Old Glory, a poem

Old Glory

Old Glory? Oh. No.

Chattel still.

Handcuffs are the new chains 

As racism reigns

and stars rain

Down as you stomp out their breath

and beat their heads

Until they are dead

Red

The lashes across skin, bleeding fresh

Red, white, and blue-black

Eyes puffy and bruised,

Used

to seeing this shit

Again and again and again.
A gain ever? Never.
Scars and bars forever.

Heavens.

To Betsy, you didn’t know.

You were sewing a shroud

For all their kin.

How well it covers up all that sin.

And patriotic permits
on uniformed arms
To bear arms,
With license to kill,

Shoot at will,
Choke until still.

Dear white people,

Oh say, can’t you see?
This is not everyone’s land of the free.

You fly that shit in our face 

And then not want us to take a knee?

Glory, glory, hallelujah...

Endings and Beginnings

So, I’m just writing this post to let you know I’m back to blogging. I have a lot to catch you up on but I’ll make it brief —

1. Trump got elected in November 2016. 2016 is also the last year I blogged. Hmm, coincidence? If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
2. Lots more responsibility at work as I was slowly encouraged to be part of middle management. I definitely did not have fun but learned a lot about being a leader.
3. Marriage, pregnancy,  and a health scare.
4. A baby who is now a toddler while husband in grad school,
5. Diet and lifestyle change — more vegan, more yoga, more walks, more Ayurveda.
6. Taught myself to crochet, sew, and embroider.
7. Family finally closer.

And presently—
1. COVID-19 pandemic, self-isolation and social distancing. No daycare. Working from home with kid.
2. Anti-immigration policies and impact on international education.
3. Overt racism, more black people murdered for no reason, and #BlackLivesMatter
4. I’ll be laid off soon. More time to blog, yea!
5. I’ll be laid off soon. Possible end to my career as an international educational professional. Sigh.
6. Selling our house. Moving to another city soon. Closer to family but further from friends.
7. Perhaps time to officialize my haphazard online business selling sewed and embroidered bags, pouches, etc.
8. Murder hornets!! Ok, I haven’t had direct contact with one of these but I hear they are here in the U.S now.

Plague, pestilence, famine, drought, violence....now, I’m just waiting for the moon to drip blood. You know it will be all over then. I suppose I’ve had a good run. Made it to middle-age pretty unscathed. #blessed