Saunter

are there ICE agents?

Because the paddocks of my attention are

empty—the horses are somewhere else—

and the small flock of sparrows have finished

their summer jubilee—it seems

the Florida primary

matters

& deserves a prayer

a meditation

a mantra.

fellow citizens—what is happening in

gaza is genocide.

We know genocide.  We know the bulldozers.

We know the killing of children & the elderly

as well as we know the back of our hands.

We cannot plead not guilty.

*

a meditation—

We cannot plead not guilty.

And claim our innocence as a

get out of jail free card,

as a set of housing regulations

protecting our complexion as a

community.

Because the paddocks of my attention are

empty—the horses are performing

dressage—& the jubilant sparrows are

taking a siesta

fellow citizens,

your approach to the voting booth

                                    matters

what your candidate thinks about

genocide,

matters.  Genocide & the ozone &

the right of children

*

fellow citizens,

your approach to the voting booth—

are their flowers?

are their veterans begging?

are there ICE agents?

Vote your conscience.

You know in your heart

genocide

& greed & gullible addictions,

sloth,

persuasion.

Because the paddocks of my attention are

empty—

the horses busily instructing their riders—

& summer’s jubilee of sparrows

taking a water break

fellow citizens

may the mantra of courage sustain you

the meditations of your heart

may this prayer find you

*

empty—the horses are performing

dressage—& the jubilant sparrows are

taking a siesta

you are being asked to consider

the right of children

to take their first steps outside

without encountering a colonial army

their first words

without screaming because

the butterflies are lethal

a meditation—

on the vote.

On election.

On the persistence of

                                    genocide

O your hands like mine

have been scrubbed clean of

any bloodshed.

Your mind of

any wrongdoing.

Vote your conscience