Some weeks hence, we walk
against hunger, yet again
Able only to feed too few, we gawk
at starvation that does remain.
Yet, we step out while others talk.

Low wages mark the underpaid
as entitlement lingers in the air
no longer American made
luxury cars, trucks, SUVs everywhere
traveling down the roads we pave.

What’s important no longer seen
View, blocked by ostentation
asphalt paving over dreams.
What should be our destination
Garmin is left to glean.

Not living up to what was taught
in crossfire of privilege and comfort’s stride
soldiers and other innocents caught
in our pool of arrogance and pride
drown in suffering we have wrought.

As we strip her, Mother Earth cries
her jewels and liquid gold lost.
By consuming fossil fuels, lives
not stopping to weigh the cost,
we consume; someone else dies.

Once adorned, her soul now leery
frictions made from rubbing deep
pressures building, eyes made bleary
release destroys, hearts skip a beat
reshaping the whole world weary.

War breaks into pieces, fears,
and, with tsunamis and quakes,
transform body water into tears.
On cusp of spring dawn awakes
as the aching heart perseveres.

Daily, aftershocks move each quad.
New balance remains the goal.
Rumblings, movement, the hand of God
pressuring the pen to play its role
before action from the divining rod.

Toe, far from the beating heart,
wears its new armor against wounds
poor planning causes from the start,
hopes not to be called upon too soon
to sacrifice itself, to split apart.

So, lovingly wrap your toes
with lamb’s wool and extra hope
push forward as the sneaker goes
walk 20 miles into future’s scope
searching for paths only truth knows.