Dear God, Allah, Buddha, whoever the fuck is up there listening...
This one comes from a lost boy
Age 23
I thought I'd have it down by now
Looks like I was wrong again
This time I'm putting aside my pride
I'm asking you to teach me
To teach us
We've been doing it our way too long
And I think I speak for everyone when I say we're exhausted
And alone
And scared
So please...teach us
We're listening this time
You have my word...for what it's worth
Teach us to be like gravity
Pulling anything and anyone close
Unconditionally
Holding them like a mother holds a newborn baby
Safe
Comfortable
Teach us to cry
Teach us to dry our tears using a towel embroidered with humor
Laughter always was the best medicine
Teach us to crawl
Teach us to walk
Walk with a spring in our step named God
Teach us to run, jump, skip, hop-scotch to Mecca
We all need a pilgrimage to remind us that home is due West
West in a straight line eventually we leave the earth's surface
We leave the earth's atmosphere
We're in space, the final frontier
Past the moon
Past the sun
Beyond the Milky Way, way, way out in the stars
On to infinity
Trying to reach the ends of the universe to find the lines that define you
That devine you
As soon as we reach the edge we find it's gone
Wait no, it's just further out now
Out of our grasp
Out of breath, gaaaasssssp
Some things just aren't meant to be
But all us boys and girls hopped up on scotch will fall drunk back to Mother earth's dirty embrace
We haven't felt this safe in the dirt since we were kids
So we play in the dust like it's winter's first snow
Making dust angels, or are they people?
We're just trying to follow your lead.
And when we're done we don't bother to rinse off
We know it's only our bodies that are unclean
This dirt may stick to the souls of our sneakers, but it can't stick to the souls of your creatures
Not anymore
Not since you taught us to be like gravity
Pulling everything and everyone close
Unconditionally
Unconventionally
That always was your style
Who knew we had to leave the earth before we could feel grounded?
I guess you did all along
You always knew
I just never bothered to ask.
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ReplyDeleteI'm terrified of space, probably because I know that it's so big. And God created it all. And He created me. And I'm made of space.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, this is good stuff. I really like the section about feeling safe in the dirt, like kids.
Jesus, or somone like him, would like this.
ReplyDeletenice imagery here. i feel like it takes a bit too long to get into the thick of it though, and the beginning feels a little overburden with abstraction. i would choose a strong image to act as the centerpiece - i'm thinking the dust angels, its really great. Something to introduce at the beginning, and then come back to later. I think it might give the poem a more solid feel. Otherwise, well done.
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