So I Listen

 

-------So I Listen-------

 

There is too much that I do not know

 

To think

I know 

a thing

 

And so I listen,

 

I laugh a lot

and give myself 

to wonder

 

Re-membering as I break open

 

That in humility 

there is 

wisdom

 

And a world in every seed.

 

-------

Soften

 

-------Soften-------

 

Where the forest 

meets the sea

 

I feel my edges soften

and heartbeat 

begin in rhythm

 

Like waves 

on ancient stone

 

And songwinds 

through 

the trees.

 

-------

Whose Land

 

-------Whose Land-------

 

You say that this is public land

but who is allowed 

to be here?

 

Before the gates

and ticket-takers,

the rules on posted signs,

 

This was not a sight 

to see and leave

but a place where people lived.

 

Laws 

can make up walls

around the commons

 

And when they do -

when they starve the Earth 

of human love -

 

They will 

and must 

be broken.

 

For there is medicine to be gathered.

The sea and forest abound 

with food.

 

But I will not ask 

of you 

permission.

 

All I ask

is that you ask

yourself

 

To remember

whose land

you are on.

 

-------

 

Moon River

------Moon River-------

On full nights 

I imagine

where the moon river 

might take me

If I were 

to be more humble

and surrender

to the wonder of the Sea.

-------

Anthem

-------Anthem-------

 

How can a country built on theft

of land and stolen labor

 

Continue to this day to claim

it is home 

of the brave and free?

 

There is a reckoning

in order

 

A time for love and reparation

to be that anthem 

of which we sing.

 

-------

Disarm

-------Disarm-------

What is it 

you protect 

and serve?

Whose order 

do you

keep?

For we can see 

beneath 

your armor,

Behind your badges 

and 

the game -

The white and rich

have got 

your favor,

Turned you 

on the Earth

and poor.

But please 

remember 

you are a person

Bone and blood

like the rest 

of us

Able to choose

and to

exchange

Your weapon

for your

humanity.

-------

An Ode to Abolition

-------An Ode to Abolition-------

It is not

so much

an absence

But a presence

for which

I dream.

For a world without violence,

without fear

or "other",

Can only be

if first 

there is intention

To love

in a revolutionary

way.

-------

Presence to Longing

-------Presence to Longing-------

If there is something

that you

are longing for

An absence held within

Be still 

for just 

a moment

And with your presence listen.

Paying attention

is an offering

of great affection

An acknowledgement to Life's abundance

And a gift

for both seer and 

the seen.

-------

Make Room

-------Make Room-------

Belonging 

does not come 

by occupation.

So please, 

white men, 

let go our claim 

upon this land

For there is no 

amount of power

that will heal the void 

of which we carry.

Only love 

can do 

that.

Let go, my brother,

and keep 

letting 

go

Until that song

the Earth is singing

has room enough

to move through you.

-------

When I Listen

-------When I Listen-------

When I listen 

I can hear 

Through honeybee's and blossoms

A liberation song up-

rising.

Can you hear it?

The wild roses 

are blooming.

And in every one an affirmation

To the light

and of the music

That each of us behold.

-------

Dandelion

-------Dandelion-------

There is 

a lot to learn 

in this moment

From those 

who some 

call weeds.

Like the settler

who names another

invader.

And 

the 

dandelion

Who

with the utmost 

humility

Quietly defies

the hubris

of the plowman,

Repairing 

with tap roots

the hardened ground

And sharing 

in abundance

their nectar,

their pollen 

and seeds

with the world.

Pay attention

to them,

Young Blood,

And how 

they not only 

survive

But thrive

through moments 

of change.

-------

Imagine

-------Imagine-------

Like a forest

restored

by fire

May we

rise up

into the light

That every crack

in the empire

has made

And imagine

that each 

our dreams,

Our curiosities

and

wonder

To 

be 

the trees

Who breath

new life

into the world.

For abolition

is not 

destruction

But

a making

of room

For that forest

within everyone

to thrive.

-------

No More

-------No More-------

A knee

pressed

into 

the neck

Breathless

left

without 

defense

That most precious

and human

and sacred 

breath

A mother 

without

her child

left.

Taken by those

who claim

to be

Gods

themselves

but who fail to see

The void behind

that their presence 

leaves.

A knee 

pressed

into 

the neck.

A mother

without 

her child

left.

-------