THE NEW LEAF

What is it about the new leaf--

That pale, fragile beauty 

So small against the vast sky?

It calls me and draws me away

To a sweeter time of innocence

When the world only held hope

And all the darkness around me 

Was light.

THE PASSAGE OF TIME IN CORONA

Will isolation make me acquainted

With the details of my backyard--

Like my tree's journey from spring to winter

Or the pattern of the stars?

Will I measure the wind through the trees?

Will I tell the time through the sun?

How many poems will I write

Before my day is done?

TO BE MIXED

TO BE MIXED

You're not a minority!

Sure your hair has kink,

Your skin is brown,

Your nose is broad-ish.

But you're not a minority!

See your eyes are light,

Your speech is nice,

Your mom is white!

So you're not a minority!

Do you know our pain?

Have you felt the hate

As the world discriminates?

Still not a minority!

And no matter how you're seen,

Or if your dad wasn't free,

You'll never be…

A minority.

Then what am I?

What are you?

I don't recognize your kind,

And I need to put you in a box

With a genus and a species.

What are you?

You're an exotic-looking sort,

From the jungles of Africa?

Eh! you're far too pretty.

What are you?

A human from Loudoun County?

Oh! So where in the Middle East?

Ha! You thought I was listening.

What are you?