Blocked.
This used
to come easy.

Always found
poetry freeing
like therapy.

Life hasn’t
been easy
lately.

Sleep is a
welcome cousin
when it comes.

Tragedy
in my
family.

Some things
can’t be
unseen.

I play my part,
write my slings
and arrows,

praying
they fall
differently,

safe and
sound, safe
and sound,

leave no one
I love
a casualty.

A hero cell
wakes up
in me,

gives thanks,
shows
gratitude

for all
I have and all
I’ve had,

praying God
shakes me
from my sleep,

that I change
what I
can change.

If all I
can see
is beauty

in life,
then maybe
I can

blend and
transcend
and glow

like gravity,
wake up
American and free.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.