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Even Scarier Words
EVEN SCARIER WORDS The day the president insulted himself I was 8. I didn’t know anything about him except that he sold weapons to bad people and seemed OK with lying about it. But I’ve always wondered how he could say such terrible things about himself. That his being there speaking would terrify a person.…
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A Country of Four-Year-Olds
A COUNTRY OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS I sometimes feelthat the only wayto understand my countryis to be a parent. I live in a landfor which the response“because I can”is a valid argumentand “because I said so”works just as wellto dissuade; where freedom is moreimportant than community,until we get hurt. Today my son is crankybecause his MeeMee and…
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Optimistic
I have the most optimistic friends. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they believe that so much is possible! It’s inspiring, truly. I’m not sure how. Every time, they just keep believing: cutting taxes will make them wealthier moving will make them happier keeping out refugees will make them safer money can fix their problems…
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The Storm
The enemy isn’t out there. And I don’t think the enemy is in here. {points to chest} The enemy is the darkness. The evil that overcomes humanity and subsumes our will. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness,…
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Aylan and the Others
I didn’t think of him (maybe I did). More like I tried not to think of how small he once was. But his wasn’t the first I saw, the first, “chilling” she called it, I couldn’t take. It was of a boy on his back, shirt below his chin like when he shows his belly…
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A Poem for Freddie Gray, Baltimore, and all of us
GUILT When the preacher said “I’m absolutely convinced that a riot merely intensifies the fears of the white community while relieving the guilt.” My white ears hear the condemnation and the righteous call for peace. My poet ears hear the economy of language and concern. My pastor ears hear the prophetic reminding us our guilt…
