My Name Is Not Mavis

Gentling

Hold the knotty past carefully
And well. As if it were your most
Precious possession.
Do not worry it night and day.
Your fingers fretting and tightening
The hurt as you try to understand
The complicated ins and outs.
Simply hold it. Softly.
And gently whisper, What a pleasure
It has been. What a work of art
You are. Unique and gorgeous
In your complexity. May you
See the stunning beauty
Of the past that created
This world of you.

Choose to Arrive

Choose a soft place
To rest your mind
Choose a brave, steady task
To honor your heart
Choose tender words
To heal your body
Live without fear
Of not measuring up
To the mark made
By an invisible hand
That isn’t even there
Stop squinting
And perseverating
About the details
Close your eyes
Open your arms
And choose to arrive

last night

we stood on the street corner
with candles and rageful faith
burning as we pulled on the edges
of all that isn’t right.
we are well beyond the worst
our humanness can afford.
but, we can’t lose our grit and hope,
we tell each other and ourselves
as we take the limp helplessness
and give it purpose
in the ways that fit us most.
we can stand together,
we tell each other,
at the edges of our fear,
and, as necessary,
we will heed the call
to leap into the fray
following the light
of hundreds who shone before us.

May we dance with a courage
Lighter than our burden
Of wisdom.

It Begins with Hope

Hope is easy when everything is well.
When breathing is deep and sleep is welcomed.
Hope is hardest when the world is tilting crazily
And the righting of it falls on our shoulders.
Do not sag under the weight.
Join hands with your neighbor
Or the stranger across the table at the coffee shop.
See their heart and the possibilities within the differences
And double down, I mean double down
On the task before us calling like a siren.
Double down on everything within you that is
Strong, rebellious, and brave.
Because it is there.
And it begins with hope.