shirt.
It used to be strong. Like our love—
(Sorry…I’ve been forgetful)
it now feels like an all-cotton T-shirt.
This is a late Valentine’s gift.
Love is present everywhere,
in many different forms,
not just bred for romance.
Take a chance;
hold your arms out
towards the Universes!
All will receive it.
Only when one is
ready & willing to receive,
to give as well as take,
to work & play hard,
to surrender fully,
to not fixate on false hopes
& not press their luck
on empty promises,
when jokes become serious,
when violence is recognized
& eradicated,
when the clueless gain understanding,
when children remember their parents
& to not blame or ridicule them,
when parents see their children as people
& to not blame or ridicule them,
when the pedestals are destroyed,
bubbles are burst,
worldviews transformed,
after digging out of inner abysses,
setting fire to slave-ships of bad thoughts,
taping over the vile voices one invents,
casting themselves down,
shooting themselves in the dark—
when the love of self is alive & kicking,
when the love of others is present,
love is real, tangible,
making the heart beat its dance.
The sun is a hot bruise,
lighting up the now cold bed
where we once laid—
Even though
I will never tell you
where I’ve been,
I will wait forever
for you to call out
my name again
as I search your name feverishly in the sky.
Our names could have been entwined,
sheltered from the jealous sun—
but you disappeared
without leaving behind any possible plans.
I now lie in this bed, used.
O gentle followers,
put down your heavy-laden, colorful bags
& sing songs, & say inspirational words
in your chosen place of worship.
Put down your heavy-laden, colorful bags!
Send forth good thoughts of generosity
in your chosen place of worship.
Provide love & care for your family.
Send forth good thoughts of generosity
& give to those who need.
Provide love & care for your family.
Try to do good this holiday season,
& give to those who need,
& sing songs, & say inspirational words.
Try to do good this holiday season,
O gentle followers!
This is the time to extinguish fear.
All teeth need to be cleaned,
after digesting sugary sweets & coffee drinks.
Dentists are not evil.
All teeth need to be cleaned!
“But my gums continue to bleed—”
Dentists are not evil;
they just want to help you
“…but my gums continue to bleed,”
you shake your head; your hands tremble.
They just want to help you.
It’s going to be okay.
You shake your head; your hands tremble
after digesting sugary sweets & coffee drinks.
It’s going to be okay—
This is the time to extinguish fear.
Autumn rain hits hard and cold
outside the Temple, after the long taxi ride;
empty inside, but warm & inviting
He forgot his umbrella,
his mom will be upset when
she finds out;
every man for himself
We can’t forget this night,
apples dipped in honey,
toasting another sweet year
as we wipe away the rain
hopefully, not to bring any more pain—
& the fevers
of sickness and loneliness
are not wanted now,
the trees are still covered in green,
full of wet leaves,
still sweet-looking.
Girl with wonderous eyes,
she stayed & sovereigned so
even though she never thought
she would be in charge for 70 years.
Born third in line,
she was a normal princess.
But, thanks to her uncle and father,
she was first, in everything.
Her nation became modern under her watch.
Even with scandals, she stood firm,
riding out storms, wars & the terrible years
when her family & countrymen experienced their growing pains.
She received the hardest job as a young wife and mother.
Now her descendants & subjects dot the Earth
as spirits showed off a double rainbow at Buckingham palace,
the very minute she passed away in Scotland.
Amidst the tears, Lillibet,
you stood firm & true.
What would we do now
without you?
While others drink pumpkin & apple-favored drinks,
a new chill fills the air
as the kids return to school.
Hopefully all will be well—
A new chill fills the air.
Fear is slowly disappearing.
Hopefully all will be well
before the next disaster hits.
Fear is slowly disappearing.
People are smiling again.
Before the next disaster hits,
we will wrap ourselves in new sweaters!
People are smiling again.
As the kids return to school,
we will wrap ourselves in new sweaters
while others drink pumpkin & apple-favored drinks—
Now that the morning’s gust of air is cool—
could we all come out to play
before you kids go back to school?
Maybe today?
Could we all come out to play
while the sun beats hot?
Maybe today?
We can’t be foolish
while the sun beats hot,
(& you, drink plenty of water)
We can’t be foolish
but we want to get some iced coffee
& you, drink plenty of water
before you kids go back to school!
But we want to get some iced coffee
now that the morning’s gust of air is cool—
The light glimmering from the trees—
the schoolgirls’ long socks look perfect as they talk together
Between temples and majestic trees,
she wanders alone in the soft evening.
A wedding procession, charmed by trees
& flowers; as they approached the temple
she remembered her wedding day. The trees
in New York seemed so miniature then—
Now moved to L.A., the palm trees
seem like friendly aliens.
The paper tree
of dreams and wishes
haunt her as the shadows of the trees
paint the Pacific Sugar moon.