i have a new teacher named loki
neither of us will fill our base space
we cling to each other like scared children
and challenge each other because we know we should

i can't speak for him
but that's where we are at
so it seems to me

if i held a sign like yours
mine would read "afraid."

i can read between the lines
on your cardboard sign
"vulnerable."
"invisible."

if i weren't afraid i would say
"hi."
"i see you."
"i am sorry that you are suffering."

instead i look ahead
separated by a pane of glass and nothing more
i have change
but will not let it go

every red light in this town
forces me to stop
and see

limp tail dragging on the ground

the base chakra is where she me-owed

little kitty

were you playing in the street again?

i swept and cleaned

feeling nothing

and then something

and then nothing

into the salt bowl

while she half-slept on my lap

wanting to

and trying to

and not

believing