Hour9
How would you define love?
What do you seek? Could I be
the answer to your prayers?
Could I be the apple of your eye?
A Friendly Reminder
A Friendly Reminder
Not all Native Americans were headdresses
and live in teepees
smoking peyote
and waiting for a vision.
Some live on top of Mesas
in pueblos.
Not all Indigenous people
speak the same language.
Just like not all Asians
have the same language.
We are the Indigenous people
of this land,
with different tribes
and our own set governments.
Here’s a friendly reminder.
Don’t dress up as “Native Americans”
for Halloween.
It’s all about respect.
2023 Poem Ten
Untitled
I am the poet laureate of the beach just before dawn.
Of the moon and the tide dancing- lovers destined to never touch.
Each wave that laps at the sand is a cry to hold the moon;
longing to wrap their arms around her.
Hour 22 2023
SILENCIO
For going on twenty-two hours
I’ve been quiet about the state of our country
but I’ll be damned if I’ll write about pizza now
rather than address what needs to happen,
especially with this highly perfect sign appearing
right now, as if to say, like the old hymn,
“Here I am, send me.” And so yes, I want this sign,
SILENCIO, not just silence, but SILENCIO to be in
every courtroom, every corner of that man’s life,
so that everywhere he turns he is reminded, STFU.
We do not want to hear one more peep out of you,
not one word. Then and only then may justice be served.
Oneirataxia
Slipping between
What’s real and what’s a dream
One moment you’re gone from me
The next you’re here
Smiling pleasantly
I know what’s real
Reality is that you’re gone
You’ve been gone so long
I sometimes forget
What you were like when you were here
But then it happens again
I come home and there you are
Making dinner or on the computer
As if nothing has happened
To you at all
I try to tell my friends
Convince my family
I keep sleeping so easily
Between the two it’s getting hard
To remember what’s real
It feels to nice
Seeing you again
I just want to hug you
To talk to you
Tell you how I’ve been
But reality sets in once more
You’re not real, I tell you as much
Tell you, “This is just a dream”
To which you reply, “Yes, it is.
“But you can stay if you want.”
I jolt awake
Heart racing
Mind wondering
What could you have meant
When you said I could “stay”?
It’s been years since then
And some days when reality
Hits too heavy, too hard
I think about your offer
And wonder
Should have taken you up on it?
20 Remember when
Fireflies listen by windows
Swooping bats sneak a peek
Buzzing bugs want a taste
Mouse in the corner waits
Embrace summer happenings
Hide n seek with your pals
Games of tag before dark
Gotcha last won’t last
Yet another shade of me 3am
I’m falling swiftly
I don’t know
what to do
how to say that
where to turn or
even why
Every time Someone
asks me
I know the right words
to say-
the ones that won’t
raise suspicions
I’m fine
ok
everything’s good
no problems
nothing’s wrong
anything I can
so they don’t see
just how broken
I really am
asking for help
is not wrong
I know that
but you turned
me this way
Where asking for someone’s
help is like betrayal
We should fight our own problems
and not talk about them
to anyone
You had such a problem
with my talking to him
you hated it- loathed it
Said why did I need him
I had you
Having you is great
It’s one way to cope
but when you are the problem
You need a third party
for a sounding board
Why am I even explaining
myself to you-
You don’t care
Your only concern is
you con’t control me any longer
You can call me anything
bitch
whore
slut
loser
crazy
anything at all
I don’t care
I know the truth
I know that I’m not always there
I may not be the sharpest
tool in the shed
the prettiest crayon
in the box
But I’m me
A mixed bag of
crazy
sweet
quiet
mouthy
loud
sarcastic
and so much more
Pizza Musings – Hour 22, Prompt 22
Lately, I feel
all the fighting, unreal
my toppings should not
cause friendships to stop.
There’s pineapple, whew
causes quite a to-do
arguments ensue
with spam, they say eww!
But pizza’s like people
no two the same, or equal
toppings they vary
with four cheeses, or nary.
.
Some people are hot
peppers sprinkle a lot
and pepperoni, to boot
keeps a dude at salute.
Some, they are tougher
cheesier, meatier
thick crust they do have
like people who’re bad.
Sweet ones, they have many
tart apples and berries
with Gouda or cheddar
these girls make it better.
In the end, they all rock
like different socks
whatever may thee choose
just do pizza for you.
– Sandra Johnson, 9-3-2023
23~19
drippy days
hoodies in the dark
vermin thriving
playing in the park
death lives with me
we are not friends
luv #4
luv iz yellow
a ray of spring sunshine
luv iz red
a fiery covering igniting
luv iz blue
a cold breeze on an august day
luv iz purple
a royal crown adorning a regal space
luv iz black
a priceless gem