Popcorn

We had to write a poem about an animal

in poetry class the other day,

And I didn't know what topic to choose,

so of course I wrote about you:

A bee flies in front

of my window,

For 12 years of our lives, we are put in this place. 

This place is where our energy slowly drains from our bodies. 

The work that we do slowly gets harder and harder 

Trust is like 

Having one piece of salt 

Mixed with 

A pound of sugar 

If you lose 

That piece of salt 

I took a walk inside the library today, 

and I noticed everything. 

Two older women exchanging hellos, 

kids under piles of toys, 

and parents taking a breath. 

She knows how intense she can be,

She knows she’s dramatic and overshares sometimes.

She knows she is holding herself back,

And she knows she can be happier.

—————-

I watched news report after news report

broadcasting the devastation of

the Los Angeles wildfires

on national television.

There was a sense of

hopelessness,

like there was nothing