I Wanted To Say: For Andrea

I wanted to say
that you inspire me
to speak the truth
I wanted to say
that you are so strong
and brave
that you make me feel
strong and brave too
I wanted to say
that I admire
your forthrightness
and your total lack of bullshit
I wanted to say
that your words
are beautiful
and sad
and uncomfortable
and challenging
and meaningful
I wanted to say
that you have opened my mind
and my heart
I wanted to say
that I'm a 50 year-old straight woman
wife and mother
who has a wicked crush on you
I wanted to say
that you look a little thin, sweetie
and I'd love to invite you to my place
for pasta and homemade sauce
(bring your adorable dog too!)
I wanted to say
thank you
for reminding me
that words matter
and that poetry is powerful
I wanted to say all that
and more
but when I saw you in person
all I could say was
"Can I give you a hug?"
Thank you
for saying "yes."

submitted for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, Open Link Monday

Thought For the Day, Week, Month...

“Grow that dream you had at five years old

the first time a pencil callused your kindergarten fingers

You ran all the way home screaming

“Look Mom! I’m a writer! My hand is changing shape to

prove that I’m a writer”.

Grow that,

in every crack of pavement

the soles of your feet can find.

— “Alaska Says Sun” —Andrea Gibson

Tell Me

I want you to tell me about every person you’ve ever been in love with.
Tell me how they failed you or
how you failed them.
I want you to tell me that each one of them
even at their best
could never compare with me
even at my worst.
Baby, tell me
that you knew love
but you never knew god
before you made love to me
(or is that putting words in your mouth?)
Don't tell me I'm perfect;
Tell me how you love every one of my faults
because it's mine.
Tell me how even when I'm on my knees
it's you who's begging.

submitted for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, Mary's Mixed Bag

(prompt was to take a first line from a poem and riff on it. I chose "Asking Too Much" by Andrea Gibson)