there may be a reason
for the loop
in the branch
some kind of tree damage
or illness
but I like to think
the loop is there
because the tree
is being creative
having fun
twisting
and playing
to see just how far
it can go
Picture: Pixabay
we know that
but that doesn’t stop us from
taking a double take
since it seems as if they
are looking at us
they are positioned
so the one on the right
is staring straight at us
while the other one is
looking somewhere else
but
of course
they aren’t real
they’re just statues
they don’t even have bodies
so they can’t be looking
at anything
right
Photo: Marcus Ganahl
funny thing about
love
it comes in all colors
shapes and sizes
we can love anyone
or anything
love one of the very best
feelings in the world
but as much as it can
create warm
happy feelings
it can shred
a heart
just as easily
love is one of those
words
that means
something different
to each person
I love my cat
dog
books
bird
car
bike
kids
parents
walks on the beach
chocolate and
soft
well-worn t-shirts
the list of things we can love
is endless
which makes life
pleasant
exciting
fun and
joyful
but the flip side
of love
well
that’s a subject
for a different poem
Photo: Alexander Grey
Unsplash
I was thinking
that while I was out
buying flowers today
people were burying their
children
from yet another
school shooting
how long
will we allow
the NRA
owned government
to continue
murdering
our children
pigeons
are urban survivors
they are residents
of big cities
begging
or stealing
food
roosting
where they can
flashing their beauty
iridescent
or otherwise
at all who care to look
they come in every color
with
red feet
or brown
they are flying
decorations that fill the air
or sit on fences
watching the world go by
but what makes them happy
is seeing a friend
sitting on a park bench
one holding a bag
filled with seeds
Photo: Pixabay
this photo
reminds me of an ancient place
Egypt
Cleopatra
something with camels
fabulous ships
gems
armies
poverty
while rulers
take what they can
and glitter with gold
handmaidens
men who want more power
asps
that kind of thing
life
death
the Nile
under beautiful skies
and waving palm trees
lies
love
hate
and greed
and the fact
that nothing ever changes
other than the direction
of the wind
Picture: Pixabay
we all know
Harriet Tubman
Susan B.
Madam Curie
and the rest of our
foremothers
we know
Angela Davis
the poets
writers
screen stars
who even now
have a difficult time
getting roles
recognition
and equal pay
but don’t you think it’s
strange
that there is a
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
I mean
there is no
MEN’S HISTORY MONTH
but then
why would there be a
MEN’S HISTORY MONTH
see
white men allow women
and African Americans
to HAVE one
MONTH
a year
to celebrate the fact
that they
EXIST
and actually
DO AMAZING
AND IMPORTANT THINGS
while white males
have
EVERYDAY
of EVERY YEAR
to call their own
so there’s no need
for them to celebrate their existence
during a special month
because they celebrate
themselves
every single day
the months
dedicated to a certain group
are the crumbs thrown to
those who have no
real power
these months
are given to us
to keep us quiet
these months
are not threatening
to the establishment
or to the status quote
the men in charge
do not have to be afraid of us
instead
they hope we will be happy
with what we have been GIVEN
and ALLOWED TO HAVE
they are hoping that what they are
ALLOWING US TO HAVE
will stop us from fighting back
I think we should use our
MONTH
to stop being nice
and instead
kick ass
and show them what
warrior women can do
make sure everyone knows
how women were jailed
starved
denied medication
force fed
kept in filthy
damp cells
and all the rest
BY WHITE MEN
who also dragged the women through the streets
by their hair
and threw tomatoes at them
because they had the nerve
to demand the right to vote
these women were
FIGHTERS
WARRIORS
AND PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW
WHAT THEY DID
AND WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO
AND THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN
OF THE WITCHES THEY DIDN’T GET TO BURN
THE CHILDREN OF
FIGHTING WOMEN
WHO WERE BRUTALIZED
JUST SO WE COULD VOTE
AND GET AN EDUCATION
GENERATIONS OF WOMEN
WHO GAVE UP EVERYTHING
TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD
FOR US
these are the foremothers
men have tried to
ERASE
THESE ARE THE WOMEN
we need to celebrate
and keep alive
these are the stories
children need to hear
the meek will never inherit
ANYTHING AT ALL
that’s just one more lie
told by another man
Picture: Antonio friedemann
Pexels
this is what people
are expected to do
remain silent
to shut up
never question
never speak out
or up
we lived
in a closed system
run by rich men
who care only
about themselves
what changed
after women marched
to protect their right
to abortion
to protect the right to
OWN THEIR OWN BODIES
what changed
after people marched
to end racism
and police brutality
what changed
after children marched
for gun control
and the end to mass school shootings
what changes
when we scream
and show up
NOTHING
nothing has changed
and no one is marching
and they know that we will
eventually
SHUT UP
and go back to the lives
they ALLOW us to have
and not bother them
for awhile
until they take more away from us
and we scream
and march
again
until we all go back to the even smaller
lives we are allowed to have
our lives are
controlled by a few
UGLY
heartless
rich
hateful
dictators
who work in government
or churches
and even some schools
and pass down their
hate
from day to day
greedy
selfish
men*
who live
to control others
and make absolutely sure
that no one ever comes after
THEM
Photo: Pato Lenin
Pixibay
*Women are not exempt. They just don’t have the power to do anything. And many right wing, conservative, women hate women as much as men do. Women are conditioned to hate themselves. That’s the saddest part. Women are taught to hate themselves and compete for resources (men) because they are often forced into poverty, raising children alone, which makes them less able to care for themselves. It keeps women weak, exhausted and often forced to marry, in order to survive. Women are literally forced into dependency. Just as the poor are kept that way as well.
None of the people in charge want equality across the board. The threat is so horrifying to them that they will do anything to keep the power they have over others. Nothing happens by accident. By making women compete against each other, by raising them to accept their lot in life and judge other women, they effectively stop us from being a huge force who could stand against them.
Look at the mess we’re in. Men did this. They are in charge. THIS is the world they made. Violent, ecologically unsound, dying, and filled with greed.
Hey, it’s just my opinion, of course. Others might think extinction of species, never ending war, and all the isms, are just fine.
peace is a state of mind
Mother Nature
does Her best to show us
what peace looks like
what it feels like
in calm water
there is serenity
in a furious storm
there is chaos
Mother Nature
shows us the different
ways we can live
but after that
it’s up to us
Photo: David Becker
Unsplash
have you noticed
there isn’t one single
work of art
where Joseph
or any other man
is sitting
holding his
child
what kind of message
does that send
to
everyone
Rethinking Life 
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