Where Were You

Where were you

When they told us we were less

When they demeaned us for our sex

When they put us to the test

And we failed

Where were you

When the hate spread like fire

When we drowned in disquiet

When we rigged the fight

For the male

Where were you 

When Liberty wept

When none of us slept

When we were all left

For dead

Where were you

Not just last night but last month last year 

Were were you

When we were shouting our fears

Look, America, on what you've wrought

Look, America, on what you've taught

Us

Femmes queers 

Any color but white

Natives immigrants

All but the Christian right

Will you burn me for a witch

Will you spurn me for a bitch

Will you learn me

Earn me

My trust

You cannot just

Rebuild what's been broken

Unsay what's been spoken

I love women and

I love queers and

You've flaunted race

And flamed out fears

I am no better for my skin

Or worse for my parts

Than I am for my kin

Than they are for their hearts

We are love 

Where were you 

When love was lost

The game was tossed

Where were you 

If you want love

You fought it

If you want blood

I got it

If you want a fight

I brought it

If you want to be right

You're not it

Where were you

When you lost me

Lost us

Lost Liberty

Where were you

When our fight

Started over?

--11.9.16

Dear Israel

Dear Israel

Oh Israel

You stormed my heart with battalions

The birds of your canyons

The cats of your streets

The trees of your mountains 

Soldier after soldier brought me to you.

Oh Israel

Your call louder than I can hear

I did not think I was for you 

I did not think you would love me

I did not expect to fall into you

Strength and beauty delivered me to you.

Oh Israel 

My heart is full of your sunshine

Cloudless skies of the desert

Sunrise after sunrise 

From peaks to valleys and back

Golden rays draw me to you.

Oh Israel 

Your marching pride holds me captive

Smiling faces of new old friends

Passionate cries of history's idols

In cities and in ruins

The hope leads me to you.

Oh Israel

You catch my hand so swiftly

As more of us come home

As more of us belong

As more of us feel love

Your spirit holds me to you.

Oh Israel

You whisper war stories in my ears

A unique land 

A complex land

My homeland

Ghosts and living call me to you.

Oh Israel

Where I am home

My heart is rent as I fly away

I am scattered across continents and oceans 

I am missing something without you

Oh Israel, I am yours always.

Oh Israel,

My Israel,

Take me home again.

--1.14.16

Corpse Pose

The room smells like solitude

And sounds like a farewell

A dim, woodland evening in a rockstar's heart

She hides

In moments passed - time survived

Present uncertain

The room smells like solitude

And sounds like a farewell

Starlight and sweet things 

She disappears

Into the laughter around his eyes

Memories of happier times

The room smells like solitude 

And sounds like a farewell

A nest of shadows

She lingers

In cosmic ideologies - intangible things

The closest to home she's known.

--1.19.16

Silt

I think I am strong

Because I was made

To be broken

Over and over

And over again

Yet say nothing

And move on

And hope others are

The better

For releasing their pain

To me.

--2.23.15

Easy

It is so dangerous

To be able to fall in love

In the blink of an eye

With anyone kind enough

To lend you a smile.

--2.23.15