physiolatry
our world is drawn
by walls
some are brick
decramace
some rendered
metal
earth as the binder
succulents, mosses, and some herbs
evolved just for this
naturally
the biggest wall is skin
solidified by a mortar of fear
fine soil in a pail
or wheelbarrow
with water
forget ashes to ashes
forget
dust to dust
a fairly stiff mix
not runny
apply to the top of the wall before you
set the next stone
breathe breathe
humanity
stacked in neat rows
patterns of light and dark
we try to segregate the rainbow
jiggle it to the
exact
spot
and carry on
believe: separation is understanding
the stiffer the mix
the higher you can go
when I was six years old
I was told to fear the black boy
standing in the hallway at my school
one small dark wave
in a pale sea of smaller flapping lips and tongues
eyes wide and alone
dont touch him
itll rub off on you
look at the night sky
filled
with feelings of awe
and wonder at the
overwhelming beauty
and power of the universe
the ever
a vast cathedral
skeptical about a God other than Nature and the Universe
dance into
dance into
the pulsing need for recognition
of something
Lizzy Lizzy
is she my grandmother
your dark fleshy arms
carried me through
the first two years of my life
you are my eyes
and smile
breath
a whisper of peppermint
we are made of the same
matter and energy
as the universe
waking
you hold me
still
love: decoration and taste
appreciate
rather than envy
difference
study rather than despise
do not
understand hate
or fear difference
reverence
of the universe is the ultimate focus of
reverence
the only thing to fear
is the absence of
love
one of natures most subtle secrets
the universe creates us, preserves us, destroys us
all
close your eyes and
feel
we are not in exile here: we are at home
_____________________
between us
It's my turn
to spin the bottle
in the red clay heat
hoping I've done it right
with a just-perfect curve
of my wrist
and it will stop
its long green neck arched
in your direction
you sitting on your heels
making finger-tracks in dust
biting hard your bottom lip
the air thick and hot between us
biting hard
watching
the bottle spin
wondering
what taste
our mouths
together
might make
______________________
to a woman kneeling
to a woman kneeling in her garden
things we neglect
grow up like ghosts
around us
little pockets of chaos
she must
tend to the edges
frantic-trim hedges
pull weeds
ribbed and wrinkled
once green
now brown and broken
their seed
left behind for her
to sew
the keeper of seed she
plants them deep in earth\'s belly
prays over them
chants with her hands dancing
through the air
like birds
she
watches them well
watches them
swell
break ground
gasping for air
life will find a way!
old crone
they say move mountains
for us let your hips rock and rise
separate
bear it all
for us
what we cannot see:
she
like the ground aches
for promise
salty
undelivered
deliver us
deliver us
our world is drawn
by walls
some are brick
decramace
some rendered
metal
earth as the binder
succulents, mosses, and some herbs
evolved just for this
naturally
the biggest wall is skin
solidified by a mortar of fear
fine soil in a pail
or wheelbarrow
with water
forget ashes to ashes
forget
dust to dust
a fairly stiff mix
not runny
apply to the top of the wall before you
set the next stone
breathe breathe
humanity
stacked in neat rows
patterns of light and dark
we try to segregate the rainbow
jiggle it to the
exact
spot
and carry on
believe: separation is understanding
the stiffer the mix
the higher you can go
when I was six years old
I was told to fear the black boy
standing in the hallway at my school
one small dark wave
in a pale sea of smaller flapping lips and tongues
eyes wide and alone
dont touch him
itll rub off on you
look at the night sky
filled
with feelings of awe
and wonder at the
overwhelming beauty
and power of the universe
the ever
a vast cathedral
skeptical about a God other than Nature and the Universe
dance into
dance into
the pulsing need for recognition
of something
Lizzy Lizzy
is she my grandmother
your dark fleshy arms
carried me through
the first two years of my life
you are my eyes
and smile
breath
a whisper of peppermint
we are made of the same
matter and energy
as the universe
waking
you hold me
still
love: decoration and taste
appreciate
rather than envy
difference
study rather than despise
do not
understand hate
or fear difference
reverence
of the universe is the ultimate focus of
reverence
the only thing to fear
is the absence of
love
one of natures most subtle secrets
the universe creates us, preserves us, destroys us
all
close your eyes and
feel
we are not in exile here: we are at home
_____________________
between us
It's my turn
to spin the bottle
in the red clay heat
hoping I've done it right
with a just-perfect curve
of my wrist
and it will stop
its long green neck arched
in your direction
you sitting on your heels
making finger-tracks in dust
biting hard your bottom lip
the air thick and hot between us
biting hard
watching
the bottle spin
wondering
what taste
our mouths
together
might make
______________________
to a woman kneeling
to a woman kneeling in her garden
things we neglect
grow up like ghosts
around us
little pockets of chaos
she must
tend to the edges
frantic-trim hedges
pull weeds
ribbed and wrinkled
once green
now brown and broken
their seed
left behind for her
to sew
the keeper of seed she
plants them deep in earth\'s belly
prays over them
chants with her hands dancing
through the air
like birds
she
watches them well
watches them
swell
break ground
gasping for air
life will find a way!
old crone
they say move mountains
for us let your hips rock and rise
separate
bear it all
for us
what we cannot see:
she
like the ground aches
for promise
salty
undelivered
deliver us
deliver us