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.

-------

Surrender

-------Surrender-------

Like a windbreak of Cottonwood

bending 

in toward the garden

I surrender

to that unseen

To that powerful

and delicate 

wonder

Who softens the storm

into a breeze

And uplifts 

each 

little leaf

To re-member in

to flowers.

-------

Paying Attention

-------Paying Attention-------

Over those 

who

observe flowers

Loneliness

will hold

no power

For inside 

each 

there is a seed,

A precious flame

which presence 

feeds.

So when 

the world

attempts to plunder

The innocence

of love 

and wonder

Know that you

are not 

alone

That plants are friends

and the garden 

home.

-------

Further

-------Further-------

If there is fear 

behind your anger

and loneliness 

within that fear

Do not look for company

in the blaming 

of an 

other.

The only way 

out 

from despair

is knowing we each belong.

But discrimination

takes us

further 

from ourselves.

-------