The weary woman blues

It wasn’t like this in1972, this gut filled withanxiety – how do I pay for it?the way up – forward – out thedoor costs ever more –ever more a lifetime ofindebtedness – can Imake do as a barista ohcollege the holy grail ofadvancement enclosesthose of ordinary means intoa cycle of owing unto deathevery generation startsContinue reading “The weary woman blues”

Construction

The road ahead of meis blocked –orange barrels –yellow tapemen whistling Dixieeverywhere Detouring is a thingthese daysif you want to gethome I can just hearthem – say –a blue-winged warbler –perhapsbuzz buzzin my waybuzz buzzwhether window paneor turbinebuzz buzz“man oh manmigration is such a bitchanymore” And beaching is a thingif you are a whaleor gettingContinue reading “Construction”

The drunkards

Oh my lovelykitty catnipping at the leafof a most peculiarsort of plantplucking at wingsbatting at micethis drunken sortof love is notcivilized butthen you neverprofessed to becivilized did you Alas the worldof civilization isan inhibiting sortof place – a lostgarden filled withvipers that biteand sting poorwoman forcedto raise a childwith her violatornot that folks whohave neverContinue reading “The drunkards”

A protest song

It is something music does to us –reaches into an inner worlda peculiar sound –this –the madness of sistersdaughtersbreed cowsmaresfeeding – getting fat – breedinga cow has asingular life indeed It is the voice ofa geriatric diva*this story of lovegone to gambling –drink -excess belonging tothe proclivities ofprivileged men oh most dastardlybrother – theBride ofContinue reading “A protest song”

Tough birds

Every woman can hear you“Na…….ncy”“Na……………..ncy!”these weaker vessels whocarry water jugsand fruit basketson top of their headsbabies inside their belliesand in their armswho chase away snakesand rescue childrenfrom angry cowswho trap vermin andstrangle chickenswho gather their youngand keep them safeevery woman hears youand we are not amused November 2022

Everything Leviticus

Love one another.John 13:34 It isn’t love – thiscloset-enforced livingwith clothes hangersand dust bunnieswinter coats andold shoes not wornin decades It isn’t love – theseautocratic laws*leaving autonomy andfreedom and well,the normal,on a window sill,like an un-wateredplant, leave itlong enough andit will witherand diethis isn’t love not – the arrest andconviction**when evenwords are second-ratecitizens and ironyContinue reading “Everything Leviticus”

Woke

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Maya Angelou Early morning thechickadee comes –darts to the feederpeanut – sunflower seed –he grabs and is gonewhen he comes laterinvariably a blue jayor a squirrelwill be sitting thereking of the castleor even a goldfinchholding forth –away oh chickadeethis food is mine EvenContinue reading “Woke”