Poems of Hope and Despair
Dandelion Lesson
I’m thankful for cheetahs
Thankful for my heart
Thankful my house is not in ashes
I’m tired:
I’m tired of being thankful
Counting my blessings
Against the baseline of
Despair
Tired of crawling
On the forest floor
Among these torsos
Crawling
Tired of this ache behind my heart
Tired of my own longings
Wanting nothing
Wanting so much
I’m not afraid:
Not afraid of darkness
Not afraid of stench
Not afraid of smoke
Not afraid of razor blades
Cutting my heart into
A thousand red ribbons
Not afraid of seduction of
Amputated limbs
Common Dandelion
In your umbrella of aigrettes
Come closer
Teach me
Lifting from the ground
Flying a little
:: Design by Waterman
:: Logo woodcut by Barbara Leventhal-Stern
