Phoenix Time

The clock is stopped
Borne from the need to defend black bodies
it traveled thousands of miles
a magic bean
planted across the country
From Doctor to Professor
it set roots near the water
growing out westerly branches
over the community
to protect them
from the harsh toxic city skies
Until each seedling grew strong enough
to spread out into the sun
and protect their own ground
one sapling grew directly
from the roots
shooting rapidly to the sky
spiraled and circuitous growth
until it was as tall as Professor
but as a oung tree it was
tall and skinny
not yet spread broad
when one day a flood washed away
the Professor and all of the land
he protected began to dry out
as his sapling hadn't yet
had time to spread out
when exposed to teh light
many seedlings wilted and
the ground grew hard
but the sapling stayed strong
in the hard blowing winds
blown back and forth
being stretched in all directions by fate
she meticulously cared for each of her
own seedlings
protecting and cultivating
the ground
and providing cover when needed
until she began to have
a dense forest at her feet
when a reckless youngster
sick from the poison of
toxic city skies
danced upon the wild red flower
kicking it around them
unaware of the force they released
flicking flames into the top of
the now tall and grown sapling
who swooped her branches low
bringing her seedlings in close
and swallowing the red flower
to protect the legacy
and turn herself
into the Phoenix

The clock ticks again.

Settling - A Novel Routine

I feel a settling within me. The resistance to relaxation is reverberating more and more lightly. It is easier to be. Tears for the clouds, tears for stars. That openness above that I always knew was still there pairs with an opening within. Seeing the stars I haven't seen in years and I'm seeing their past and mine at the same time. I fall asleep with tears in my mind repeating they were there the whole time. Connection to Earth connection to space, this part of my humanity shall not be erased.

Own It

They say some people in pain can't die
until that pain has been relieved.

When they can finally relax
they can move on to the next world.

But pain causes them to hold on
Almost like grabbing a live electrical wire,
unable to let go.

Maybe people without pain can't live
until that pain has been felt.

When they finally accept it
they can move into the fullness of life.

Breathe in that pain
until there's none for anyone else to feel.

Hold onto that previous resource
for it is yours and no one else's.

Breathe out love for everyone else.

Mold Truth

Close and Far
Connected and Alone
Too huge to resist
Who gets to hurt?
Whose life whose job is essential?
Delaying deaths vs murdering livelihoods?
Are those the only options?
How many jobs are worth one year of life lost?
Do cops not need masks because they would only vector to the poor?
They kept that courthouse open for a good while
Rich people collect on their boats, beaches closed.
The masses must jam onto the Bluff.
People with big houses host patio parties.
But they'll close the parks if we stand too close.
What's the risk on my sidewalk?
What's the risk on a trail?
What is the tale I'm being told?
The government cheese is growing mold.

Evaporative Flow

As long as there is wind
the raindrops of wonders
will wash over my head
tapping me in all directions.

Until I stop trying to collect them
and let myself soak
and then I won't even be
able to tell if I'm getting wet.

And those waters will run to
the ocean
where I will ride them
with joy
until they splash back up
to the sky
to teach me another lesson.

Process

As I do I achieve
As I achieve I feel strong
As I feel strong I push harder
As I push harder I resist tenderness
As I resist tenderness I build tension
As I build tension I feel under attack
As I feel under attack I put up walls
As I put up walls I lose sight of my path
As I lose sight my world becomes smaller
As my world becomes smaller I realize I'm off course
As I realize I'm off course I embrace tenderness
As I embrace tenderness I release tension
As I release tension I feel connectedness
As I feel connectedness I take down walls
As I take down walls I see my path
As I see my path I embrace the moment
As I embrace the moment I fear for my safety
As I fear for my safety I step back
As I step back I choose to live my life
As I choose life I find presence
As I find presence I erase coincidence
As I erase coincidence I find purpose
As I find purpose I develop gratitude
As I develop gratitude I lead with compassion
As I lead with compassion I become love.

The Present

It dissolves away
false fragments of imaginary times of past and present
give way to the only truth I have
which is that this is it
this is all I have
and everything I need.

Happy Mother's Day Grandma

You seeded the desert
with wildflowers
when you smiles upon it.

Your understanding acceptance
filled the air
with the twinkle of stars.

Your words were the wind
which swirled around us
gently pressing us together.

But ultimately it was your "YooHoos"
which kept enough good food in our mouthes
for us to all get along.

Thank you for blessing us all with a loving family Grandma.

Dear Fridgie

Dear Fridgie,

Thank you for keeping our food fresh for a long time.

I appreciate that you weren't designed to do what we needed and I am sorry for anything I did to contribute to your demise. We tried to keep you functional for maybe a year by putting a bowl in the fridge to capture all of the water being leaked. We probably emptied the frozen water 100 times.

We went through a whole saga with your predecessor, Fridgie Sr., who after months of repairmen visits, just kept getting humid in the freezer and clogging up.

Upon hearing you running 24/7 for perhaps a week or more, it was clear to us that you were struggling to do what we needed. Also, the sound was immensely agitating.

Today Micky called several repair places before finding one who was willing to make sure you were well taken care of. We even cleaned you up to make a good first impression.

To make sure they didn't change their mind we immediately loaded you in the truck and delivered you to them on the spot. We wanted to make sure you weren't abused on the street.

We home you are tuned up soon and find a wonderful home where you can again keep people's and perhaps even animals' food fresh and safe.

Thank you for taking great care of our food Fridgie.

Ben and Micky