every once in a while

every once in a while
my thoughts wander
to me
alone
with feelings
at one
at once
big and small
brave and scared
loud and quiet
humming
ringing
reminding
me
to breathe
to live
 to speak
and
not let
my thoughts wander
to me
alone
with feelings
every once in a while

when there is no justice
the half blind will lead
here hobbling there dragging
in the name of progress
of promise made
of promises kept
of promises delivered

when there is no justice
the racist will show itself
pointing here pointing there
in the name of rights
of my rights
of our rights
of our entitlement

when there is no justice
the tongue  will spew venom
half screeching half screaming
in the name of justice
of belonging
of owning
of birth rights

years upon years
the same old song
passed down
and passed along
songs of corruption
of lies and deceit
of force enforced
a country broken
a nation burdened
a people angered

when there is no justice
promises unmade
promises unkept
promises undelivered
when there is no justice.

when you're being pulled under

when you're
being
pulled under
reach
for the
sky

an exercise
in futility
they say
grasping
at
nothing

stuck
sinking
struggling
spent
awaiting
miracles that
never
came
more
of
the
same

hands outstretch
nothing there
empty
eyes
in fear

scream
kicking
angry
at
efforts
of well meaning
souls
failed
and
compromised

rage building
something here
inside
speaks
volumes
heard
seen

when you're
being
pulled under
reach
for the
sky

others have stopped and got off

others have stopped and got off
when will i
how will i
this journey i am going
where will it take me
how far will it go
how will i fare
as i near the end
will i come and go
alone
a quiet life
 a quiet end
will anyone know
i was even  here
this journey i take

others have stopped and got off
when will i
how will i

traffic signs

i wish
there were traffic signs in my life
telling me
when to stop
danger
go
turn right
left
bumpy road
winding road
no entry

signs
i understand
i see
i know

signs
i break
rushing through life
not slowing down
not stopping
not thinking
not seeing
not learning

crash
boom
bang
i pick myself up
broken
not dead
patched
not healed

just wishing
now more than ever
there were
traffic signs
in my
life

i want to do so many things

i want to do so many things
but i don't know how
i am overwhelmed by this deep loneliness
that weighs on me
so heavily
i can't breathe
i can't think of anything
but being alone
no escaping this life as it is
dreading
knowing
wanting
but can't

i am overwhelmed
deep over my head
alone
lonely
so many things I want to do
but i don't know how
not
to be
lonely

Everything i have

everything i have
i really have not
empty handed i came
empty handed  i'll leave
all that i have
purchased
collected
accumulated
precious
important
validation
of a life i have
i live
until the day
I leave
the way i came
empty handed
everything i have
i really have not