Views of perfect
sunny, pale
blue sky above.

Trees with full
branches
of leaves.

I am in awe
as I watch sky
and earth’s

shadows
palette change
over time.

Remember
to remember
to offer

prayers
for strangers
as well as

those you know.
This is an
Aha moment.

A revolutionary
thought and
practice

that baffles
those who
pray only

to those who
embrace their
own worldview

and are
mirror images
of themselves.

A colonial
legacy
passed on

with pride
by those
before them.

A legacy of
superiority,
entitlement,

according to
the same ole
excuses

about race,
age,
income,

political party,
affiliation,
etcetera.

Quiet as
it’s kept,
these isms

(racism,
ageism)
persist

and thrive
now, doomimg
us to

the complacency
that perpetuate
inequality

and self
righteous
egos.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. Janet prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.