I know we are alike
you and I
we and they
I spot a shared longing:
we both wish we grew up
with a family down the street
yes, yes
ours is nice too
but over there,
the grass is always greener
and there,
we didn't have to slave over lessons
lessons of forgiveness
oh, don't play dumb
you know which house!
the one with no fence
whose yard differs
from all in town
with big shadow trees
with worn elegance
it's the one with thin hippy parents
smart and warm
who dress in clothes
you can't seem to find
in any shop
it's that family
who sent their eldest daughter
to a Christian university
to study science
the one whose "No on Prop-8" sign
sits atop flattened meadowgrass
you may sniffle at me
but look here
we are preparing for the delivery of spirit
that's the whole thing
why we pine
and stumble
repress and persevere
it would be good for you
hungry eyes
to get up
come dawn
to walk barren shores
or along taboo rooftops
become some spirit burglar
siphoning resilience
from grandfather sea
from sacred morning pulse
for, all of this
this whole clenched effort
is but preparation
for spirit
preparation
to take in but present winds
and colds and grays
and do with it
what Buddha eyes
and ironist mercy
loves
