American Dream

The sun beats down

Hot on her pale neck

As she pauses and brushes away

A single droplet of sweat

Not a cloud to be seen

Nor a breeze to be felt

As she adjusts her sleeves

And tightens her belt

She pulls the brim of her hat

Down over her eyes

Yanks on her pant-leg

Glued by sweat to her thighs

A strand of hair escapes

And curls above her ear

She's never once forgotten

Why it is that she came here.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

Are the standards of today a consensus?

Does everyone really agree as to

What's out and what's in

Glamour versus sin

Too fat versus too thin?

Or, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

Are the standards of today chosen by the few?

For lack of better words,

Do the "bolder" beholders make the rules to be "cool"?

If that's the truth, then all I can say is bravo.

Bravo to the few who have built up a following

Around a ludicrous and fictitious calling.

Bravo to the masters and mistresses of fashion

Who have stirred the public into a passion

Over maxis and minis and halter bikinis

And florals and stripes and leggings and tights.

And I don't mean to criticize fashion

As an expression of creativity.

But emphasizing what we wear

Reeks of widespread naivete

When the system in place seems to be based

On capitalizing on our fears and flaws

And shoving them in our face

Over and over again...

At a seasonal pace.

And it's high time we say,

That's not okay.

You Knew Why The Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou Tribute)

You knew why the caged bird sings.

Your words whispered to me

From pages written in ink

But made with blood.

You told me

It's not where you come from

That defines you.

You reminded me

It's not other people's choices

That bind you.

Your words offered comfort

Strength and understanding

For a young woman

Struggling to know herself

In a world that knows her

By a profile picture

And a status update.

Where life can't be made of

Carefully chosen photos

And Googled quotes.

Where friendships have to be

Forged and cultivated

Not "tagged" as if claiming

"We're friends! We're exclusive!"

"Look how much fun we're having!"

You brought your problems to the table.

You sat them down and addressed them.

You took your past and present hand-in-hand

And walked with them into a future

Of your own creating.

And you told to me to do the same.

Tulips in Spring

The tulips

--Red Yellow Purple White--

Raise sleepy heads

Above their bed of grass

As they nod softly

Still on the cusp of sleep

The breeze filling dreams

With spring and summer scent

And sunshine banishes

All thoughts of winter

--Of dusk, of cold, of ice, of snow--

For warm days and clear nights.