she was three days old
at my high-school graduation
three years old when we watched
A Bug’s Life together
and now eighteen
and driving
and graduating today
about to embark on the world
nervous and unsure
but so beautiful
oh, so beautiful
she is gorgeous on the inside
and gorgeous on the outside
i wish for her
to always love herself
as much as she is
loved by everyone
My niece Maddie is graduating high-school today. How can it be? How can it be?
–AJM
For all the graduates.
–AJM
you are
beautiful
brave
and strong
you can do no wrong
work hard
work smart
remember to follow your heart
be kind
stay true
always make time for you
this is your life
follow those dreams
but don’t forget to wear sunscreen
read books
and laugh lots
always look in your blindspot
aim high
know when to go slow
and always remember the below:
chase your dreams
but don’t forget
there is still so much that hasn’t happened yet
Yesterday, I did a little research and reading about Juneteenth, and I was inspired to write this poem. Slavery should not have happened. It should have never started to begin with in the 16th century.
I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying the day, learning something new, and enjoying time with family and friends. Happy Juneteenth!
–AJM
what would the world look like
if no one decided
that men, women and children
were no better than savages
because of their skin color
because they didn’t live in houses
with picket fences
and cobbled stones
if no one said
i’ll take this one and then that one
stuffed them into watery cages
where people suffered, died and bled
if no one said
work this land or we’ll kill you
or rape your women, or beat your children
you’ll know no life other than terror
you’ll know no life other than work
to feel the rotten sting of shame
to not know your self worth
what would the world look like
if someone had said
show me where you come from
i’d like to understand
if someone had listened
would they know
their crime would crush
hundreds of generations
what would the world look like
if someone had
backed away
took themselves home
and worked the land themselves
Sometimes, the muse strikes at the most interesting times. I found myself awake at 8 am Sunday morning, having woken up from a dream where I was writing a song with someone. The dream I remember…barely. It was a hodgepodge of balconies and bathrooms that never end, a situation where I made a promise to someone, I was in trouble, my heart was broken, someone had stolen something, on the run from the mob or in some kind of Bridgeton reinactment…my heart thinks maybe the latter because I remember dresses and a lot of regency-inspired costumes, but anyway, in the dream, I was writing a song about heartbreak and here’s what I came up with. It might be something, it might be nothing, but I also thought, not bad for someone who wasn’t conscious, hah.
~AJM
Just looking to find the time
to write down these thoughts of mine
but they hurt
they hurt
But pain makes you stronger
regret is for lovers
pain is a testament
that love is forever
So let it rain
so let it rain
so let it rain
1.
time to write something
my brain is dead and tired
creative time gone
2.
sink into pillow
and don’t fight your tired eyes
dreams awake and start
3.
long day, many steps
good conversation and friends
it feels like a good future
If you’ve liked what you read here, check out my poetry book Walking in Cemeteries…available for purchase on Amazon!
she is crying
her nails are too short
chewed down to the quick
she sobs
it’s hard to stay in the lines
it’s okay, we say
stop crying
when we should be singing
you’re beautiful
even beauty has
it’s unclean edges
we think we reassure her
but really
we wave her feelings aside
like a bad smell
we don’t have time for
it’s okay
stop crying
my heart breaks
thinking of it
when she’s grown
how often will she think
her feelings don’t matter
one nation, one world
many souls, beating their last
not enough thank yous
i wish i could find what’s missing
what makes doing and going someplace new
feel like i’m trudging through a battlefield
except artillery and rifle fire
are the unfamiliar places and people
where everything is bright and too loud
shadowy people with waxy faces
an alien dream
this is my nightmare
“i’m sure it’ll be fine”
is the social balm
for my nothing problem
doesn’t make me feel better
who’s scared to go places
freak
i’m exhausted
my mind is spinning and spinning like
i’m running for my life
i’m trying to dodge thoughts and possibilities
they pop out at me like too-tall cartoon characters, clowns with bleeding make-up and boulders waiting to crush me
imagining conversations with strangers like there is a ringing in my head
dragging my thoughts together
like a bunch of trampled papers
fearing words that might come out wrong, a response or joke i hear incorrectly
the more i know about myself
the more i think, i am in the world differently
i ask my therapist
what does it matter, she says
a proper diagnosis
is too expensive
mondays suck
like sour wine
like getting sick
after feeling fine
mondays drag
like fishing net
like unsaid thoughts
you cannot forget
mondays stay
like a bad cold
like stagnant work
and it’s growing mold
mondays crush
like heavy stone
like feeling down
completely alone
monday’s here
like sunday died
like freedom left
and you’ve said goodbye
I suppose this poem isn’t the best Monday morning inspiration to start your work week, but we’ve all been there. ❤️
Sometimes, all we can do is try our best and survive the day. I hope we all have a great work week. Soo busy here!
Best,
AJM
A. J. Morse 