How dare we believe that the ALL in
Liberty & Justice for… includes us
How dare we believe our marching
Will bring about change.
How dare we stomp on the weak
Promise of equality.
How dare we want the privilege to
Walk.
Talk.
Drive.
Be in any space. Any place
How dare we reach into the tall
Grass of corruption to
Throttle the snake of injustice
How dare we show the audacity
Of hope
How dare we?
How dare we not?
GDF ©9/2020
I was swimming for my dream
Well before I was born
Who knew the heights that I would reach
The laurels my head adorn
I’ve been throwing at my dream
As you watched and tisked disdain
“She’s so big and unbecoming”
As if my goals were your domain
I’ve been fencing with my dreams
Assault by angulation
Beautiful balestra in hijab
Avoiding fearful imagination
I’ve been balancing all my dreams
On rings and bars and mats
Long before you got off your couch
To write uncharitable scat
Don’t shower me with bloodless praise
“I’m the greatest in the land”
And in ultimate compliment say,
I “compete just like a man.”
I have flunked that good, after life
Leaving desk, chalk, and youth sublime
Eight years and a clarion light
Continues to call me to dine
~
With character filled texts and chairs
I return to a chalkless life
Anxious, faded elegance dares
To drag my dreams to “that good night”
~
Dreams die hard desire remains
I answer the call to return
Restoring dream’s dust to grain
Desires continue to burn
~
Teaching is now a brand new flight
Where time and love is now outsourced
Knowledge now comes in bits and bytes
Pass, fail with a little remorse
~
Virtual reality reigns
As 21st Century fun
As if being “real” needs explain
Over needs for real wisdom
~
So I am back to spread my grains
Of wisdom and where I found
Meanings to life ‘long side the brain
Which the “Road less traveled” is bound
Walking against the wind
Off the lake slows my pace
I consider the remnants of
The coldest February on record
The receding snow
Pulling back from last night’s rain
Leaving molded columns of
Autumn’s leaves
Along the road
Heaped dirty and waiting huge
Ice & snow mounds long since
Spent of fun and wonder that
Came new last December
March is here with its uneven
Message: promises of what might be
The patches of green
Slicing white winter
Mocking romantic winter havens
Warmth upended with
The old wooden mailbox
After the passing of
The beloved monster
Patron saint of the winter road:
The snowplow
Happiness builds a fast fire
Underfoot the running child
In fields wild with flowers
Laughing, some unknown joy,
That life will be good
Happiness forces arms open
New experience
Embracing daring
Nothing but youth
Before receding to the corners
Beaten back by the collected ticks
A clock and a heart weary
Holding happiness at bay
Then comes
The thumping hush
That muscle upon which
Nothing is lost
Rolling and dipping
Tethered calmly against
Winds of age & change:
Happiness,
Flying its own kite
