visual poetry, letterpress, the written word, multimedia

laps

been fighting with our fists up

generational trauma won’t let up

flower baths, hot tea

ain’t self care

for the dehumanized, you see

subliminal messages

yes, here, evergreen trees

still gotta carry batons

labor, perform

in a stomach that only weeps

self-care, how do we take care

those who caretake, can’t take care

oppression, subconscious

an ocean, forever lost in

flower baths, hot tea

ain’t self care

for the dehumanized, you see

will you speak, tongue to rhythm

does your fist even make a beat

for black & brown & in-between

you can name streets on fire

but can't name yourself

you can name streets on fire

but can't name trauma

flower baths, hot tea

ain’t self care

for the dehumanized, you see

no grandfather’s cabin

for us to retreat

no lounge chair

for daisies to engulf me

our knuckles been swollen

awareness, your privilege

trying to live

is our existence

as your hands submerge in bubble baths

and your knees shake from yoga poses

freedom will come from those

who put awareness to action

make living a sanction

we are defining the times

we are living in

dams

beaver teaches us

yet we seldom listen

eyes retreat

hearts harden

if only we

could reimagine

self and earth

earth and self

could we dare to live

like the beaver

to build, collect, pull

like the beaver

where food access

wasn’t a luxury

basic necessities

didn’t need authority

shelters for souls

houseless, not homeless

if we are life

and life is us

can we stop living

as though

there’s only one of us