The poet once wrote about the dream deferred

And now I wonder

I wonder if he was talking about me?

It seems not so long ago

That I was a young child, hopeful, full of life and expectations

With dreams that seemed so attainable……

Today, it’s all gone wrong

And I wonder, “ Where has the time gone?”

Perhaps I got distracted by my fears and insecurities

By what seem like huge stumbling blocks

That I realize today were quite defeatable

Hindsight really is a bitch!

So back to the dream deferred

Perhaps I’ll find my way back to it

Or perhaps, it will just die!!

*   *   *   *   *

Self-image

She looks in the mirror, and thinks:

I don’t hate myself, really

I just can’t stand my hair, my eyes

My thighs, my feet, my nose, my teeth, my stomach,

My weak, brittle nails

I love that I know this about myself,

That I am in touch with myself

You really should try to do the same

*   *   *   *   *

Being

To be or not to be

Was the question asked a long time ago

But I ask you today

Is it worth it to just “be”

Without knowing, and feeling

Teaching and suffering

Without pain??

Like the pain of blistered feet from countless suffrage and freedom marches

The fear and terror from police dogs snapping at your heels

The apprehension, doubts and second-guessing

While waiting for an amendment, a supreme court decision

Have you ever felt such, known such, learned about such

Acts of determination, motivation, self-sacrifice??

Tap into your history, feel and share the struggles of our ancestors

READ! READ! READ!

*   *   *   *   *

Status quo

Loft in the sky: glass and concrete

Mile high

Tower over mindless crowd

Floating down sidewalk

Glares that blind

Bounce off spotless cars

Numbers and letters scoffing at walkers

Reach the suburban plateau

Stainless steel elevators rising

From the underground, hustle

To the heart of greed and self-fulfillment

Enter portals of stagnation

Rest on laurels of achievement

Flick wrist, shine of watch: time bought

Never owned

© Cynthia McOliver