June 29, 2025

perhaps my desire is to educate
perhaps my destiny is to entertain
perhaps i just need to make folks aware
that the issues seen here and there
are systemic
systematic
and sometimes
on purpose

because the problem with conspiracy theories
is that there is a fine, fine line
between a theory about something crazy
and a retelling of something
that has actually happened
to a non-white person
in the past
[and, honestly, today]

June 26, 2025

getting choked up
at rallies where we all chant
“we are New Yorkers”
to signify we won’t be beaten down
or give in
to fascism

literally tearing up
while reading the world’s responses
to our mayoral primary
“that’s my mayor”
in Cleveland
in Virginia
in New Zealand
in Europe

those damn tote bags were right —

don’t you dare call me an american
i’ve never had any
pride in my country

but don’t you dare forget
that i’m a New Yorker
and my chosen city
stands up for all our
beliefs

and when we get together on something
don’t you dare forget
what we can all accomplish
as New Yorkers
together

June 24, 2025

eradicate one war
and we’ll throw a tantrum on the oval office floor
because we’re all just children
trying to impress daddy
trying to get back the love we never found
and we think that adoration is one step above
and fear another

but inside, those who start wars
are empty inside
and just trying to fill their own souls’ holes
with explosions of others’

i can’t teach the lessons
that they’ll never learn even from their own experiences

but i can make sure i never forget
my own humanity
and empathy
in any part of my life inside me

[and that’s why i vote with my conscience
for those with a
conscience]

June 23, 2025

fascinating
to be so devoted
to encouraging folks
to join the circus

because, for me, circus means
a place where our human bodies
are the art — they become the
strength and ability we never thought we’d have
the magic of human feats
and humanity
is how i see
the circus

but i know

that’s aerial circus

modern cirque, if you will

traditional circus
[though i do love the music and the costumes and the vibe]
has a horrible history
of exploiting animals
[and people, honestly]
in troubling conditions
[to say the least]
and the word “circus”
to an elephant
may be
complete
and utter
trauma

June 22, 2025

when i think of an elephant, i see giant gentleness, i hear the stomps of their feet and the flapping of their ears, and i feel a sense of peace and safety

~~~

when i think of an elephant, i see mammoth past, i hear calls for connection for the present, i feel uncertainty for a future for them all

~~~

when i think of an elephant, i see a being, i hear a whole herd, i feel the lifetimes of their ancestors and descendants all around me

~~~

rsvp to The Elephant Play here

June 21, 2025

perhaps this
decision paralysis
is why i’ve said yes
to being part of things —
ensemble
background
rather than leading
because others can actually take an active role
while i am overwhelmed at even the potentiality of a leadership anything

and i can follow
not because i am a follower
but because following action
is the action i’ve allowed myself, somehow, to actually do

my default state is action

it is the frozen with too many choices
that has become my leadership achilles heel

and in order to heal
i need[ed] to take a step
backwards

so that i may indeed
lead forward
again
soon