I bought a poetry book
about dogs
and all it did
was remind me
how short their lives are
we’ll have several dogs
in our lifetimes
they’ll have several years
if we’re lucky
and it reminded me
we don’t have dogs
do we
they have you
Dogs
Poetry
Hands Off
For this one, I’m adding a note here first for some context. I recently read an article about Trump suggesting “menstrual classes” for US women to help increase birth rates in America. Because you know…none of us seem to know how our bodies work. 🙄 The article was a little bit too Handsmaids Tale-ish to me, and so ludicrous that I simultaneously wanted to laugh and cry. The disgusting desire to control women’s health is just so disrespectful and alienating. I also can’t believe that it’s even happening to begin with. The ignorance and corruption. And at any rate, it also pissed me off, and so, of course, I wrote something in response to it. I wrote several stanzas, to be honest, but in the end, I only needed one.
The article, if you’re curious:
I am thirty-six years old
I know what I need
I dont need a billionaire white man
telling me how to bleed
maybe
maybe it’s because i pay taxes now
maybe it’s because i understand more about politics
or maybe it’s because i know more about myself
than i ever did before
monday feels
Monday feels
like a dying sun
like hope that fades
when the day is done
Monday feels
like an icy breeze
you’ve lost your gloves
and you’re gonna freeze
Monday feels
like drowning tears
your face is wet
you’ve aged a million years
Monday feels
like a melting crayon
you drag your feet
you say, “i think i can”
Agh, these were the Monday vibes I was totes feeling yesterday.
–AJM
it girl
saying yes instead of no
i’ve become the “it girl,” yeah
no longer a disappointment
Hope you are well. I’m struggling with some kind of sickness…again!! 😭 It’s been difficult lately.
Just got to keep writing!
–AJM
the new, new colossus
Give me your tired, your poor...
Oh, wait. I mean
Give me your old, entitled, white men, your billionaire businessmen, yearning for more money
They are the wretched refuse on our teeming shore
Send thee, only straight, white males, no persons of color, females, or transgender
The room has grown dark, and we’ve closed the door
😒😒
–AJM
valentine
maybe it feels silly
to call you valentine
but i feel warm
while the snow blows outside
I hope everyone had a really nice Valentine’s day last week. Honestly, we all need the love on these cold February days.
AJM
February thoughts
the second week of February
hit me pretty hard
I’m low on serotonin
scraping ice off my car
the winter wind
is biting at my face
as we try to stay warm
to insulate our place
the heat bill is so high
we’ll have to sell a kidney
just to pay are rent
(I’m really not kidding)
then in world news
a president breaking laws
an ignorant population
who can’t see his flaws
I’m struggling to stay awake
’cause I don’t really sleep
to wake up from this nightmare
watch the promises he keeps
snow melts and freezes
the road goes black to white
I’m on the sofa sneezing
will anyone stand and fight?
the last time
no one told me
that when you get older
those friends you saw everyday
won’t be around as much
those girl shopping days
nights out at the bar, dancin’
or slumber parties
don’t happen as often
because we’ve got families
and adult responsibilities
and making plans
is like getting the planets to align
and one one told me
that one night
you’ll watch a video
about two friends
and it’ll bring back a sudden ache
for those carefree nights
where a drink at a bar and a DD
were the only things we were worried about
and no one told me
that you’ll miss your friends
like a promise you can’t keep
like a cloud that blew across the sun
a hollow longing
that hollars down an empty road
and that one day
we got together for a slumber party
wished on stars together
and told secrets
for the last time
when democracy dies
when things get rough
when i feel trapped
by my responsibilities
i look up at the night sky
and think
…at least i’m still free
🥺 Our future here in the US is so uncertain. I’m scared of what our future looks like. No, I’m terrified. I’m so glad I get to watch the world burn around me because of someone I didn’t vote for. 🙄
AJM
A. J. Morse 