Call me when you arrive

To the gates of heaven

Let me know when you won’t return

Tell me how sweet it is to taste a nectarine

Speak of things I can only imagine or dream

Swing in the ever-growing trees

Meanwhile, I shall wait for my judgment

Smile in the glow of the day

Sashay within the sun’s rays

Hover over my figure and provide the shade

How does it feel to never ache? It must be delightful to cease to cry or feel the empty pain?

Tell me how to correct my misfortune

Is this heart a misfortune?

How does it feel to have angel’s wings?

How does it feel to stop living for worldly things?

How does it feel to not be bound to a ring or another absent-minded string?

Is He forgiving? Is He cursing? Is He demeaning His lackluster creation?

Does He shake His head in disapproval? Does He watch us mock Him?

What is lost then?

How does it feel?

Are you resting in peace?

Would He let a wretch like me, see?

Does He exist? Was it worth cursing the flesh?

Does David make my bed?

Was the agnostic, right? Was the atheist worth the fright?

Was it worth being pretentious? Was it right to love convenience?

Was it right to define the word love?

Demon, Devil

Demonic and disastrous

Pick up the call, show the sinner his folly

I suppose the non-believer is raptured

I suppose the ex-convict is captured

I suppose the man is ill-mannered

I suppose that I am speaking into the void

Call me when you reach the truth

Call me when your days are no longer shaded in the blue

Don’t cut these chords

Don’t cut the chorus

August heat bears down on the orchard

Kicking the fruit beneath our feet

Tripping over the ruins of their flesh

All too similar to a human feeling

Molding fruit on the counter

Try to polish off the sadness

Pull the worm from the center

Who can be a better contender?

Spent 3 hours picking from the best limbs

By the end, I realize that no one wins

A painting mocks our image

Faux apple, boasting a rotten core

Climb the branch and extend your hand

Expedite a plan

Remain in a defensive stance

If not for Eve, then for Adam

Preservation for the worst

Restless for the worth

Crushed within the dirt

Before beginning my line of thinking, this piece of writing is designed to raise questions and encourage more complex thinking. As someone who has used religion as a moral framework, I often apply bias when I consider morals. However, I do believe it is necessary to consider the depth of the question. Do we need religion to be upright, moral individuals?

In the South, Christianity permeates society. In fact, I guarantee that if you travel a few miles down the road, you will spot a Christian church. A question that always comes to mind is: What is the difference between the denominations, and do their religious guidelines define our morals? In addition to this observation, I might add that there are a multitude of different religious groups that practice within the nation, outside the scope of Christianity. However, for the sake of the argument, I will use Christianity as my focal point. This is, in part, because Christianity is the most prevalent and widely practiced religion. As a Christian myself, I believe it is necessary to self-reflect on our devotion to a Creator and our stance on our morals. What exactly are we following, and why? For most Christians, our faith was taught to us from a young age. Within that teaching, we were given a moral compass, often centering around concepts such as the Ten Commandments. These rules were designed to serve as guidelines for becoming an upstanding individual who averts sin and treats others with dignity and respect. In essence, follow the guidelines, become a good individual, and be rewarded with the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now, from an objective standpoint, guidelines such as the Ten Commandments are very informative. The Ten Commandments make sense in a moral and ethical sense. However, do we need the Ten Commandments to become moral individuals? I would argue that we do not. This argument stems from the fact that there are many individuals who have a strong moral background but do not practice Christianity or follow guidelines such as the Ten Commandments. In essence, not everyone will be introduced to the Ten Commandments; therefore, it is unfair to say they are immoral because they lack that introduction. In fact, other religions practice similar guidelines that exist outside the vernacular of the “Ten Commandments.” It becomes evident that religion can be a guide to morals, and morals can be a guide to religion. However, both can exist outside of one another, with the potential for one to strengthen the other.

Religion allows humans to gather in community to worship their Creator. However, outside of religion, there are many people who do not practice this communal worship. As individuals who are part of a denomination, we must consider their moral framework and question whether our faith is what shapes our morals or whether something outside of our faith does. We cannot discredit the notion that there are many upstanding individuals who deviate from a religious framework. This, however, does not mean that they are devoid of a good conscience. Their moral framework was developed outside the lens of a beginning and an end. It exists outside the notions of Heaven and Hell and perhaps outside the idea of incentive. Therefore, there is a nuance that we must honor.

As Christians, we must consider the fact that our actions may arise from the belief that there are a beginning and an end. We believe that our good deeds do not go unnoticed. But what if they were? What if the good deeds that we carry out regularly lacked an incentive? Would we be more or less inclined to extend the favor asked of us? As religious individuals, we must not cut ourselves off from the understanding that morals do not solely derive from our church, denomination, or holy scripture. Furthermore, we must also consider the complexity behind a moral and ethical framework. We can see ourselves as objectively good individuals, but that judgment is based on an external bias. What you may think is morally upright may not be the same for another. Therefore, we teeter on the question of what makes morals, morals. When considering how we make decisions, we must apply logical thinking to the equation. Are we applying bias because we were taught by one group while failing to consider the multitude of other beliefs and perspectives?

Religion is a beautiful, complex set of ideas and practices. There is innate value that humans receive from following a set of values and doctrines. However, I will not denounce the notion that morals can exist outside of one’s faith. Looking down the line of spirituality, we must consider something far deeper than the God who created us. We must consider that if He created us, there are going to be vast deviations in how He is honored. It begs the question: Is this all a part of the plan?

I do not believe that the debate of religion versus atheism/agnostic is supposed to be understandable. For decades, philosophers and scholars have debated the mere existence of God. This debate continues to be carried out on a mass scale. If we choose to believe, we must also consider that it may be a fallacy. If we choose not to believe, we must also consider that there may be something out there. A deeper perspective should be enlisted. Can I become a proper, well-held individual outside of my own set of values? Does religion define me? And, what happens when I become defined by one line of thinking? I conclude this line of thinking, as to enlist a different perspective. Where is the fine line of logic, spirituality, and religion?

SIDE NOTE: Finally, I must add that morality and ethics are often confused. I plan on delving more into these topics in another newsletter. There are ethical and moral frameworks and they can merge. However, it is easy to confuse the two. As I reflect on religion, I must add there are also considerations for the ethical nature vs. the moral nature. Reflecting on religion and the frameworks also includes an ethical factor. I will delve deeper into these nuances in another newsletter.

Brautigan wrote of a graveyard and the bevel

Cigarette in the mouth

One becomes disserved

The other disheveled

Sugar drips out the pit of fruit

Man sits with its spirit

A green of the summer eve’s

He pulls down the crown of blossoms

And looks at them with withered eyes

Kitchen heat is overwhelming

A hollow face perspires

A knife in one hand

Red illustrated on the wooden board

Oven at 350 degrees

Child roaming the plains

Fire in the wheat

Red shoes on his feet

Victim of the seams

Encroached around the small frame

Marbled headstones, quieted tones

For the lost, for the bevel he spoke

You may find yourself relating to this example. From afar, it appears that we all go through some delusional path of reconsidering our interactions. Collectively, we must admit that the entire dating scene nowadays seems off. In summary, there is less ease in conversations, less face-to-face interaction, less friendliness, and an increased sexual undertone. Yet, even in these truths, those who consider this philosophy are still stuck in the haze. We have conditioned ourselves to believe we cannot fix these undying truths and continue to self-destruct. Perhaps we cannot fix the social circumstances. Perhaps we have to take a rather dismal, doomsday approach to this whole mess. However, within this doomsday mentality, there may be a glimmer of hope.

In part, we must consider how we treat others in person and online. Humans are not video game characters; they are not objects, and they are not designed to be completely subservient to another. Instead, humans are designed to facilitate a community in which people give and take in the fairest and most balanced way possible. The fact that we are all human beings gives us a social advantage above other creatures that reside within the animal kingdom. Our social advantage lies in our ability to recognize the utter restlessness of recent generations and their off-putting interactions. In the past few years, there has been a surge of individuals speaking out against the gender divide and the rampant social competition within the same gender. This gender divide takes form in many different facets. In particular, there is a one-minded, facetious approach toward the opposite genders experience. Blatant stereotypes are placed on each gender without considering that each individual varies in their presentation. Now, you may state that stereotypes are placed for a very obvious reason. And yes, you would be correct. However, these stereotypes are being used in a far more radical tone, with each side drawing narrow-minded conclusions. On one side of the aisle, women throw around the word “misogyny” flippantly. On the other side, men take a narrow approach to the ideal stereotype of the feminine form. In this watered-down approach, there is a loss of proper unity. Beyond this, we can also see competition within the same gender begin to morph. Social unity seems to have dwindled into simply being better than the other person besides us. More women are able to enhance their figures. More men are able to enhance their physiques. More women are able to learn how to socially adapt and take control of their surroundings. More men are able to learn how to socially adapt and take control of their surroundings. In turn, instead of normal unity within the genders, there is a blame game — “a catfight of sorts.”

As we know from a historical perspective, this has been true for centuries. The difference now stems from the addition of social media. It has become men versus women and women versus men. The divide makes it hard to see a semblance of truth. A better frame of reference should be something like this: Not all women are good. Not all women are bad. Not all men are bad. Not all men are good. These statements seem obvious, yet we stray so far from them when it serves us to oppose one another. The war between the genders has become one of much debate as of late. This is seen throughout the media, with increasingly loud influencers making outlandish statements on both sides of the gender divide. With this social influence comes great power to shape how we view the opposing gender. If the media pushes us to oppose one another while providing seemingly solid advice, then why should we not take that advice? Especially if that is the algorithm that has been graciously forced upon us….

This algorithm I speak of is one that you and I have both been exposed to, whether or not we wish to accept it. The algorithm is perpetuated through the news and social media platforms (Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Prior to this, the way the algorithm was perpetuated was more subtle. For example, humans utilized gossip magazines or short blurbs in the corners of newspapers. Now, social criticism is readily accessible. Now there is a 24/7 stream of opinions presenting criticism and taking the moral high ground. s (for example, the essay you are reading right now — readily accessible and adding social commentary). It is easy to formulate an opinion from an online forum that is accessible to anyone who stumbles across. It is easy to simulate an egregious character when one is encouraged through money and ad revenue. The more conversation, the more anger, and the more confusion, the more attention that is garnered. As we know, more attention does not equate to happiness. Instead, we have seen quite the opposite. We have become a society steeped in parasocial relationships with our favorite celebrities. We live vicariously through our favorite influencers. We make time for our algorithms and forget the human beings beside us. None of us is above this reality. Many individuals have taken a stand against the increased usage of social media. However, as we have seen, it seems impossible to connect with others when we are left behind. A flip phone will not suffice for curating an image. A flip phone may cause humiliation. The lack of social media on your phone may be seen as commendable, or it may be seen as odd. And even if you lack the tools of social media, you may still feel empty in some regards — the social contagion of “missing out.” The possibility of missing a direct message from the person you admire from a distance. This is the scary truth: it is hard to flee our infatuation with the media and our desire to be seen.

So, what do we do? Or rather, how can we mitigate the stream of media and the gender divide?

In my opinion, we should open our ears and listen. We should ask: How do others view the opposite gender? How do they propose resolving conflict within and outside of relationships? How can we dismantle the constant need to sexualize and romanticize the opposite sex? From a distance, this seems like an easy and reasonable proposal. Yet we fail over and over again. It comes down to the logistics of how many people are willing to participate. How many men and women believe there is a possibility to bridge a gap that is so wide? How many women can restore their friendships? How many men can restore their friendships? There are baby steps that could be taken. Examples include the rhetoric we use on social media, how we communicate in person, the compliments we provide, the attitudes we hold regarding stereotypes, the outfits we wear, and the sexualities we present. Baby steps have previously been used to deconstruct social monstrosities, so why not use similar approaches on a broader spectrum? Unity between the genders has always been difficult. Social competition is inevitable. Anger is probable. The pursuit of finding a mate often overwhelms our ability to see another human being as a human. Humans are more than the relationships they can provide. Humans are more than the gender they inhabit. We are more than a simple glimpse of flesh. Humans choose, in many senses — if not all — how they will interact with others. Kindness is not only a virtue, but a choice.

Looking ahead, it does not appear that there will be a global dismantling of social media. As inconvenient and dangerous as social media can be, it has also created a sense of interconnectedness. Though we can point the finger at the media, we are also to blame for the way we abuse the tools we have been provided. Knowing this, we must accept that we will continue to be thrust into the realm of parasocial relationships and miscommunications. All of us know how it feels to try to convey our thoughts through social media. We all know how tone can be misunderstood through a text. As a generation growing up with the rampant use of technology, it is our job to teach the generations that come after us. This includes teaching them how not to misuse the tools we have been provided or forced to use. It is our responsibility to show others that relationships cannot be sustained through a simple text. Relationships cannot thrive solely within the atmosphere of the internet. Evolutionarily speaking, humans were not designed to be stripped of the physicality of relationships. No matter the circumstance, we are social creatures. We follow our ancestors and we follow patterns of animal behavior. Outside of our control, we wish to connect, relate, and solve problems. No one benefits when the anger elicited on both sides creates division. If you are quick to judge, then welcome to the club. Generally speaking, we all carry perceptions of one another, especially within the dating pool. Knowing this, we must proceed with caution in the way we use media to convey those unsettling feelings. We do not have to present perfect versions of ourselves on the internet. We do not have to have a perfect presentation in the real world. We are not merely “profiles,” and we are not “likes.” Though we use these tools to communicate, their simplicity should not be overlooked. We may shower others with praise to receive praise in return. We may try to establish credibility. We may try to provoke anger and controversy; However, this is not the full truth. Our identities are not reduced to the date and time of our online presentation. Our identities are not watered down to the way we present online. Our identities are not solely based on social acceptance online.

In conclusion, I encourage you to reexamine the way you approach others, through media or otherwise. How do you view your counterpart? How do you view the algorithm presented to you? What is your next step? Aside from this, how has your media usage affected your perceptions of relationships, sustainability, and your desires for the future? Are you a victim of one-set mindsets? Are you quick to place stereotypes on the opposite gender? If so, how can you begin to see another side of the story?

So what is your resolution…?

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Readjusted your eyes

Lens saturated with color

Notable artist splattered across the television

I mutter the notion

That it is full of commotion

And, rather deny, you simply smile

Glimmer of an aspiring artist

It is paint thrown against a canvas

I can’t pretend

That I would award the word “art”

Until a few months later

In my ignorance….

I find some bliss

That I should have an inevitable tryst

And, the community would call it abstract

And, I would beg differ

That is all up to the observer

Whether they should be open to something

Messier

Shed a layer of winter

Pull away the splinter stuck in skin

Another deep cold—bolstered with shimmer

Dancing eyes

Shadows skip around our forms

April showers—in preparation for upcoming storms

Trample over the gardens—keep the weeds

Sample your fun—present them to me

Tangled in ivy—why do we proclaim to be so mighty

Tangled in the literature—the complexity of fake vocabulary

Lie to another—lie for one another

Brush away the pollen—drift into sleep

Fall with me—stall with the breeze

Break all these preconceived fallacies

Resolve the nation’s issues—issue a new topic

Logically, spring has sprung

Admittedly the bee has stung

I was told—when push comes to shove

Bluebirds fly…..

Settling into routines….

With another right beside thee

Subtly, moving to the melody

Listening to the unsurety—rivaling in mystery

I was told a folktale. It regarded the nature of Miss Honey.

I was given a brief interpretation.

“Perhaps, Miss Honey is an older version of Matilda.”

I wonder if the narrative rings true. I wonder if there is a parallel.

As I reflect, perhaps, the folktale rings true.

Prim and proper. Walking taller. Shouldering her anger.

Matilda and her magical powers. Miss Honey with a spark in her eyes.

Soft touch. Firm demeanor. Intellect challenges intellect.

Glimmer in sight. Reflection in the light.

All the anger of past recollection. A detection in the sky.

Books piled high. Mischief to hide. Even the good ones are sly.

Evil on the tips of the toes. Headmaster in disguise. Parents and socialites.

Abandoned in the estate. Cottage and it’s picketed fence. Flowers encroaching.

And even the lonely finds some amusement in the past.

Tis’ the season of glass.

Funny how she saw it. Funny how the neglect permeates.

Funny how the intellect can be void of harsh correction.

In the evening, she walked into the home. Clutching her books.

Here to tell her parents that Matilda is wiser than perceived.

No one could see their pleas. No one could see the sincerity.

Exasperated sigh, sadness in the disbelief, nothing awakes.

Ignorance at the dinner table. Jealous brother. Parents selfishly tied up in money and bliss.

See…even Dahl has moments where his heart stalls.

In the dim light he created a figurative wall.

Hidden character in the lines. Writing desk filled with never-ending stanzas.

Telekinetic anger. Danger in revenge. It could end poorly.

Calmly keeping her head high. Yellow and white.

Matilda walks along, looking for the white line.

Face in the dust. Darkness in the room full of nails.

Running from mistreatment. Miss Honey appeases the masses.

Matilda refuses to crack.

But atlas, this is just analysis.

Perhaps, I remain ignorant in my review.

It is time........close the blinds 
Shower and comb your hair 
Stare in the mirror
Forget your purpose
Forget your worth 
Empty out the mouth full of words

Dim a light
Remind yourself of the concept of night
Sing me a lullaby-you murmur
Correct the words and repurpose the grammar 
Night...I love you...See you tomorrow...Goodnight, dear...Goodnight...
Love you....I love you.....I hate you......I....

Constellations marvel 
Glass constitutes the marble 
When Apollo floats 
A war in the sky 
All in one night 
Aphrodite rises
Behind the lines a wilting wing

Look up and close the fragile mind 
Close the weary eyes
Head is heavy with regret 
Heart is heavy with reasonable anger
Danger when the bow is strung with an arrow
Narrowed down on philosophy 
Narrowed down on the possibility of saying sorry

Hush, little mockingbird 
Mother has brought the crop 
Placed you in an obstinate lot
While one drifts away 
The winter wheat sways
The nightingale hums in her melody
Lullaby becomes a melodrama 
 
Send a message through the moon 
Send a letter to reach by noon 
Lullaby in the last cry 
Juliet sings to her family 
Romeo lost his familiarity
Poisoned things 

Lullaby to bid the nightmares farewell
Feet in the shadow of candlelight 
Vehement in the response 
Rumor that we are so far gone 
Lies strung along
Singing the forbidden song 
Afternoon into the goodnight 
Goodnight into the lullaby 











 

Our summer days are past us. Nowadays, the leaves have withered underneath the passerby’s feet.

Last evening the moon spoke in a foreign language.

Truth spilled from the groove of the astronauts’ leftover remnants.

Lies make their way to the ozone.

The rest is prone to some indication of hesitation.

A Creator’s sun will awake the world. It’s reflection glimmers through the curtains.

The rival hovers in the background.

Without the peaceful sound of a familiar voice.

Finally, this is less poised.

Finally, fewer words make up a void.

I was told that anger could fade by noon.

Secrets say, the gardener could prune all the distasteful hues.

Your flowers could finally begin to bloom.

Please don’t assume, that the rest are the few.

Galaxies float in the truth. Stars gleam in ecstasy.

Wake up underneath the beams of mother nature.

Send up a message, watch Icarus fall from the skies.

Wish on the starry night.

Wish for the voice of God.

Another precedent taken from the sun.

Wake underneath the blue blanket, name it your sky.

What a delight, we all share the same night.

Our winter days, circle around.

Our emotions swing on the empty playground.

Little girl’s dream to reach the surface of Mars.

If she let go, would she reach the edge of stars?

Without the gift of sight, could she have seen?

Beauty of the surface.

Could I close these eyes—-just to travel around?

Stuck in the 365-day orbit.

When the sun awakes you…. let me know.

Don’t let me go without the head warning.

When the night unsettles, please speak to the starling.

I sent it.

When the sun awakes you……

Let the world know, you have another day.

Let the world know, we joined the race to break the fray.

“i love you, dear.” ———— someone said that in the street

do you believe in that phrase? do you believe in euphoric haze?

“trust, i’ll come back.”——— a man says as he closes the door

children on the porch, there he goes, their toys on the floor

“you are pretty as you are.”———- says the hesitant mother

hair in curls, reading Vogue, that’s her literary prose

“to death does us part.”——— says the ridden couple

he wants to double his money, she says everything bluntly, unseriously and unfunny

“you are fired, take your things and box them.”——- says the begruntled boss

to your family’s loss, lost your temper and became cross, car sinking in the pond

“noose around the neck, swear to you”———- says the confused friend

did you know that they were at their wit’s ends? did you know their regrets? did you fight for them?

“she had two children, seasonal depression hit” —-—- says the neighborhood gossip

empties her pockets, pulls a chair next to you, tells the story and covers you in the blues

“he won the election, what happens to America?” ————- says the 1/4

echoes in the chambers, proclaiming the word danger, not a stranger to complaint, things aren’t always as they seem, so sit down and listen to the view

“we won this election, guess what happens to the nation!”——— says the 3/4

morals and podium quarrels, not to say this is all okay, not to proclaim that all is good in a red-wave, not to take a win and become vain, banish your pride, my friends

“we can agree to disagree” ———— says the non-testable

can this be amiable? can we take down the labels? make the words malleable and flip the tables?

“did you know that we all are sinners?”——— says the oracle

pour the tea and let those words spill, take my mind and banish the ill, capture the moment in the stillness

“you know, people can go to hell?”———- says the someone behind them

we wish could dispel, watch the holy water drip into the pail, your soul has become stale, time to wake up this inevitable

“the questions are getting too much” ——— says a watcher in the thrush

i guess you may have some reason, i guess these words are some sort of treason, i guess that we shouldn’t think

Act 2:

“join me on the couch. let’s talk about the mindsets.”

“i am just a human. can’t see you that? i can’t process it all alone.”

“so, how do you do it then?”

“i talk on the phone.”

“to whom?”

“well, friends.”

“dear, the landline has been disconnected for over a year.”

“you lie.”

“come here and look at this chord.”

“what about it? it’s torn in half. “

Act 3:

Here is a pill

Right and Left Hand

Red and Blue Sit in the Palm

“What if this hallucination is worth being irate?”

“Patience. Take it”

“Patience, what is that?”

“Something you learn. Something you develop through a fact.”

“Why would I stay in line? Why should I take this moment and erase it for you?”

“Not me, for them.”

“For whom?”

“The people behind the glass. For the rest. For the masses. You know?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Okay, well, I’ll enlighten you. Things are what they seem. You diverged from a true reality. You see things not as they seem. Now, take some time to realize that we call that insane. You can’t remain in this mindset, so take this pill.”

“I would rather not.”

“Well, society won’t like that.”

“Okay?”

“Hmmm, alright. How about this? Your image will be destroyed. Those things you push back on don’t matter. Those are nightmares, and they distort your eyes. You won’t find inner peace if you cloud your mind with trivial pursuits. This will calm you down and help you close your eyes. I can provide you with sweet dreams and daydreams. You will blend in and skip about lightly on your feet. Understand? I think this is worth the risk. Will you please listen?”

Breaking news!

“Well, good afternoon, Carol. You know it’s been a sweltering day. It is around 100 degrees Fahrenheit down in the state of Arizona. It might as well be the equivalent of 451 degrees; it is so hot!”

“Yes, Jim. It is just unbearable. I stepped out on my porch and immediately began to perspire.”

“Well, Carol, it is a good thing we have AC in this studio. Let us talk about the upcoming forecast. In the next few days, we have a chance of rain. 50% on Wednesday and 100% on Thursday.”

“Wow, well, that will be nice to receive a cooler spell.”

“Yes, I agree, you can see on the screen the next few days outlined for you, folks.”

“Well, thank you, Jim. Let’s move on to our breaking news. In the past 24 hours, three patients escaped an institute on the west side. The police are currently searching for the patients. They were last seen in the north wing of the institute. Camera footage went blurry right around 3:00 am. The investigators believe that someone tampered with the camera system. Regardless, there is a 100,000 award for each patient. This will be rewarded if someone can provide information on the whereabouts of the three escapees. According to law enforcement, the patients were considered stable. All three were taking medication for hallucinations. Without the medication, however, they are lost in what we call “free thought. As some of you may remember, free thought was banned 9 years ago. It is considered highly dangerous and can be destructive for anyone who is exposed. Please, be aware of this and proceed with caution.”

“Oh, wow. Carol, you know we haven’t had “free thought” for nearly a decade.”

“Yes, this is a very serious case. If you have any tips, call the number provided on the screen. The law enforcement is advising locals to be on guard and not to expose themselves unless they are absolutely sure they are safe.”

Act 5

Caught, brought down to the institute

Prostitute their image

Back on the medication

Back to the daily meditation

Ridding them of their “free thought”

The doctors are calm

They know the old is gone

Safe within the medicine

Everything is shed and ridden

Smile for the camera.

Smile to the pandering

Now, all the questions aren’t tested

Put to the grave and protected for all the rest

Damned to the succinct ordered minds

Outlaws of hallucinations

“Throw away that rose, will you?”

A water bottle and a red rose wilting within the encapsulation.

“I much prefer one or two over a bundle. Those over there are faux. My grandson bought them for me.”

“Why, they are beautiful! Is he a good man?”

“Yes! He is 25. Today, he should be accompanying his father with yard work.”

“It is a beautiful day; would you like me to open the blinds for you?”

“No, I can see very well. Leave it as it is.”

Should it be just an instance when a petal hits the floor?

A sudden realization that we may be blessed.

If this is how we join in the afterlife, then call me the richest woman alive.

If this is what God is giving me, then all praise to His name.

If this is how God is cursing me down, then I shall not question His reason.

If this is treason, then give me a new season.

Garden of Eden, I shall retreat to you then.

Many will say this is conflated.

Many will call me elated for a simple interaction.

Many will walk away. Many will flip the lights out.

I live for the day when someone sees past my discrepancies.

“Aren’t we all human?”

“Yes, we are.”

Isn’t that enough?

Couldn’t we just sit here and speak of some previous time and place?

Could you see me for more than these hands and feet?

Servant of some other, servant of the Maker.

Here, in some coincidence.

I suppose there is some age gap.

I suppose I am supposed to fall in line.

Perhaps, we differ in that regard.

Two people can relate.

I can blend in just as well as the rest.

“What type of food do you enjoy?”

“Well……I like fruits and vegetables.”

“I prefer vegetables compared to fruits. What is your favorite fruit?”

“Strawberries!”

See, it’s simple. Simple conversation, yet some don’t see it.

Why, it’s more than just a sleight of hand, it is a deck of cards!

It is encapsulated in the time of day. It is the transcending belief of more.

It is burdened souls, with stories that are passed on to the next.

Some that are far too delicate to spill.

Some are wrapped up in a smile and a tear.

Some are wrapped up in the voices. Some are plastered in the interworking’s of the home.

Some are peeling from the wallpaper.

Might I add, some are stuck in the petals that are thrown.

Some are thimbles in these fingers.

Some are floral scents that linger.

Now, long gone. Now, away from the room.

Now, we diverge from one another. Now, here we must provide an epilogue.

Someday, perhaps, I will do the same.

Question the pains and the aches.

Question the purpose of this place.

If the roses are supposed to be exposed.

Then let them be in the limelight,

shine bright,

and insight into something far from what is exposed to the eye.

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is a fetus a child?

should the criminal receive a lifetime?

do you consider gay rights?

are you feminist or a defender of men?

should illegal immigrants receive a home?

polygamy or all alone?

should the vietnam veteran receive a headstone?

does God love these unknowns?

is there another religion more considerate?

are the homeless needs met?

is marijuana a danger, a threat?

should we arm the innocent?

should we lock away the predators?

should we ever leverage the stressors?

what about the list of meds?

are you conservative or liberal?

red or blue?

is it your truths?

what about jan. 10th?

about the marches in the cities?

another flag?

is the economy stable?

what about the tariffs and all these labels?

do you want a mask? n95 or nothing?

my body, your choice? my body, my choice?

traditional or new-aged?

gen-z or antiquated?

are you phased by his new name?

is it morally aligned to change the gender?

are they being true or are they just pretenders?

what about the president's new bill?

your stance on the supreme court?

do you even care for the poor?

do their lives matter?

what is the matter?

are you eating off a silver platter?

are you a supporter of the white supremacists?

are you offended by someone’s skin?

do you believe that suicide is a sin?

what about equity and inclusion?

an opinion on America and its foreign involvements?

what about pollution?

what about the theory of micro and macro evolution?

do you have a solution?

what about these teens’ confusion?

what about the use of media?

what about it is socially speaking?

my friend, do you like your state?

my friend, did you hesitate?

is this how we must go along?

why are you so high-strung?

why are you hesitating in the lungs?

it is just a state of questions……

“Turn the tv off, it is time to get washed up.”

“MOMMY they are talking. Don’t you hear?”

“Here you go. Complete your multiplication rows.”

“Children this is how the Nile River flows.”

“No, I know, but we can make this a moral show.”

“Let me teach you my truths…”

Sit in the seat.

Sit in the undying heat.

Take these things with a grain of what?

Salt. It can heal the bleeding wounds.

Let me introduce you to: 2+2=5

9-5 to keep them aligned.

“The heart lacks chambers.”

“The Romans' hearts are locked in the chambers.”

“Did you know that you can have love anywhere you go?”

“Did you know that people truly never go?”

“Did you know your weakness really shows?”

“Practice your cursive.”

“Hey, boys quit that cursing!”

“Present your phonics.”

“The topics will become far too complex.”

Carefully perplexed by the monumental movement to prove.

“Did you know things are interchangeable?”

“Did you know that you can rid the things that make you, you?”

“Good! Right?”

“Did you know chemistry is the same thing as biology?”

“Cells are just things that felons exist in.”

Mathematics written on the walls.

“Roman Numerals are solely for funerals.”

“Why is there vomit in the stalls?”

“Wait, she got it wrong?”

“Does she have the wrong concept?”

“Who taught my child that?”

“Civics are citizens.”

“Ethics are faceless things.”

“Teacher, why is he not opening the door for me?”

“Men can’t cry? Women and men both have to be breadwinners for the dinner?”

“Why is the spoon on the wrong side?”

“Did you know there always has to be two sides? Red or blue?”

CHOOSE

“Why do the children forget to stand when the flag flies?”

“Why is the cross upside down?”

“My son is being taught how to forget love?”

“My daughter has no trust in the signs of turtle doves.”

“Did you know that she thinks she is fat?”

“Did you know he thinks that he has to prove every fact?”

“Did you know her friends taught her 3 more insecurities?”

“Did you know? Could you stop this? Please?”

“Treason in this nation?? Treason in my home?? John, why are the kids lost?”

“Water is red.”

“What?

“I mean blue!”

“What about the sky?”

“Sharks swim in flight! Birds come alive in the night.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are excused.”

“How many continents are on the earth?”

“Seven vices and don’t practice virtues.”

“What do the parents care?”

“Let us capture their mind in a snare!”

“Miss…..I just think you may have….”

“Your kids’ brains are in the wash. Give me a minute.”

“Meanwhile, let’s pretend to be friends!”

“How about that meeting this weekend?”

“John…..we should put a plea deal in. It really had gotten too much for my heart.”

“Honey, there is nothing in that heart. You are lacking the chambers.”

“Hey mommy!!”

“What honey?”

“Did you know you can breathe without oxygen?”

“Did you know marriage is a concept?”

“Did you know that they speak in threats?”

“Did you know that they expect so much?”

“Did you know that enough will never be enough?”

“Did you know that a score on a test matters.”

“Did you know that there is no such thing as manners?”

“Did you know they can judge you on the past?”

“Did you know authority means nothing if done inappropriately?”

“Did you know, mommy?”

“Dad?”

“Can you hear me? Are you listening?”

Mother Mary is mixed with sherry. To tell the truth, the prophets took the ferry.

It's not worth sharing the concept of faith, if the rest stop caring.

Moses parted the red sea. The devil tries to tempt thee.

Designated place to sleep, it's a wooden pew.

In the sanctuary, the priests recite verses.

In the back room it's rehearsed.

All of this occurs before the clergy files in.

In the homily, they speak of some anomaly.

The choir is confused in reality.

Words are butchered in the religions.

Some forget their premises and the origins of which they were established.

Then they rattle, echoing upon the astonishment.

Why would a lamb stray? Or the cattle lumber away?

No, I suppose we shouldn’t question the concepts that are frayed.

Little orphan Annie flips a coin.

Is it ovaltine? The beauty of being a human?

No, rather it's the water from the springs.

The holy water from the grotto.

Love others, it's a motto.

The golden rule makes everyone a fool.

They teach that phrase in school.

If you don’t get it correct you are a dunce on the stool.

Mrs. Money Maker come down to the front.

Mr. Jealousy you can let down your front.

Children please be quiet and let the preacher be upfront.

Foolish things and foolish upbringings.

Correct your posture and gather your things.

Hey kid, you forget your wings!

The last supper reminds the public the last sinner is stubborn.

Clean up in white cloaks and turn the lights on in the suburbs.

Shine down on the man walking his dog.

Caught in his smog, lifted to the judgement.

Shine down on the woman standing on her porch.

Caught at the front door, head lifted above the rubble.

Blade against the stubble. Blood dripped into subtle.

Quick, grab the phone, it’s you all alone.

Father is ringing.

Did you hear that? It’s the angels singing.

Listen closely, there are demons in the ears—— ringing.

Head to the temple. Feel it on the temple.

A wine glass, a chalice——— waiting for the entrance to palace.

Who shall? Who shall not? Who deserves that route?

Lift your head up, don’t you dare pout.

In the morning, Father Joseph didn’t know. To tell the truth, he was a little blue.

It’s worth sharing the faith, if no one breaks.

Snake moves in the garden; in the eve he looks for the fallen.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Low hanging fruit, who knew it.

Judas and his bag of silver.

The two cents.

He finally found his sense.

a special thanks to Zoe Sehein

thanks for seeing past the threshold

socials: instagram and substack :

someone told me i may regret

they made it a test

they want a grievance, they want me to pretend

i revert back to the truth: it’s a rebirth

place my figure on a street

pull me into me a scene

man on his feet, woman to accompany

red light, intersection, pressing these words into a vent

step out in the center and the car halts

passerby astonished, quick movement keeps us polished

close to the city

back in Cherokee

whisp of weed

teenage kids sit around mocking

lungs filled with toxins

grandeur apartments, socially elite complexes

trio of friends in this presence

so long, but this isn’t the end

if you love, then you won’t mind if i traipse these roads

please…..you didn’t tell me so…..

this is my promise: to juxtapose the rumors

this is my psalm: to listen to you speak

why? well….

i took the time to find the inner peace

i dabbled with the art of mediation

in the past the doctor said it’s all about placement

some are used to placating

some are content in remaining the same

“where is the harm in trying to vindicate?”

no need to proclaim, i will take your hatred and abate

remember these hands against the bindings in Carmichael’s

hate to practice a vice

hate to cancel the date

hate to lose the feeling, but it was worth the sense

my image was distorted then

just washed-up college kids and their friends

i rather inhale incense and poetically present

lined up cars, mothers and their bmw’s, businessmen and their rolls royce

motivated to stay employed

offshore accounts, pressure to have something deeper in store

entertaining political conversations

“are you concerned for the state of the nation?”

do you have the patience to entertain my rebuttal?

who puts food on the table? who keeps the money jar full?

who keeps these businesses open?

the sweetest things are left unspoken

let me show you this painting

let me give you those lingering pains

bloody knees and sweet nothings

let me tell you what i mean

i was taught love in back alleys

now, without a stammer in my voice, i proclaim in the valleys

some men want a woman glimmering in glamour

i cannot provide that

in my pocket are these words and a sense of laughter

do you think you can take this and put it to practice?

i signed my name off on the lines

—cursive and all—

i took my paintbrush and made my mark

memories seeping from the presence of bardstown road

capture and bottle

rephrase them and title it an “ode”

it’s my passion to keep it wrapped in a lyric and poem

i want to prove to them, to show them, to keep my pen flowing

silenced, but this time i won’t stay in one place

grab your shadow and dispel it atlas

bitter contentment and fading resentment

the psychologists says that it is a common trend

hold on…..let me correct their defense

if you get lost in a dream

if you want to bring it to life

bring it to the place it was born

raise it from the dead and remain steadfast

reincarnate the lost and reinforce the plot

i provide the prelude and erase the eulogy

don’t believe? that’s okay, as long as you perceive