poetry

majority advice

majority advice

a majority of the time
when the minority warns you
that you are behaving badly
it is not only so but also
you have revealed that you understand
such a minority of the minority’s experiences
that you have not only been careless
but careless to the degree of warranting correction
warranting notification of the nonsense
of your nonidentification
with the minority’s concerns
and then
in the majority of cases
the major actions you must take are:
first, do no further harm –
do not defend your mostly indefensible ignorance;
second, apologize for the wounds (intentional or un-) you have created
or (more likely) further inflamed;
third, apologize for the effort your edification has cost someone
who undoubtedly has better things to do;
fourth, listen attentively and humbly to the majority of this other viewpoint,
even if you only see it by squinting;
fifth, live your life differently, eyes a little wider, viewfinder a little more sensitive, field of view a little larger;
sixth, help someone else from your frame of reference
also see things with this new frame
at least a majority of the time

poetry

apology

apology

I will build a cloud of calm
a warm nest you can sink down in
a cool pool to plunge into
when your temper’s gone hot
and your eyes flash
and fists clench
and lip curls in a sneer

inside will be the sparkle of stars
and the sleepy sound of cricket calls
the scent of lavender and vanilla
the soft soothe of otter fur
so dense it soaks up
all the loud jagged jabs
your elbows might wish to throw

in the center of this scene
will be my warm tender heart
always open to you
cozy as a little penguin’s jumper
even when you’re on the warpath
over toothpaste shower or parka

it’s not ready yet
but, my big, sweet son,
I’m building it now
space for us both to breathe

poetry

forest man

Owen took this photo.

forest man

sun turns thick tufts of fur to flame
stretched arms casually clasp
tree limbs slowly bending to forest floor
a long face looks down
at the baldish ape-men
with a modicum of curiosity
munches a leaf a nut a fruit
holds a trunk with feet-hands
tosses his arms this way and that
jointless as a Muppet

gentle orange man
forgive us for what we unthinkingly do
greedily eating blue packets of greasy Oreos
that probably burned your cousins in their nests

like all the endangered ones
you’re sentenced despite your innocence
you never asked for trouble
just a leaf umbrella from the rain