aayoungthe city razed
no stone left upon another
bloody rome
you have burned the heavens
to the ground
yet we are blessed with former sight
your men
plough the earth with death
salt strewn to prevent notions of green
but
you may not deny the people’s hearts
or
spring’s return
i stop
to consider
the plus column
life’s gifts given
grace bestowed and exhibited
loved received
lessons learned
intuition inherited
immunity earned
via ancient dna
lately life
is all column A
universal humility
gratitude for my existence
glasses more than half full
my cup runneth over
i raise a glass for each passed away
day
when feet are held to fire
and your soul fails to burn
you cease to fear the
the flint and friction filled
happiness arsonists
it’s your sense of what is good
and what feels right
that burn so brightly
impervious to incendiary bombs
and tooth decay
i am lucky
i survive
i am alicia
for that
i am grateful
for knowing
for being
for breath
for the smallest things
for twin boys with blue eyes
for being secure
the bearer of joy
no fools to suffer
no mandatory litany lists
or force fed hurt
i am a stronger me
and
i am unswayed
thank you