Upcoming performances:

Spoken Word Saturdays- Saturday, May 10 Springfield Library 

Cafe Manhattan- Sunday, May 18 

Cancer benefit for Anesa Graham

Organix Soul- Saturday, May 24,

WHEN THE HULA HOOP IS A SANCTUARY *NEW*

the hula hoop is round, bold stripes in red and green

her lean, brown, daughter proudly twists her hips

as the hula hoop swivles

round

       and

                round

the only visible light is floats in from the kitchen

the rain pours into puddles in the front yard

and through the roof onto the kitchen cabinet

a foil pan solves that problem for now,

slowly filling with water.

Her daughter's braids swing with each spin of the hoop,

her mother looks on, proudly

this warrior, strong and beautiful,

a pink scarf tied around her head..

and instead of rushing off to another

meeting, appointment, errand, anything

she simply leans against the wall, beaming

with nothing but the sound of the hoop

swoosh

swoosh

swoosh

WHEN GRIEF STANDS IN THE KITCHEN

(work in progress)

when the sun goes down

and everyone leaves

and its just you and me and the sink full of dishes

cupboards covered with someone else's Tupperware

½ eaten caramel cakes and fried chicken

and when you see my eyes, red, and swollen

my tired limbs sprawling across the living room sofa

I may look like I want peace and quiet,

but

don't leave me

even If I have nothing to chat about

even if my life seems close to over

don't leave me

I know your world is packed with promises of a better day

you say you don't need anybody,

say you're grown now, and can balance a checkbook and all of that

and I'm much older and established

and shouldn't need anyone, right now,

but I do.

I need you.

I love how we can go this long

without phone calls or emails or any of that

and still come back together, fitting nicely

I need you to

find the me that still breathes

don't leave me here in the house full of fear

where everyone knows my name

but no one knows who I am at my core

lets lock the front and back door

and save the fights with our significant others for another day

old love is here

and I can come back

if you'd reach out and find me…