Come on. just let today be a better day.
Overwhelmed. understaffed. everything is literally my problem.
Frustrated. nobody understands how stressful and isolating it is.
Forever. it feels like this will never end.
Every day. i’m just running on the hamster-wheel to nowhere.
Elixir noir. grant me the energy to face another morning.
Why do we mind the body
and body the mind
with ongoing criticisms
and constant comparisons?
The thief of joy creeps into the crosshairs
to say “these are not the same”
and the angel on the shoulder
is shackled with nothing to raise them
and no more words to praise them,
just a sneer in the mirror.
for Margie
the legs of the step-stool sink into the cool, wet earth
as we reach for the tiny, red fruit-gems
the cherries on the lower branches are gone, she tells me
offerings to the barefoot, bandana’d demigods of the land
in return for the firstfruits of the blueberry bush and cherry tree
they overturn the humid, gauzy quiet of the acres she has loved for decades
I want to ask her how long she has been friends with this tree
or if the chickens, lost last year to foxes
used to perch in its branches, the way I want to
this is the shape of care, I think, picking cherries together
she shares her earth-gifts to nourish me – body, battered-hope, and all
I carry my sour jewels home, imagining
how I could possibly render their slick flesh
into something as sumptuous as our hands that did the plucking
Our connection was never clear,
When you saw me
You smiled,
But when I was near
You weren’t,
Every yes you gave me,
Coupled with a no,
You could be shy
But you’re probably uninterested,
At least, that’s what I think,
Will I ever get closure,
Will you ever pull me close
And whisper sweet nothings into my ear,
Or will our signals forever be
Mixed.
They’re eating ants on television.
Fine-dining
foraged ingredients.
Notes of lemon,
crunch on cabbage.
Best of the day
for those who call them
their favorite, ever, culinary component.
Did they prick the tongue
with jolts and stings
the first time someone gobbled them up?
Perhaps
I’ll stick
with something soft.
Dream river dampens
my dry eyes, day and deep night.
I enter its flow:
an old womb throbs wistfully
with fishflies, catfish, and carp.
She cleanses sinners’ feet,
baptizes the despondent,
beckons the thirsty.
Lifts summer fowl, boat, nomad.
Lone egret descends at dawn.
Dream river deludes,
pledges constancy but fails.
I drown in its calm,
gasp for fresh understanding,
inhale stale questions.
I follow water
South to expansive wetlands
sandbars and tide pools.
Walk into the gulf
washing fish and overwrought humans.
Against the ceiling the lamplight halo
Oscilated with the pattern of my falling eyelids
Hypnotized by drywall and a home decor vignette
I fought my tired eyes just to think
Of how wonderful it will be to sleep
Today KS walked to the convenience store to get a treat – she had a craving for spicy peanuts! She walked in between the isles, picked up a pack when she noticed the salted roasted pumpkin seeds next to the peanuts and decided to double down. She saw the mini M&M but was able to exercise restraint and walked up to the cash register to pay. There, on the checkout counter was a handwritten note: “Sorry, we are closed.”
Stymied, KS put back her treats and left the store. She started walking back to her Airbnb, when she made a sharp turn and set off to the next best thing – “Fatty’s Pizza,” where she got a gluten free Margueritta but ate only half. In any case, nothing too special or exciting, but that’s what happened today in KS’s life.
ravens, writing desks
